Photos by
Syma Sayyah, Tehran
My GREEN vote wasn't your BLACK name!
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Payvand Iran News.
Payvand.com - This week I have witnessed history in the making with my
own eyes a few times. I have never felt more Iranian that I have done this week
and I have not felt so close and united with my fellow citizens of this land of
ours, and so proudly too. On Thursday afternoon after rushing from the
UN demonstration and
sending some of the photos we rushed down town with the taxi that we had kept
since earlier on making sure we do not waste any time. This is not a joke; we
are not adventurers, we are normal citizens of this country exercising our
rights and acting in silence our objections to the outcome of the recent
election and calling for a new election. It feels good to be an Iranian again.
There were, in my opinion at least many thousands if not a million people today
in one of the most spectacular marches in this country, for any reason and by
anyone, since the revolution. Nobody gets paid and all that has been happening
is spontaneous; thus it is amazing how so many hundreds of thousands of people
could do the
same thing together so well and without any organization except a call, an
e-mail or a murmur in a street or taxi. It is most wonderful and dream-like; I
see it but at times I must pinch myself to make sure it is not a dream and when
I realize it is real, I feel this lump in my throat and want to cry for joy.
Now here is the voice of people of Iran. Nobody I know wishes for anyone's help
from the outside and we all think that it is up to us to do what needs to be
done as a nation; we have reached political maturity that is not just necessary
but a duty. However, it remains to be seen what we shall do if our government
does not budge or the opposition leaders give in or worse still sell out.
From Imam Khomeini Square right to Enghelab Square there were people again from
all sides of life here. Today as a proud Iranian I walked tall and for nearly 3
hours.
The scene on the bridge a little way down Ferdousi Square and
near Vila Avenue was absolutely spectacular, from either side you could see
thousands and thousands of citizens walking hopefully, proudly and resiliently
and persistently. Many times people asked each other to stay calm and quiet and
stay silent. They all knew that there were elements who may instigate people to
chant slogans to spoil it all, so everybody for three hours stayed quiet except
when Mr. Mousavi appeared among the crowd at the beginning of the March.
Lighting candles by Tehran University for the dead and injured
At about 7:30 in Enghelab Square people were invited to sit down
and someone with a small microphone said some words in praise of those who have
lost their lives earlier this week at the university dormitory and expressed
everyone's deep sorrow to the families of the deceased and then as it is
customary here a few allah-o-akars (God is Great) were uttered so as to
bless their innocent and brave souls. Their families must be extremely
heartbroken over their loss.
Today Iranians proved to everyone and above all to themselves that, yes, they do
believe in, and can perform the duties of truly good and wonderful civil society
members. They proved that there is a will for a change in the country, for a
new Iran. The first steps will be difficult but the people of Iran are showing
their determination and will continue to show how determined they are by their
green silent presence. May their good deed bear tasty and enjoyable fruit!
