Democracy.

While the election of Mir-Hossein Mousavi might accelerate the healing of diplomatic relations between Iran and western nations due to his distaste for extremist rhetoric, the actual differences between him and incumbent, and supposed President-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seem to be slight. While we grow tired and weary over Ahmadinejad’s constant attacks on the United States and its allies, between these two candidates, we don’t truly have a horse in this race.

The overwhelming expression of support for the people of Iran taking to the streets in outrage over what they feel was a fraudulent election, handing victory to Ahmadinejad, is not about supporting Mousavi. It’s about supporting democracy and virtually standing with the people of Iran who don’t believe their voices were heard in this election.

Perhaps it’s also about exposing a system of government where democracy is only a facade with the true governing authority beyond the voice and will of the people. I wonder if this is the real clash in Iran right now, between a people who demand to be heard and authorities who have no need for their voices. Are the protests only about this election, or are we seeing a revolution that has been bubbling for quite some time? After all, who else but revolutionaries would stand in opposition to the supreme power in their nation and fight for change.

I think Americans also hope that those who are taking to the streets represent the moderates that we so often hear about and are hopeful for. If so, and the voices of moderates are being drowned out and silenced, we stand even firmer in our support for these people and hope that progress is coming to Iran.

We don’t know how the protests and crackdowns will play out. Surely Iran can’t keep this up throughout Ahmadinejad’s new term. One thing we do know is this, and it’s a lesson solidified by our actions in Iraq; we must let the people of Iran dictate their destiny. We may support them in their fight to break the chains of tyranny, but they must do the breaking. They must blaze their own path to freedom. They must continue to make the sacrifice.

For now we watch, wait, support, and pray; not for the victory of a candidate, but the triumph of democracy.

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