How I went from “Death to America” to “God Bless America”

I was born in Iran and as a young student in 1979 I joined the masses of protesters in the streets of Tehran chanting “Death to America.” But over time I have come to love America and what this blessed country stands for.

In 1982, I became a dual citizen and began my studies at the University of Southern California. Over the past four decades, my love for the United States has grown.

It pains me deeply when native Americans hate America and blame it for the world’s problems. It pains me deeply when I hear how some Americans hate their own country, chant “Death to America” ​​and burn the American flag on college campuses.

Iranians chant “Death to America” ​​while burning a U.S. flag outside the former U.S. embassy in Tehran on November 4, 2015. It was a demonstration marking the anniversary of the storming of the embassy by students in 1979. (Rouzbeh Fouladi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

So how did an Iranian learn to love America? That’s a simple question to answer.

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I love America because it is the land of religious freedom.
American citizens have incredible freedom to explore (or not explore) and practice (or not practice) their religion. The Founding Fathers recognized this and included these freedoms in the founding documents when they created this nation.

In this country, the Christian faith changed my life. I was born a Muslim in Iran and was a believer from a young age, practicing the five pillars of faith. However, as a teenager, I found that religious activities alone were meaningless, empty and useless.

After the Islamic revolution, I decided to search for God. When I lived in America, I could read both the Koran and the Bible; I could go to a mosque or church. Through careful comparison of the Koran and the Bible, I realized that there is a God who loves me.

The Islamic Revolution in Iran brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power. (Reuters)

My life has been changed through my faith in Christ. My broken marriage has been healed, my wife and I have abandoned our plans for divorce, and a new future has opened up for us thanks to the religious freedom we have been granted here. In America, my life has been changed and my marriage has been healed.

This is the country where everyone is free to practice their belief or disbelief in God. Even Muslims who are fleeing from other Muslims who want to kill them in Islamic countries come here to practice their Islamic faith freely.

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I love America because it is the land of opportunity.
Here in America, you can dream and work to make your dreams come true. This country gave me the opportunity and supported me to achieve my educational dream: to earn a PhD in artificial intelligence and work as a scientist in this field.

In addition, after my conversion to Christianity, I wanted to grow spiritually and pursue a theological education. Here, too, I had the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Theology at Jessup University.

In Iran, my dreams would not have been possible or supported. No wonder millions of people around the world want to come to the United States.

I love America because it has enabled me to serve the tired, downtrodden masses in Iran who long for freedom.

When I saw how much the Iranian people were suffering under the oppression of the Islamic government of Iran, I felt compelled to do something to help.

Christians in the United States supported the launch of our organization’s 24-hour satellite broadcast channel to Iran in 2001, immediately after the September 11 attacks. Thanks to the generous support of our mission by the Americans, over 100,000 Iranian Muslims have come to faith in Jesus Christ.

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I am forever grateful for the support of my fellow Americans to serve the spiritual needs of Iran. The love that American Christians have for other nations has always inspired and encouraged me.

August 1944: US soldiers with the villagers of a French town they just liberated in August 1944. (Fred Ramage/Keystone/Getty Images)

I love America because throughout its history it has helped nations all over the world.

History shows that the United States has served so many other nations in its 250 years of existence, which is short by global standards. When a disaster occurs anywhere in the world – even in Islamic countries like Iran – Americans, and especially American Christians, are always the first to respond by sending people and money to help the victims.

During World War II, the United States did the hard work of liberating European countries from Hitler’s evil ideology and aggressive army. After years of struggle and sacrifice, the United States helped Europe rebuild its streets, schools, cities, and economies.

America has blessed Iran in the past as well. Christian missionaries came to Iran in the mid-19th century. They established the first hospitals in Iran and treated lepers when Iranians refused. American missionaries established the first schools and colleges in Iran. They also opened orphanages in Iran where children received the care and compassion they needed.

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I love America because it has blessed the world with its technology.

America has been a source of great innovations that have benefited the entire world. Americans invented the lightbulb, the automobile, the airplane, etc. More recently, this country of freethinkers has made technological advances that have improved lives around the world, including computers for businesses and individuals, the Internet you are reading this about, medicine and medical technology, education, artificial intelligence, and so many others.

Unlike most countries in the world, Americans are free to pursue their political beliefs as they please. (Fox News Digital)

I love America because it is the land of political freedom.

Unlike most countries in the world, Americans are free to pursue their political beliefs as they please. America is still the largest democratic republic in the world, and that is why millions of people want to live here.

I love America because it is the land of hope.

It is the dream of millions of people around the world – including from European countries – to move to the USA and live there. America is a land of hope for the whole world.

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Every day, hordes of people endure hardship, danger and suffering to cross the border. Even Muslims fleeing the danger and possible death of other Muslims hope to immigrate here, knowing that Americans, and especially American Christians, will welcome them and treat them better than in their home countries.

America is a great gift to the world and to me personally. Do we have our problems and challenges? Yes. But I believe we all need to love and appreciate what this great country offers us, its citizens, and work together to make it even better.

God bless America.

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