ind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
Jefferson’s concern is on two points: the length of suffering a people must endure as well as the likelihood of success. Freedom loving people in Iran need, of course, consider whether a revolution is, in fact, timely in light of this concern. The people of Iran might, in fact, conclude that the timing is not right for revolution. What they need not fret is over the legitimacy of their demand for liberty:
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
Despite Mr. Ahmadinejad’s attempt to deflect, we need to be worried about freedom in Iran. And Mr. Ahmadinejad should himself be worried.