"Nobody's Enemy: The Youth Culture of Iran Today"

OAKWOOD - A documentary producer with ties to both America and Iran presented "Nobody's Enemy: The Youth Culture of Iran Today", at Gainesville State College on Monday.

Neda Sarmast spent fifteen years in music management before deciding to shift her focus towards playing a more positive role in her community. Her personal experience growing up as an Iranian-American, combined with her professional background in music and other arts, led her to produce a film promoting tolerance and unity among Eastern and Western cultures.

Born in Iran, Sarmast moved to the US at the age of nine and has traveled back and forth ever since. She was an eye-witness to the Iran-Iraq war, and her memories still haunt her, as she lost her best friend to an Iraqi aerial raid.

During the 1979 Iran hostage crisis and again after 9/11, Sarmast found herself defending Iranians and their beliefs to Americans, and in turn defending Americans and their way of life to Iranians.

Sarmast told the audience in the Continuing Education Center that most of Iran's population is under the age of 30 and wants the world to view them as not being a threat to those around them.

Sarmast says that the message of Iran's youth today is "hope, not hate".