The Laughing Wolf

!Azadi, Arak, Eshgh!

Today, many blogs are joining together to support democracy in Iran. The ayatollahs are in deep trouble over there, and they know it. The increasingly drastic measures being used to try to control the people, from arresting journalists and students, to attempting to control the information coming into the country clearly demonstrate this.

There are several blogs that you must check out for this. Go to Winds of Change, where they have not only their usual excellent coverage – some of it from Iranian bloggers – but also they are hosting “Carnival of the Liberties” as well as “Carnival of the Vanities.”

Carnival of the Liberties will be similar to Vanities, but will focus on liberty and Iran. If you have posted on this subject, and want to get it out to a wider audience, participation is simple. Go HERE and follow the instructions to post to both.

July 9th is a special date in Iran, and it scared those now clinging to temporal power. It was four years ago today that a massive crackdown took place against the cause of liberty in that country. Rather than stopping such things in their tracks, the result has been to provide a date where even more happens.

The old men jealous of their power are upset. They blame everything on organized resistance being orchestrated by the U.S. and other such nefarious influences. The truth is not one they are prepared to face. The fact is, what they face is much worse: it is not an organized resistance, but individuals rising up.

Individual Iranians, from students to homemakers, tradesmen to politicians, have had enough. They are standing up and being counted, making themselves heard, and throwing sand in the gears of the current regime. Sometimes they do things cooperatively, but most of the time it is sporadic and spontaneous.

A small group started some trouble one night, with the result that the authorities shot them even though the claim of assault and being armed was somewhat dubious. Others stood up in acts that got them arrested, or worse. The harder the authorities cracked down, the worse the rebellion became.

Iran in 2003? Quite probably. The real story was a bit more than 200 years ago, with the Boston Massacre and the arrests and murders, and rapes and robberies, committed by Hessians and troops of the Crown in a desperate effort to subdue the unruly populace.

It is strange how history can and does repeat itself. We are watching this day individuals, who like those that founded this country, stood up and were counted. They do this knowing the price paid by our founding fathers, but convinced the cost is worth it. They stand as individuals, and unite to demand not just freedom, but a government by and of the people. They stand knowing it makes them and their families targets, and that if caught they will suffer and most likely die. They do it anyway.

Today, I urge you to support these individuals. Go read what they are writing. Go to Winds of Change, On The Third Hand, BuzzMachine, Cox and Forkum, and the sites linked to them. See what is going on, and lend it your support.

Just as individuals stood up and were counted in 1776, stand up and be counted this day in Iran. Let them know they are not alone, that other individuals of good will and character stand with them. For if we are true to our country and ourselves, we can do no less.

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