Her Name Was Neda...

In checking back, I just noticed her birth year. She's a year older then me. @!$%#, man.

Amen to that!

Neda died today, and yet she lives! Allah be praised. Thanks for the tribute, Syn, it is very moving.

When CNN showed this footage, they pixillated her face. I'd prefer they hadn't done that, though they're saying it was done out of respect for her and her family.

I believe that the brutality of a repressive government should not be muted. Let the world see what is really happening.

Taylen-Beautifully said, Avi.

The current theocratic regime in Tehran came to power in 1979 shouting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". These are also the same mullahs that did not blink twice when they sent hundreds of thousands of Iranian boys to their deaths during the Iran-Iraq war in the 80's.

So we should not be surprised that these mullahs are more than willing to shoot Neda and her fellow youth.

A little known fact: the chants of Death to "insert noun here" don't actually mean what you think. The meaning is changed in translation. A more appropriate translation would be "down with" or "to hell with". People even say "death to myself" sometimes, yet they don't actually mean they want themselves to die.

Back to the topic at hand, I saw Neda's video and I must say I was deeply moved. There are some things that one wishes could be unseen and that is definitely one of them.

Her name is Neda: voice, call, and also echo. A rough translation then would be:

"With Echo's life, freedom echoed across the world.

With Echo's memory, the echo of freedom shall not vanish from the world."

Let's hope so.

Insha Allah

This together with the Poem from the rooptops.....brought me to tears.

Beautiful baaraan... she will echo the voice of Iran.

Thank you, Newsblog. That was beautiful. I too will call it Neda's song. I've been crying for Neda for hours now, along with most of the world.

News blog, Debeki and Baaraan,

I'd love to have you repost your thought on my seed:

http://an-uncommon-scold.newsvine.com/_news/2009/06/20/2952341-iran-a-feminist-revolution

Or, if you choose not to, could I have permission to repost there?

Certainly Loretta

You do it as I'm so tired right now.

Thank you. I appreciate it. Hope you feel better soon.

Loretta:

Please use anything I have posted that you feel has some effect. I would greatly appreciate it because I don't know how to navigate that well. Thank you so much.

I am watching this on CNN again. This story has exploded all over the world. Some reports of the Arab nations condeming this murder has surfaced, but only a slight mention - nothing noteworthy.

Thank you. I wondered about what the other Arab nations were saying. I would imagine a lot is being said behind the scenes.

Her photo is said to have be on posters and signs carried by the protestors all over Tehran. She's become their symbol. I hope that gives her family comfort in the coming years. I'm sure nothing can at the moment.

Christiana Amanpour is showing a special on CNN right now. This is where I got a lot of information. CNN has focused all weekend on this. They are saying "Neda is the face of the revolution". This is the most profound picture of "murdered innocents" coming out of Iran.

I noticed more and more women on the streets even today. I really don't think the Ayahtolla knew what kind of resolve Iranian women have when you are treated less than human.

Kill our children and we will annihilate you - so says every mother in the world. We may not have the weapons or guns - but what we do have is a "mother's love" and there is nothing more powerful than that and will never be broken or oppressed.

Well said. I don't think they thought any of this would happen. This government is killing itself and its power.

They can no longer hide what they do from the world. The protesters have turned into an army of international reporters. They will never go back to feeling helpless, even if the violence inflicted on them by the government temporarily forces them into stopping the protests. They proven they are saavy and can coordinate a viable campaign to change their government.

Neda is the face of their movement. She will continue to inspire them.

When you taste freedom, you do not want it gone...

when there is hope that is choked, people will fight to free it.

An eye for an eye until we are all blind--Gandhi

In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart

Revenge...hmm, by whom? Who will "sponsor" this Revenge? Revenge only escalates more dead human lives and we will see more dead children shot.

The Tibetans who suffered at the hands of the Communists China have never gotten their justice. No one's helped them but we Americans have allowed the CCP to grow and prosper with our MADE in CHINA goods.

If we are to stop the murdering hoards in other lands we must support the causes of the underdog and push for sovereignty, not by REVENGE but by strengthening our foreign influence in friendly nations and nations affiliated with the country in peril. We can start by quitting the feeding of dragons with arms and money and allowing them to have a voice for REAL Democracy on the airwaves.

Nada's story was told and many like her should be a call to judgment and strong resolution to do the above not revenge.

Do you remember what happened to Ghandi? He was assassinated by a religious fanatic.

Maybe the whole world should go blind. It would teach the next generation a lesson.

Mousavi is not the same man he was a week ago. These people, these wonderful, courageous people, have reshaped him by their intransigent will.

The spark, the drive for freedom has always come from the heart of the people. And it has always been through the courage and strong spirit of the people that freedom has been won. We share with each Iranian deep understanding and offer our prayers and support.

It's one of the many painful aspects of the situation that so many people who believe in peace, friendship, acceptance and mutual respect (including me) are now having to struggle to preserve those beliefs against the feelings of hostility and desire for vengeance these events are causing.

I know full well that hatred only breeds more hatred, and violence breeds escalating violence, and I realize how important it is that all of us who wish Iran well use any influence we can to encourage calmness and a smooth transition to a true democracy, rather than help to fuel an all-too-possible descent into a full-on blood-bath.

It IS a worthy battle, right enough - but right now it's very, very hard.

Amen

ASR Neda