marenzi | Perspective.

I realize now I do not fear death... I fear my daughter will not be free when I die.
-- Iranian medical student via Twitter

My death is irrelevant. What is important is that you do not forget my words. We want freedom. I will die for that.
-- Tehran protester via Twitter

140 characters is a novel when you're being shot at.
-- anonymous Iranian via Twitter

I've been hearing about the Iranian elections from the impersonal news stations, but it's mostly been from the perspective of my friend M. She's an Iranian citizen and cast her vote by mail a while ago. This girl is brilliant and unwaveringly faithful and fierce; she chooses to wear hijab and defends those who choose not to. What I love about M - and I adore her so much for this - is her loyalty to anyone and everyone that she believes deserves it.

The moment when I felt personally involved was the night M called me in tears over Ahmadinejad's reelection. Her family and her friends in Tehran are facing the current riots followed by another four years. And really, it's only chance that M is even here. If things were only a little different, she'd be there alongside them, and she said she felt guilty for not being there. And it's a network - from the people who live there to their relatives to friends to strangers across the internet, we're all affected somehow.

Whatever you believe, however you feel about this election, just keep thinking about it. Don't forget. ♥