Protests In Iran

The situation in Iran is reaching an excruciatingly critical level. Passionate and violent protests have broken out in major cities throughout the country: "Protests and clashes were reported not only in Tehran, but in the cities of Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Arak, Tabriz, Najafabad, Babol, Ardebil and Orumieh" (New York Times). Eight to ten protesters have been killed, and in some cases protesters have beaten back the police.

Why do I care about what's happening in Iran? I care because the Iranian people are against the government of Ayatollah Khamenei and President Ahmadenijad, who want to acquire nuclear weapons, and who are incredibly hostile to Israel (and who arguably pose a threat to Western Europe and America), and who are among the most repressive governments towards women in the world.

It would be good if the people could overthrow the government and replace it with one more to their own liking, and to the world's.

Iranians have liked Americans (unbeknownst to most of us) for a long time. Do an search on Google or Bing and you'll find articles with statements like this one: "Generally speaking, Iranians like Americans — not just American products, which remain very popular, but Americans. That is not entirely new: Iranians on an individual level have long expressed a desire to restore relations between the countries. But the sentiment seems much more out in the open now" (Michael Slackman, New York Times, 2008). The article goes on to say that there is high demand for American products, and I like to think that it's because they value rights that we have, and that they want for their own, such as equality for women and freedom of religion.

I find it gripping and painful to watch their protests, and I hope for the best for them.