My worst nightmare is losing one of my own sons in front of my eyes. Yesterday we saw a father hold his daughter as she died in the most horrific way I could imagine. Those images kept me from sleeping well last night. Neda is her name. Her dad was holding her as she died. He named her Neda, which means "beautiful voice." Yesterday his beautiful voice was silenced. Today he is the father I'm thinking of. - Robert Scoble

Yes, her eyes looking up at the camera and father repeating "stay with me" strike to the core of life (and death) - Ronald Barnett

"We make a few simple points about the events transpiring over the past week in Iran. The Iranian regime is an evil tyranny. It supports terrorists and terrorism. The United States has a debt of honor to settle with it for the kidnapping and mistreatment of American hostages thirty years ago. That disgrace is not simply a matter of history. It is a disgrace in which Iran's execrable president personally participated. We remember." -- http://www.powerlineblog.com/archive... - Craig Eddy

She has become the face of an entire generation in Iran. I can't even imagine being this father. His daughter's face is going to be lots of places he looks and it won't be a pretty smiling face, but the one we all saw on YouTube yesterday. That's not how I'd like to remember my sons, if that ever happened to me. - Robert Scoble

Craig: I've been thinking about that too. Iran has sacrificed any moral authority it had to tell USA off. Now we see how brutal its government is. - Robert Scoble

Seeing her [Neda] look directly in the camera for her last breath was more sad & horrifying than seeing all the blood rush out of her seconds later. My heart broke at that moment. - Michael J. Carrasquillo

Michael: yup. And she, at that moment, became the face of Iran's new generation and -- I believe -- changed the world forever in a way thousands of deaths couldn't. But what a father's sacrifice it took. - Robert Scoble

Here is a comment by a spectator "At 19:05 June 20th Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st. A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim's chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes. The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St. The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me. Please let the world know." - Amiroo ™

Amiroo: that is another thing that has changed. The fact that so many of us have the ability to tell the world about what we are experiencing and show it to others via video has changed the world in ways we are just starting to understand. - Robert Scoble

It's a terrible tragedy for any father to witness the death of his own children. May their sacrifices make it all the more less likely that more people have to suffer in the same ways. This shows that no longer can governments hide tyranny with repression of the people. The people will be heard, and their voices will change the world. Yes Robert, this changed the world forever in ways that a war with thousands of deaths could never. This is much more personal, to anyone who sees it. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

She knew the risk she was taking by being on the street, and thus even by 'standing aside' was taking part. “Those who join the battle are all in the front lines” - Aaman (Clone of FF)

no doubt about it. Now we all can feel the importance of UGC for the future of our world. If we don't have these social movements around you may not even know about the things happening in Iran. (remember CNNFail!?) - Amiroo ™

Michael: for me as well, it was her eyes looking (or not) that has stayed with me vs. the bloodied image at the end. - Ronald Barnett

Aaman: all those who go on the streets are brave. My wife's relatives in Iran all say they haven't left their homes since Saturday. - Robert Scoble

Aaman:There's no battle, there is one sided murder - Amiroo ™

What stayed with me the most is the father's reaction. That was truly horrifying. - Leon Freyermuth

Amiroo: There is one sided murder, but that doesn't mean there is no battle. Those people in the streets are battling plenty. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

My father used to say, to be willing to achieve anything, you have to be willing to pay any price. - Aaman (Clone of FF)

Aaman: Your father was right - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Rob: yes but we hope they don't. The only possible way to win this is by silent resistance (you know like Gandhi). There's isn't any winner when violence steps in. - Amiroo ™

Amiroo: Neda wasn't violent. She was silent and her "crime" was just being in the streets. That's one reason her image has even more power. If she had been violent her image wouldn't have had as much power. - Robert Scoble

Robert, I need to post your first comment. It is heartbreaking, thoughtful and filled with compassion! - Myrna

