Does that cover my legal obligations to quote this article?
"Thousands of protesters defied Iran's highest authority Saturday..." What does this mean for the Middle East, what does it mean to Americans? I'm going to try to explain what I think this means.
The news today is filled with negativity and hype. The Associated Press does a really good job when it comes to reporting the news and only the news. They do not speculated and rarely opinionate. However, like all news agencies, the fall victim to the negative side of the news. And why not, it brings in the high ratings and thus the high revenue of advertising.
But that's a side note to the more pressing news that Iran is in the beginning stages of reform and before it is over, I am sure we (meaning the U.S.A.) will be involved.
"President Barrack Obama [warned Iran] to halt "all violent and unjust actions against its own people." He said the United States, "stands by all who seek to exercise," the universal rights to assembly and free speech."
Interesting quote, yes? Is our peace loving, talk first president really prepared to back those words? Would he really lead the U.S. into helping one side of someone else's civil war? And people were afraid of President Bush II.
Wait, did I say civil war? Yes. I believe this faux election in Iran could lead to more than civil unrest and become an all out war, a war we would no doubt be asked to participate in since... well, it's our fault. Before I get to why it's our fault let me feed you one more quote.
Mehrdad Khonsari, a consultant to the London-based Center for Arab and Iranian Studies said, "... history has taught us that people in these situations lose their initial sense of fear and become emboldened by brutality."
So if history teaches us that, does it not also teach such emboldenment leads to revolution? It did for the British Colonies of America some 230 some odd years ago. Creating a nation which valued Truth, Justice and Liberty for all.
Liberty for all? Is that why we are in Iraq and Afghanistan? or was that just my motive for joining the army?
Maybe it's a universal want. Aprox. 3,000 protesters marched against the faux election some chanting, "Death to dictatorship," "Death to the dictator," and my fave, "Death to Khamenei!" - a "once unthinkable challenge to the authority of the successor of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic Revolution."
So why is all this the fault of the U.S.? Because of the Domino Effect. Here's how I see it. The U.S. liberates Afghanistan - The U.S. liberates Iraq - Syria releases it's control of Lebanon - Israelbegins talking about a two state solution - Iran's youth gets a taste of freedom and wants more - Ahmadinejad cheats in the June 12 election - Iranians demand a fair election.
Will there be a revolution or at least a major reform in Iran? Why wouldn't there be. History has also taught that a repressed people who feel emboldened will stand against further oppression. So what does the Iranian gov. do?
Block "Web sites such as BBC Fasi, Facebook, Twitter and several pro-Mousavi sites used by Iranians to tell the world about protests and violence. Text messaging has not been working in Iran since last week and cell phone service in Tehran is frequently down."
But an emboldened people will find a way, Sami Al Faraj, president of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies said of the opposition networks, "They can resort to whispering... they can do it the old fashioned way."
I mentioned something about all the negative news didn't I? Well here is a positive thought, one I never saw coming but now I can see it: Peace in the Middle East in my life time!
Freedom/Liberty is contagious. Once a people taste of its fruit the want more and more. Don't believe me? Look at the history of the United States we started with only giving true freedom to land owners and now even illegal immigrants are getting treated better than many of our fore fathers.
Give us Liberty for All or give us death! Let Freedom ring, eh?
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