by Phineas

Created on: June 28, 2009   Last Updated: July 02, 2009

The action of Iranian protesters was a step in the right direction for Iran - not just a step toward justice but also a step towards sympathy in the hearts of the people in the free world. Rebellion against unfair rule has a special place in the hearts of Americans in particular, as our government was established as a just alternative for the monarchy in which it was not fairly represented.

For Americans, seeing that the Iranian public does not fully support Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's anti-American and anti-Israeli rantings, allows us to identify with the oppressed people. The way Ahmadinejad struck down the resistance for the fraudulent election results should have further inspired the world to provide support, and hopefully dispelled some prejudiced illusions about Middle Eastern people. Although violent riots are seldom justified, a peaceful protest of a rigged election certainly is.

Ahmadinejad's reaction to the conflict should hopefully spur the democratic world to action. His ban of reporting and photography on the streets of Tehran, should be a clear sign that his quashing of the protest would not pass muster with other nations. It shows that the people are being oppressed, and he does not want them to earn sympathy.

Hopefully the world will realize what it means to let a fraudulent election pass without consequence, and make peaceful efforts to support the people. The violence on the streets should not be encouraged, but the peaceful protesters should know that the world is morally behind them.

International organizations and individual nations should make clear that Ahmadinejad will not be recognized as the legitimate president of Iran unless he can prove the validity of the election. If Iran becomes a threat, necessary sanctions and military actions should become an international effort rather than American meddling.

The support mentioned above would be ideal, and would certainly prevent the crisis from being forgotten if not resolve it. The people, however, are the true fuel. Ahmadinejad has started a fire that will never burn out; the oppressed Iranian public will not simply forget.

Even without the support of other nations, the cause will not fade. This has been shown time and time again by protesters of oppressive leadership all over the globe. Ghandi's followers against the British Raj in India, the patriots in the American colonies, and Mandela against apartheid, are shining examples of why the Iranian people will continue to push for democratic justice. The more Ahmadinejad strikes them down, the more oppressed they will feel and act.

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