Imagine living on the 11th floor of a crowded apartment building located in the downtown area of a busy city. Imagine waking up to the sounds of screams and sirens, incessant and terrifying. Imagine looking out of your window and seeing police armed with hoses and batons spraying and beating the thousands of people – some you may recognize as your neighbors, classmates, coworkers and friends – as they charge forward in a fit of rage. Imagine having to explain to your friends and family that there’s nothing that can be done about the public’s unhappiness and frustration because there is no outlet for the public’s voice or demonstration in your country. This is the scene that many families have been witnessing, and even participating in, for the past couple of weeks in the streets of Tehran, Iran.

By now, many of us have heard about the long-attested Iranian presidential election, where incumbent Mahmoud Ahmedinejad was re-elected. We also know by now that demonstrations started a mere 48 hours after the votes were put in, as many believed the election was rigged. They started peaceful and silent, with hundreds of thousands of people breaking the common law of never showing public protest to the current regime or government to silently voice their dissatisfaction and ask for a revote. After being declined any chance for a change, the people of Iran have begun to get angry, realizing that their voices mean close to nothing in this strict and undemocratic system – and now riots have been continuing to break out. But, you know this.

What you may not know or realize is that the hundreds of thousands of Iranians—young and old—who are throwing themselves at police and soldiers who are ordered to threaten, torture and even kill those who come to protest have to deal with much different circumstances that many other people around the world don’t have to face. I, also, did not truly understand this until now.

Watching these protests and riots, I realized a striking difference that one would never see in American demonstrations: Almost every person walking the streets, screaming for change, had his/her face covered with some sort of mask. At first, I didn’t understand why people who are willing to risk their lives would cover their face in the midst of making such a bold act. However, I realized that if even one governmental official recognized someone—if even one picture was published in a national or even international news outlet—that person’s life was over as they knew it. The government would destroy everything defining that person’s livelihood in the hopes of keeping protest to the current regime unheard – no matter what.

In response to these recent events, people all around the world are coming together to show their support. Locally, activist group Iranians Fighting for Justice in Iran organized a candlelight vigil in Red Square the night of June 19, where hundreds of people came together, not to fight about political parties, but only to silently and peacefully raise awareness and show solidarity. This benevolent act exemplifies the powers we have in this country. Not only would the citizens of Iran not be able to show discontent, but support in this fashion would be equally unacceptable.

This phenomenon is hard for many of us to understand. The rights that we are silently given every day as we pick up fliers for some type of protest, as we watch CNN for balanced and truthful world and national news, even as you read this opinion piece right now—these rights are respected and upheld every day in our country, and many of us don’t even realize it. While Iran is coming close to its second revolution, we can take the time to not only appreciate the lives, actions and even thoughts that we are allowed to have, but also to recognize the courage and determination voiced overseas for even an ounce of the rights we practice every day.