[Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] Candlelight vigil TODAY: Thursday (July 9th), 8:30pm, Alma Mater

[Morton K. Brussel]

I , and I suspect all (or most of) those in the vigil, know little  
about those being detained, those injured or whose lives were lost.  
Some (Most?) may well be fine people protesting for honest reasons.  
But others may not fit this category, may simply have narrow political  
motives, have been paid off, or have been manipulated for malign ends.  
As for innocent lives lost, of course it is deplorable and  
individually tragic. Perhaps the vigil should better honor those  
Iranian lives lost due to U.S. undercover actions as well as those  
caught in the crossfire and/or repression of the demonstrations?

Given the lack of firm reliable knowledge of what is happening in  
Iran, and the complexity of the situation there, it seems to me unwise  
to hold a vigil which will surely be interpreted by most as a vigil  
against the Iranian government. That should not be the business of the  
anti-war movement.

--mkb

On Jul 9, 2009, at 10:25 AM, Karen Medina wrote:

> RE: Iranian candlelight vigil and mourning tonight.
>
> I too am reluctant to join the vigil for many of the reasons Mort and
> others have pointed out, but I also feel I need to ask Mort to read a
> bit carefully what the vigil is about.
>
> The vigil is not outwardly being called a protest against the Iranian
> election outcome, rather the vigil is a time of mourning for the lives
> lost and to honor those who are currently detained.
>
> However, because the group is calling themselves the Iran Free
> Election, I too feel solidarity is not what I as a non-Iranian can
> offer because I should have no say in their election process -- I as a
> citizen of any other country, especially a very powerful nation,
> should not have any power over the elections in any other country. I
> will not sign the green scroll.
>
> -karen medina
>
>> : ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> : From: UIUC-Iran Candlelight Vigil <uiuc.iranfreeelection at gmail.com>
>> : Subject: Candlelight vigil: Thursday (July 9th), 8:30pm, Alma Mater
>> :
>> : Dear friends,
>> :
>> : Iran is observing days of mourning in memorial of the martyrs of  
>> recent
>> : crisis, Neda and our other brothers and sisters. Also, many of the
>> students, journalists, reformists, and protesters have been  
>> detained with their
>> : whereabouts mostly unknown, and their families are experiencing  
>> very
>> hard times. We would like to invite you to join us for the  
>> candlelight vigil
>> to remember and honor those killed and detained during peaceful  
>> activities
>> for
>> : democracy and freedom in Iran.
>> :
>> : You are most welcome to invite your non-Iranian friends. For more
>> : information, please visit  "UIUC candlelight vigil" event at  
>> facebook.
>> : *Details:
>> : *Location: *Alma Mater (Corner of Green and Wright, Urbana, IL)
>> : *Date:*Thursday, July 9th
>> : *
>> : Time: *8:30-9:30 pm*
>> :
>> : There are only a limited number of candles available, so we  
>> appreciate
>> : greatly if you bring your own candles. Also, for those of you who  
>> missed
>> the
>> : opportunity to sign the Green Scroll, it will be there to be  
>> signed.
>> :
>> : Thanks,
>> : -organizers
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