As the protests in Iran continue to unfold, and brave men an women continue to march in the streets despite the goon squads sent to beat and kill them by Ahmadinejad and the "Supreme Leader", I am reminded of the following quote from Mark Twain:

"For in a republic, who is 'the Country'? Is it the Government which is for the moment in the saddle? Why, the Government is merely a servant — merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them. Who, then, is 'the country?' Is it the newspaper? Is it the pulpit? Is it the school-superintendent? Why, these are mere parts of the country, not the whole of it; they have not command, they have only their little share in the command. They are but one in the thousand; it is in the thousand that command is lodged; they must determine what is right and what is wrong; they must decide who is a patriot and who isn’t. In a monarchy, the king and his family are the country; in a republic it is the common voice of the people. Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak. And it is a solemn and weighty responsibility, and not lightly to be flung aside at the bullying of pulpit, press, government, or the empty catch-phrases of politicians. Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide it against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may. If you alone of all the nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country — hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashamed of."

To any rallying for your rights now in Iran that may read this, you among all men may hold your heads high, for in your words and deeds you show an understanding of your "unalienable rights" that most in America have forgotten. Know that in this you are our brothers and sisters, and while politicians on both sides may mince words or point fingers, we the people of America are in awe of your actions and hold you in our hearts and prayers.