Several friends of mine recently immigrated from Iran who subsequently surrendered their citizenship to become U.S. Citizens. For a number of years now they shared with me how things have been simmering in Iran. contrary to news reports you may be listening to right now, I’ve been told that although a lot of the population is young and was born after the Shaw of Iran was exiled, parents, grandparents and family members have told their youngsters about how freedoms of a secular society provided a modern more Western-style of living. Specifically, how the civilian police were courteous and respectful and were not religious zealots.
Based on what they have been told by family members, the mass outpouring of citizens of Iran are responding not just to the recent election but 30 years of persecution and repression.
Based on my friends impressions and those of their family members still in Iran, if this situation does not topple the Islamic regime from Iran, it certainly will be the precursor to a march toward secular government and more open, free society.
Our policy makers would do well to listen to folks like my family and their friends and not sell the will of common folks to seek basic freedoms.
President Reagen once said, Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today’s world do not have. ” Based on what I’ve been told, many people in Iran have the will and moral courage of freedom. There isn’t a gun big enough to snuff it out forever.
Thanks to technology, the Iranian government is not able to suffocate the message of what is going on. the visual images are often graphic and appear to be very real. What makes this event so different is that the information and the images is coming from the people from Iran, rather than news organizations or what the government will allow. Just like the Reagan quote above. Those voices will not be silenced.
Those who are saying that the Iranian government is showing restraint may be right, or they may be wrong. Quite simply, if the governing counsel truly feels at risk. They cannot afford to escalate the level of violence. From viewing the video feeds and posts by Iranian people would indicate that the protesters often armed only with rocks and their cell phones. Appear to be relentless to in their quest.
As President John Kennedy once said, We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light a candle.” I think that beacon of freedom is spreading in the Middle East and I believe that you have to give a great deal of credit for their courage. If in fact it is true that the Iranian government is finding it necessary to bring in other terrorists groups to maintain order due to the fact that the local police are refusing to force violence on their own people and the fact that some of the religious leaders are calling for respect for the right of people to protest. It would appear that there is a light in the darkness. The Iranian people are courageous and determined people. Do not underestimate their will to change their government and where their country is headed. Many Iranians do not like the idea of the development of nuclear weapons and the sponsoring of terrorism to other countries.