Meet the Iran Dissidents Fighting for Freedom

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detox with cleanser of 8:32PM June 18, 2010

Freedom fighters are in Iran,
And in China, and U.S.A.
In all nations, in all timespan.
To name them all - there is no way.
Freedom is a subjective choice,
And all fight to be free at times.
Whether a con or lib does voice
Support, depends upon the crimes
Perceived done by those who oppress
Those who are fighting to be free.
All regimes in power, I guess,
Believe they have the right to be.
Liberal or conservative,
Free is how we most want to live.

Ima Ryma of IL 4:42AM January 13, 2010

There's great profit to be made from throwing all the negative publicity we can muster at Iran's rigid regime. Whatever the case for quieting opposition, whether in Iran or elsewhere, there is no justice in suppression ANYwhere, ANYtime. Dictators operate with impunity in their own lands only so long as the rest of the world is complicit through silence. Wrong is wrong, and we should say as much loudly and often in a concerted effort to (1) encourage dissidents and (2) discourage the hardliners.
I frequently express disgust with the foreign policy of the United States. It succeeds only in making us look like bullies willing to buy the hearts and minds of those whose help we covet and has the unintended side effect of making us targets of terrorists. In the case of Iran, we have a golden opportunity to force regime change just by being loud and clear in opposition without letup for as long as human rights are trampled and human lives sacrificed there. The Catch 22 for us, though, is that we risk being hypocrites if we don't also apply like high-volume pressure on Israel in its dealings with the Palestinians. Yes, these are different cases and circumstances, but offering Israel high $ foreign aid, military support, and wide-open access to the U.S. government while human rights have been conspicuously an issue for Palestinians for the last 62 years puts us, as always, in the position of saying "Do as we say, not as we do."
Publish the names of dissidents who are being mistreated in Iran, tell us their stories, and fill the air waves and columns in newspapers with it all by eliminating the nonsense that passes for "news" these days (Simon Cowell leaving American Idol? Sarah Palin joining Fox News? Harry Reid penitent over what?). Fire up the people. Fire up the world.
Maybe there is something we can do without buying our way to the goal. Maybe we can actually earn our way out of being terrorism's dartboard for a change.

Ron W. Smith of UT 5:09PM January 12, 2010

You need to include many brave Iranians fighting outside Iran as well. they are equally important and a bridge between Iran and the world.

Dr. Arash Irandoost of TX 4:47PM January 12, 2010

Here is a key figure of the Iran opposition proposing Democratic Change in Iran by people of Iran and their organzied resistance movement :
MARYAM RAJAVI'S TEN-POINT PLAN FOR FUTURE IRAN
1. From our point of view, the ballot box is the only criterion for legitimacy. Accordingly, we seek a republic based on popular vote.
2. We want a pluralist system, freedom of parties and assembly. In Iran of tomorrow, we will respect all individual freedoms. Expression of opinion, speech and the media are completely free and any censorship or inquisition is banned.
3. In the free Iran of tomorrow, we support and are committed to the abolition of death penalty.
4. The Iranian Resistance will establish the separation of the church and the State. Any form of discrimination against the followers of all religions and denominations will be prohibited.
5. We believe in complete gender equality in political and social rights. We also committed to equal participation of women in political leadership. Any form of discrimination against women will be abolished. They will enjoy the right to freely choose their clothing.
6. We want to set up a modern legal system based on the principles of presumption of innocence, the right to defense, and the right to be tried in a public court. We also seek the total independence of judges. Cruel and degrading punishments will have no place in the future Iran.
7. We are committed to the Universal Declaration of Humans Rights, and international covenants and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of discrimination Against Women.
8. We recognize private property, private investment and the market economy.
9. Our foreign policy will be based on peaceful coexistence, international and regional peace and cooperation, as well as respect for the United Nations Charter. We will establish relations will all countries.
10. We want the free Iran of tomorrow to be devoid of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction

Shima of CA 1:40PM January 12, 2010

All Americans should be actively supporting this grass-roots movement for freedom in Iran. Although there is still some split among dissidents between those who want to retain a theocracy but a fair one, and those who want a secular tolerant state, all are protesting for - and some dying for -- basic human rights. The movement is not only tolerant of women, but features strong participation by women as well as men who see the injustices to women by this regime (case in point, men who wore the burka in protest). Where would the US be had we not received support and encouragement at our time of protest and independence? The US should not invade Iran, but we certainly should celebrate and support the Iranian people.

Amiramoon of GA 1:21PM January 12, 2010

on all this. All Americans, both liberals and conservatives, should be paying attention and cheering for those in Iran who are standing up against the idea of that place (or any place) being forcibly dominated by a hard-line Islamic theocracy.
If too many conservatives here in America appear oddly slow to care or get on board, then a journalist is doing a service to point that out.

Muser of NM 12:06PM January 12, 2010