Acting true to it authoritarian form, the Iranian government is seeking to erase evidence of Neda Solton, the 26-year-old woman who died during protests when government forces used live rounds to disperse crowds.
Officials have ordered the family to take down mourning posters and have barred any gatherings in her name. They have even blocked the family from holding a public burial or memorial service.
Nevertheless, posters have started to appear around the city and the effort to block internet access has not been entirely successful. In the meantime, most of the media has been blocked from even mentioning her name. One of the few references on television claimed to have debunked the story and suggested that the scene was staged, here.
She was shot when she was walking to a demonstration in Freedom Square in central Tehran. As the video below depicts, she died on the street. Her last words were: “I’m burning! I’m burning!”
Tributes have been posted on Youtube to Neda:
For the full story, click here.
Well you know, Sil, I just re-read Mike A’s comment and let me show you something . . .
“At bottom the continuous attacks by the right against the president for not doing more (whatever that means) in support of Iranian protesters springs from right-wing resentment that we have not invaded that country. There are still plenty of warmongers out there who believe that American imperialism in the Middle East offers the best prospects for democratization. The fact that there is not a single historical example of the successful creation of a democracy through conquest is apparently immaterial. Neocons ultimately want war for the sake of Israel. Christian fundamentalists want war to help usher in Armageddon and the rapture. The promotion of democracy in Iran isn’t the ultimate goal for either of these groups, but it makes for effective propaganda among the faithful.”
The only groups Mike mentions within the context of your post are Neocons and Christian Fundamentalists. He does not mention you once. So tell do tell, why so defensive unless you’re either a Neocon or a Fundie?
Knee-jerk much?
MAppleton,
NEVER ONCE did I advocate an invasion AND would NOT want the president to initiate an invasion.
You are the one who tries to manipulate a statement to go on an attack against groups you resent.
The simple fact is that Obama should have come out with strong support in defense of the protesters from the begining. His initial statements were insensitive.
My point was that dismissing Mousavi as not that much different that Achmedinejad was arrogant AND insensitive AND insulting to the people protrsting and dying. The presidents should RESPECT their fight.
The call for the president to show the Iranians some LOVING support for their cause is NOT instigated by a desire for invasion nor armageddeon. That is just a manipulation on your part to get on your soapbox and spew your anti-American rhetoric.
I’m NOT looking for a creation of democracy through conquest AND NEVER have. LETS be ABSOLUTELY clear about that!!! Do NOT try to paint me as advocating war. I WANT the will of the IRANIAN people to be done. AND I want the president to respect their out cry against the oppression against their regime.
AND I WANT our president who likes to wag his finger and admonish the American people about compassion and the self-governing rights of others to take his own advice and show that support by INCLINATION NOT by political pressure after his back is against the wall.
Mike A.,
10-4 on that comment!
It’s also creepy how the regime is trying not only to make this one woman’s death disappear, they have been fairly sucessful in making the whole opposition disappear.
At bottom the continuous attacks by the right against the president for not doing more (whatever that means) in support of Iranian protesters springs from right-wing resentment that we have not invaded that country. There are still plenty of warmongers out there who believe that American imperialism in the Middle East offers the best prospects for democratization. The fact that there is not a single historical example of the successful creation of a democracy through conquest is apparently immaterial. Neocons ultimately want war for the sake of Israel. Christian fundamentalists want war to help usher in Armageddon and the rapture. The promotion of democracy in Iran isn’t the ultimate goal for either of these groups, but it makes for effective propaganda among the faithful.
Also, the backstory doesn’t quite make sense.
Do the Bacrashi carry firearms? Why would they pick out a non-protesting woman, 1km from where the protests were occuring, and just stepping out of a car for a few minutes).
Also, for the massive injury she supposedly sustained, a direct bullet shot to the center of her chest, I have to wonder, where is all the blood that would be coming from her torso or her back onto the ground, it should have been everywhere, including the spot where they are trying to give her CPR.
And now I could be nitpicking, but this video was supposedly shot with a cellphone videocam. It really seems a bit too high quality for that.
Then there is the extreme rapid nature of her burial; no wake, or prefuneral proceedings, or even pictures/video of that proceeding?
And the almost too perfect backstory of her, preceding the shooting – her repeated commentary about “Don’t worry. It’s just one bullet and it’s over”, or “Neda had said that even if she lost her life and got a bullet in her heart, she would carry on”.
That she was not political and had no intention of protesting, only that she was passionate about the honesty of the election process. Her fiancee said she “studied philosophy, music and tourism, was not political”
I can’t say for sure, but there seem to be too many “just right” elements to this
It does have a bit of a “too-perfect-to-be-true” feel to it. Although the way Neda looks at the camera, with an absence of presence due to massive shock, does seem real.
Then there is what appears to be two different Neda’s, and (currently) a question of an independent source identifying Neda as a real person.
I wonder if a point by point analysis of the video has been made by a skeptic, something like microanalysing the moonshot films to debunk them.
