“We have recently seen an attack on Iran, and the Iranian government, the mullahs, believe that Sunni forces have attacked them. This may signal a ratcheting up of certain commitments by the United States of America. As far as I’m concerned, I just want to make this point and see what you think, isn’t it a good thing for us to have the United States finally backing up Sunnis who will attack Hezbollah and the Shiite threat to us? Isn’t that a good thing? And if so, maybe this is a Trump — maybe it’s a Trump strategy of actually supporting one group against another, considering that you have two terrorist organizations.”
–Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Congressman for California’s 48th district
Sir,
I don’t know you but will give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you are a decent man, a good dad, someone striving to do good in the world. If that is the case do you really want your reactions to the death of innocent Iranians at the hands of ISIS-affiliated extremists to be your legacy?
Did you know that a young teacher was among the people killed? She had gone to see her parliamentary representative and never returned to her children. Imagine that. Imagine having to tell her family. Did you know that there are thousands of Iranian-Americans born and living in this country, in your district? Do you not understand that when you applaud or approve of attacks on Iranians, you are by association, condoning it against your own constituents and their families in Iran.
You are a public figure, so tell me how I should explain your words to my teenage daughters? The America and the Americans I know do not celebrate the death of innocent civilians. That sir, is what violent extremists do. You draw your own conclusions on that point. But here is mine: A decent man, a good man, an ethical man, would retract every word and apologize for making those callous remarks. I hope you have the courage to do so too.
Thank you.
-Sanam Naraghi Anderlini
