Nowruz Shmoruz - who gives a sh%&?

Balatarin
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Alireza_m
by Alireza_m
17-Mar-2010
 

When it comes to getting silly, we Iranians are in a class of our own. Take the issue over the Nowruz resolution in Congress – a fully irrelevant and inconsequential piece of legislation that does nothing but to say “Happy Nowruz” to Iranians in America. This “groundbreaking” resolution has apparently been pushed for by NIAC and PAAIA, but instead of being cool about it, a silly “we want all the credit” fight seems to have erupted.

Here’s the pattern of events. First NIAC breaks a news item on their mailinglist. The resolution has been put up for a vote, some cool lawmaker just co-sponsored it, or something along those lines. Then, a few hours or days later, PAAIA does its own newsletter, restating everything NIAC already had reported, but with more flowery language – and with no mention of NIAC.

Now, last year, when this resolution was first introduced, the two groups mentioned each other and there seemed to actually have been some coordination. This year, things have changed. NIAC has made a few mentions of PAAIA, but usually credits the resolution to “Iranian-Americans” without specifying any particular groups.

PAAIA, on the other hand, makes no mention of NIAC or anyone else, and calls it the “PAAIA-initiated” resolution. All credit to PAAIA, that is.

It’s difficult to know who actually should be credited. On the one hand, all the major developments with the resolution are broken by NIAC, not PAAIA, giving the impression that NIAC is the engine behind the resolution. But on the other hand, NIAC credits the success to “Iranian-Americans” (PAAIA?), while PAAIA explicitly gives all credit to itself.

The real question is: Who gives a shit? It’s a freaking resolution – it has no relevance!

“I want all the credit” fights are legitimate when it comes to issues such as finding the cure to cancer, getting rid of the mullahs, ending poverty or programming the coolest iPhone app of all times.

Passing a Nowruz resolution does not fall in that category. It just simply doesn’t!

Rather than passing a resolution, do our community a real favor. Work together and put egos aside. Recognize the achievements of others (NIAC has a leg up here by mentioning PAAIA) and work for the greater good of our community, not your own limited interests. Nothing will give you more credit than that!

Let me end with a quote: They say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

Balatarin
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Latina

......

by Latina on Fri Mar 19, 2010 04:09 AM PDT

I myself have been trying to figure out if I say Nowruz or Norooz.

I have also seen the following: Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak!

I think that it is time that I ask my very good friend about it.

I know that he will give me good advice, as always.

Cheers!

 

 


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seannewyork

No one wants to be associated w NIAC

by seannewyork on Thu Mar 18, 2010 08:33 PM PDT

Even PIAAA doesnt want to be associated with Trita and company.  NIAC is losing its 300 members day by day.


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pas-e-pardeh

Dear Hamsadeh

by pas-e-pardeh on Thu Mar 18, 2010 07:09 AM PDT

I have come to a point where I defer to certain authorities in some matters.  Prof. Yarshater is one such figure.

I came to realize that no matter how nice my own opinion sounds to myself, there are others who have studied these matters for 70+ years and probably know better.

I also like the unity the agreement and humility creates among us.

Thanks for your reply 


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Abarmard

The reason for Nowruz

by Abarmard on Thu Mar 18, 2010 02:39 AM PDT

Norooz has a "No" word which has a negative connotation, while nowruz presents Now, new day, closer to the meaning and a positive image for latin minds.

that is the reason that Nowruz was chosen. 


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hamsade ghadimi

pas pardeh

by hamsade ghadimi on Wed Mar 17, 2010 07:17 PM PDT

thanks for the information.  however, i think a non-iranian would pronounce norooz more correctly than nowruz. since "now" is a word in english language, english-speaking people would automatically pronounce it as such.  germans would pronounce it "novruz" making the "o" sound "ov" since they pronounce "w" as "v" (ex. kayvan, kaywan).  however, "o" by itself is  straightforward.  i can make the same argument for the second vowel in nowruz: "u."  in english, as you know, they most probably pronounce it as an "aa" as in "rut."  in other languages, it would be ok; but "oo" would be straightforward again in all languages.

i'm not disagreeing with you on what had been decided by some people.  i'm just saying that i don't agree by what they have decided.  at any rate, i think people will spell it the way it is most easily pronounced by the natives of the country in which they live.  at least, for now. therefore, one cannot say which is the right or wrong way to spell norooz.  examples of holidays that are originally written in a non-latin language: 1) rosh hashana, rosh hoshana, rosh hoshanah, rosh hosanna, 2) chanukkah, channukah, hanukah, hanukkah, hanuka, hanukka, hanaka, haneka, hanika, khanukkah.

