The Courage of Typing 140 Characters

It is real time news. It is a reality that makes television shows appear ridiculous. There is nothing contrived. On the internet and on Twitter, I and thousands of others are watching a revolution.

In Iran there are protests. There are protests against a perceived fraudulent election. The government is asking reporters to leave the country. In some cases, the reporters are restricted to the hotel rooms. Their safety is at issue. There is an attempt to control the flow of news.

However, through the internet and through such things as cell phone technology, text and pictures are leaking out to the world. The present Iranian regime is attempting to control the output of information. It is a fight against technology.

It is also a fight against the indomitable spirit of a large segment of the Iranian people. These are people who risk posting on websites such as Twitter. They post on blogs. They send out pictures of violence, bloodshed and death. These Iranian citizens put themselves at risk. There is the threat of execution. Such actions are seen as treasonous – collaborating with foreigners.

The violence is evident but there is also courage. On the Twitter stream, comments from Iranians are posted. Pictures are linked. The initial comments of a hundred and forty characters or less are reposted (or retweeted) – again and again. So many of these comments are compelling – so brave. On Twitter, we read. We pass along the comments. We become, in a small way, part of this movement. A revolution has moved onto the internet. One comment can reach a few – then hundreds – then thousands and more. We are part of history as we watch a revolution played out online. It is in real time. It is life or death. Oppressive regimes have never seen anything like this. The keyboard has become a weapon in the hands of the everyday citizen.

Catherine Forsythe