Amid all the wrongness in the world and watching the Iranian government crack down upon protesters once more, we must remember to take this all in perspective. Did we ever think this could happen? Barely a month from the time that President Obama gave his speech in Cairo the middle east is radically changed. Lebanon outsed the Hezbollah coalition in their democratic election, Israel's PM is conceeding maybe a two-state process is a good idea, and the Iranian people hunger for freedom and make their case heard around the world.
It also a good idea to take breaks and enjoy what has been given to us. Laughter is our greatest weapon against illness, sadness, hurt, anger, fear, it is what keeps us grounded.
Ala, Andrew Sullivan:
"This multitude see the comic side of a thousand low- grade and trivial things—broad incongruities, mainly; grotesqueries, absurdities, evokers of the horse-laugh. The ten thousand high-grade comicalities which exist in the world are sealed from their dull vision. Will a day come when the race will detect the funniness of these juvenilities and laugh at them—and by laughing at them destroy them? For your race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon — laughter. Power, money, persuasion, supplication, persecution — these can lift at a colossal humbug—push it a little—weaken it a little, century by century; but only laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand. You are always fussing and fighting with your other weapons. Do you ever use that one? No; you leave it lying rusting. As a race, do you ever use it at all? No; you lack sense and the courage," - Satan, in Mark Twain's "The Mysterious Stranger."
Take a look at this political cartoon. It's so odd to see "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" being used in a political cartoon. ...Or is Marry Poppins...I forget which.
This is how far the regime has to go to silence the people and still they come and defy them.
Shiroudi Sports Compound turned into a military garrison June 22, 2009
mytealjacket
Here is a translation
"Why are they destroying the cars?"
"He's servicing the cars (sarcasm)."
Then to the guy walking he says, "Hey mister go inside, go inside! Don't you see these idiots?"
Then the commentator (in really formal Farsi) mentions that after they smash the car they're spray painting on the wall.
The folks behind the camera then say, "these guys are vicious... they're not even human."
Please repost this comment if you want others to get a translation.
Nico says that the cars are in on the protest and that's why they have the brights on and are honking... I, at first, when I saw this on Andrews' blog, thought the cars were honking because of the people in the way. *shrugs* They do honk the entire time and have their brights on...even when the evil motor cops come.
Shiraz, Iran (Sunday night)
Ala, Nico:
2:19 PM ET -- Mousavi fever spreads to volleyball. A reader sends along this video (said to be filmed in Dubai) with a note:It was apparently taken during a volleyball match between the teams Peykan and Alhelal held yesterday. Iranians wearing green rooted for the number 4 player with the name Mousavi (his first name is Mohammad though). I read in Balatarin (a kind of Farsi version of Digg) that after the police present in the stadium told them that even if there is a player with that name, they are not allowed to shout this name, they started chanting "Rahnavard!" Then the police got angrier and told them if they wanted to watch the match, they had to refrain from mentioning certain names. After this, the slogans changed to, "Liar, liar, you who we can't name!" "Shall I say, shall I say? Say, say! Best team is blue, no, no, no. Best team is red, no, no, no. It's green, green, green!" "Doctor (referring to Ahamdinejad), go away!" Then they raised their hands above their heads and observed a few minutes of silence out of reverence to Neda.
FYI: Rahnavard is Mousavi's wife's name, Zahra Rahnavard.
Monday, June 22nd Tehran
John Lennon's Imagine. Quite fitting.
According to Monamonax, "The Japanese title of this song is "Furusato."
It means the place where one was born and grew up. It means the place where one was born and grew up."
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