If you haven’t been following the current protests and events in Iran, then I highly encourage you to do so.
For those of you who haven’t heard about the Iran elections (not surprising given the relatively light coverage in mainstream media), Iran held presidential elections this past Friday on June 12th. The current hardline president, Ahmadinejad, was announced the winner, but the elections results released are extremely fishy, and not in line with what opinion polls were predicting. The main statistical improbability is that Ahmadinejad had roughly the same percentage of votes (around 65%) across different rural and urban areas and across different provinces, including the home provinces of his opponents and ones like Kurdistan, which historically goes for the opposition candidate like California goes for the Democratic one.
So what, right? Just another sadly rigged third-world election?
Well, as the pictures here show: No.
The young people of Iran – and the 30-and-under’s are 70% of Iran’s population – are in the streets protesting en mass. Earlier today there was a group of one or two million in Tehran at a rally. While the government is doing their best to shut down media, the youth is organizing by sending out twitters and pictures on their cell phones – which also allows for unprecented access for us outside of Iran to watch events unfold. The best compliation of sources I’ve found is at the blog of Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic.
So why should you care? Besides the fact that there are 70 million people living in Iran without many of the freedoms that those of us in functioning democracies take for granted, Iran and Iran’s youth may be one of the West’s best chances to start a fruitful dialogue between us and Muslim nations in the Middle East. As Andrew Sullivan writes:
I’ve long believed that Iran was much more likely to become a democracy than its neighboring Arab states – and that this might be the key to unwinding the clash of civilizations that was hurtling us toward apocalyptic scenarios. Part of it is that being immersed in online media, I’m perhaps more aware of the vibrant debate, evolving culture and amazing passion of Iran’s Millennials. So this day is a moment of great hope and joy for those of us who have been waiting for it and knowing that one day, it would come.
15. June 2009 at 6:02 pm
For all the disinformation that the US likes to paint about Iran, there is something very intellectual about the country. No doubt its an Islamic state, but it sure is not the devil that the US / West would like us to believe.
Here's hoping that the youth's voice is heard and real democracy is ushered in. No one wants some moron running around with nuclear weapons like a headless chicken.
15. June 2009 at 7:44 pm
Iran for all its flaws is far more democratic and free than any of its Arab neighbors. Persians are extremely proud of their culture. It is interesting to see the Ayotallah call for an investigation. The last “liberal” President was Mohd. Khatami, who as pushed around a lot by the west….We need to see how the investigation pans out….
While US has always pursued, what I like to call an “opportunistic” foreign policy and portrayed Iran to be a part of “axis of evil”… Iranians have never been territorially ambitious or have had any illusions of world domination.
15. June 2009 at 11:25 pm
Yesterday here in LA I was driving past the federal building on Wilshire Blvd, and the Iranian-Americans were lining the street in a solidarity protest…probably about 200-300 people in all. Holding signs that read “Say no to the coup” or with a picture of Ahmadinejad and the words “Not my president” underneath. Quite an inspiring sight – I gave a couple of honks in support. The pictures coming out of Iran are really amazing…
16. June 2009 at 11:44 am
I'm fascinated and awe-struck myself. My facebook homepage seems to be about 95% Persian now, from just the few Iranian friends on my list & the comments their posts receive; I wish I could read the discussions.
I wish there were a productive way to show support.
16. June 2009 at 1:01 pm
try this: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10265462-2….
16. June 2009 at 1:26 pm
For anyone who is interested further, the Boston Globe has a photo essay page that is generally pretty great no matter what the topic, but the photos out of Iran are astounding, and there are a lot of them: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/06/irans_...
16. June 2009 at 1:40 pm
thanks for the link …. found this as well….
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10265825-36.h...
16. June 2009 at 2:06 pm
Yep! Iranian friend sent me this link:
http://gr88.tumblr.com/post/124416676/how-non-i...
And I found this utne reader one as well:
http://www.utne.com/Politics/How-to-Support-Pro...
17. June 2009 at 6:55 pm
I've been appreciating fivethrityeight.com's discussions of the election.
18. June 2009 at 3:05 am
@”So what, right? Just another sadly rigged third-world election?”: Pretty much sums up the reaction of people in many 'Western' countries who'd lump all countries outside of their zone of comfort into 'third-world'. Well, the 'third-world' also comprises India, and we just had the biggest democratic exercise recently and came out fairly OK I guess.
As for Obama, he has already commented that he doesn't care one way or another who wins, since he thinks US would be dealing with a hostile regime anyway. So much for a fresh approach to everything.
18. June 2009 at 7:00 am
I think that's a mischaracterization of what Obama has said. Frankly, his hands are tied; if he says much of anything for the protests or for a particular candidate, then that side comes in for a lot of “you're just America's puppet regime” talk. The most important thing he can do in this situation (unless it comes down to stopping major violence against the protesters by international force) is to keep the US government out of this so that it's clear that this is a movement by the people of Iran for themselves. And I think he's don't that well
19. June 2009 at 3:27 am
Well actually it does not matter. US has put as much sanctions on Iran as it possibly can. Persians are deep strategic thinkers. The Arab demography is increasing and is twice the Persians. Persian demography is shrinking. The Ayotallah and his mullahs are going to get nukes one way or another as a deterrent. Mousavi is equally extremist if not more than Ahmadinejad. These election results wont matter all that much anyways since The Ayotallah wields the real power…..
That being said which other countries, in the middle east, apart from Israel and Iran do we witness any kind of anti government protest??
21. June 2009 at 9:31 pm
Here's a Time article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1...
22. June 2009 at 1:07 pm
I agree this is fascinating to watch unfold…
22. August 2009 at 11:10 pm
Before you people go all crazy over these elections, I would like to remind you of what is going on just a few miles west of all these protests that yours truly, Jewish-owned American media, never bothers bringing to light. Just a few months back over a thousand Palestinians died at the hands of Israelis and hundreds of them were children. But God forbid, democracy in Iran is more important than Palestinian children. Pretty girl dying at the hands of evil hardliner Ayatollahs was broadcasted all over the news what about the thousands killed in Palestine, what about there living conditions in that huge prison called Palestine. But never mind that, we have more important things to worry about. College students in Iran are marching for democracy.
May I also remind you about other several nations ruled by much more ruthless dictators that US and other countries fully support. Saudia, Egypt, Pakistan (not too long ago before it was replaced by a puppet democracy) what about the popular support for there leaders? What about the countless killed at the hands of these people?
All I ask is, cut the rhetorical bullshit already!
12. May 2010 at 12:22 pm
Is this what our (western) Gen X and Baby Boomers want? They want people to step up and care, this is what it looks like when people step up and care. What makes their government different from ours, in the thought that when a mass of its own country men fight for their rights, their government fights back. What do you think our governemnt will do?