As a Canadian-Iranian writer who has spent 20 years fighting for the right to speak my mind, I believe it is time to address the wave of verbal threats, sarcasm, and linguistic manipulation I received following my last post.
My "offense" was simple: I urged journalists to report on the situation in Iran with accuracy and neutrality, without taking sides. For this, I have been met with hostility from those who claim to want freedom for Iran, yet refuse to tolerate a dissenting opinion.
If we are truly striving for democracy, we must understand its fundamental requirement: the existence of opposition. * Dictatorship thrives on a single, forced narrative and the silencing of "others."
* Democracy thrives on a variety of voices, even—and especially—the ones we disagree with.
My Position as an Independent Writer
I want to be very clear to those attempting to pressure me:
* I will not apologize: I will not alter my beliefs to make you happy, nor will I change my tone to be liked.
* Independence is my foundation: My thoughts are not for sale, and they are not subject to the approval of a mob.
* Respect my boundaries: Threatening my personal life or trying to interfere with my privacy does not prove your point; it only proves that you have not yet learned the basic tenets of the freedom you claim to seek.
"Freedom of speech is unnecessary if it only applies to the voices we agree with. It is meant specifically to protect the right to be different."
Instead of spending your energy trying to silence me, I invite you to learn how to be open to ideas that do not match your own. That is the only way we will ever build a society that is truly free.
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