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Got any good ideas? Share it December 2002 Latest * Science fiction: Lost in Earth Recent * Persian leap frog November 10, 2002 * Science fiction: Los in Earth Is there an Iranian novel where the story takes place in space? Why not? Why have our writers never ventured into space? You may find a thousand reasons. But come on... let's leave Earth once in a while. Can't we put Rostam in a time machine and turn into some space super hero? November 10, 2002 * Not a very good idea When students began protesting against the Hashem Aghajari death sentence [See "Truth or dare"], I heard students had boycotted classes in some universities in Tehran as well as a few other cities. I was thinking what would the best way to have a chain of protests that would frustrate any attempts to suppress it. For instance students would go on strike at universities in two cities. And just as the authorities move in to deal with these situations, students at two other universities would start their own strike. And the cat and mouse game would continue, frustrating the security forces. But then I realized the plan would not really work because there's no element of surprise. In order to have a strike, students would have to annouce it in advance, and therefore local police would be prepared. Oh well. I'm sure folks back in Iran would figure out a way to establish a democracy. The IRI gang can be sure of it. November 4, 2002 * Persian leap pad My son Hasan has this leap pad toy which showed him how to read when he was 3. He is a great reader now at age 4, but only in English. Knowing that there are some great Iranian software engineers here in the U.S. and in Iran, why not make some great fun educational toys for the kids, so they would be able to read, add, subtract in Farsi? Every parent's wish, right? Now remember: I said FUN not just some boring dull letters and a few words that don't get kids excited about learning to read. Check out the leap frog part of the toy section in stores, you'll see. October 29, 2002 * Iranian-American TV show Dear Iranian Satellite Companies and Watchers, On the Iranian Satellite channels there are music videos, self-help shows, poetry readings, debates, and more. Each show "genre" relates to a particular audience. Until now there has not been a show that relates to everyone alike: young, middle aged, senior, Iranians speaking little English, or Iranians raised in America speaking broken Farsi. I present to you an idea for a show that will breech all of the above-mentioned barriers. I present to you a show, which I know for fact, will gain instant popularity. First let me tell you little about myself. My name is Pari Kooshesh. I am a twenty-one year old student living on the U.S. east coast. I have no political interests whatsoever. The reason I am interested in helping you develop this program is because I believe the show could be very versatile. It would be educational, entertaining, humorous, and very profitable. The purpose of the episodic show would be to breech barriers between the young and old, the more Iranian and the more American (of us Iranians). The core of the show would revolve around an Iranian-American family growing up in America. The family would consist of a father, a mother, a young daughter (age 5), an older son (age 15), and an older sister (age 22). All characters of the show would need to know perfect English and at least near-perfect Farsi. For the mother role I recommend Shohreh Aghdashloo, or someone very similar to her. I know Shohreh Aghdashloo has a lot of experience playing the sort of role I am looking for. The mother figure needs to be someone who is very strong, intelligent, attractive, cultured and very stubborn. Her name should be Maryam. The father role would need to be a doctor, or some professional field; he would need to be arrogant, yet loving, ghayrati, yet a bit hypocritical. His name should be Cyrus Tehrani. The reason I chose Tehrani as the last name was because we'd need a name that would not have a "religious" or "shah" connotations, Tehrani is a very common last name and is unbiased. The young daughter's name should be Roya. She will be entering kindergarten, full of "naaz" yet sheytooni as well. The teenager son's name should be Dariush or Darius in English. He will be very rebellious and a constant source of trouble to his parents. (This will help other teens and parents of teens "relate" to the show. It can't be all "peachy", we must show reality in our characters for the audience to relate.) The oldest daughter's name should be Sheyda. She will be going to college, majoring in art, (even though her parents want her to be a lawyer or doctor). The ages and family characteristics will help us target our demographics and further enhance the show by making people relate to them. Humor: This is a major element of this program. There are a million ways to bring in comic elements. Examples: 1. The grandparents from Iran come to visit and bargain for the price of apples at the grocery store. 2. The father's "ghayrati"-ness towards his wife and daughter will prove for many laughs. 3. Speech: Half-farsi/half English sentences 4. The mother trying to teach her five years old how to dance Iranian style. 5. The teenage son wants to piece his nose. The father responds "mageh hindi shodi" borro baba? I could go on and on listing examples of how the show will be comical. The show will need to air twice a month on a set day and time. Example: Thursday's at 8:00pm. It will need to be directed in the same format as American episodic shows. It should not look like it's a play or a cheap theater production. It will need some sort of theme song at the beginning serving as a purpose to introduce the premise and characters. Thank you for reading my ideas. Please contact me if you believe this would be a good idea. October 24, 2002 * Multi-religious educational tour Join us for a unique educational tour visiting various community centers in Massachusetts and Maine. We will begin in the morning at the St. George Orthodox Church in West Roxbury, Mass., to explore the Arab-American community's history and contributions as well as the history of the church and its memorial library. Then shop at an Arabic/Middle Eastern store in the area for food and spices before we depart to Maine's Green Acre Bahai School to spend the rest of the day there. This Bahai School is one of three major conference centers of the Bahai community
in the United States. It is unique among Bahai conference centers in that it received
a visit in 1912 from Abdulbaha, the son of the Prophet-Founder of the Bahai Faith.
