What do the following have in common?
-The assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan
-275 citizens reported killed in Nairobi Kenya in January of 2008
-Violent demonstrations in 2001 in Sir Lanka
-400 people killed in Nigeria in December of 2008
-Violent clashes with authorities in Mongolia in July of last year
-193 citizens killed in Ethiopia in 2006, and a report of 102 people killed in May of 2007 in the Philippines
All involved violent opposition to an election in that specific country. Much like what has happened in Iran this past week.
On June 12th Iran held its presidential election. Post election results reported that the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejab, had won and would remain President of Iran. The election results were disputed by a large number of Iranian citizens who supported Mir Hossein Mousavi. Protest began to turn violent and continues to escalate. This escalation is still occurring even after the supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, notified the Islamic Shiite dominated country that Ahmadinejab had indeed won. Some deaths caused by the protest were reported, but now the Iranian government is censoring news and media outlets to stifle the current situation. But with the advent of modern social networking technology such as twitter and face book, images concerning the situation there are continuing to be released to the world. A 16 year old Iranian female was captured on video dying as she lay mortally wounded by a bullet. She was a student in Iran and reports state she was talking on a cell phone when shot by a gunman. She is being called "Neda," Farsi for the voice or the call.
As most will remember, America had a disputed election in 2000 between Bush and Gore. Many still believe Bush stole the election. The intent of this A.P. American segment is not to debate who should have won in 2000, but to observe that during the dispute, which eventually was heard before the Supreme Court, no violent rioting or killing occurred. Were Americans upset? You bet they were, but not to the point where the streets of America became unsafe with violence, and clashes between American citizens and government elements transpired. What makes America different? Why can Americans agree to disagree and still not digress to violence?
Any student of American history will tell you that America has had its share of protest and violence. America’s independence was born out of protest, and we have continued to use the tool of protest as a means to get our government’s attention. Some protest were waged to solicit the inalienable rights of all men such as the civil rights movement, while other protest have been used to influence government on certain issues such as tax reform and immigration laws. Most protest in modern America have been orderly, such as the Million Man March, while others have turned violent such as what happened after the Rodney King verdict, the L.A. Watts riots and Kent State. But through it all the foundational security and stability of America were never threatened.
The 1960’s and 70’s were a volatile time for America. President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, as was his brother Bobby five years later. Martian Luther King and Malcolm X also lost their lives to violence. Students were killed at Kent State and America experienced the Watergate scandal that eventually led to President Nixon resigning office and validation of American government corruption. The anti-war movement began and anti-government organizations such as the Weathermen were spawned. It became the age of the “hippie” and “flower children”, the Black Panthers and youthful rebellion. Through all the turbulence however, America still stood firm and secure.
America has been through a lot since its birth during the American Revolution. It has withstood many tests since 1776. It has had its dark moments when justice was not served to all, and some may still feel the sting of injustice in some respects. But America has always attempted to self reflect and correct historical wrongs, and ensure that mistakes made were never repeated. I believe America has been able to do this because its citizens have always submitted to a rule of law, understood the importance of education and have been bound by the threads of a Christian faith. Hopefully America will continue to understand the importance of these three things and how they have “glued” us together as a people. No business could ever expect to be successful or continue to flourish without certain principles and loyalty that are shared by all. A country is no different. The protest in Iran this week should be a means to remind all Americans that they are blessed to live in America, and remind them of the extraordinary foundational rights and privileges we all share. Right or wrong, that the way A.P. American sees it.
