Truth to Power

I've been enthralled all weekend by the Tweeter-powered "revolution" happening in Iran. Until today, the mainstream media has been almost silent about what's been going on over there. Iranian authorities cut off phone, television and internet communications soon after the polls closed and then announced a very unlikely vote result: Ahmadinejad had won with a massive lead.

But, wait. If the incumbent has cleanly won an election, why are communications shut down? Why were journalists confined to their hotels? And why was their equipment being confiscated? And why are Arabic-speaking "police" brutally beating people with electric batons?

None of it made sense. Supposedly Ahmadinejad won 80% of those voters registered to his opposing party? Vast majorities in his opponents' home towns? It didn't add up, but none of our news outlets were saying anything.

Try as they might, though, the authorities couldn't stop the Tweeting. Hackers were getting around any blocks put in place and GPS phones just can't be shut down that easily. So, photos, videos and first hand reports were getting out to world. And it was damning. Andrew Sullivan, Nico Pitney and several members of the DailyKos community were collecting what information they could get and spreading the word. You can "follow" the "#iranelection" tag and several users whose names get shouted out. It's an amazing show of citizen journalism and new technology coming together to thwart oppressive power.

There are stunning videos of protesters peacefully marching down the street, when flanks of motorcyle cops simply plow through the crowds beating people as they go. One of the most exquisite moments is where protesters have knocked a policeman off his bike and some start to beat him, but others come to his aid and guide this stunned young man to safety.

Police invaded university dorms and ripped them apart. Holes in walls, bathroom fixtures ripped out and tons of photos of students with baton marks and burns (from the electric prodding) on their bodies. They were wise enough to keep their faces hidden and to advise people to keep their IP addresses hidden. All while having their lives threatened. Many were taken to jails and beaten. At least one member of a German journalism team was taken into custody and has gone missing. Innocent bystanders are ruthlessly beaten.

Even after all that, there is a massive nightime demonstration of people shouting "Allah o Akbar!" (God is Great!) from the rooftops.

Yesterday, the opposition leader applied for a permit to give a public speech. He was turned down and he told his people to march anyway, but march peacefully. This morning, he learned that the riot police had been authorized to carried loaded weapons and to use them. So, he advised against marching, as he was concerned for everyone's safety.

They came anyway. At first a few hundred. And the riot police were pushing against them with batons. But then there were more. And before you know it there hundreds of thousand of people (some reports say 2-3 million) peacefuly marching in Tehran. Similar activity is happening in other cities around the country. Via Twitter they have been able to communicate some basic tactics to avoid giving cause for the police to attack them. No political slogans are being shouted and they are chanting thanks to the police.

That bears repeating. They are chanting "thank you!" to the police.

Who knows where all of this will go. Whomever ends up winning the seat of President it may not appear to have changed much from our perspective. The spectrum of political viewpoints there is limited by the constraints of the religious leadership that is really the power structure there. Still, these people risk their very lives to speak out against that power structure. Make no mistake, it's a brutal, authoritarian system. Still, there they all are. Susan B. Anthony and Mohatma Gandhi would be proud.

For myself, I find it inspiring. It is the Iranian people's "Susan Boyle" moment. That same thrill of excitement at hearing Ms. Boyle belt out stunning beautiful notes after being mocked for her age and appearance course through my body as I watch videos of the protesters in Iran. They are beacons of light in a dark time, showing us all how to stand up to corruption and cynicism by speaking (or singing) our truth to power.