My oddsmaker assessment, 85% likely true, 15% hoax.
I honestly hope the latter; this video made me cry.
I didn’t mean he should interfere just that he should show more empathy which he did this afternoon.
Swarthmore mom 1, June 23, 2009 at 9:59 am
Today ,although not usually, I agree with Richard Cohen in the Washington Post. Obama is just not upset enough about what is going on in Iran. He is just too disconnected and cool. No one expects an invasion but he could appear to be much more outraged and much more supportive of the Iranian people.
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That would do more harm than good to the reformist movement. Obama has to be seen as if he is not interfering in any way. Otherwise, he will give Ahmedinajad & Co a basis for claiming the West is behind these protests.
Shala:
With all due respect (and it might be ever so slight), many of us do not care what happens to the faction currently under siege in Iran. No one seriously doubts that either the ruling faction or its counterpart has any love lost for the US, and while the oppressed may sing the democratic line, they are obedient servants to the theocracy that is Iran today. My interests are identical to US interests, and picking a side in a civil war rarely, if ever serves our national interests. See Vietnam. You may sympathize with the admittedly brave protesters, and the sad death of this young passer by, but gambling American prestige and military might on the outcome of a civil war of our chief adversary in the region is foolishness of high order as Iraq so vividly showed us. That is not true, of course, if your goal is to find any scintilla of an argument to attack the incumbent President. Then, of course, Iran provides yet another opportunity for demagoguery and to demonstrate that ideology trumps patriotism among the neo-con mob.
http://jonathanturley.org/2009/05/06/jewish-students-challenge-schedule-of-national-high-school-mock-trial/
oops. there’s that second link. I am bombed
What will Neda be rememebered for though? Both Achmedinejad and his opposer are bad and backed by the Ayatollah. She was a remarkable, open minded, talented and beautiful woman, who died protesting an injustice in her country, but after the fact what will she really represent?t BTW professor I thought you might find this interesting:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06222009/news/regionalnews/jewish_girl_snubbed_in_hs_holy_daze_175467.htm
especially after the georgia state judges story you raised a moral question about:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06222009/news/regionalnews/jewish_girl_snubbed_in_hs_holy_daze_175467.htm
It appears they treat jews better in NY than in Georgia. What a shocker.
Shala:
you are right, most in this blog havent seen a dictator they dont like. although the Mullahs touch a chord because they believe in a God. If they did not this site would be talking about the temerity of the Iranian people to overthrow such good governance. think Cuba and Venezuela and throw in Mugabe for good measure.
They are also the same type of people that thought Natan Sharansky and Alexander Solzhenitsyn were way over the top disagreeing with those kind soft hearted fellows in the Kremlin.
It has been delightful. It really has and I have learned a lot of new terminology that I would have never used in the same breath. Wow.
AY,
I don’t do it for points. I just really loathe propaganda. It’s my nature.
Buddha,
This has been fun to read on my cell phone. I am now able to post. Do you get extra point for troll baiting? Or for that fact responding to them?
lottakatz,
Your inability to post is connected to: The Trolling of JT (a new movie coming to a theater near you)! I believe the trolls on the Scientology thread and the trolls here are connected. There is so much going on with the situation in Iran. Hence, we got trolls. They have inspired me to do some more digging.
The troll “false consensus” brigade is on the move again. And they can apparently mind read, so careful with those passwords and PINs.
SHALA,
I beg yor extreme pardon!!!!!!
If you had been following the comments on JT since yesterday you would’ve seen that I was the ONLY one calling out our compassionlees, arrogant, insensitive, insulting, dismissive, elitist president.
I had written a blog well in advance of anyone else including the media. EVEN FOX news didn’t speak out before me. I wrote 2 blofs condemning the presidents lack of compassion, leadership and interest in this monumental issue.
My words speak for my accuracy AND my foresight in calling out for action and words from the president.
MY blog and my posts ARE the PROOF.
You can go to the crispus attucks POST ON jt FROM YESTERDAY AND SEE THAT i WAS the lone wolf IN SPEAKING OUT ON THIS MATTER.
I am the one who does NOT have any fiegned compassion in this matter.
How dare you disparage my concern when I have been ahead of the ball from the begining!! Who do you think you are with your “Johnny-come-lately” comments?
I ask you to at least read my quotes from JT on the CRISPUS ATTUCKS post before you insinuate further dishonesty’s my way. You at the VERY least owe me that respect AND I would appreciate an apology.
This is to you SHALA. Do you have the honor?????
Dredd:
Oh quite shedding the alligator tears.
NOT ONE OF YOU here cares anyway and our “President” cares even less about the Iranian people.
Phonies, fakers, charlatans, hypocrites, worms, weasels. You are all that and more.
Shala,
Your ad hominem shows you are quite shallow … or as they say down in Texas where you are, quite shala …
One of the most famous Iranian heros, who has a national day of honor in Iran, is an American …
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/06/things-are-going-rummier-rummier.html