Independence Day Politiku: Where is My/Their Vote?

The protests following Iran's contested election continue as Americans prepare to celebrate the two-hundred-thirty-third anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Difficult as it is to pinpoint a correlation, it would be even more difficult to avoid the fact that Iranian protesters are now struggling to obtain the fundamental principles of governance that we obtained two-hundred-thirty-three years ago. Lest the event become the stuff of syndicated History Channel documentaries, we set aside this day to honor the event with bbq's, bottle rockets, picnics, apple pies, sparklers, funnel cake and red, white and blue star streaked fireworks that rip across the dark and smoky sky.

Meanwhile, the tweets and re-tweets now emanating from those ubiquitous, green "Where is My/Their Vote" avatars serve to keep the Iranian protesters' struggle against Ahmadinejad, in perpetual fiberoptic motion.

So I asked the Politiku Posse how the simultaneity of the Iranian elections and the Declaration of Independence's two-hundred-thirty-third anniversary resonate and, this is what they told me:

Peter Orvetti Politiku
Boston, now Tehran
Neda and Crispus Attucks
First fall for freedom

Karen Goldner Politiku
The rockets red glare
Inspiring for our people
For dogs not so much

Daniel Nester Politiku
Remember McCain's
Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran?
Well, he's still around.

Gerhard Holtzendorf Politiku
(paraphrased from Twitter traffic)
Have you seen my child
The guard wore green and a smile
Do not use real names

Thomas Huynh Politiku
Casted my vote see
But did they ever count me
No ... Let's barbecue!

Michael O'Brien Politiku
Tracheotomy!
Unearth the nascent voicebox
Farsi Republic

SS and KN Politiku
Then/Now Voyager.
So how could it be the same?
Only if they win.

Don Bassman Politiku
green is its color
its fruits justice and freedom
- annual flower

Susanna Speier Politiku
Invite rescinded!
No hot dog diplomacy,
Ahmadinejad!

Follow Susanna Speier on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Politiku

Comments

[Susanna Speier - Huffpost Blogger]

Because the majority of readers live in the United States, I used the colloquial, rather than the technical definition.

[oxi]

It is not legal nor right!

So is that how you approach the Constitution likewise?

[wereeverywhere]

As you are well entitled to do. How many countries have 'America' in their title?

[oxi]

Americans? I did not know 2 continents celebrated independence day on the 4th of July!

You must mean U.S. citizens right? Read your passport, your not an American!