Finding Hope in an Unlikely Place
Thursday, June 18, 2009 - FEATURES
[SP Exclusive]
:: AP photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian
HOPE.
It’s a tricky word. In the U.S. presidential election last fall, hope became a thing to market and to mock. I admit, I often questioned whether “hope” was anything but a nice vaguery that helped candidates avoid details while motivating supporters. It sounded great, but can hope actually change anything?
My answer came from the strangest place: Iran.
A bit of background: After four years of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad (known for denying the Holocaust, destroying the Iranian economy, supporting terrorists, and pursuing nuclear “energy”), Iranians had the chance to go to the polls. And boy, did they. The official tally was that 80% of Iranians voted in the elections. While the regime claimed that Ahmadinejad won (with an unbelievable amount of the popular vote), it was clear that serious tampering occurred. As a result, the supporters of the main opposition figure, Mir Hossein Mousavi, took to the streets in protest.
They started Saturday. They're still at it today, with the crowds growing larger every day.
The most amazing part is that the protests remain, for the most part, peaceful—even though by all accounts, the number of people protesting is in the hundreds of thousands (some put the number in the millions). Meanwhile, the existing regime has arrested reformers, beaten protestors, broken into houses and dorms, and destroyed private property. About 30 people are confirmed dead.
Despite all of that, people continue to march in silence, asking only for their vote to count. In Iranian streets, you see scores of hands raised, their fingers deftly making a "V" shape to signify victory.
These marchers believe they can make a difference through the power of assembly. They believe they can make a difference even though the government has the guns. They believe they can make a difference even though the opposition has demonstrated its ready willingness to use brutality.
And they also believe that virtue can overcome fear; that peaceful protest will win out against violence; that hope will triumph over anger and hatred.
Because of this underlying hope, Iran will never be the same again. They have shown belief in themselves, and in doing so, they have also told the world that having a voice is worth fighting for. And they've shown that you don't have to have the most guns—or the most thugs—to win a fight.
Recount or not, the current regime will likely survive these protests, and Ahmadinejad might even remain Iran's president. But what is certain is this: Once these peaceful demonstrations are over, and the goodwill of the large crowds quiets down, the regime will realize it lost the fight. Their legitimacy died a little with the silence and nonviolence of the protestors. Their rule might soon follow.
Or so I hope.
How important is hope?
:: power of hope embraced by austan
The protests in Iran give me hope that they will demand and fight for a fair government. The picture above this section reminded me of the coverage I've seen this week about young Iranian women daring to protest (some even wearing nail polish) in public. There was even video of a young woman standing in traffic wearing western clothes. These things may seem trivial, but to these people - a monumental stand. I hope the area can start a tidal wave of change in that region.
Whether we realize it or not, hope is a driving factor in most of our lives. Hope to find a spouse, to raise kids, hope for a God who will help us in need. What I have come to realize about the Iranian protests is that these people have hope for a new life. Mousavi's reforms will greatly increase the freedom for the Iranian people and the citizens and protesters are clinging to this oppurtunity. This is their driving force for living and for some, even worth a sacrifice greater than themselves. This inspires me to keep strong in my beliefs and have hope for a future.
@ryno Totally understand your point, don't be too hard on yourself. You have made some fair points. Beleive me, some people do think they know whats going on in Iran and others do actually know and you can't take that away from them. Others, like myself will go with the underdogs not because they have the solutions to the problems but because they are being disadvantaged. Purely on a sympathy basis and nothing is wrong with that...we all have our reasons. Others might think I don't know anything, why bother?
@aabbenn Absolutely, if you didn't have that vision you would give up under dire circumstances. People hang in because of external factors like their children for example, and that could be classed as a vision. Someone might long to see their unborn grandchild, if you like. To me there's always something out there that gives us hope, it has to be something we can envisioned. And just thinking about is an action. Man's thought is his reality.
I know i'm gonna sound like the bad guy here, but does anyone here really know what the f*** they're talking about when it come to Iran?? I'm not showing support for either of the candidates because I can't say I know ANYTHING about them that didn't come from the TV, and the hysterics of the election that the media has chosen to show non-stop..... You know Bush used to look like the man that stood for america and its people, and I can guess how all of you hate him now, and you certainly have good reasons. So my point is what if Mousavi is a wolf in sheeps clothing, I mean how and the hell do you know any better??? What msn, yahoo, some american or western blog?
Hope, I give my best intentions and regards, however:
the facts, Obama has increased military spending by 4%
It was promised the war would end in the beginning of his term, however that has been conveniently pushed back to 24 months "The federal budget needs to get put under control" well we all know quite well that went out the window, if you dont then you ought to look into it yourself. The list goes on.
I'm just saying I dont actually know just what the heck i'm talking about when it comes to Iran, and I don't think (most) of you do either
the election was won with 62% of the vote, maybe the majority really do want ahmadinejad
... it means no other way to stay healthy, that be defensive ....... ??? This is an old, familiar, perfectly working pattern.
I dream of an Earth which hope will be no needed any more ....
The hope was and still is the inseparable of all unlikely places ............ nothing new.
It is like the antibodies vis-a-vis a virus.
The question is : why we are creating A VIRUS ?
Some will answer: " to improve the immune system ..... "
What a ..... price .... !!!??? .... it means no other way to st
- LIFE's BIG QUESTIONS
- ATTACK A CHALLENGE
This is one of the best pieces I have read on the current election debacle in Iran. "There are a lot of things you can life without but hope isn't one of them" - @tapestryofhope.