The campus is located along the banks of the picturesque Piscataqua River and is
surrounded by lush forests and beautiful meadows. It is also known for its historic
Sarah Farmer Inn and charming New England residences. Sponsored by the Institute of Near Eastern &
African Studies (INEAS) October 6, 2002 * Umbrella organization There are hundreds of small and large Iranian organizations throughout America. But nearly all of them work locally and for their own special interests, ie students, arts, culture, politics... There should be a national organization that represents all of them. Something like the Confederation of Iranian Students, which was able to bring together all sorts of Iranian opposition groups for a common cause prior to the 1979 revolution. Ask veterans of the confederation to use their valuable organizational skills to help form a new national organization with a much broader membership (include every group, political and non-political). Have annual meetings and elect a leader who could speak with authority when meeting
American politicians: "I represent 2,000 Iranian-American organizations..."
Got any good ideas? Share it October 2, 2002 * The World Today Americans need to know and understand more about the world -- beyond their own
country and culture. Just like math, science and English, international studies should
be a required class for every student. Got any good ideas? Share it September 23, 2002 * American tour companies, in Persian I am looking for tour companies that offer bus tours in Farsi for Iranians visiting the United States. Do you know of any such companies? We live in San Jose, California, and I would love to send my My husband and I have limited vacation time, so we wouldn't be able to accompany
them. Got any good ideas? Share it September 23, 2002 * Public playgrounds How about building playgrounds for kids in the rural areas of Iran where there's no public place to play? This could reduce serious injuries and fatalities among children who are often run over by cars in the street or on railway tracks. -- Sheila K Got any good ideas? Share it September 20, 2002 * Iranian-American Women The Iranian American Women's Society (IAWS) that is a California-based, non-profit, non-religious, non-political organization, founded in Palos Verdes, California, in 1991. I met the president and some of the active members of this group few days ago. Their Goals are to preserve and promote Iranian culture and customs, to support charitable causes and to raise awareness on womenís issues. They try to find Iranian women and their kids that are in shelters. They house them and find them job and everything else. It's amazing the number of Iranian women and their kids that are in these shelters. IRANIAN AMERICAN WOMANíS SOCIETY -- Azin Shamma Got any good ideas? Share it September 18, 2002 * Persepolis, USA Please visit iranicainstitute.org. I will have more info for you in a near future. Ahmad K. Jabbari Got any good ideas? Share it September 4, 2002 * Iranian American Public Library Now they need your support. Become a member. Membership: Students $20.00 Membership fees are to provide contributions towards the library's expense and
inventory expansions. Got any good ideas? Share it September 3, 2002 * The money you spend on weddings Instead of spending thoudsands and thousands on a wedding party, put your hard-earned money into a down payment for your future home. Travel with your mate. Or just save it for your own future. The friends and relatives who love you will understand. They'd rather see you happy than eat cake. Got any good ideas? Share it August 28, 2002 * "Modern-East": For women How about a Middle Eastern magazine about women? Something that covers fashion, technology, art, education, food, social status, legal issues, and progress. Something intelligent, but entertaining as well. Most women's magazines cover everywhere except the Mideast. This would be a new, and a refreshing idea. Maybe call it "Modern-East". -- Sheila K Got any good ideas? Share it August 26, 2002 * How to write Writing is very easy. Just pick up the pen or sit in front of the computer and write all and everything you please. Every one of us has stories. Everything that's happened to you is a story. Whatever you told the person next to you at last night's party, or over the phone, is a story you can share in 10 words or 10,000 words. Imagine you are writing a letter to a good friend; someone you can share your most intimate thoughts and experiences. Got any good ideas? Share it August 14, 2002 * Journalism If your children are interested in media studies and communication, encourage them. We are in dire need people who can communicate effectively and professionally. Got any good ideas? Share it August 8, 2002 * Real TV We have a long way to go, as far as having an independent professional (I mean PROFESSIONAL) radio or TV station for Iranians abroad. However there's a simple, cheap, effective, informative and entertaining alternative. You can create a popular