Is Politics Worth Dying For?

It is the first question I asked myself after reading Iran’s Ayatollah announcement, professing violence to all those who continue to protest in the streets of Tehran. What would I do in such a case if I felt my vote was counted and my rights rejected? Would I confront violence and possibly death for the sake of democracy, or would I just follow along with current government policies?

I was one who protested the initial election of George Bush in 2000, when it appeared Al Gore, who had won the popular vote should be president. After the announcement came that George Bush was president, I accepted the Supreme court’s decision and thought to myself, “It is only four, or even eight years-what harm could he do?” I became a passive objector and went about my business.

Ironically, after doing research for another book on World War II, I saw similar quotes from Germans in the early 1930’s after Adolf Hitler “won” an election by a 99% margin. Many said, “What harm could Hitler do?” Well, hindsight is always twenty, twenty. Hm, many said about Adolf Hitler, what I thought about George Bush-interesting. Fortunately, for America we remained a democracy and not a tyrannical dictatorship such as Nazi Germany. But then the Bush administration broke the Geneva Convention in torturing prisoners of war.

Seriously, Americans have no idea what a tyrannical dictatorship is like. We are not arrested from our homes in the middle of the nights because of our religion, lifestyle or political ideologies. We are so fortunate to be able to speak our minds and speak so negatively of our nation and fellow citizens without fear of severe government retaliation. In fact, I believe we take our freedom to a frightening extreme. I believe we should have much more respect for our freedom and treat others in our country with respect.

Why this is so interesting today, is that some in this country are rebelling and protesting against President Obama and that he threatens to take away American’s freedoms. Personally, I feel that ideology is seriously flawed, but many feel strongly and have no doubt violent thoughts of rebellion. When do we draw arms against the government when we sense injustice? What is the line to which we lay down our own lives for freedom? What causes to we promote and propagate revolution? I believe the answers to these questions should be made with the utmost care and certainty before action. The results could prove disastrous.

Today my heart goes out for the Iranian people. I am greatly impressed by their courage and conviction in the quest for freedom. I wish them peace and freedom and I sincerely wish no bloodshed upon them. Despite the outcome, the Iranian people have been an inspiration of faith and hope to everyone throughout the world. Good luck to them.