Why I Will Vote: Kamran Ashtary

June 2nd, 2009, 1:24 pm

Subscribe by email

Kamran Ashtary
In less than ten days, millions of Iranians will go to the polls to participate in what might be the most important election since the revolution thirty years ago. I want to vote because I believe that it is a fundamental right to use every democratic tool we have to try to influence change in our beloved land. This is especially true even when the options are not our dream options. The government of President Ahmadinejad has show and created a situation, nationally and internationally, that can easily get out of control and have disastrous effects for the country and the people we love.

I don’t believe in these people and do not think any of the candidates can solve the enormous challenges we face, but I am still voting. During the past thirty years, our rights as Iranian citizens have been constantly under attack. This has been true despite many promises of protection and invitations to engage in the building of our society.

I am voting with the hope that not only the hardline government will change, but that we will build a more democratic society where women’s rights, a free press, free speech, and human rights are not a dream. Last 4 years proved our right can be in more danger than we could even imagine.

Being part of this initiative was unthinkable for me just four years ago. Four years of right-wing Ahmadinejad has put Iran on a downward path. I believe that Iranian expats should play a more constructive role and not keep waiting for some magical transformation of power.

Let’s make a change. Let’s vote.

مطلب را به بالاترین بفرستید:

Balatarin
  1. Global Voices po polsku » Iran: głosować czy nie głosować

    [...] pisze: Glosuję w nadziei, że nie tylko surowy rząd się zmieni, ale też że będziemy budować [...]

  2. Global Voices teny Malagasy » Iran: To Vote or not to Vote

    [...] writes: I am voting with the hope that not only the hardline government will change, but that we will build [...]

  3. Global Voices in Italiano » Iran: votare o non votare?

    [...] scrive [in]: Voto non solo con la speranza che questo governo intransigente possa cambiare, ma anche che [...]

  4. Global Voices на македонски » Иран: Да се гласа или да не се гласа

    [...] напиша: Гласам со надеж дека ќе се промени не само [...]

5 Comments »

See more in this category: Vote