At first, I was weary about the charges of fraud in Iran’s election. After a decade of living outside my own country, I’ve seen the Western media rush to judgement on anything to do with the Middle East far too many times - their bias is undeniable. A week later, however, it’s become obvious . . . the Iranian election was rigged.
On June 23rd, Iranian authorties went so far as to admit the number of votes in dozens of cities across the country exceeded the number of eligible voters by nearly three million. Still, the regime says, election results will stand. That’s kind of like someone slapping you across the face and then saying there’s nothing you can do about it.
To each and every Iranian who has taken to the streets in the name of truth, RELATIVITY OnLine salutes you. What you are doing is valiant and just. Elections are for the people and not the government, but some seem unaware of this very basic political ideal. Egypt’s Hosni Mubarack “winning” elections by receiving 99% of the popular vote is another prime example of voting irregularities in this region.
The people of Iran, at least, have had enough and are standing up to leaders to say so. Courage lives on, hope never dies, and despite what many have forgotten, the world is what we make it . . .
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Thanks for posting this.
What is happening in Iran reminds me to feel privileged in being part of one of the world’s oldest continuous democratic federations – since 1848 – when Canada was still a British colony. Most other modern nation states have been built on a monolithic notion while Canada is much more varied with its’ ongoing evolution of how various people can live together – truly a multiplicity of perspectives and governance.
As a centre right conservative woman living in Canada, I complain daily about the liberal media bias and the all too often unrecognized inability for Conservatives to voice their opinion without being accused of parochial thinking, or my personal favorite, being regarded as philistine. Now that’s funny. What is happening in Iran reminds me that my political experiences as a Canadian, is really just a “tempest in teacup”, so I should just smarten up.
What is happening in Iran also should be a reminder to stop voter apathy in Canada. I treasure the ability I have to vote and have my vote recognized. Iranian people appear (from where I am sitting and in comparison to most Canadians who could care less about getting up off the couch to cast a ballot) do not have voter apathy. In Canada, this apathy has affected political participation in such activities as activism and engagement of both political representatives and their positions on issues.
I realize that it is a religious oligarchy that forms the basis of Iran’s government and not a liberal democracy like Canada, creating an awkward comparison; nonetheless, Iranians seem to be yearning for what Canadians take advantage of: freedom of speech, freedom of thought and maybe separation of religious authority from political power, etc.
In the last Canadian Federal election, approximately 65-67% of registered voters cast a ballot. Maybe I am a spoiled Canadian, but this number sucks! Worldwide, many industrialized countries are experiencing a decline in voter participation which boggles my mind. Meanwhile, Iranians are fighting to have their vote simply count. At this point, I guess I am just a sheltered Westerner observing ….while reminding myself that the toughest political battle I am fighting is to ensure that Michael Ignatieff will not become the next Prime Minister of Canada, yet knowing that when I vote against him, it will count!