The Death of Neda Agha-Soltan: YouTube's Most Important Moment

Last Saturday, I watched a woman die. It was not something I set out to do, and had I known what I was going to see, I probably would have opted not to watch. But I was checking FaceBook updates as usual, and clicked on a link posted by a friend, urging me to "watch before the video was deleted". I hadn't scrolled the entire post into view; had I done so, I would have seen his warning that the video was quite disturbing.

Disturbing was an understatement. I've never actually seen someone die. It was so disturbing that I had to immediately stop what I was doing and try to find ways to take my mind off what I'd seen. It wasn't the kind of visual to induce nightmares, but had me close to tears.

In Hollywood feature films, we've all seen countless people die. But - and this is where I think film-censorship paranoia has it wrong - I believe people are fully capable of separating film fiction from real life. I remember seeing the Arnold Schwartzenegger blockbuster Total Recall, in which the crowd cheered loudly when one of the villains got his arms amputated by a fast-moving elevator. The one-upmanship in action movie violence has reached complete absurdity. We laugh because although the on-screen visuals become increasingly realistic with advances in film make-up, computer technology, and special effects, it also moves farther from reality in its scale. The more excessive film violence becomes, the more it seems to mimic video game shoot-'em-ups.

But watching this video of the protests in Iran was unlike anything I had seen. I was unprepared for the true horror. This is the morbid fascination of car wrecks: it comes from our wonder at knowing that this is reality; this is what death really looks like. And unlike film fiction, we want to help, as fellow human beings, we need to. But we are helpless to do so.

I wondered if the video should be freely available for all to watch. For a brief moment, I thought others might be spared my own discomfort or grief if the video were taken down. Then I remembered a conversation I'd had only the night before. Sitting around with friends, discussing films, we got onto the subject of "torture porn". This seems to be a phenomenon of the young - teens and twenties - who provide Hollywood with repeat business by attending films like Saw and its disgusting sequels. I know of no older adults who are willing to watch any of these films.

Two years ago, I was lucky to see a screening of the documentary For the Bible Tells Me So, about gays and religion. It follows the stories of half a dozen gay men and women and their coming out to strongly religious families. The saddest story is of a woman who responded harshly to her lesbian daughter's coming out; before they could reconcile, the daughter committed suicide. The film director included police photographs of the suicide, which drew revulsion from much of the audience. In the following Q&A, the director was questioned about his decision to include the photos in the film. He tells of agonizing over the decision, until he had a chance meeting with a stranger on the NYC subway - a mother whose daughter was with friends, seeing one of the Saw sequels. The mother urged the director to include the photos - because young people need to see what death really looks like.

I don't know if YouTube did remove this video in the hours after I saw it. All I know is that countless people have begun to post links to it (possibly different links or using different online video providers). But a couple of days later, YouTube had added a link at the top of every page, leading to other videos on the situation in Iran. While YouTube will remove videos it sees as inappropriate, apparently nothing speaks more loudly to YouTube than a video that draws hundreds of thousands of hits.

I've used YouTube practically every day in recent months. It's become the leading source for all video - home movies, music clips, comedy, news, and film (much of it unauthorized). But the death video of Neda Agha-Soltan in Iran is a turning point for YouTube, and for all online video. It is significant in so many ways: a symbol of injustice by Iran's government, a visual record of the protest movement, another sign that cameras and cellphones are ushering in an era in which crimes by the state will not be covered up. And it is a real look at death itself - something we cannot and should not ignore. We don't all need to watch it, but for Neda's sake - and for our own - the option to witness this death is important. It reminds us that these world events we are watching are not just academic debates; they involve real human beings, just like us.

On "Immigrants" Who Protest in Canada

As our headlines have turned to the turmoil in Iran over concerns about election fraud and the resulting protests and violent action to suppress the dissent, I have watched with increasing concern the distress of my neighbour, who is Iranian. Normally very quiet on FaceBook, she was suddenly posting frequently throughout the day - photos, video clips, news reports and politcal analysis, and personal accounts from people there.

On Sunday, I joined her for a rally at Mel Lastman Square in North York. It was a wonderful demo: peaceful, well-organized, and lively, and attended by thousands, including families with children. There was a nice vibe, although I can't say "happy"; this was, after all, motivated by worries about family, friends, and simply, the millions of Iranians who are protesting, and some of whom have been killed by the authorities there.

The demo ended with something I haven't seen at a demo before: a request from the organizers to clear the square. I assume it was an effort to honour an agreement for the use of the square - an attempt to make the event successful and free of controversy in every way. People started to wander slowly toward Yonge Street and the subway, although many, deep in conversation and/or socializing, and were in no hurry. As we waited on the sidewalk for my neighbour's friend, a number of the protesters - many with placards - began a march south along Yonge. My neighbour remarked that she didn't approve. She was worried about the reaction from the general public to an impromptu march - a vocal and visible protest taking to the street without permission from the authorities.

