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TUESDAY JUNE 16 2009 6:00 AM

It turns out that Americans and Iranians are not so different after all. The current protests in Iran show a yearning for democracy and a desire for self-determination. After what appears to have been a blatantly stolen election in Iran, supporters of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have taken to the streets, defying a protest ban. Protesters are being beaten and shot at, but they remain because they believe a great injustice has occurred.

Iran's hardline Islamic Basij militiamen killed at least one person on Monday and wounded more when their building was attacked by demonstrators protesting an election they say was stolen by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

We here in America get it. We fully support your struggle, Iranians.

Los Angeles police declared an unlawful assembly after some crowds celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers' championship win got out of control at Staples Center, partying in the streets and even walking onto the 110 Freeway.

There is a time when one has to take a stand and fight. It's how we birthed our great nation and it's something we value and use when necessary.

Celebratory crowds swelled into the thousands, tearing up landscaping, shouting at passers-by, blocking traffic, trying to turn over cars and starting fires before police began cracking down, issuing tickets, confiscating liquor and separating large groups.

There comes a time when enough is enough and men must stand up against tyranny. Like the man who stood in front of that tank in Tiananmen Square in 1989, this is your time. Did that man and his fellow protesters succeed? Not in the short term, but they laid the groundwork for a future revolution. They showed how powerful a mob can be, just as the Iranians in the streets of Tehran are today and Americans on the streets of Los Angeles did on Sunday night.

Twelve government vehicles, including six MTA buses, were damaged, and one traffic light was knocked down, said LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman. Metro Blue Line trains were delayed because of debris on the tracks, and a gas station, a pharmacy and a shoe store were looted, she said.

The parallel desires for justice are amazing..

People were holding signs saying: We are not sheep.

Hundreds of thousands of people are demonstrating from Engelab to Azadi. The number of people is constantly increasing as more people join to protest against the coup d'état.

I have the video camera, and its a flood of people running into the store and grabbing what they could, he said today as he stood among the remnants of his inventory. Whats really awful is they took the stuff and they started burning it. Its just disappointing.

Justice. Now. Every movement has a leader. Iran has the eloquent Mousavi.

And Mr Mousavi eventually appeared, addressing the crowd from the roof of his car.

"The vote of the people is more important than Mousavi or any other person," he told his supporters.

America has the bold Kobe Bryant.

Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she sincerely feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

We stand together.

FearTheReaper is a writer, actor and stand up comedian. Check back each Tuesday and Friday for more from FearTheReaper You may also enjoy his blog, Stop All Monsters.

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Comments

mydogfarted

Oakland, NJ

June 2003

JUN 16, 2009 09:33 AM

Too soon?

Didn't this happen the last few times the Lakers won?

Adroitbeing

I'm lost

September 2003

JUN 16, 2009 10:42 AM

Shouldn't the headline read?

Lakers Take it All, Iranian Protesters Take to Streets!

Happyboy

Berkeley, CA

December 2004

JUN 16, 2009 11:29 AM

Mob mentality, CATCH THE FEVER!

allison_oaks

Sweden

September 2007

JUN 16, 2009 12:31 PM

Even in jest, comparing a riot of drunk sports fans to a REAL attempt at a revolution in Iran just sounds asinine.

motorfirebox

Pittsburgh, PA

March 2004

JUN 16, 2009 12:42 PM

i think his point is that it's stupid for Americans to be rioting over a game while people in other countries are rioting for freedom. which is true enough--rioting over a game seems pretty dumb to me no matter what people in other countries are doing. but it's a bit silly to single out the US for that sort of behavior, given that it's a pretty common occurrence all over the world.

abbazappa

Sacramento, CA

June 2006

JUN 16, 2009 12:46 PM

Funny thing is that FTR just made the same comparison that Glenn Beck made yesterday.