Ed Rollins
CNN Contributor
One of my favorite movies is the Academy Award-winning best picture "Braveheart," a fictionalized retelling of the story of William Wallace, the Scots knight and resistance leader during the Scottish independence wars of the 13th century.
Who can forget the closing scene when Wallace, played by Mel Gibson, is tortured and about to be beheaded?
He is offered mercy and a quick death if he pleads allegiance to King Edward. Instead he yells out the words: "Freedom!"
Two events last week reminded me of that cry for freedom.
The first was remembering 22 years ago last week, June 12, 1987, when President Reagan gave his speech at the Brandenburg Gate. He challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev with these words: "We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. ... Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Two years later when the wall did come down, freedom spread across Eastern Europe.
The second event was seeing hundreds of thousands march in the streets across Iran in protest after the alleged re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Many of us Americans who love democracy and cherish the rights we enjoy daily watched with fascination. We thought something must be happening beyond disgruntled voters whose candidate had lost the election.
And something was happening. What we saw was a cry for freedom!
| Puddytat |
June 18th, 2009 11:42 am ET Noble words are easy to speak by those who would never offer THEIR OWN life to defend them . |
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| Iran Lover |
June 18th, 2009 11:46 am ET Do NOT forget… Mousavi was the prime minister in Iran from 1981 till 1989, one of the darkest times and saddest times in Iran. He shut down the voices of people in that time, was very close to Khomeini!! He went after the students who were against the regime and him!! A lot of people sent to prison and killed on his watch… I can’t believe some people, still don’t know what Mousavi did to people when he was prime minister!!! |
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| Mel Brooks |
June 18th, 2009 11:48 am ET the people of Iran and Lebonan are beging to realize that the extremests are not going to improve their lives. They know this is the chance of a life time against the real rulers of Iran. Lets hope this works! |
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| robyn caffrey keyser wv 26726 |
June 18th, 2009 11:51 am ET att anderson " |
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| Michael C. McHugh |
June 18th, 2009 12:14 pm ET I hope they are successful in in their democratic revolution, and pray to God that there is no crackdown like we say in China in 1898. I remember that all too well, and if it happens in Iran, I think we should really turn the screws on that regime, even cutting off its oil exports if necessary. |
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| Angie |
June 18th, 2009 12:14 pm ET I am deeply moved for the courage of this people! !i will am awed! |
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| Dulce |
June 18th, 2009 12:20 pm ET We need t keep standing by them. freedom is priceless n will change Iran!we need to have faith!!! |
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| Joe McBride |
June 18th, 2009 12:27 pm ET I like what you had to say... I believe, with enough man power, political backing and prayer support that Iran can be changed through non violent resistance… Also, the government of Iran might not be our friend…But…the people of Iran are all our Brothers and Sisters.. |
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| Tyler Triezenberg |
June 18th, 2009 12:45 pm ET I agree with Joe McBride although the people of Iran do not like our government and neither we or our government like their government the people of Iran do not hate us, in fact they do like the American people, but will the American people return their friendship? I hope we do Iran could be an important friend and ally in the region if they get the chance to have a government and freedoms like ours, they deserve better than what they have now. Although at first they rallied behind Mousavi they deserve a better leader than that, Mousavi will most likely not bring the change they deserve, the Iranians need a Gandhi or a Martin Luther King Jr., the question is whether someone like that will step forward or not. |
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