Unexpected Lesson

Days after the end of the Iranian elections and after re-elected president Ahmadinejad claimed victory, Iranians took to the street protesting the elections. Many claim that this election was rigged to the benefit of Ahmadinejad against his contender (the more moderate) Hussein Moussavi. Now due to this objection by the Iranian people, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Alkhamenei (sort of like the queen of England) called for an inquiry into this election.

It is not clear what would be changed (if anything) due to this inquiry, but what is clear is the unexpected lesson. Through our American goggles, we view this country as one that is full of people who hate democracy, freedom and justice. Well now, that same country has just out-freedomed us. It is the opinion of most Americans that we have the best democratic free political structure in the world. It is also the opinion of most Americans that Iran is not free nor democratic.

What happened this week should reshuffle ideas and change minds. When we had a controversial elections (to say the least) in 2000, most people were of the opinion off, lets just decide and get it over with. Most people did not care that the president-elect just controversially won because of a state that is governed by his own brother while producing unrealistic results from many counties in that state. On the other hand, no such thing happened in Iran, the only hint of corruption is solely based on the skeptics claiming it is, yet people are storming the streets of Tehran demanding an inquiry into this result.

I am not claiming that there was no foul play in this Iranian elections, chances are there was, but I am asserting that with the least bit of evidence of someone taking the final say away from the Iranian people, made them crazy, just like it should have done to us.