It has taken me a couple of days pondering this to realize how much it bothers me. This is a common reaction, attitude - even strategy, from many minority groups: be good, don't stand out, don't annoy or offend the general public. What would they think? The strategy to avoid anything which might create a negative reaction is natural, but it is also a reflex to the bigotry or racism that every visible minority faces.

Few in Canada know this phenomenon better than the Japanese Canadian community. Thrown into prison camps during WWII as "enemy aliens" (although 75% had been born here), they decided that they had been victimized because they were seen as a visible minority - and let's face it: nothing gets under the skin of racists faster than a visible minority that congregates, speaks a different language in public, and displays different customs or signs of their heritage. So when the Japanese Canadians were released from the prison camps, they made a conscious decision to assimilate into the white majority: don't speak Japanese in public, don't congregate, excel in school and work so that there will be no basis for criticism. As a result, there are no identifiable Japanese Canadian communities in the cities where they settled after the war.

Another example of the "don't stand out" strategy is seen in the gay community, from gays with "internalized homophobia". This is more common among gays who are just coming out and do not yet have the confidence to thicken their skin against homophobes, and who do not understand the historical struggle which has won whatever acceptance we may have in society (varying widely depending on where one lives). The common intent here is to avoid any behaviour or action which may earn disapproval from the straight population, to the point that gays should not be seen to behave any differently than straights. Again, this reaction is natural, but is borne out of fear - a fear which gays live with constantly while in the closet, and which, for some, never goes away. No one has the right to judge us - especially based on sexual orientation, and thus, we should not be fearful of celebrating who we are. It is only the bigots who are offended.

And this is the crux of the problem: too many of us are governed by our fear of bigots. During the biggest Tamil protests, the racism in newspaper comments and online discussions was rampant. "They shouldn't come to our country and protest." "What does this have to do with Canada?"

I'll tell you what it has to do with Canada: the crimes and injustice seen on the other side of the world affects us to our core - just as much as if it were happening here. Election fraud? Censoring of media? Suppression of free speech? Criminalization of dissent? Genocide? If we value our way of life, then we have an obligation to speak out about these things, regardless of where they are happening. And we certainly should not be criticizing anyone who is speaking out about them; we should be giving them as much support as is humanly possible. The real irony is that the people who decry "immigrants" making protests are often the same ones who support war on the basis that our soldiers are "protecting these freedoms".

We are all immigrants in this country, except for the First Nations, and I have never heard First Nations people tell anyone to go back where they came from. (I wonder why not. They certainly have reason.) For the rest of us, this idea that people should not protest problems in other countries is ludicrous. We should all hop on a plane whenever we want to comment on anything negative that happens in another country?

Back to the Iran protest: Iranians are Canadians too. They live here; this is their country. They have as much right to rally and protest here as anyone. They are doing the rest of us a service in calling our attention to a very serious matter - something we should all know about. They are calling for change, and raising their voices for a better world. And in doing so, they are - perhaps unknowingly - calling for a better Canada, a Canada in which we don't sit on our asses and ignore the problems of the world around us. Each time we ignore that call - as the majority of us did during the big Tamil protests - we move a little further from the country we should be. We move from the peacekeeping nation, one of the best places to live - to a place where people don't care. We're fine; screw you.

We're all immigrants. We came from all corners of the world. We need to work at maintaining those ties. When we see injustice or wrongdoing, be it in Sri Lanka, Iran, Palestine, the US - we need to speak out. When the country of our ancestors is affected, we educate others. When a crisis strikes a country we know nothing about, we need to make an attempt to learn about it. It takes some effort. But when we can say we got involved - particularly involving a place we don't know, we make our own country a better place to live. There is nothing more patriotic.

Genocide is not a "Fair Weather" Issue

Since the Tamil protests began, there has been much confusion over whether they deserve support from the rest of the population. I can't tell you how many times I have read or heard, "I support them, but..."
• "They are flying those red flags."
• "Aren't the Tamil Tigers terrorists?"
• "They shouldn't block traffic."
• "Isn't there some other way they can protest?"
• "This has nothing to do with Canada."

Let's start with the facts. For decades, the Sinhalese majority has been persecuting the Tamil minority, and that persecution includes murder. Supposed "safe zones" have been bombed, including hospitals. The Tamil population is trapped and has nowhere to turn. As more and more are murdered, their relatives here in Canada grow more desperate.

