With that in mind I decided to research the problem.
On June 12th there was an election. Although there were a few candidates the real race was between the incumbent president and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hossein Mousavi.
Many people felt that the incumbent president represented the “old” Iran and the people wanted the change the international perception of their country. With uncertain and declining oil revenues and a global financial crisis, Iran has fallen on hard times. The nation suffers from high inflation and an unemployment rate that tops 30 percent (according to unofficial figures) -- one of the highest in the region, despite the country's huge oil exports. Public discontent over the faltering economy has seen President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad become increasingly unpopular. His reformist and conservative opponents alike have criticized him publicly for spending too much time agitating the U.S. and Israel and not enough trying to fix the crumbling economy. Some feel he has essentially alienated the country because of his vampire-like blood thirst for nuclear weapons and hate for Israel.
The youth was really excited about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and their was kind of an Obama effect associated with this man. The youth openly support him in the streets, but instead of donning branded merchandise they dress head to toe in brilliant green. Some even paint their faces. , Mousavi has publicly criticized Ahmadinejad’s incompetent, foolish and irresponsible behavior on the international stage. He said he wanted to increase positive relations with neighboring countries and the United States. Mousavi also claims his effort to advance the nation’s nuclear program will be for “peaceful purposes.”
Many Iranians felt this election represented the need for freedom in Iran. Freedom of a tyrannical government and freedom under an oppressive leader.
To the dismay of many the incumbent president won the election then all hell broke loose.
Supporters of reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, upset at their announced loss and suspicions of voter fraud, took to the streets both peacefully and, in some cases, violently to vent their frustrations. Iranian security forces and hardline volunteer militia members responded with force and arrests, attempting to stamp out the protests. The protest went on for days and is still going on in some areas
I guess I can understand what the people of Iran are going through. They want freedom in everyway, a true democracy that pushes away dictatorship. It also reminds me of the McCain and Obama election. People were tired of the same ole thing and wanted change so badly that they voted a black man into office. Frustration can be a great change maker and that seems to be what is going on in Iran. We would have been rioting too if Obama lost the election. When the people want, need and desire something that their government refused to give will jumpstart a revolution. My prayers are with the protesters and the people of Iran. Just for a moment I pray that peace will be still
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