At lass Summer must end

I was lucky to have been in Iran in such an amazing time, I got to witness and personally experience what most of you watched from the news.  It has been a life changing experience.
I can’t help but think how much I take for granted and the lack of appreciation I have for the bounty of resources at my disposal. I cannot sit back in life and hope that others will create the changes that I seek, I AM the one responsible for my future and thus I must be active in my quest.
The last few days here have been sheer pandemonium; there is a sense of fear, anger, and disappointment in everyone’s face. I find it mind boggling, shocking and so incredibly encouraging that no matter how much violence is used to barricade this movement, the people refuse to stay silent. They continue to protest, walk in the street, hunk in their cars and wear green.  I am moved by their bravery!
Most of us can’t even begin to comprehend what this nation is aching of.  Years of bottled up anger, oppression, stolen rights, forced silence and violence has exploded in the street of Tehran.

Campaign of Hope

 Tehran Pre-election was pure freedom.  Obviously not the kind of freedom we know of in most western countries but for a country such as Iran such liberty was unheard of.  I didn’t see any police, or passdars (traditional military guards) or any one for that matter in the streets attempting to arrest or bother the people.  I attended and participated a few of the peaceful rallies and saw the determination, and hope in the people’s eyes.  The green movement was planting its seeds; everywhere you looked all you saw was green.  As a result of this state of governmental latitude the youth seized the moment taking to the streets every single night leading to the election.  The streets were packed with honking cars from 6pm to about 4 or 5am every night. The roads were transformed to massive parking lots, it was practically impossible to get anywhere in the evening without sitting in traffic for hours on end. People handed out pamphlets and CDs with campaign slogans, most blasted music from their cars, many were dancing in the middle of the streets and others were on top of their parked car in traffic celebrating.  This air of hopeful joy and happiness had taken over not only Tehran but most of the major cities in Iran. You couldn’t help but want to join in on their cause.
This went on until the night before the elections where complete silence took over the city.