I have to admit that I am a news junkie. I watch the news all the time but wasn’t very familiar with the situation going on in Iran. When the #iranelection started trending on twitter, I became intrigued. I started reading the posts. I was struck by the people going to the streets in order to get their votes counted. I felt like it was such an injustice. Election votes not being counted properly. I saw a basic lack of freedom of speech and not being able to peacefully protest something they felt was taken from them.
I then started following @oxfordgirl and @StopAhmadi. I became deeply caught up in their messages of hope and non violence. Just standing up for what they felt was right. I think the thing that moved me the most was the youtube video of Neda. Seeing a beautiful young lady shot while just an innocent bystander. Watching her die with her eyes open moved me beyond belief. I then became consumed with the injustice of what was going on the streets of Iran.
As the continued protests grew I became even more involved. How could a government allow these atrocities to happen. Learning the cruelty of how Neda’s family was not allowed to have a simple funeral. How they had to pay to obtain her remains. Then hearing about the torture going on at the Evin prison made me cry.
Shortly after that, I saw a post from @onlymehdi – Mehdi Saharkhiz son of Iranian reformist journalist Isa Saharkhiz. When I saw his posts on twitter, I did some research in order to learn more about his father. I was touched by Mehdi’s courage. His unwavering devotion to his father and for seeking justice in Iran.
I have seen the support on twitter grow and grow. I have now seen it as not just being a cause for Iranians and for exiled Iranians. It has made the world come together as one seeking freedom and justice. These things that are taken for granted in the USA. We stand together as the world in one voice to air dissent against the current Iranian regime. We are united. I will proudly wear my green bracelets showing my solidarity for the Green Wave. I will not take them off until Iranians have achieved their goal in obtaining their freedom and choice. To be able to peacefully protest without fear of being killed by the Basij. To be able to be on their rooftops chanting that God is Great without the terror of being hunted down and imprisoned. For Iranians to have free access to internet and texting without fear of any retribution based on their words.
I feel that I am now too an Iranian and will support them for the rest of my life.
Jill Harper
Nice to you. We are under a fascist government. It is hard to sense our feeling under this government. This is full mix of apartheid, Nazism, Stalinist. This is really a Holocaust regime.
ReplyDeleteWhen Neda was murdered a part of my heart lay on the street forever with her. Forever. We are all Iranians.
ReplyDeletesame here.
ReplyDeleteWe are all Neda.