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This May 2009 photo provided by Caspian Makan, 37-year-old photojournalist in Tehran who identified himself as Neda Agha Soltan's boyfriend purports to show Neda Agha Soltan. The death of the woman identified as Neda Agha Soltan was captured on amateur videos and spread around the world in less than 48 hours on YouTube, Facebook, blogs and Twitter. (AP Photo/Courtesy Caspian Makan) |
The Neda Agha Sultan video has truly touched the world. It isn’t every day that we see a country’s internal political struggles displayed before the entire globe. And to witness the fierce bravery a country’s daughters possess at the face of death is more than news, more than a YouTube video that gets great hits, it is revolutionary history played out before our eyes.
When I first saw the Neda Agha Sultan video, it was on CNN. I was in the midst of cleaning my home; my modest little abode in Florida. My American home located in a land that has plenty of political turmoil and conflict. Yet without the need for women to take to the streets at the point of death, simply to have their voices heard. There I was, with vacuum cleaner in one hand, and the remote in the other. I turned the vacuum off and CNN began to tell the story of Neda. Neda Sultan (Neda Soltani, Neda Agha Soltan) her name given in so many varieties across the Internet, yet that name, that means ‘voice’ or ‘the calling’ has truly become the Voice of Iranian women.
We elected Barack Obama, hoping to see a time of peace. We wanted to focus on our own internal struggles, our economy, our housing crisis, and our struggles for civil equality. We wanted to see an end to involvement in the Middle East, to pull out of Iraq, and let the Middle East handle her own issues. Yet as I watch this video of Neda, with her eyes rolled to the side, and her father’s passionate pleas for her to open her eyes and not leave him yet. I wonder what can we do. Is there anything that our country truly can do? Does Barack Obama have the right strategy to just let the Iranian people handle her own political struggles? He is right about one thing. Ahmadinejad cannot stop the voice of the Iranian people. He cannot stop the cries of freedom from being heard around the world. He cannot stop Twitter and YouTube or the impact that the video of one Iranian woman shot in Iran has had upon this nation.
If there is a role for America to play, let it be one made with internationl backing, and not the lone ranger of American politics and religious rhetoric to the rescue. That doesn’t work. It never has. But one thing I do know. Ahmadinejad cannot silence the voice of the Iranians. He cannot silence the impact that Neda’s murder and death has blown us away with. Her father’s cries and Neda’s life have not fallen on deaf ears.
So today, I will vacuum my home, in Tampa, Florida. I will think about out economy, our housing crisis, what to prepare for dinner, and make sure that my kids are tucked safely in their beds tonight. But my heart breaks for the people of Iran, for women who struggle for liberty and freedom. For Neda and the countless others murdered by oppressive regimes. I have heard your voice, and am forever changed.
View the Neda Sultan Video YouTube
Warning: This contains graphic imagery
At 19:05 June 20th
Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st.
A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim's chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes.
The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St.
More Information: News stories about Neda Agha Sultan (Neda Agha Soltan)
Iran's Neda killing 'was illegal'
Neda Agha Sultan Video: Explicit Raw Material
Iran says Neda's death may be tied to 'terrorist' group
Can Women Change The Course Of History In Iran?
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Comments
I don't believe that America should get involved in this mess militarily. And I'm a definite Hawk. I'm a US Navy Veteran and was directly involved in the Persian Gulf War. This video of this beautiful young woman bleeding out after being shot in the chest is one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. And I've seen some pretty F'd up stuff. I would like to see someone kick some ass over this murder but not American Military Forces.
YES
This is a second amendment issue....
There is a universal justice and the eyes of truth have seen the injustice of Neda's death.
I just read about this on a blog in DC.
muckbreaker.blogspot.com
it is a new face of dictator in iran { khamenehei, leader of iran}
Apparently this murderer was never found. I hope he took the dignity and put a bullet to his head for some justice!
Should the US become involved in the constant crisis situations occurring in Iran?
as an Iranian-Jew born and raised in Iran and forced to flee with my family under the new dictatorship I feel that we should become involved. There are many innocent lives at stake that even if are not considered "american lives" it does not mean we shouldn't fight for the right of humanity all around the world. Territory should not effect your human rights which are being taken from these people who's only mistakes are simply being born in an area that is powered by a inhumane person.
--Mordecai' Khajehzadeh
--מָרְדֳּכַי
greota......kako nas gleda
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