Iran.Courage.Hope
Iran.Hope.Courage.
Current mood: indescribable
Okay, I am going to try and write a semi coherent blog about what's happening right now in Iran. I'm not sure that is even possible though. My mind is a jumble of conflicting thoughts. What I am absolutely certain of is this, no one should ever be caged. Freedom and justice are human rights.They are necessary and a birthright to every human being on Earth. Murder, injustice, oppression, violence, hate... all happening right before our eyes and we stand by and let it. "Oh yes, terrible and sad. Wish there was something I could do." It makes me sick. Literally I am physically sick.
I decided yesterday that I needed to read and watch what was happening in Iran. I am usually the type that shies away from brutality in all forms. I avoid movies and books and stories because I feel like I can't bear it. Andy says I am incredibly tenderhearted. The things I see stay with me. I dream of them. I stay awake at night because whenever I close my eyes the images reappear and I can't help but wonder about all the other sad stories that result from that one moment of violence. So I tend to stick to comedies when I watch movies. I read fantasy books where things always turn out okay in the end. I turn away from news stories that are sad or horrifying. So yesterday morning after scanning all the headlines on the internet and knowing that something huge and terrible has been happening in Iran since the election, I decided to see. I have become like so many other people...if I don't see it then it can't affect me. We all think it's too far away to touch us. That our lives are hard enough as it is. We don't want to see others suffering for it it will make our own burdens heavier to bear. Well that is shameful. I am fully ashamed of myself for turning away from such things. Yes, it does hurt to see. Yes, I am tender and will hold the thought of some unknown person's struggles for days on end. I dream of all the sadness and pain and I cry myself awake from these dreams. Oh poor poor me. I am in my safe house, in my safe bed, experiencing what can only be described as mild discomfort in comparison to what some people live everyday. So I have decided that I can no longer pretend it isn't happening. Not only Iran. There is so much hurt in the world that I have sheilded my eyes from. I may have an overly sensitive disposition but that is really no excuse. The courage being shown right now as I type this is beautiful. I can barely form words to describe the awe I feel as I watch these people stand up for their freedom. They know they may die, but it is worth it. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices.
President Obama....what can I say about how he is handling this? I believe we have a moral obligation to help anyone who is being denied their freedom. We are morally obligated to help people who are dying for something that should be theirs already. I understand politics being what they are it makes it a tough situation for Obama. Of course everyone is "appalled" by what we are seeing. He refuses to make a stand because he is trying to make a logical and appropriate choice in regards to foreign relations and the U.S. I understand that. However, I believe politics and all this back patting and fake smiling is a waste of everyone's time. Why can't people in power just be fair and honest and straight forward? Yes, I know that will never be, but I think sometimes you should do what you know is right even if it means facing unfavorable consequences. So right now all he can say is that essentially Iran is on it's own. For now, depending on how it all plays out. Watch and see. Meanwhile people are dying.
So what would I have Obama do? Rush in with violence of our own? No, violence is rarely the answer. Why is it so hard to for people to just stop and look at someone and see what their violence may cause. Doesn't everyone have mothers and fathers that love them? Family and friends that want them to come home safe and whole? Can't everyone understand that a loss of even one life effects everyone. How can people do such things? I believe ever human has the right to freedom. Whether it is the freedom to love and marry whoever you choose. The freedom to protest. The freedom to walk in public without faces covered. The freedom to read and write and think whatever you choose. Freedom is worth fighting for, and as we have seen, dying for.
So what is to be done? Sadly, I don't have answers to that question. No one seems to.
All I can do is send my thoughts of hope to the people of the world who need it.
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Dale Carnegie
Current mood: indescribable
Okay, I am going to try and write a semi coherent blog about what's happening right now in Iran. I'm not sure that is even possible though. My mind is a jumble of conflicting thoughts. What I am absolutely certain of is this, no one should ever be caged. Freedom and justice are human rights.They are necessary and a birthright to every human being on Earth. Murder, injustice, oppression, violence, hate... all happening right before our eyes and we stand by and let it. "Oh yes, terrible and sad. Wish there was something I could do." It makes me sick. Literally I am physically sick.
I decided yesterday that I needed to read and watch what was happening in Iran. I am usually the type that shies away from brutality in all forms. I avoid movies and books and stories because I feel like I can't bear it. Andy says I am incredibly tenderhearted. The things I see stay with me. I dream of them. I stay awake at night because whenever I close my eyes the images reappear and I can't help but wonder about all the other sad stories that result from that one moment of violence. So I tend to stick to comedies when I watch movies. I read fantasy books where things always turn out okay in the end. I turn away from news stories that are sad or horrifying. So yesterday morning after scanning all the headlines on the internet and knowing that something huge and terrible has been happening in Iran since the election, I decided to see. I have become like so many other people...if I don't see it then it can't affect me. We all think it's too far away to touch us. That our lives are hard enough as it is. We don't want to see others suffering for it it will make our own burdens heavier to bear. Well that is shameful. I am fully ashamed of myself for turning away from such things. Yes, it does hurt to see. Yes, I am tender and will hold the thought of some unknown person's struggles for days on end. I dream of all the sadness and pain and I cry myself awake from these dreams. Oh poor poor me. I am in my safe house, in my safe bed, experiencing what can only be described as mild discomfort in comparison to what some people live everyday. So I have decided that I can no longer pretend it isn't happening. Not only Iran. There is so much hurt in the world that I have sheilded my eyes from. I may have an overly sensitive disposition but that is really no excuse. The courage being shown right now as I type this is beautiful. I can barely form words to describe the awe I feel as I watch these people stand up for their freedom. They know they may die, but it is worth it. You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices.
President Obama....what can I say about how he is handling this? I believe we have a moral obligation to help anyone who is being denied their freedom. We are morally obligated to help people who are dying for something that should be theirs already. I understand politics being what they are it makes it a tough situation for Obama. Of course everyone is "appalled" by what we are seeing. He refuses to make a stand because he is trying to make a logical and appropriate choice in regards to foreign relations and the U.S. I understand that. However, I believe politics and all this back patting and fake smiling is a waste of everyone's time. Why can't people in power just be fair and honest and straight forward? Yes, I know that will never be, but I think sometimes you should do what you know is right even if it means facing unfavorable consequences. So right now all he can say is that essentially Iran is on it's own. For now, depending on how it all plays out. Watch and see. Meanwhile people are dying.
So what would I have Obama do? Rush in with violence of our own? No, violence is rarely the answer. Why is it so hard to for people to just stop and look at someone and see what their violence may cause. Doesn't everyone have mothers and fathers that love them? Family and friends that want them to come home safe and whole? Can't everyone understand that a loss of even one life effects everyone. How can people do such things? I believe ever human has the right to freedom. Whether it is the freedom to love and marry whoever you choose. The freedom to protest. The freedom to walk in public without faces covered. The freedom to read and write and think whatever you choose. Freedom is worth fighting for, and as we have seen, dying for.
So what is to be done? Sadly, I don't have answers to that question. No one seems to.
All I can do is send my thoughts of hope to the people of the world who need it.
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Dale Carnegie