Iranians are protesting the elections and the opposition candidate, Mousavi, is calling for a re-vote. Their SUPREME leader is saying no, but they are not backing down.
8 years ago we did not speak up when our candidate, Mr. Gore, quickly conceded and we accepted our SUPREME court decision to side with Bush. All the protesting we did afterwards was to no avail, our SUPREME president did what he wanted anyway.
In the US we have the right to assemble, march and protest. Our politicians know we seldom do these days, so they go on with their plans as if. Are we too busy living our lives and staying above water? Compared with other countries we still have a very high standard of living and in general the basic needs covered. Still. Are those of us who have more than the basic too busy maintaining to care about the less fortunate?. Perhaps the race to provide for ourselves and our loved ones has turned us too complacent, lazy and spineless. I am myself guilty as charged.
Unless we want to be stuck with major reforms that will shape our lives for years to come -or with pseudo reforms that will not really change the status quo- it behooves us to get out there and peacefully express our opinions. Short of joining a demonstration, letters and e-mails, even a phone call to the white house (202-456-1111) will do to make sure we express our opposition - or support- of the different policies being considered right now = Health Reform, Wars, Energy, Economy, Equality.
Whether we voted for Obama or not, we have the duty to voice our opinions. These are very important times in domestic and foreign policy. We are again in a position of exporting American values to the world, a world much more receptive to us, as we have regained their respect by electing Obama. What are American values, you may ask? Equality under the law, access to quality health prevention and care not connected to employment, free education and peace for all are the basic ones in my book. But only by having those guaranteed at home, can we expect anybody else to follow our example. Do as I do, not as I say I do.
We paid a high price for not raising our voices against past injustices; perhaps we can learn from the people of Iran. They seem ready to die for the right to express themselves. As more and more people fall through the cracks loosing their jobs and not being able to afford health care, our silence may equal death.
8 years ago we did not speak up when our candidate, Mr. Gore, quickly conceded and we accepted our SUPREME court decision to side with Bush. All the protesting we did afterwards was to no avail, our SUPREME president did what he wanted anyway.
In the US we have the right to assemble, march and protest. Our politicians know we seldom do these days, so they go on with their plans as if. Are we too busy living our lives and staying above water? Compared with other countries we still have a very high standard of living and in general the basic needs covered. Still. Are those of us who have more than the basic too busy maintaining to care about the less fortunate?. Perhaps the race to provide for ourselves and our loved ones has turned us too complacent, lazy and spineless. I am myself guilty as charged.
Unless we want to be stuck with major reforms that will shape our lives for years to come -or with pseudo reforms that will not really change the status quo- it behooves us to get out there and peacefully express our opinions. Short of joining a demonstration, letters and e-mails, even a phone call to the white house (202-456-1111) will do to make sure we express our opposition - or support- of the different policies being considered right now = Health Reform, Wars, Energy, Economy, Equality.
Whether we voted for Obama or not, we have the duty to voice our opinions. These are very important times in domestic and foreign policy. We are again in a position of exporting American values to the world, a world much more receptive to us, as we have regained their respect by electing Obama. What are American values, you may ask? Equality under the law, access to quality health prevention and care not connected to employment, free education and peace for all are the basic ones in my book. But only by having those guaranteed at home, can we expect anybody else to follow our example. Do as I do, not as I say I do.
We paid a high price for not raising our voices against past injustices; perhaps we can learn from the people of Iran. They seem ready to die for the right to express themselves. As more and more people fall through the cracks loosing their jobs and not being able to afford health care, our silence may equal death.
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