Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have courageously taken to their streets to stand up for democracy. Why not millions of us here in the home of free expression?
Opposition leader Mousavi has called for Friday to be a day of mourning for those who have died in the government-led violence against protesters. More symbolically, wearing black is a sign of mourning the death of democracy in Iran that appears all too imminent.
As Americans, we need not wait for any government leader to give us orders to freely express our beliefs. Whether one feels President Obama has set the right tone, or has fallen short, is beside the point. All of us can join in standing with Iranians willing to face down government agents while chanting ""Death to the dictator!" some chanted. "Where are our votes?"
Imagine if rallies in public spaces sprang up in cities across America as early as tomorrow, the day of mourning in Iran. Last year when the Pakistani judiciary was under attack, bar associations around the country in short order organized rallies in support among lawyers in dozens of cities. It was noticed in Pakistan by the lawyers protesting in their country. How better for Americans to show their condemnation of the Ahmadinejad regime than to hold demonstrations spontaneously organized by average citizens moved to support Iranian voters.
All we need do is take advantage of the vast array of social networking means of spreading the word. It should be possible to bring Americans together into our streets, wearing black for mourning, or green as the color of the opposition. Wear a black armband, or a black bracelet. But don't just sit in front of your screen in awe at the flowering of a democratic opposition in the streets of Iran.
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