18 June 2009

What Does Freedom LOOK Like?

free⋅dom  /ˈfridəm/ [free-duhm] –noun
1.the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial.
2.exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3.the power to determine action without restraint.
4.political or national independence.
5.personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.


As an American increasingly concerned with our eroding liberties and almost complete abandonment by the federal government in following our Constitution, the word "freedom" admittedly has taken on strong meaning to me, and I have taken pride in feeling like I'm fighting for it for my kids' future. However, at this moment images like this one coming out of Iran have, if I am understanding their plight, utterly humbled me to say the least.

I don't pretend to know the depth of the dominating theocratic regime that Iran's government is, nor could I relate to their oppression or suffering on such a scale. For days I have watched their rising numbers in images on TehranLive.org with some reservations. Not because I thought they may fail in their revolution-attempt, but because I kept thinking "We mustn't forget about Israel." We cannot forget about Israel or that our president seems beyond aloof about the country. I was reticent to join in on feeling anything about what was happening in Iran.

But as I watched this slide show, I couldn't help but get caught up in what I was witnessing. THESE people are crying out for FREEDOM, are they not? In a simplistic explanation to myself, it appears the Iranian voters really weren't given a choice in candidates as they were hand-picked by the "Supreme Leader". Had the Iranian voters been given an inkling of the hope of choice that really wasn't a choice? And when the results of their election seemed so insultingly fraudulent their hope in having a choice was snatched away? So the people take to the streets risking life and limb numbering in the tens of thousands for days and days!

The pictures speak volumes. I am both humbled and motivated by what the demonstrators are doing in Iran, all for the feeling of freedom. And I pray they gain the outcome they want, believing that what they want is their God-given right to freedom.

3 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more, and the fact that these protesters are risking their lives for the freedom to choose a relatively minor official (the President of Iran has NO power compared to the Mullahs) is amazing!

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  2. Great words CM, I agree with everything that you say here. Thanks for commenting at Flickers of Hope over at LCR, if you would like you could post that article here, provided a link back. BTW, I love you reading list and am proud to have people like you on board the movement to shed our country the socialism that is bound to destroy us. If you need any advice with blogging, drop me a note too! Also, could you comment on the post at my site that has the french title? My wife wrote it and I am trying to get her involved in blogging, it's her first post.
    Thanks!

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  3. The gentleman who took the photos in this, Amir, who posts at TehranLive.Org has been missing since June 17. An update from a friend on June 24 states that Amir is at Evin Prison. Please pray for his safety.
    ~ L

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