Where is my vote?

Well as much as I wanted to stay away from the politics of Iran I got sucked in bad today after reading about the massive fraud that occurred. I got sucked in because of my sister. You see she is 26, idealist, hopeful and young and believes that the world can one day be a better place. She asked me on Thursday if I was going to vote in the Iran elections. I doubt my answer will win me friends in the Iranian community, but then again I never really cared what people thought of me, specially the persians. I told her I was not voting. Because Iran is not my home. It is my birth country yes. But the day I left that country I knew I was leaving it never to return again. I was leaving for a new world and with it I was giving up my rights to have a say in what transpired in Iran. The law may say I have the right to vote. Okay I actually don't have any documents I could have used to vote, but that's another story. But my point is on principle I don't believe you should get to decided the fate of people living in another coountry. No matter that you share the same birthplace.

I know my sister felt somewhat let down by my response. She wanted to believe that change could happen. That I believed in that change and wanted to be a part of it. Don't get me wrong. I want good things for the people of Iran. I know what these people have gone through. I was there... But like I said my interest in Iran is more as an outsider. I want people of all nations to have the kind of freedom that I enjoy in Canada and the US. It's human right issue afterall. And my interest in the fate of Iranians is no different than my interest in the fate of people of Darfur, or the people of Iraq or anywhere else in the world where tyrants rule...

So when I read the news this morning, I felt I needed to do something. To show my little sister that I cared. So I set up a group on facebook and proceeded to collect all the news, pictures and videos from around the internet and post it there. It's a very small step, but it was the least I could do.

One of the links I posted was a slideshow on youtube that used the persian version of the protest song El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido as musical score.

It is a protest song that rose to popularity in Chile in 1970's by the leftist marxist supporters of President Allende. Over time is has been used by many nations including Iran as an anthem to call people to rise up. I heard it first 30+ years ago when another revolution was taking place in the streets of Tehran. When idealist students marched the streets and sang this song, with the goal of overthrowing the monarchy and bringing freedom and a republic to its people. Little did they know that the republic would turn out to THIS republic.

Nonetheless the song is about hope. About overcoming. About rising up and taking a stand against tyranny. It was also part of a sound track to a movie about Allende that I saw as a child and that I will never forget. I wept for Allende, even thoogh I did not know who he was, or that he was a leftist marxist or what that even meant. All I knew was he was fighting for his people, to give them a better life and the brutal General Pinochet destroyed that hope and dream. And to this day whenever I hear this song I cry. Beacuse I think of all the youth that have lost their lives fighting for freedom and marching to this song.

Here is the translation of the song and regardless of your political views, you have to agree that it IS a beautiful song. It is a hopeful song...

Peace and love and may the people of Iran know real freedom one day
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El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido

The people united will never be defeated, The people united will never be defeated...

Arise, sing We are going to win. Flags of unity are now advancing. And you will come marching together with me, and so you'll see your song and your flag blossom. The light of a red dawn already announces the life to come. Arise, fight the people are going to win. The life to come will be better. To conquer our happiness. and a clamor of a thousand fighting voices will rise, speaking a song of freedom. With determination the fatherland will win. And now the people, who are rising in struggle with a giant voice crying out: Forward!

The people united will never be defeated, The people united will never be defeated...

The fatherland is forging unity, from north to south they're mobilizing. From the salt mines burning and mineral to the southern forests. united in struggle and labor they go covering the fatherland. Their steps already Announce the future. Arise, sing the people are going to win millions now are imposing the truth Their steel battalions are on fire, taking in their hands justice and reason. Woman with fire and courage is already here Along side the worker.

El pueblo unido jamás será vencido, el pueblo unido jamás será vencido...
De pie, cantar que vamos a triunfar. Avanzan ya banderas de unidad. Y tú vendrás marchando junto a mí y así verás tu canto y tu bandera florecer, la luz de un rojo amanecer anuncia ya la vida que vendrá. De pie, luchar el pueblo va a triunfar. Será mejor la vida que vendrá a conquistar nuestra felicidad y en un clamor mil voces de combate se alzarán dirán canción de libertad con decisión la patria vencerá. Y ahora el pueblo que se alza en la lucha con voz de gigante gritando: ¡adelante!
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido, el pueblo unido jamás será vencido...
La patria está forjando la unidad de norte a sur se movilizará desde el salar ardiente y mineral al bosque austral unidos en la lucha y el trabajo irán la patria cubrirán, su paso ya anuncia el porvenir. De pie, cantar el pueblo va a triunfar millones ya, imponen la verdad, de acero son ardiente batallón sus manos van llevando la justicia y la razón mujer con fuego y con valor ya estás aquí junto al trabajador.