Fascists vs. The People

Praise Allah for our futuristic technology that allows regular people with cellphones to trump CNN during times of democratic revolution:



That's right, the people standing strong together event as bullets continually pop off all around them. The Revolutionary Guard regime of which Ahmadinejad is either evil puppet or enabler, who reportedly control 30% of Iran's economy, attempting to grab power even from the corrupt mullahs, are now targets for having committed murder. Just one case:

Gunfire from a pro-government militia killed one man and wounded several others Monday after hundreds of thousands of chanting opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad marched in central Tehran to support their pro-reform leader in his first public appearance since disputed elections. The outpouring in Azadi, or Freedom, Square for reformist leader Mir Hossein Mousavi followed a decision by Iran's most powerful figure for an investigation into the vote-rigging allegations.

As my parents always taught me, exercising your right to vote is an honor in a world where people die for the right to participate the best of all imperfect systems, democracy. Take a look at these photos for a look at courage.

Andrew Sullivan is doing great public service with his blog, now turned green in solidarity with the protesters. His collection of Tweets alone is worth the visit. Nico Pitney in Huffington Post is another great source, with some understandable overlap. I don't know how else to say it, but this is history in the making, win or lose, and feels similar to the Corizon Aquino democratic revolution in the Philippines against dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his shoe-hoarding wife, Imelda, that had us glued to the television 23 years ago.

And how about this: Pat Buchanan praising President Obama for his contribution, virtually calling it The Obama Effect:

Nevertheless, Obama, with his outstretched hand, his message to Iran on its national day, his admission that the United States had a hand in the 1953 coup in Tehran, his assurances that we recognize Iran's right to nuclear power, succeeded. He stripped the Ayatollah and Ahmadinejad of their clinching argument—that America is out to destroy Iran and they are indispensable to Iran's defense.

With the mask of patriotism and the legacy of true revolution lost through this election fraud, Iran's regime stands exposed as just another dictatorship covering up a refusal to yield power and privilege with a pack of lies about protecting the nation.

Take that, Mitt Romney and your fellow midgets. Here's how a real President reacts -- in measured, but no-uncertain fashion:



My favorite quote:

"I am deeply troubled by the violence that I've been seeing on television," the president said. "I think that the democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent - all those are universal values that need to be respected."

When Americans see violence used to quell peaceful demonstrations "they are rightfully troubled," Obama said. To the protesters, he added, "I would say the world is watching and inspired by the participation."

Damn straight, I'm troubled by it. That's why we fought a Revolution. Americans left and right ought to be following this news -- we tend to paint everyone in the Iran with the same brush, and now it's time to acknowledge that those who fight for democracy are fighting for the ideals we hold most dear.

Death to fascists. Everywhere.