GayPatriot

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On Wearing Green for Iran

by

On Friday night in synagogue, I approached a left-of-center friend of mine, like me, wearing a green shirt.  I asked if she were wearing that color “for the right reason.”  Indeed, she was, replying that this was one issue, like Darfur, where conservatives and liberals were in agreement.

While I would dare say there are few more such issues, I was delighted that she and I agreed on this one.  She  is a good person who actually listens to me when I explain my positions on various social and political issues. I can only hope that I have shown as much respect for her views as she has for mine.

Now that I have decided to wear green to express  my support for the people rallying for freedom in Iran, I start noticing other people wearing the same color and am wondering if they are similarly showing support or just wearing a hue that suits their fancy that day.

Interesting how we notice certain things at certain times in our lives.  I’m not much of  car person, can’t tell you the make of most of my friends’ cars, but find myself noticing what people drive when I’m in the process of buying a car (which has only happened twice in my adult life, my previous car lasting 8 years, my current nearly 12 and going strong).

All that said, my conversation Friday night reminded me yet again that there are many liberals with integrity (so much so that I thought of creating a new category to honor such individuals).  Just like those gay activists daring to criticize a Democratic President, so too are many on the left speaking up for resistance to tyranny, even if the tyrannical regime in question is not pro-American.

I’m proud to join such individuals in wearing green.

Comments

  2. There are many wonderful liberals, and I too am thrilled that so many are out there proclaiming their support for the Iranians fight for freedom from an oppressive government.

    Got to make sure I’ve got my green as well.

  3. GPW, sometimes I get hopeful reading what you write because you prove there are rational people who call themselves conservative. Then I scroll down …

  4. I have noticed that a good number of liberals are on the “right” side of this issue. It makes me glad. I cannot think of one other time I have cheered on people at the Democratic Underground! I pray we can come together and give a little push on this issue.

  8. woman and gays need to come together on this issue of gay rights. They are both being inhumanely brutalized in countries around the world. It has nothing to do with party. It is about Human Rights, it is in the hearts of both. It is in the hearts of everyone when they find such brutality against them. woman know this. They have been longing for freedom for all woman for a long time, but got caught up in a party and forgot what they were fighting for. Your fight for gay rights is reminding them.

  9. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what it will take for the persecution of gays to stop in muslim countries.
    We can’t wait for them to get that right before we expect them to accept true democracy.

    Actually many Iranian and Iraqi gays escape to Turkey for asylum. So there is an example of a muslim country that does have a certain amount of gay rights.

    I have an issue vis a vis Iran and Israel, a new regime may have no better relations with Israel and may still threaten a nuclear bomb. Yet I still would rather a change in Iran regardless of the outcome in regards. People deserve freedom, maybe as they learn to value their own, they will value it for others.

  10. sometimes I get hopeful reading what you write because you prove there are rational people who call themselves conservative. Then I scroll down …

    What a turd.

  12. Sunday afternoon on FNC, they showed two pro-democracy protests occurring simultaneously – one in LA (Westwood) and one in Houston (Rice Univ). Both the spokesmen for their respective protests not only spoke well about how people from all walks of life and all political persuasions were joining the support for the Iranian pro-democracy dissidents, but also thanked FNC for providing coverage, because the other networks did not do so.

    This is an issue that affects us all. Unfortunately for most in the State-Run Media, they don’t think it affects anyone at all.

    Bias? What liberal media bias?

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  14. What I want to know is where our little lower-case-libtrolls are, now that we are truly facing a country that wants to suppress freedom for all people, and not just gays.

    Don’t they think that it is important to stand up for others to have the same freedoms we enjoy? Or are they just posturing and one-sided individuals?

    NJL? Gillie? Nutluver?

    Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

    I rest my case.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  15. I am wearing my green clothing as much as possible. I will have to pack soon for my trip to USA and Canada. I guess I will be looking for items that just happen to have a shot of green in them ROFL.

    It is good to see that we can set differences aside (expect for Dave who seems to be addled in the head) and unite for a people who want their freedom.

    Issues such as gay rights are not the imperative in Iran right now. From what I have been reading I think that the reformers could make a difference and that there will not be the public hangings. If anything those public hangings are a contribution to the anger of the people of Iran.

    Besides the vote rigging (they have admitted to rigging in a roundabout way), there are several issues that are causing anger. I believe that the biggest issue at the moment is the rights of the women because they have faced years of being bashed and tortured if they show a wisp of hair. Also, one blogger pointed out that Mousavi did something that was extraordinary when he held his wife’s hand in public. I have seen lots of pictures of men and women holding hands, and men helping young women who are bleeding because they have been bashed by the thugs.

    First we deal with standing up to the thugs, then we deal with the other issues… one by one… It might take a while before gays are no longer hanged, but if there is a regime change and Khamenei is taken out, then I feel there will be a change. It might not be as liberal as our own countries and we have to accept that Iran is still a Muslim country.