Dear God,

Dear God,
I was told that you would listen to me in any language if I would call out your name. I had also been told that you would carry me in times of need.
Dear God, here in my city, every night, millions of hopeful voices call out to you, they are calling you by your supreme power... They are calling you The Great!
Dear God,
There are people dieing in my city! There people who reach out to you to save their soul, to save their future.
Dear God,
There are injustice in your name... there are people being beaten in your name!
Dear God,
Save us! Save our souls... We did not ask for much. Our guilt was to understand... to see... not to obey stupidity.

Where Is My Vote?

I am kicking and alive as we speak; but Tehran isn't! Tehran is the scene of clash between protesters and riot police!

I live in the heart of the clash: We hear gunshots, we see fire, we witness people running! Guards march on... we shut up....

I have not seen such a thing! Not even in June 1999 when Police ride into University dorms.... My friends had gotten hit.

Where is my vote? Where is the confidence I once had that WE can build this country? What happened to the cheerful faces and hopeful looks of young people?

I want my vote back! I withdraw from pseudo-electing M. A.N.! I am ashamed of my nationality for the first time in my life! I am ashamed of the vote I cast! I am ashamed!

I am frightened! My world has just ended and the life I once dreamed is a far far illusion.

I did not ask for much! I had no problem with Hejab! I did not want to go clubbing all night! I just wanted to be able to smile. to be proud of who I am, where I come from! I just wanted to...