Amir, My Iranian Friend

I made a new Iranian friend, Amir, an electrical engineering student up here. He has come to a few BBQs at my apartment. He also voted in the Iranian presidential election yesterday at a polling place in Redwood City, for Musavi, not Ahmadinejad, of course.

During dinner I overheard his awkward conversation with another friend who had asked whether or not Ahmadinejad would relinquish power if defeated. His response: "In my country, government has three parts--the lawyers [legislative], the judges [judiciary], and the operations [executive]. If Ahmadinejad loses, then he no longer operates." Funny, but also shows the big, dumb American stereotype holds true--we somehow believe only the worst parts of the stories we hear about Iran. My question was no better. I asked if he had seen this SNL skit. He had.

All of that is to say, I like these photos of the election. US voters should learn that the key to any successful protest is matching your eye shadow and scarf with the color of the revolution.