and financially successful Iranian radio or TV station by airing recordings of discussions/interviews with real people (not celebrities or the like). Bring grandma on radio or TV and let her talk about her life. Bring a 5-year-old boy who's been born here in the U.S. and ask what Iran means to him. Talk to the local Iranian grocery shop owner. Talk to these ordinary people just like you would talk to them in person. Real people have real stories that are relevant to our lives. Viewers and listeners would quickly get hooked. Got any good ideas? Share it August 1, 2002 * Persian Paradise Persian Paradise is a garden of dreams. Will it materialize in the U.S. someday? The answer is, it depends on how many people will share the same dream. As an organization PersianParadise will be a non-for-profit Corporation in California. Currently we absorb all the associated costs of upkeep and maintenance and programming of the website. Like many other gardens, in order for PersianParadise to become a reality it has to be supported by at least one major sponsor, either a person or an organization. As of this moment we have not approached or located that source yet. But then time is on our side >>> See persianparadise.com Got any good ideas? Share it July 30, 2002 * Sure investment Investing in the Iranian economy is not a bright idea these days. But there's one investment that is safe and can make a great impact: building schools. Our dollars go a long way in Iran. With only a few thousand dollars, you and a a small group of friends can help build a private school that will educate children for generations. Got any good ideas? Share it July 23, 2002 * Question class Colleges often offer classes on unconventional, non-traditionnal subjects designed to open the mind. But how about this for high school, or even earlier: A class where each day the teacher would encourage students to question the validity of a commonly-accepted idea, norm, practice or behavior -- deconstructing ideas and behavior and challenging everything we believe in. The idea is not to destroy a young student's whole outlook on life, but exercising the brain and learning to question everything accepted as "truth". Teenagers tend to be rebellious anyway. So why not guide that angst and turn it into something that would be most useful for the rest of your life? Got any good ideas? Share it July 24, 2002 * Senior citizens There are many Iranians that soon (very soon) are going to be needing special care. They are going to be considered senior citizens and there is no way that they will ever be placed in a nursing home here. I wouldn't put my dog in one of those places (well I don't have a dog). My point is Iranians need to create a special place just for them. This place should have many activities, resources for health insurance, social security, what can they expect from being citizens. It should be run by Iranians for Iranians. We have to remember that they left their beloved Iran to be close to their son/daughters. We must care for them, make them feel welcome here - we have to learn from them. They are our encyclopedia and resource center. I volunteer to help start this organization. I am asking you, my dear Iranian friends, to contact me. I am not Iranian, but my heart belongs to Iran. I can tell you that about six months ago this nice Iranian Lady was here visiting her son. She was alone in his house all day. His son had to work. This lady got sick and needed someone to take care of her. You guess it - she didn't have anyone. Her son didn't know what to do. He called my neighbor (Iranians) and my neighbor called me (I am a nurse). We went to her house, took care of her, but my friend had to leave. So I stayed with this nice lady for a few days (keep in mine my Farsi is poor). Somehow I managed to communicate with her. Her son is not married, and travels a lot for his business. Now this is one of many cases that our Babajoon and Mammanjoon are here alone. We must do something. Let's get started. I am good in fundraisings and I know toghether we can do it. Khodaa Haafez , Isabel Got any good ideas? Share it July 23, 2002 * Film production Why don't we (Iranian-Americans) create a film production company. We seem to have a whole lot of stories to tell, but we can tweak them to suit the American or perhaps the global audience. I am sure financial possibilities are abundant. So who's in? -- Sheila K Got any good ideas? Share it July 22 2002 * Boarding school This is more like a wish: A private/non-profit English-Persian co-ed boarding school for high school students somewhere in the spectacular valleys of northwest Iran. Or the plains of Hamdan. Somewhere green and hilly. Got any good ideas? Share it July 22 2002 * Chess match Organize an annual chess match between Iranian and American students/youth. Make it interactive: allow people to watch every move online. It will be hugely popular and help relations in the long-run. Got any good ideas? Share it
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