You Don't Know What You've Got

Image credit: Iran Human Rights

It's with more than sadness for Iran's own situation that I view the protests that have been going on there recently. Certainly, the Iranians have plenty to protest about. There's a stolen election, kangaroo courts for protesters, and the fact that theocrats run the country. Iran Human Rights writes about Monday's protests:

(5 December 2008) Despite three years of persecution and prosecution and increasing threats from official organs against university students, the voices of Iranian students promoting academic freedom on university campuses and the right to education are strong and clear, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported on the eve of National Student Day, 6 December.On 26 November 2008, Mehdi Arabshahi, secretary of the Office to Foster Unity, a prominent student organization, reported threats against his organization being circulated in publications and websites close to the government. According to these threats, the Office to Foster Unity is being accused of connections to terrorist groups abroad. Arabshahi strongly denied these accusations and announced that despite such intimidation tactics, the organization will celebrate National Student Day and hopes their peaceful events will be allowed to take place.

End Rampant Violations of Academic Freedom and the Right to Education

What makes it especially sad for me is that this shows how complacent we've become in our own country. People can barely be bothered to inform themselves of what their government is doing, let alone complain about it. We've lost many of our own rights in the last few years in the name of fighting terrorism, yet few seem to care. In Iran, where they don't have either the right to inform themselves or the right to protest, they seem far more eager to do both.

Like Joni says, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

I wish the protesters well, and hope they get what they're after. They certainly deserve it.