Someone needs to help dictatorships get up to speed. The past few weeks, we have had more than the normal flow of rhetoric pouring out of official media outlets. Between Iran and North Korea, the bombastic statements have been flying like ill-fated missile tests.

And I have to wonder: What are they thinking? How is it that a country like Iran, which is developing nuclear technology, doesn’t get Twitter? As Daniel Henninger wrote in last week’s Wall Street Journal, “Web 2.0 has become a metaphor. The communications technologies are important-cell phones, social networks, messaging protocols-but its more interesting attribute is that it enhances the role, and power, of individuals.”

Those in power may be convinced that they are in still in control, believing governments can function in a pre-2.0 world. Neda Agha-Soltan’s tragic death in Iran this week, captured by amateur video and broadcast via Youtube, provided vivid proof of the brutality of the Islamic regime killing for control. Viewed by thousands a few days after being posted, Iran simply made up a ridiculous story.

Last year saw the release of the animated film Persepolis, an adaption of the comics by Marjane Satrapi. In the movie, the story of Marjane unfolds through the Iranian Revolution, living abroad in Europe, and her return to an Iran changed by Islamic law. In response to the election protests, two Iranian cartoonists have created Persepolis 2.0 using the original images of Satrapi accompanying a new narrative based on the recent election experience. You can view Persepolis 2.0 online at spreadpersepolis.com.

The most striking parallel to the original Persepolis is the last frame were God is holding who is now Neda in his arms saying, "Don't cry Neda, your death will not be in vain...". It is fascinating to see the original images from the novel "recycled" to portray a contemporary event. It is a stark reminder of the repeating cycle of history.

I’m mad. At President Obama. Surprised? Don’t worry, the bumper stickers are still on the CRV and the Outback. Not going to scrape them off, either. In fact, when the time comes, I’m just going to paste big fat “12s” on both bumpers and be all set for the next run. Anyway, I’m still ticked off. It’s time to quit swatting at flies and time to take a stand on Iran.

A couple of weeks ago, President Obama stood in the “timeless city of Cairo” and gave a remarkable speech. I actually teared up as I watched it, deeply proud of a new President who is so different from the old. He honored the Islamic faithful by acknowledging their contributions to the world and the need for Americans to engage, not enrage. It was quite a moment.

Towards the end of the speech, President Obama, in his professorial outline, hit his fourth point: democracy. As he reflected on the role of America supporting democracy in the Arab world, he acknowledged the missteps of the last administration (anyone else want free elections in Palestine?). Then he said, “But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideals, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.”

It is Father's Day today and I can only think of one father...  a man whose daughter was shot and killed yesterday in the aftermath of the election riots in Iran.  Her name has been unofficially confirmed as Neda and today I mustered up the courage to watch the video of her death. Its the least I can do as I sit here and pour over CNN.com articles.  The people there are living it and I am in a hotel on vacation -- life is not fair.  My prayer today is for her father, who she was protesting with when the government sponsored "forces" shot her in the heart.  I posted the video, but it is VERY graphic so please be aware of this if you choose to view it.  I pray that she does not die in vain and that we will continue to make ourselves aware of what is happening overseas.  I pray that people are moved for Iran and its citizens  - our sisters and brothers in another country that is in turmoil.  God be with them and be with Neda's father today.

The quiet dark of the Dallas suburb was suddenly shattered by George’s terrible screams. Laura leaped out of the Emperor sized bed, pulling the printed silk bathrobe around her as she quickly turned to her pale husband. “That dream again?” she asked, in her soft southern drawl.  “Yeah. Yeah it was. Can’t  get over it, Laura.” Laura spoke soothingly, as she placed her arm around his trembling shoulders. “The mirror dream again” she said, with an air of finality. “What can it mean?” George demanded. “I get up, walk across the room, and as I get closer, I see Osama bin Laden where I should be seeing me! I end up staring right up in his face, when I should be staring at me!”  

