Caspian Makan for Agoravox on Neda thinking

 

First, I would like to emphasize that despite all that has been wrongly quoted from me, Neda was never political but she always aspired for human freedom. She always suffered from superficial and superstitious boundaries and limitations brought about by dogmatic religious beliefs.
She started studying spiritualism at the university in order to understand how religions came about and what their purpose is. She was very bright and curious. After about a year she realized that school officials were exerting undue pressure on her for the way she thought and even for the way she looked and dressed. She felt like learning had become secondary! She subsequently left the university and decided to study on her own and study music.
She lived in a country that is the epicenter for lack of individual and civil liberties. Iran has a religious government with extremist leaders who not only do not believe in people’s individual freedoms but also they have the young people on a short leash that gets shorter each day! In addition they confront people in the most inhumane ways! For more than 30 years our innocent people have been beaten up, injured, jailed and unfortunately killed!
Neda’s love for freedom and human aspirations came to light during the presidential election in June 2009. There were four candidates participating in this election and Neda thought that they were all the same! Their differences were only in the way they looked! That is why she did not vote and she never supported any of the candidates. But when she saw that there was clear cheating in the election she decided to join the people to protest!
From the beginning she participated in people’s protests and was very active. Unlike many people who had been affected by the various side issues, Neda knew exactly what she was doing and what she wanted. A few days before her death, when I saw the repression, I tried to change her mind about participating in the demonstrations. I loved her and I did not want anything to happen to her.
I asked her: "what if you get arrested?"
"It’s not important" she replied.
"What if you get shot?" I asked!
She said: "even if a bullet goes through my heart, it’s not important. What we are fighting for is more important. When it comes to take our stolen rights back, we should not hesitate. Everyone is responsible. I am no different than anyone else." And her last words were: "each person leaves a footprint in this world".
On the morning of June 20th, 2009 she had the same kind of conversation with her mother before leaving her house but her mother was not able to change her mind about participating in the demonstrations.
Unfortunately on that day she was shot by regime forces and it happened that it was all caught on camera. I would like to describe her during her last moments:
"She had wide open eyes, a pleasant face, no frowning, complete consciousness and finally giving in to death...She was not shot by a large bullet and she did not die instantly. She was shot by a small bullet that took seven slow minutes to slowly take her life away. I often think how uneasy we all get when we are poked with a little thorn in our fingers. Neda’s innocent heart had been pierced by a bullet, blood was gushing out of her body and yet like always she was calm and conscious thinking about freedom.
Unfortunately there are images of many people in the world who are injured and killed but Neda’s legacy comes from her sincere thoughts evident in her face and that is what stole the heart of millions of people around the world.
Through her conscious mind and her utter bravery, Neda was able to provide a new direction to the millions of Iranians protesting and to strengthen their resolve in seeking their freedoms.
The moment Neda took her last breath, the countdown for the downfall of the inhumane regime in Iran started.
Today the informed Iranians and even many people across the world await the day of victory.
Neda’s gift to the people of the world is freedom and I believe that not only Neda is a hero and a leader for human freedom in 2009, but also her name will remain in history as a deserving and great hero.