The Election Held Around the World

On Friday, June 12, 2009, Iran held an election that was historic for many reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason that the election will be remembered is because it was the first election held around the world.

No, there weren't polling booths literally stationed everywhere for citizens of any country to vote, but for the first time in history the entire world rooted for one particular candidate.

Mir-Hossein Moussavi, one of three challengers to incumbent President Ahmadinejad, won over the support of many of Iran's youth as well as the support of the free world.

Despite his world-wide appeal and his notable popularity in Iran, it was announced that Moussavi and the three other challengers lost the election to Ahmadinejad.

Most election-cycles would have ended their narrative after the announcement of a winner, but many Iranians are now protesting the results and claiming that the election was rigged and stolen from the people. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Iran immediately after the election, fighting for their voices to be heard.

Their craving for democracy should remind us of the latter half of the 18th century when the Thirteen Fledgling colonies of North America overthrew the governance of the British Monarchy and became the United States of America.

Now, the people of Iran are craving for Democracy in a similar fashion, and it is essential that the world backs them just as they rooted for Moussavi to win the election.

These protests have already turned deadly with reports of at least seven protesters being shot by those who disagree. Without the support of the rest of the world, these protests could prove to be even more deadly.

Remember the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in China?

Over one million gathered to protest at Tiananmen Square, but the military response by the PRC government was to kill at least 2,700 people and injure up to 10,000 more. It is important to note that the official count of those slain is unkown, and that these are the best estimates available according to the Red Cross.

If the current events in Iran go unchecked by the rest of the world, there could be serious repercussions for those protesting against Achmadenijad, including a massacre of protesters similar to the mass-killings at Tianamen Square.

For those in Iran and those rooting for Democracy, our tidings and blessings go with you. The world has voted, and we are all hoping for a true Democracy in your lands.

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