Neda Agha-Soltan
There are millions of Iranian women seizing the opportunity provided by the Iranian ruling party’s mistakes over the past few weeks. I tweeted a week ago that we are gazing through the looking glass at the violent upheavals that accompany a social realignment which encompasses human rights.
Two hundred and forty-four years ago, a black escaped slave was the first man to die in order to free his former masters from the economic and political oppression of the British king. One hundred and twenty hours ago, a twenty-six year old Iranian woman died on film in her effort to free her countrymen, whose interpretation of the Qur’an places women in subservience, from the yolk of oppression embodied in President Ahmedinijad and the Basij.
This confrontation of the oppressed on behalf of the oppressors speaks to the true moral conflict facing the world today. By battling oppression in Iran, Neda is freeing my daughter here in the United States. By battling oppression in 1775, Crispus Attucks freed Hillary Clinton to run for President.
President Obama has framed his comments about inalienable human rights like freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the responsibility of governments to protect the rights of the people. These are the ideals upon which the United States is based. The question becomes are these ideals truly human rights? Or are we once again exporting our version of democracy into another country?
I would argue that injustice defeated anywhere adds to a more just everywhere. That is the responsibility each of us carries within us. President Obama. Reynaldo Macias. Crispus Attucks. Neda Agha-Soltan. You.
Stand up and be counted.
Become the face of revolution.
3 responses so far ↓
daniel gonzalez // June 24, 2009 at 11:09 pm |
I couldn’t agree more.
“It’s time for the great silent majority to stand up and be counted.”
Nixon said these words in support of the Vietnam War. Now I say them in support of the freedom of people in Iran and around the world.
Joaquin // June 25, 2009 at 12:09 am |
Chaaach…is that spelled right? Preach on! I was just commenting about the same thing on FB…I’ll def. need to put a link to this. Keep up the good work. Stayed certified.
Rachel // August 1, 2009 at 8:57 am |
Beautifully said. Thank you. Human rights ARE universal…
I wish I had had a chance to know this beautiful, brave woman who died. I wish I could have talked to her and asked her what she wanted out of the protests, what sort of direction did she envision for the Islamic Republic in the future, how did she view herself and her role in the country as a woman with a voice and an ideal…but a bullet made that impossible.
Even though I wish she hadn’t died, her death has made me more eager to reach out to and speak with other Iranians.