Opinion
In 1979, the Islamic Revolution in Iran demonized the US as the purveyor of the world's filth and evil. Thereafter, Iran's ruler said no to modern institutions because the US was the power behind them. Iran's ruler said no to democracy because only the ayatollah could know the truth of the Qu'ran. And Iran's ruler said no to peace in the Middle East because Israel, backed by the US, needed to be wiped off the map. Today, the people of Iran are saying no to the ruler. They are saying no to decades of economic failure, no to admittedly rigged elections, no to demonization of the US, no to building nuclear weapons, and no to the ayatollah. Iran is in a crisis created by its ruler because he doesn't know how to govern for all the Iranian people.

In 1998, the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela demonized the US as the purveyor of the world's filth and evil. Thereafter, Venezuela's ruler said no to modern institutions because the US was the power behind them. Venezuela's ruler said no to transparent democracy because so many voters refused to vote the way he instructed. And Venezuela's ruler said no to peace with the US because the Bolivarian Revolution could only triumph when the US collapsed. Today, the people of Venezuela are saying no to the ruler. They are saying no to a decade of economic failure for them while great wealth was wasted on the ruler's political projects all over the world. They are saying no to rigged elections, no to demonization of the US, no to daily attacks and aggression, and no to him. Venezuela is in a crisis created by its ruler because he doesn't know how to govern for all the Venezuelan people.

In 1776, the American Revolution created what the rulers of Iran and Venezuela abhor with vengeance: freedom, democracy and a vibrant economy that is leading the world from poverty to prosperity. At the helm is a black man who will serve his term and then peacefully pass on his power to whomever America elects next. Worldwide -- even in Iran and Venezuela – only America's revolution is still making history.

michaelrowan22@gmail.com