As I'm sure everybody knows by now, the students in Iran canceled today's planned protests, for fear of a Tienamen-like response.
OxBlog has a great post up about demonstrations today (maybe in your area) - to show your support to the people of Iran.
All I can think of to say is: I remember seeing this photograph everywhere, during the demonstrations in 1999, and then hearing later that this boy was eventually found and jailed as a result of this photograph - and I remember how helpless I felt. Frustrated. Look at his face. The humanity there, the strength. The loss. The anger.
Again, I say: I truly believe that none of this, even today's thwarted strike, will be in vain.
The mullahs won this round. They won by utilizing the normal tactics of tyrants. They arrested people. They confiscated satellite dishes. They jammed the phone lines. They closed the university. They restricted access to the student organization's website. They cracked down, and cracked down hard. So whatever. They won. Today.
But yesterday's column Pooya Dayanim in the National Review, entitled "Judgment Day: July 9 and Beyond", strikes a ringing tone of triumph, strength and certainty:
Judgment Day is approaching for those who have shed the blood of tens of thousands of innocent Iranians. Judgment Day is approaching for those who have ordered the stoning of women. Judgment Day is approaching for those who ordered the bombing of the Jewish community center in Argentina. Judgment Day is approaching for those who ordered the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon and the Khobar Towers in Riyadh. Judgment Day is approaching for those who started the chant: "Death to America" and everything America stands for. Judgment Day is approaching for the Islamic Republic of Iran. It may not be tomorrow, but soon this evil regime will join the other evil regimes in the dustbin of history. Judgment Day will come.Posted by sheila