Somewhere there’s a video of a young woman shot and killed as she’s standing right by her father.  I’m not sure it’s in one of these collections.  But I hope it’s being spread around, as difficult as it must be to watch.  I don’t really want to see it.  When I read about it last night I went to where my daughter was sleeping and gave her a hug.  For all our problems in terms of budgets, land use battles, reggae wars – I watch these vids and I’m so happy I’m raising my kids in Redway.

First collection – Streets on Fire.

Second collection, mostly vids – Defiance.

These were posted yesterday.  Probably more out today.

Note the use of cell phones and twitter.

I really hope something comes of this.  This is about Iran, but if this leads to a change in power and a return to the political system of, say, the early 1950s before we helped to mess it up, it could usher in a Muslim reformation across the board.  Probably the election last week as tampered with, but how are countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan for free and fair elections?

Addendum: I should add that while I’ve been very disappointed with Obama of late, I’m really glad Obama is in office right now.  The last thing the Iranian opposition needs is for American leadership to be blustering like the GOP has been doing over the past week (some of them are comparing the perceived political bravery of “tea parties” to the demonstrations in Tehran and comparing the oppression of Iranians to the “oppression” Republicans are facing in Congress – Wonkette’s on it).  Calm but firm commentary is in order, and Obama has played this one cool, hopefully working hard behind the scenes.  His statement of today is perfect, though perhaps not emotionally satisfying to the hawkish set.

The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.

As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.

Martin Luther King once said – “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I believe that. The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples’ belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness.

Second addendum: You can follow some Iranian dissent Twittering here.  The following was twittered yesterday:

Update
People are apparently being marked to be dragged away in the night by the secret police. For activists there is no turning back.

from Twitter

CHECK YOUR DOORS! IF YOU FIND BASIJ MARKS ON YOUR DOORS CLEAN IT WITH BENZIN/PETROL ASAP! #iran #iranelections

And I can’t find it, but last night I read a twitter from Mousavi anticipating his arrest and calling for a strike when it happens.

Third addendum: Cracks in the unity of Iran’s present leadership?

And from Common Dreams: Iran’s Revolution is homegrown and must stay that way.

Fourth addendum: Okay, for those of you dismissing the protestors and looking for evidence of CIA instigation against this poor defenseless regime being punished for standing up to Israel, THIS is what you’re defending. I’m sorry, but anything other than a raw outrage with the regime just seems callous to me.  These people are fighting tyranny of the worst order.  Period.  No mitigation because they’re opposing Israel or “US imperialism.”  If there is any such thing as evil, it’s exemplified by the Iranian regime.  This the Warsaw Ghetto circa 1942.  Czechoslovakia circa 1967.  Year Zero Cambodia circa 1976.  Indonesia circa 1965.  This is Chile circa 1972.  El Salvador circa 1981.  China circa 1989.

And here’s a cheerful opinion left on Youtube for this very vid.

who gives a shit about these ignorant Muslims? I hope they kill each other

Fifth addendum: The taboo is broken. Protesters are openly defying Khameinei.  In fact, the slogans are aimed directly at him.

Sixth addendum: Obama’s low key policy is drawing kudos from…. Pat Buchanan.

And more on the cleric rift.

And this woman says, “no matter who is president of Iran, they would stone me.”

And from another – “I grab a brick and throw.  I never thought I’d do it.” and “for me, I wouldn’t die for someone like Mousavi. But if there’s greater change at stake, then it’s worth it.”

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