I participated in another one of the Iranian rallies here in Oklahoma City today (in nearly 100 degree heat). The slogans and chants were stunning.

Down with the Dictator!
Down with the regime!
Religion is Out! Democracy is in!
Democracy, Yes! Khamenei, No!

I was especially struck by the chant, “Religion is out!” I noted this to one of my Iranian friends. “We mean the fanatical religion,” he said. Well, isn’t that Islam? Are the people rejecting Islam?

Iranian supreme leader (for how long?),
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The people of Iran, Persians that they are, would never reject God. They have a very astute sense of reverence and the sacred. It is a very intelligent, broad-minded people. Such people always appreciate the things of eternity. Persians have long and patiently borne profound cultural influences over the millenia. They don’t take anything completely seriously. I mean to say, they always remain objective. Islam, however, demands complete subjectivity. This is what my friend meant by “fanatical religion.” Religion that causes you to lose independence, free will, and free thought.

The Iranian people have had enough of Islam in the driver’s seat. The people have risen against it. It really isn’t about the election, or the vote. It is about the people’s dissatisfaction with the tyranny and oppression of fantical religion. When Islam is in charge, it is fanatical. There is no other way to say this. (Seventy university professors were recently arrested for consulting with Mousavi and the opposition.)

“The people,” I said, “they have no guns! All they have is their bodies–which they are laying down in the street for the cause of freedom!” And then I asked, “How can you have a revolution without guns?”

Word on the street, in fact, is that they do have guns. And they will have more guns, shortly. This is what I am hearing. “The people are saying to the government,” I was told, “you will fear us when we have guns!” They are trying to avoid a civil war. The hope is that the armed government forces will side with the people. Otherwise, a civil war may actually be necessary. The people will not allow themselves to be mercilessly beaten by hired, foreign thugs much longer.

Neda Agha-Soltan, murdered in the streets of
Tehran. Soon her death will be avenged.

At this point I am trying to sollicit the participation of political clubs and organizations here in Oklahoma City. I would like to see the Oklahoma legislature itself organize and participate in a large public assembly on the steps of the capitol. This cause of democracy in Iran is dear to the heart of everyone who loves freedom, Democrat or Republican. (Guess who’s the more likely to support freedom for Iran?)

I think all those who consider themselves American patriots need to show their colors here. We have a country, and not just any country, ready to overthrough its oppressive regime, and stand to the death for their freedom. How many people in the world are ready to do that? Iraqi people have tried, with the help of the world coalition forces, led by the United States. But, the Iranian people are standing alone! The world is not visibly, audibly, apparently coming to the aid of Iranian people. A mighty brave people it is then!

Tonight, at this moment, 8:30 pm, again at the NorthWest Expressway and Meridian, the Iranians of Oklahoma City will hold a special memorial for Neda Agha-Soltan, the beautiful young woman who was shot in the street a week ago.

Iranian women are such a leading force in this uprising that the women of the Muslim world we be forever changed. The Muslim world will never be the same. Iranian people will not, as Ahmadinejad dreams, lead the world of Islam, but instead will lead the world in throwing off the iron robes! What a glorious day it will be. It is happening even now.

I felt very honored to stand with my Iranian friends. Every patriot in Oklahoma City, every House Representative, every Senator, should joing the Iranians of Oklahoma in raising a voice for democracy in Iran. Isn’t this the moment they’ve all been waiting thirty years for? (Oklahoma Congressman Mary Fallin participated in the rally held on Saturday, June 20. Many blessings upon her for that!)

Congressman Mary Fallin, at the Saturday rally for democracy in Iran, June 20.

One of my Iranian friends said, “You know, these people over there now are much braver than we were. Remember, when we were young, when we rose against the Shah, we were not treated like this. I told my nephew over there that he and his generation are much braver.”

I for one am exceedingly proud of these young people in Iran. They are patriots of a new era. They are setting the pace for the world. Islam is over, just like Communism. People can tolerate oppression only so long, and then they rise up against it. In today’s world, with the kind of mass communication available, people know what their opportunities could be. They can see the rest of the world. Iranian people are far too sophisticated to tolerate this Islamic nonsense any longer. That they have tolerated it this long says more about their patience than anything else.

But the longer you tolerate evil, the harder it is to remove. When I’m at these Iranian rallies, I wonder if Americans still have it in use to rise up against our intolerable government? Barry Soetoro (often referred to as Barack Hussein Obama) daily plots to take more and more freedom from Americans. What are we doing about it? Are we willing to take to the streets of Washington? Are we willing to take bullets? Are we as brave as the Iranians?