Iranian protesters include families
The protests over the election results in Iran are still continuing and there is more news this morning that I thought was worthy of mention. The protests that were held in 1999 consisted mainly of students and although the uproar was quite significant, they soon died out. However, there are reports that the current protests consist of much more.
The Associated Press is reporting that conservative women in chadors and entire families are joining the protests currently under way in Iran.
It’s not just young, liberal rich kids anymore: Whole families, taxi drivers, even conservative women in black chadors are joining Iran’s opposition street protests.
They say they want something simple: their votes counted and their voices heard. What they will settle for – or push for – is a far bigger question.
It’s still too early to determine if the street protests will morph into a solid political opposition movement led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s top opponent, Mir Hossein Mousavi. And some Iranians have expressed doubt about people’s willingness to sustain the momentum.
But in Tehran and other cities throughout the country, Mousavi supporters – from both the upper- and middle-classes – are sending a strong message.
It is beginning to appear that the protests are really much more widespread than the Iranian government would have us believe. I get the sense that it is about more than Mir Hossein Mousavi losing the election, namely the way the election itself went down. Had the results been legitimate, the Iranian people would have possibly been satisfied, but as it is, they feel as if they have been cheated out of their vote. Time and again, statements like this are being heard from Iran.
Swathed in a long black chador, 21-year-old Saman Qahremani said she wanted to let the government know that many Iranians from all walks of life are angry.
“When I learned about the result I just felt hatred. They cheated us,” said Qahremani, who held a sign at Monday’s rally that read in English, “We just want our vote.”
“If they do not count the votes of people, Iran will not be a republic any more, it will be a monarchy,” she said.
I believe this is a universal and worldwide feeling. No one likes the feeling of having been cheated, not even a people who have lived under a harsh regime, such as they have in Iran. When a group of people begin to feel that way, they have a tendency to rise up and make their voices heard. That is what we are beginning to see in Iran. My main concern now is that the government will step and use deadly force to shut down the protests. If that happens, the Iranian people will have lost a good chance to make a difference in their country.
Reading this post makes me thankful to live in America. Understand, I’m not saying everything is perfect over here by any stretch of the imagination; our current administration has more to be desired than what many Americans will ever admit.
While listening to the radio this morning, I heard the Iranian government declare Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s victory in no uncertain terms. The proof they offered was the overwhelming margin of victory. Excuse me? What does that have to do with anything? It is also inferred that if the protests don’t stop, there will be dire consequences.
I truly feel sorry for the people of Iran; it’s a shame they are so repressed and have to live in a country where government is so corrupt. Wait a minute! That sounds a lot like our government.
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