It shows two women lighting a candle.
More surprising is the story behind it. It was taken in 2001. In September. In Iran.
Days before this picture was taken, the most appalling terrorist attacks the world has ever seen had unfolded in the United States. Hijacked aeroplanes had ploughed into the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. Thousands had died, and many thousands more were injured. The World Trade Centre complex had been destroyed. It could have been even worse. A plane had crashed in rural Pennsylvania, when the passengers had fought the hijackers for control of the plane. It is believed that it was intended for the White House, or maybe the Capitol building.
These two women are attending a candlelit vigil in Tehran. The country which denounced America as the Great Satan was holding a public service to pray for the dead. The next major football match was introduced with a two minutes silence. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned the bloodshed.
Khamenei's was not the only prominent voice condemning those who had brought death and destruction to the streets of New York. Every single nation on Earth bar one spoke out, offering condolences and assistance. That lone voice was Saddam Hussein, shortly to meet his demise at American hands. But even countries considered enemies of the West, both then and now, rallied to the USA. North Korea. Russia. China. Syria, under new President Bashaar Al Assad. Libya, still lead by despot Colonel Qaddafi. The Palestinian Liberation Organisation under Yasser Arafat. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. The leader of Hamas. All denounced the barbarity that had unfolded on that horrific day.
So, the next time Donald Trump announces that all Muslims hate America, and that there were celebrations around the world when 9/11 struck, do not listen to him. Remember instead the two women in this picture, who had decided to attend a vigil to show solidarity with a country their government had spent years saying was the epitome of evil. Who decided to offer what they could to show that this act of appalling bloodshed had not been done in their name, and that they were united in their support for the people of America.
Donald, on this one, you score a solid zero.
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