I wonder if this has ever happened. I think Osama Bin Laden and George Bush have some interesting things in common, and that their similarities are what can make us so uncomfortable with President Obama’s reaching out to the Muslim world, especially Iran. I’m not trying to compare them completely, and I’m not justifying what bin Laden has done. Not at all. But I do think we should look at the two and consider the potential mirror image of their approaches.  

I don’t know a lot about Iran, but when my husband, who works for an international development organization, told me that Ahmadinejad won I said, “Well duh.  Of course he did.  It was rigged.” As tensions continued to rise today and more allegations are thrown around that it was indeed fraudulent, I couldn’t help but think of “the plan.” The plan is this ambiguous idea floating around that our lives should turn out in a certain fashion.  I learned at a young age that plans can shift and change quickly and frequently, so I created my own plan – one that relied on my own two shoulders.  This worked for maybe a second and then life happened and the metamorphosis kept going. I’m not sure what the plan is in Iran, but there is one and it is a plan that wants to be imposed on its people.

Everywhere you go there are plans, but in some places those plans are to just make it though the day alive.  You know a person grew up in a privileged home when it is expected that she or he live a long, productive life.  The life checklist keeps growing and finally when you’re 60-something you can kick up your heals and, as my father recently told me, watch your blood pressure come down and get some sleep thanks to retirement.  For a lot of people that was their plan too, but now retirement is no longer a hop, skip or jump away; it’s a marathon. 

When our hope is put in the plan we are set up for failure.  The plan is not worth living for. I celebrated a birthday last week and as I inch closer to 30, I am amazed at each year and how it holds nothing close to what I thought it would.  I celebrated with a heart to heart chat with one of my best friends talking about this very thing and then the conversation continued into the weekend with a group of friends over pizza.  How did we all buy into this plan and what happens when you’re life looks so different from it?

For my best friend, it is that time to “start trying.”  She wants to be a mom so badly, as do a handful of women around me.  She is at the point where her doctors have started bringing up fertility meds, but in her wisdom she said this to me: “What if my body isn’t supposed to? Then should I make it with pills?  That scares me.” People are constantly bombarding her with questions of when are you going to have kids?  And it makes her want to cry because she’d have one in her arms right now if it was up to her plan.  It certainly is not a fair world, but apparently with enough money, privilege, celebrity or political prowess our “plans” can become reality, whether that’s a rigged election or thousands upon thousands of dollars of fertility treatments.  It’s scary that the reality that could materialize naturally is being sacrificed on the altar of “supposed to” or “I deserve this.”

For my husband and I the question has morphed over the years from “when to have kids,” to “if we want kids.” I get accused of being selfish, not ready, and I’m also learning to deal with my favorite 2 responses: “Oh you’re young!” and wave their hand like I will most certainly come to my senses one day.  Or the silent look of disbelief and shock, “Really? You’d be such a good mom.” I might not even get a say in this plan one way or the other, but my hope ultimately is not in the plan.  My hope lives deep inside of me in the inner core of my being.  This life, no matter who you are, is not one of having your cake and eating it too, but it is a good life.

I hate that “good” can be used to describe chocolate cake and God.  Sometimes we need new vocab words, but God is good and if God lives in us, then there is goodness and richness in our lives; however that version of good might be found in cancer, in a lost election, or in infertility.  God’s goodness comes to us when we listen, and often it is when we are talking so loud to change the plan that we are miserable.

I imagine, as I have a heard a few times that Ahmadinejad likes to hear himself talk.  I understand that fertility meds have brought a lot of unique little persons into the world. I believe in the goodness of God and that “the plan” will work out for good, but I feel like sometimes we make God’s job a lot harder than it has to be by playing God or thinking that God is not truly good.  Our hope has materialized in a plan and not in God.  And I am certainly guilty of this too.  My desire to not have kids is definitely part of “my plan” right now and some days I am holding on tighter to my plan than I ought to. I had a plan for college, for my career, and for my wedding – they all changed and had imperfections everywhere, but they were all good things.  It is great to have a plan.  I love sticky notes and planners, but when that becomes the gospel truth – I have major issues.