The courage of the young people of Iran is awe-inspiring - it mustn't go unrecognized

[Merryweather]

Found this via Sullivan:

http://entesabat88.persianblog.ir/post/2/

There are some truly horrific images there. Dorm room doors with bullet holes. A student lies bloody and beaten on his bed.

Iranian police and security forces are now storming student residences, arresting some, terrorizing all of them, in a brutal attempt to quash the uprising. According to some messages desperately posted on Twitter, it's believed that Ahmadinejad's now brought in foreign mercenaries to beat and kill protesters. And still they protest, still they fight for freedom, literally in the face of death.

We should also praise the ingenuity of the protesters - when basic communications were cut Twitter and Facebook were transformed from social networking sites to means of coordinating a resistance movement, and when the regime shut them down, they switched to using blogs. What helped elect Barack Obama is now helping support a potential revolution. Who would have thought that possible when those sites were launched?

We should never again take our right to vote for granted. We may not be able to be of much help to these courageous people but we can honour their bravery by voting in every election, no matter how disillusioned we may be with the candidates on the ballot. :patriot:

[liberalmuse]

1. I found this on Daily Kos...

Someone created this from an image released earlier today and I think it's amazing:

[Warpy]

5. One of the sites out there had an "after" picture of him

with multiple baton stripes on his arms and back. I think he's probably hurting very badly today, since they beat him yesterday.

It's worth signing up at Twitter to read http://twitter.com/Change_for_Iran .

He's been a prolific poster all along and is describing some really bad stuff going down at the University, stuff that has been confirmed by correspondents from ABC and NBC who haven't left yet.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Here ya go....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5846149&mesg_id=5846149

[liberalmuse]

10. Thank you!

I saw the pic of the stripes on a man's back and was wondering if it was him (the Calvin Kleins gave it away, but I don't know how popular they are in Iran and wasn't absolutely sure). Thank you for the twitter link. I've been trying to find a good link, and just became a fan of the facebook page so I can read updates there as. God this is horrible to watch. I wish we could do something, but we can't without making things much worse.

[Duer 157099]

11. Ben Stiller is in Iran?

(so sorry, but there is a resemblance)

[liberalmuse]

12. OMG, you're right! n/t

[hlthe2b]

2. Sadly some here who have no understanding of Iran nor the

players, the history-- are making kneejerk assumptions that Ahmadinejad "must" be the good guy since his "overwhelming win" is being contested.

I am depressed at what I am seeing by a very vocal and ignorant faction within DU....

[Merryweather]

14. Well, from what I've seen

the vast majority of posts have been vehemently anti-Ahmadinejad and in full support of the protesters.

[hlthe2b]

15. I'm glad you've missed some that I wish I'd missed...

;)

[Merryweather]

16. Crap - just saw one asking

what if Ahmadinejad won fair and square? :banghead: Because people who've been legitimately elected usually send in the troops to violently quash protests. :sarcasm:

I'll take comfort in the fact that view's in the minority :-)

[liquid diamond]

20. I'm glad someone else recognized that bullshit.

[troubledamerican]

22. Want to get sicker? The EU has recognized the coup.

http://www.eu2009.cz/en/news-and-documents/cfsp-statements/eu-presidency-statement-concerning-the-iranian-presidential-elections--12-june-2009-25213/

Totalitarianism prevails.

Can't happen here. I'm sure Americans would ALL just POUR into the streets and lay down their lives over a disputed elec-- er, um, never mind.

[Merryweather]

23. I'm a Brit, but the EU sure as hell doesn't speak for me

I really am ashamed we belong to that group sometimes.

[TheWatcher]

25. There is a very vocal, dumbed down, and COWED part of DU and the American Population

That drools and accepts our own Stolen Elections, so it doesn't surprise me in the least.

[BlooInBloo]

3. It would go unrecognized if DUers had their way.

[FreakinDJ]

4. Looks like Tehran University Dormitory was burned out

Tehran University Dormitory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFHTBte8zZw

[BlooInBloo]

6. Yah - saw that on huffpo.

[EFerrari]

7. What utter crap. Asking for confirmation about killed children

is not ignoring. It's the opposite of ignoring.

[BlooInBloo]

9. Teh stupid. Still burning...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5846569

[EFerrari]

13. LOL! Right. Sourcing is teh stupid.

[jwirr]

17. I keep thinking Tienanmen (spelling?) Square when I look at these pics. nt

[Merryweather]

18. The parallels are eerie

Even the group of protesters being targeted by the regime's thugs is the same - students.

[Scurrilous]

19. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Skittles]

21. Off to the Greatest Page with ye

:thumbsup:

[patriotvoice]

24. The birth of freedom, in action.

A sea change only comes from within. An outsider cannot "bring democracy"; only the will of the people will be sustained.

Iranian sisters and brothers, I stand with you. Let freedom ring.