Hand in hand for Iran: Shirin Neshat

Through the Chaos in Iran, Iranians around the globe have found each other. unlike the revolution from 30 years ago, where we had to distinguish between the Pro-Shah and the pro-Islamic revolution Iranians, this time, all Iranians want democracy. the one's in Iran do love Iran Zamin, meaning the Iranian Land, and do not want to escape like before. they are ready to fight for their country and want the Iranian s outside not to lead them, but to motivate them and encourage them to continue the battle for freedom. It is no wonder that the green wristbands and T-shirts most Iranians are wearing indicates that we should "Free Iran" and does not ask for a certain form of government.

In one of these gatherings at the Chelsea Museum in NYC, I had the pleasure to meet one of these unique Iranians: Shirin Neshat, the most famous Iranian artist living outside Iran. She is a petite lady, very sweet,and very shy. She was very happy that I introduced myself, since we have avery good friend in common (Siba Shakib, a bestseller author and Filmmaker) and gave me a great compliment as well. While I usually do not like people giving me compliments for my looks, getting one from Shirin Neshat, is a true compliment. :-)
As the picture indicates, she is one of the Iranians who encourages with her unique photography and short-movies the situation of women and men in Iran.
Her short-movie, which was accompanied by the voice of Susan Deyhim, was the perfect description for of women's position Iran. A woman standing and screaming in different volumes, no audience behind her, basically a silent scream. while the man on the other screen was just looking at her, backed up by a room filled with other men, and was silent.
This shows what has been going on in Iran for the past years: women screaming and asking for freedom, no one there to listen while being seen by men, who give them a glaze, questioning their action.
However, regardless of that short- movie, looking at the present political situation, and seeing men and women fighting together for the Iranian democracy, we see them working hand in hand.
Seeing Iranians outside and inside the country working hand in hand shows that maybe that scream is eventually heard. While the men in the Islamic revolution were not as oppressed for their attire and actions as women have been in the past 30 years, the fact that they are fighting hand in hand might indicate that the man who ist just standing there, IS actually hearing her. Maybe it just indicates that men's perception of the scream is different. Maybe they just do scream differently, not being used of showing their feeling and expressing them on the outside.
The picture I chose for this post could be transferred to any situation: men and women, Iranians outside and inside or anything: it shows that hand-in-hand the whole image can be seen and is not lost.

Thank you, Ms. Neshat!