Saturday, June 13, 2009

Why We Were (Not) Naive

We woke up to two messages: one from a friend who is 100% against participating in Iran's elections, and one from someone who is an Ahmadinejad supporter. You can imagine the glee they felt telling us "I told you so."

They did not tell us anything.

The fact is, there are vote counters out there who know very well exactly how we and millions of other Iranians voted. They know, and it terrifies them. If we had not participated, we would not have been able to send that message at all.

If you voted please do not kick yourself for being "naive." (BTW, Now readers know why I posted "Thanks for Voting" before the elections.)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I came across your blog while searching under how Arabs and Iranians view one another (Question 6). Although I have lived in Israel for work, my knowledge of the many cultures in the region is limited. The election in Iran yesterday piqued my curiosity further - especially with the supposed Ahmadinejad win. I was curious as to your take on this newest event and checked this most recent entry. Based on the demographics (people under 30 being a majority) I was surprised at the overwhelming support he received. I watched some of the outrage that spilled into the streets after the election results were announced.

Having lived there yourself and having a husband of Iranian ancestry - is it a fair assumption that the results as reported will still be challenged for some time or does life go on until the next election.

Unknown said...

Keith, We are witnessing a Coup de corps in Iran. The head is killing the body. The results are ridiculous, fraudulent, and impossible. Mousavi was the clear winner and everyone in Iran knows that to be true.

There have been so many arrests and deaths. It's hard to know what will happen. But look at Tehran Bureau's great mathematical piece to show the impossibility of the results.

http://tehranbureau.com/2009/06/13/faulty-election-data/

Anonymous said...

Tori

Tehran bureau is down, as are most other pro-mousavi websites.

Anonymous said...

I salute the courageous bloggers inside Iran who dare tell the truth. May you one day secure the blessings of Liberty. I say as an American not only to the peoples of Persia, but also to my own country as we have lost ours as well.

Anonymous said...

As an Iranian Amwerican Living in Tehran, North Tehran that is, and having voted for Mousavi, i am afraid there could be truth to the fact that we are outnumbered by the villagers, the poor and the non Tehranis and we may have lost the election.
too bad.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous - You are in Iran and I am not. I have been reading blogs and daily updates from many, many sources since June 13. From everything that I have read - the suspicious quick count of votes and the "statistically peculiar" landslide for Ahmadenijad - and the ongoing developments within the clerical establishment - and much more - I don't see how Ahmadenijad could "honestly" claim the victory he has spouted. Impossible. If it's true - openly count the election returns.

Don't give up faith that this past week in Iran has been for nothing.

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