Is genocide right or wrong? Speak to anyone about the holocaust, and in this day and age it is inconceiveable that anyone would defend genocide. No, genocide is always wrong, period. Full stop. There are no "ifs", "ands", or "buts". Genocide is not a political view. It has no pros or cons. There is no debate. It is simply and categorically wrong, and must be opposed and stopped at all costs.

Genocide is not a "fair-weather" issue. We do not oppose it only when we have time, only under certain conditions, only when we like the victims - or approve of their politics.

We do not decide to support the victims of genocide who we like, and turn our backs on those we don't. If you saw an elderly neighbour being attacked by a mugger, would you intervene, or would you first gauge how much you like that particular neighbour? Would you walk away because you don't happen to agree with her political views?

Oppose genocide, now, and always. Speak out against it. Support its victims, no matter who they are. Stand with the Tamils. Write to the newspapers. Call your MP. Tell Stephen Harper to get off his bloody ass and challenge the government of Sri Lanka, with economic sanctions if necessary. Don't let your complacency allow another murder.

Anti-Tamil-Tiger Propaganda Muddies the Real Issues

Papers, blogs, Facebook, and all manner of online sites are abuzz with discussion of the Tamils' plight. I'm encouraged to read that while many Canadians remain uninvolved in the struggle, they are at least aware (or becoming more aware) of the situation. But of course, there remains a stubborn group which insists that Tamils should not be supported because of the actions of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE).

Like so many rebel groups, the Tigers have a history of rebellion against opression, and they want an independent state. That is understandable, which is not to say that anyone should condone some of the things they have done. But it is important to understand that the Sri Lankan government is guilty of decades of oppression, violence, and murder. That is not the story we hear, however.

A couple of years ago, on my walk home from work through the University of Toronto campus, I passed a student who was leafletting on the sidewalk. (As is my habit, I stopped to take a leaflet, but stayed right there, looking at it. If it is something that truly interests, me, I thank the person, but if not, I make a point of handing it back.) I stood there for a moment, puzzling over it. It was text heavy, and I was not willing to read the whole thing right there, but neither could I determine what its aim was or who was behind it. What was clear was that it was a propaganda piece against the Tamil Tigers, complete with a glossy, full-colour photo of a murdered civilian - a crude shock tactic.

Amusingly, the student appeared to be a little bit uncomfortable to have me scrutinizing the information in his presence. He first tried to distance himself from the subject matter. A moment later, growing more uneasy, he told me, "I'm just being paid to hand these out."

I did take it with me, intending to look into its origins more closely, but by the time I got home, I was too disgusted by the photo and threw it out.

Here's the thing: in a city like Toronto, you can find people leafletting any day of the week. Leaflets from activists are always done on the cheap: paper photocopies, often one quarter of an 8 1/2 x 11 for maximum economy, run off by volunteers. The anti-Tiger leaflet was a two-sided, full-colour photocopy, on good quality paper. Who had money to print these and hire a university student to distribute them? It certainly wasn't from any volunteer-run activist organization. It also wasn't a message from any social- or political-activist organization I've ever seen or heard of. In other words, someone with time, money, and an agenda went to some effort to implement this. And it's not anybody on the political left.

I am thankful my experiences with activism have taught me how to analyze this experience. But what is the average person to think? Should it be any wonder that people are confused now, as to whether to support the Tamil community?

I now question every claim I hear about the Tamil Tigers. Supposedly, they have been doing some awful things. But where is our information coming from? As communications have been restricted by the Sri Lankan government, the government is in control of most of the news that is being fed to our media.

We have a duty to use independent resources on the internet, and to speak to the Tamil population to get the other side of the story. It's not hard to find Tamils to speak to; they are out on the streets every day.

For us, an inconvenience. For them, life or death.

I just got home to read headlines about Tamil protesters blocking Toronto's Gardiner Expressway, in both directions. If you need attention, that's a pretty good way to get it. Pretty good trick, but you need the numbers to pull it off.

Fortunately for the Tamil community, they do. Weeks ago, as I walked home from work, I came across one of the earlier protests in which the community did a march around Toronto's core. I saw them straggling up Queen's Park Crescent, a quiet area where pedestrian traffic is light. I thought they were walking home from a rally. But as I continued east and hit Yonge Street, I came across them again. Carrying flags and concentrating on the west side of the street (but spilling over to the east side and complemented by cars driving up and down Yonge), they formed a chain accented by their red flags - a strong presence as far as the eye could see both to the north and the south, and impossible to ignore. I was thrilled, and a little envious that even the largest protests I've been part of have never achieved that effect.

As the protests have continued, occupying University Avenue, I've read the inevitable racist comments in the online papers. "These people don't have the right to come to our country and protest." "They shouldn't be allowed to block our streets."