Yeah that's the way to go though such a sad way unfortunately - Amiroo ™

Happy father's day to you too :) - FFTornado

Robert is correct, and that is the sort of non-violent protest that starts and completes great movements. I have not seen many images of violent protesters. I have seen an image of protesters caring for a wounder policeman though. This IS the behavior that the likes of Ghandi taught. To engage in true non-violence protest, you must be willing to pay any price. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Amiroo: It is unbelievably sad, but the power that she and her father bring to this struggle, may just be the power that's necessary to avoid any further large scale conflict, either between the people of Iran and their government, or between the US (or Israel) and Iran. We can hope. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Rob:Hopefully, but the anger that this may generate between people may lead to violent acts and slogans that actually I think the government needs to block them. I really hope people continue that way they did till now - Amiroo ™

Amiroo: I cannot agree with your statement "I think the government needs to block them" . That is precisely the problem, is the governments around the world trying to dictate what their people can say, do, and watch, and listen to. That is precisely the problem in Iran today. I pray that that image doesn't lead to more violence, but I also understand that at a certain point, there is a necessity to fight fire with fire. Let's pray that the government of Iran can see the light before the violence escalates. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Rob:If it goes that way it won't be any fight fire with fire it will be punch with fire - Amiroo ™

Amiroo: Don't underestimate the power of the people, and don't overestimate the loyalty of the military to the government. Often it is the combination of these two factors that make violence all the more unnecessary. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Robert Your powerful comment of Neda's face not being what her father wants to remember recalled for me a recent case right here in the USA of a family that has made desperate efforts to get their daughter's fatal car accident photos off the Internet which were leaked by the police. What is this saying about us and our use of the Internet? It's the same argument that was brought against the coverage of both 911 and the Challenger Accident. There are no Internet policies in place to protect the privacy and sensibilities of the families of tragedy. What do you suggest that we do about that since you have voiced you would not want to be in Neda's Father's position? - Melanie Reed

Melanie: I am a free speech advocate. While I would not like it, I am going to defend it. Her face has become one of the iconic images of this struggle. How much has it changed the world? But yes, free speech is not always fun and games. I have to defend speech that often is objectionable if I am to defend our first amendment. - Robert Scoble

this moment is the perfect time to remind everyone that the most successful resistance is the kind that allows you to live for another day; to _continue_ the fight. yes, there are times when tragic things happen, but this is _not_ the goal. martyrdom is not success. i know this video will reverberate around the world. i only hope the proper message will accompany it, too. - MikeAmundsen

Rob:Well the problem is most (if not all) of this violence hasn't made by typical military forces, there are lots of so called Basij forces which are in the same side with the government also I think even if it succeed by fighting violently there would be such a big price to pay - Amiroo ™

Robert, I am as well. Ironically, I am in the midst of writing a piece on this to expose a particular rhetoric that cuts it off. However, as with all things, there is always a line that protects us from extremes (which are very horrific things) while protecting that freedom of speech we cherish. Any freedoms we have, if not exercised with love, become in themselves a prison to ourselves and to those who are hurt by their corrupt exercise. - Melanie Reed

Amiroo: Then let's ensure that all our own thoughts are on the side of success without violence. The more people that think about a given outcome (and talk about it, etc) the more likely that is to become the truth. - guruvan (Rob Nelson)

Would like to second the early comment about Iran's leaderships lost ability to claim moral authority of any kind. Its clear their oppressive government is more than willing to use brutal, thoughtless, violence to keep control. Imagine what they would do to the world with a nuke. They may not have ordered her killing but they built their power on the backs of brutal militias willing to do it and have not called them back. - James Watters

Good G*d, I didn't know that was her father with her. That is just heartbreaking. :..( - Laserone

:( Happy father's day to you, and god bless your sons:( - Mahyaa مه‌یا

I too would like to add to the heart felt comments left here. Nothing quite brings it home more than seeing that innocent young woman lose her life like that. I only viewed it the once as I felt it was wrong to want to view a second time and felt almost voyeuristic in the worst way imaginable. It was brutal, sad and upsetting. Let us think of her family at this time aside from all the politics. - Kevin J Hatton

Robert I have been thinking of: Neda, people who want to "be heard", raising awareness to influence change, and the green overlay on our icon... Why don't we do a "Web Neda's day" vs a "minute of silence" by putting all an overlay of Green on our websites for 24 h (a little bit like Google put a different logo once in a while on its home page) . Her name was Neda, you explained it means "beautiful Voice". Robert You are the incredible hulk, I am sure you could be the one turning the web in green for 1 day. - Harscoat