Comments on: Neda’s Death is Face of Iranian Revolution (Videos)

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:47:37 +0000

somebody please show this video to Barak Obama

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:14:37 +0000

Your points are taken, and obviously we just have a difference of philosophical approach to this matter. I however, would like to address three points you made:

The argument of voting “present” was made and rejected in the 2008 election. People didn’t care then and they don’t care now.

I dispute that the US has historically stood on the side of freedom, unless you totally discount the 103 years between the emancipation proclamation and the civil rights act of 1965. That also does not include the years of actual slavery prior to signing of the EP, nor the imposition of jim crow laws that prevented the exercise of these same types of basic rights, often with governmental complicity.

Finally, the two injections to which you refer took place well before any upheaval in Iran, so his speaking out was done in the abstract, absent any circumstances which his stance could compromise.

Thank you for your response.
M

By: beth

beth — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:26:45 +0000

Mel,

I’ve spoken with Iranians who say just the opposite. So, it appears either one of us is wrong or perhaps all Iranians don’t think just alike.

It would take personal courage for Obama to do something besides vote ‘present’ on any issue - this one in particular.

The reality is that the U.S. will be blamed either way - but we are a nation that has historically taken a stand on the side of freedom. Our forefathers fought a bloody war to attain freedom from Britain. To stand on the side of freedom doesn’t mean interjecting himself into their domestic issues.

BTW - he didn’t mind interjecting himself in Iranian issues when he gave his FIRST speech as President to the Iranian people. He didn’t mind doing it again when he gave a speech in Cairo. He said on both of those occasions that he would stand behind the PEOPLE of Iran. Why is he all of the sudden afraid to say anything? Now that the people are actually taking a stand on their own, he backs off.

Even worse, he seems to make a moral equivalence between the brutal theocracy of the Mullahs and the will of the people to choose their own form of government.

Personal courage is a scarce commodity in today’s world.

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:04:34 +0000

I can upon this blog quite by accident, and really, your lack of factually based assertions are extraordinary. If you want to complain about Obama’s inaction because he hasn’t acted in a way that makes you feel good that is your perogative. But your allegations bear no resemblance to the reality of the 30-year history we have had with Iran, and any affirmation, real or perceived, of this country “cozying up” for lack of a better term, to the opposition will be just the opening the Iranian gov’t needs to further demonize the people. We are after all, the Great Satan according to the Iran gov’t. To further state this point, any Iranian citizen you speak to would tell you that having Pres. Obama further insert himself/this country into this uprising would be the kiss of death for this movement. I’ve personally spoken with half a dozen or so Iranian citizens, and this is the consensus.

By: beth

beth — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:22:54 +0000

Amy - I won’t remove the video because you say the photo is not correct. I’ll double check my sources - but this photo is being widely distributed as her photo. The other photos and video ARE of the Neda who was killed in the protests.

By: Amy L. Beam, Ed.D.

Amy L. Beam, Ed.D. — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:08:17 +0000

The so-called passport photo of the Neda who was killed is incorrect. This is a photo of Neda Soltani who is on Facebook and is very much alive and well. I communicated with her 6/21/09. There is more than 1 Neda Soltani. Please remove this video until it is corrected.