Hope Fades But Anger Is Alive
Brave Iranis, my heart goes out to all who call and struggle for change in this hardline regime.
Hope Fades but Anger Is Alive as Iran's Rulers Crack Down
TEHRAN, June 24 -- Standing in Tehran's grand Vali-e Asr Street amid a sea of green, the opposition's signature color, Mehrdad was sure Iran was on the verge of a change for the better.
He pulled out his cellphone and started filming the crowd around him: the girls in green head scarves, the ladies in traditional chador with green bands around their wrists, the middle-aged couple holding hands as they marched. All were supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the man Mehrdad was certain would be the next president of Iran.
That was two weeks ago. Now everything has changed.
"I deleted those movies," said Mehrdad, a tall 31-year-old who, like others interviewed for this article, spoke on the condition that his last name not be used. "What if they find those on my cellphone? I could be arrested. Actually, I could be arrested even for wearing green."
Mehrdad is one among millions, part of a movement that has gone in a matter of days from the exultant hope of reforming Iran's government to the disappointment of facing down leaders who have labeled them terrorists and hooligans. For now, at least, the millions are largely silenced. Only small groups venture out to demonstrate, and when they do, they are suppressed violently.
But their anger remains.
In the weeks before the June 12 presidential election, they danced in the streets. After the disputed results were announced, they gathered by the hundreds of thousands in the largest spontaneous demonstrations since the Islamic revolution of 1979. They wanted the result annulled and the vote rerun. But their gatherings were crushed after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei deemed them illegal. At least 17 people have been killed, and there were reports Wednesday of more violent clashes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR200906...
UK an extra chicken was in my fridge this AM must have been spirited out of Tehran by local US Airmen...
Seriously nobody is forcing all those young Iranians to protest. Speed you do them a disservice blaming the west. It is their election and their country and in this case there is nothing credible out there suggesting the US has in any way pushed the demonstrations. US has meddled plenty over the years, no doubt. They do not appear to be meddling right now. Barack resisting calls from the righ-wing nuts in US to do so and continues to say things like "recognise the sovereignty of Islamic Republic of Iran" meaning CURRENT GOVERNMENT.
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A wise young crackpot knows no fear - Ian Dury.
Back home it is not unusual for people to play the "race card."
In this part of the world, people play the "west card."
It's a good thing that the west has huge shoulders to carry the burden of all the misfortunes happening in the world.
Frankly, I think it is a disservice to all the free thinking minds of the Iranian people. To blame anyone else is to say that THEY are not equipped to think on THEIR own and make THEIR own choices.
To blame someone else is to say that THEIR fight has been in vain and that is quite insulting to those that have lost THEIR lives for THEIR cause!
Freedom is not free.
Just shows your mindset that the west is out to "get" everyone..
If the people of the country wants to change their leadership, they should have the right to do so. I have the utmost respect for those that stand and fight for what they think is right for their family and country.
Why should they be frightened of being arrested just because they disagree with what is going on in their land? More power to those that have the courage to do so!
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.
-Mark Twain-
I think Speedo is making the point that the West may have a hand in the current unrest..
What Speed? Can you elaborate? I can't see the relevance of that statement.
Any hardline regime deserves to go, IMHO.
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Baldrick2dogs If a chicken is stolen in Tehran, I am sure the first suspect is the west.
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HE WHO DARES WINS
Speed, what does this have to do with the west?
Hope does not fade. It is what drives people on.