Not all revolutions are equal

The Iranian people -- being butchered by their own government -- are pleading for our help with their English posters of protest, and cries for US support from amateur reporters. And those of us who love our freedom want to help.

On the last day of my Beginning English as a Second Language class, I sat down with Kourosh Varanyi, a Kurd from Iran and asked him, "What can we do to help?" His English is quite rough, but he manages to get his meaning across.

He said, "Nothing." He explained that Mousavi, the opposition candidate, is just like Ahmadinajad.

"But maybe he's changed."

"No," Kourosh said. The Kurds* tried to revolt several years back when Mousavi was in charge. He signed for 24,000 people to be killed in one day. Kourosh swiped his hands, showing fait accompli. Then he pointed to a circular scar on the inside of his left elbow and another in his forearm. "Two more," he pointed to his left leg. "They shoot me."

"But Mousavi's wife . . .maybe it would be better for women." I was desperate for some kind of hope for the revolution.

"No. She's the same. No freedom for women. Islam law." Several times, Kourosh said, "We want government no religion. Like here."

"Secular," I said. "Freedom of religion." (Death to the dictator.)

"Yeah."

So now, my fellow believers, we know what to pray for. Not that Iran's revolution lead to a quick switch from Ahmadinajad to Ahmadinajad-lite, nor for a switch from the "Supreme Leader" to anyone else in the Islamic rulership. Instead, this revolution needs a carefully constructed new government, one created with as much wisdom and aforethought as our founding fathers had. This sort of revolution will not be quick. If it happens, it may take years.

*The Kurdish people are an ethnic minority of an area they call Kurdestan, that encompasses the north of Iraq and Iran, and the south of Turkey. They share more similarities with each other across the country boundaries than they do with the people of their nations. It was many villages of Iraqi Kurds that Saddam Hussein wiped out with chemical weaponry, after they got the idea that the US would support them in a revolt. No wonder the Iranian Kurds are hanging back and waiting on the Iranian revolt.