If Arpineh Masihi could vote, she would have cast her ballot for Donald Trump. She’s a devout supporter of the US president – even now that she’s locked up as an illegal immigrant.
“He’s doing the right thing because lots of these people don’t deserve to be here,” Arpineh told the BBC over the phone from the Adelanto immigrant detention centre in California’s Mojave Desert.
“I will support him until the day I die. He’s making America great again.”
In 2008, she was convicted of burglary and grand theft and was sentenced to two years in prison. An immigration judge revoked her Green Card, which is a common practice. But because she is a Christian Armenian Iranian, the judge allowed her to remain in the country instead of being deported.
I know this parallel grows old but consider the followers of nazi Germany. They ran after Germany First, country prude, nationalism, etc. Were they all bad people knowingly making bad choices? Were they brainwashed or lulled into a false belief that, even if they could recognize their own cognitive dissonance, they were in too deep to turn back now?
Who knows? But the answer to me is, “yes. Yes it is a cult.” shun anyone who doesn’t belief.