I've been following the situation in Iran, of course, and I'm very afraid for the people who are protesting. A big part of me is sure this will end in disaster. But I also keep remembering how I felt years ago when I heard that Lech Walesa had been put under house arrest. I was sure the Solidarity movement was over then.

I also remember a news report around that time. It was an end-of-the-year show, and someone had asked several prominent reporters what story they'd like to find themselves reporting in the year 2000. One said he'd like to report on President Walesa of Poland meeting with President Mandela of South Africa. I snorted in derision. THAT would never happen!

I know that Mousavi is no Walesa or Mandela, but the real heroes of these protests are not the politicians but the people in the streets. May they defy the odds. It has been done before.