Way to miss the point, people.

Have you thought about the things that bother you about government action or inaction, and have you ever done anything to try to effect change? Have you made any effort to raise awareness about injustice or wrongdoing? Or are we just too comfortable with our lifestyle - too busy to protest?

Ask yourself why so many people are part of these protests. Why are so many members of the Tamil community taking the time and making the effort to get out on the streets?

Now ask yourself if you would get off your ass and do something if your relatives were in danger. Would you act if they were being killed? Would you protest if your people were the target of genocide?

No doubt, tomorrow there will be more angry letters to the editor from people who were stuck in traffic as a result of the protests. For me, I'm ok with many hours of gridlock if it results in more people speaking out about the apathy of governments like Harper's - apathy toward the killing campaign being waged on the other side of the world. Wake up, people.

Harper and Kenney to Close the Door to Gay Refugees

The erosion of Canada's reputation as a diverse country, welcoming of immigrants, took another step backward today as Immigration Minister Jason Kenney appointed an anti-gay conservative to the IRB. Doug Cryer, former director of public policy for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, says churches have the right to denounce homosexuality.

I have very dear gay friends who have immigrated to Canada, fleeing discrimination and persecution in other countries. They are part of an (until recently) increasing movement of gays who are coming to Canada in search of a better life, a life without worry and fear. Gays who are applying for immigration now can look forward to an IRB influenced by bigorty, hatred, and a lack of sympathy and understanding of their situation. In examining refugee claims by gays, the IRB should be focused on determining whether persecution is a threat. How can a board member focus on that if he believes homosexuality is a sin in the first place?

This is beyond ludicrous. What's next - a white supremacist IRB member? Let's not laugh - this comes from the same conservative government with a federal Minister of State for Science and Technology who doesn't believe in evolution. Gary Goodyear is a Christian who has made significant cuts to science research funding. Any conservatives out there who want to defend that one?

I am going to start referring to Harpers conservatives as "republicans". I think it's the most concise way to summarize this government's actions. They are doing everything they can to move this country backward and emulate the disastrous Bush administration. Somebody help us.

Get on side.

Remind Stephen Harper that we live in a democracy! A decisive majority believes that American Iraq-war resisters should be allowed to stay in Canada. A majority in the House of Commons voted to allow them to stay as well. And Harper said himself (on April 13, 2005), "The Prime Minister has the moral responsibility to respect the will of the House."

So why has Harper not acted on his parliamentary obligations? Why is he allowing war resisters to be deported? Why is he acting in defiance of Canadian democratic policy and tradition?

If you're a fan of Harper, you're probably not reading this anyway. If you're not, you're probably already aware that Harper is a Bush wanna-be (way to pick a role model, Steve!) without a compassionate bone in his body. Either way, if you can answer the above questions, let me know. My guess is that he knows he's already well on his way to becoming the most unpopular PM in Canadian history and that nothing short of a miracle will reverse that, so he might as well be true to his heart - or lack thereof.

If you want to make a difference during his conservative reign, if you want to protest our lack of democracy, even if you just want to call Harper on being an asshole - there's no better time to protest than now. This week is a week of action, in which people will be calling and emailing politicians and making donations to the war resisters campaign (legal fees are mounting). Don't allow Harper to deport any more war resisters. Send an email, donate $10, do something. There's so much bad news these days; this is one way in which you can make a positive difference.


Weekly calendar of events (Thursday's is my own addition):

Monday, March 16
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Copy this text to email different members of Parliament (see Tuesday).

Tuesday, March 17
Call Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to demand he stop the deportation of the Rivera family: 613-954-1064 and 613-992-2235
Email:
minister@cic.gc.ca
kenney.j@parl.gc.ca
Don't forget to cc the opposition critics:
bevilacqua.m@parl.gc.ca
chow.o@parl.gc.ca
st-cyr.t@parl.gc.ca

Wednesday, March 18
Distribute leaflets (available at resisters.ca).

In Toronto: War resister Matt Lowell's federal court hearing to request leave to appeal the negative decision in his H&C application. Join us for a morning vigil and to observe the hearing if you can. Meet in front of 180 Queen Street West.
8:30 am vigil
9:30 am hearing

In London: protest Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, 4:00 pm.

Thursday, March 19
Donate to the war resisters' legal defense. (This link is good until March 25; after March 25, go to resisters.ca to make a donation.) Donations will be needed at least until Harper does the right thing and allows the resisters to stay.

Friday, March 20
Meet with your local Member of Parliament and ask them what they are doing to defend Canadian democracy and stop the deportation of the Rivera family.

For other local actions, go to resisters.ca.

As always, with the war resisters updates, thanks to WMTC for the event info.