While the left celebrates the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama, purely for racial and symbolic reasons, there is a woman who didn’t set out for self-glorification, yet became a true symbol of freedom.
This year, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in Iran braved ferocious official violence to demand their right to vote and to speak freely. Dozens were killed, thousands imprisoned. One of those killed was a young woman named Neda Agha-Soltan; her shooting by thugs working for the Islamist theocracy, captured on video, moved the world. A posthumous award for Neda, as the avatar of a democratic movement in Iran, would have recognized the sacrifices that movement has made and encouraged its struggle in a dark hour. Democracy in Iran would not only set a people free, it would also dramatically improve the chances for world peace, since the regime that murdered her is pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community.
Imagine that. People risking all for “hope” and “change”, contrasted by those who felt good about cosmetic “hope” and “change” they risked little to achieve.
Announcing Friday that he would accept the award, Mr. Obama graciously offered to share it with “the young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be heard even in the face of beatings and bullets.” But the mere fact that he avoided mentioning either Neda’s name or her country, presumably out of consideration for the Iranian regime with which he is attempting to negotiate, showed the tension that sometimes exists between “diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” on the one hand, and advocacy of human rights on the other. The Nobel Committee could have spared Mr. Obama this dilemma if it had given Neda the award instead of him.
Her death (in plain view of the world) became what symbols are supposed to be: motivational by the very nature of shared sacrifice.
Something of which Barack Obama seems incapable.
Oh, and by the way… Three Iranian protestors face death penalty
Robert,
My hat is off to you Sir, for once again you’ve proven yourself both the master of prose and the master of Conservative American Political thought. You are 1000 times right; Neda should have won, and Zero is [as yet] unworthy to stand in her shadow. She faced danger with courage and honor, much as our founders did. She paid the ultimate price, and the whole world should grieve.
Do you suppose our Zero will even mention her name – or her struggle to live in freedom when he delivers his acceptance speech, – - or will he use that bully pulpit to ply the world with more narcissism?
Thank you Bob!
/s/ Iron Mike
Old Soldier, – Still Good for Parts!
http://www.RabidRepublicanBlog.com
This young lady should be remembered for her sacrifice. Thank you for reminding us of Neda and of her heroism.