Iranian author and former prisoner of conscience Marina Nemat shares the story of her childhood in pre-revolution Iran. She recounts that as a teenager she dreamt of Donny Osmond, the beach, and getting an education. That changed when she and other youths joined in peaceful protest against the theocracy that took power after the Iranian Revolution. Thousands of dissidents, many underage, were imprisoned,tortured, and executed for having spoken against the regime. Nemat concludesher speech by reminding the audience that torture and executions are still taking place in Iran today.