Iran Election Stories From Friends and Family

Overjoyed about Obama peace prize.  People are up in arms about what he hasn’t done.  But, exactly.  What he hasn’t done is remarkable.  Obama refuses to engage in the extremist posturing game.  In fact, at a loss for a sufficient enemy, Ahmadinejad still invokes Bush during his speeches to rile the crowd.  By not providing a mirror image for Ahmadinejad, Obama dimmed Ahmadinejad’s shine.  From Obama’s inauguration day speech:

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

But really, whether or not he deserved it is irrelevant.  The word “Obama” has always represented the wave of human beings that brought him to power, not the man.  Watching Americans rise against fanatacism in order to elect a reasonable and intelligent man was absolutely inspirational.  You hear what I am saying, dear Americans?  It’s not Obama who is inspirational, but YOU!  You organized, you hauled butt, you rose to the challenge of your generation, you brought the world’s hero into power.  You think the young Iranian fighting in the street to hold onto his election wasn’t inspired by the vision of a healthy, vibrant, and strong election like America’s 2008 presidential election?

The Nobel Committee is giving a big “Yes You Can” to the US.  Please, don’t be scared by it, just rise to it.  Because it is not Obama, it has never been Obama, who is doing this, it is you, it is us, each one of us who got him there, and who needs to keep demanding that he takes us where we need to go.

So, be happy!  Then get to work towards making peace happen!  Visit www.MFSO.org for more details.

Democracy, US Inauguration 2009

Democracy (Iran Election 6/2009)