in the spirit of this blog, i like to give you credit for pointing this out as well as masoud, paaiaa, un, niac, and whoever else who cares and has something to add. :)


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pas-e-pardeh

Wrong masoudA .. it IS Nowruz

by pas-e-pardeh on Wed Mar 17, 2010 06:14 PM PDT

Which recognized authority said it is No-rooz?  Here's mine:

چند سال پیش استاد زبان فارسی احسان یارشاطر با ارائه دلایل زیاد پیشنهاد کرد که نوروز را به لاتین NOWRUZ بنویسیم تا غیر فارسی زبانان عید ما را با یک نام بشناسند. ولی این پیشنهاد مورد قبول همگان قرار نگرفت بطوریکه امروز ما نوروزبه ده ها نوع مینویسیم و هیچ کلمه بهتر مورد قبول همه پیدا نشد تا جایگزین آن شود.

در پاسخ هایی هم که به پیام نوروزی خود دریافت کردم هر کس بمیل خود نوروز را بطریقی نوشته بود.

دلیل عمده ای که در عئم قبول پیشنهاد یارشاطر اورده میشود اینستکه اگر نوروز را به این صورت بنویسیم امریکایی ها نمیتوانند آنرا انطوریکه ما میخواهیم تلفظ کنند. ولی واقعیت این است که ما نوروز را به هر طریق که بنویسیم یک آمریکایی, فرانسوی و یا آلمانی نمیتواند انرا مثل ما تلفظ کند.

اطلاع دارید که خوشبختانه مجمع عمومی سازمان ملل در تاریخ 23 فوریه 2010 نوروز را بنام عید مردم ساکن ایران ,آذربایجان , افغانستان وملت های دیگراین منطقه برسمیت شناخت و انرا در تقویم سازمان ملل ثبت کرد.

در این مصوبه نوروز بصورت NOWRUZ نوشته شده است:

//www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/ga10916.doc...

دیروز 15 مارچ 2010 کنگره آمریکا هم با اکثریت قاطع نوروز را بنام روز عید ایرانیان تصویب کرد که دران هم نوروز را NOWRUZ نوشته شده است

//paaia.org/galleries/default-file/HONDA_009_...

آیا بهتر نیست حال که این مجامع جهانی نوروز را به این شکل شناخته اند- ما هم حد اقل بر سر یک موضوع ساده ولی مهم برای حفظ سننت های ملی - اختلاف سلیقه های خودرا کنار بگذاریم و حتی اگر این واژه را ایده ال نمیدانیم- همه نوروز را به صورت

NOWRUZ بنویسیم؟ 

در این راستا انجمن ها و تشکیلات فرهنگی و سیاسی ایرانی و برگزار کنندگان عید نوروز نقش مهمی بعهده دارند

.


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divaneh

When the title ruins the message

by divaneh on Wed Mar 17, 2010 03:48 PM PDT

Your choice of title is pretty poor. Your rubbish title has ruined your valid message of unity between Iranian groups for the good of all Iranian people. Belittling their achievement in passing that resolution has not helped neither. You are right, giving yourself credit does not make you credible and these groups have to learn to give credit to each other.


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MM

we, the Iranians are trying to get our identity/culture back

by MM on Wed Mar 17, 2010 02:23 PM PDT

After the horrible events of 9/11, we, the Iranians were bunched up with a hord of cave-dwellers with satellite phones.  Now, thanks to the efforts of organizations like NIAC, IALA and PAAIA (and more) who are watchdogs of the Iranian community in the US, the Iranians are getting our identity/culture back with even little recognitions as norooz being something we are pround of, and distinguishes us from others (including the norooz parade on NY 5th ave on the week of March 20).

My suggestion to you, alireza_m, is to change your name and completely be westernized, or like SP & IMF subscribe to the IRI news feeds.  Both directions will set you free of the burden of worrying about little things like the White House / the congress / the governors recognition of norooz, or being Iranian all together.


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capt_ayhab

Mr. Alireza M who are really against??

by capt_ayhab on Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:46 PM PDT

Who or what is it that you are really against?

Is your beef with NIAC and or PAAIA?

Does NowRuz, one of the most ancient of traditions that bothers you?

Perhaps you are against cultural identity of Iranians as a whole who have been preserving this magnificent tradition for thousands of years, where no outside power, including  your masters in IR been able to take it away from us.

In either case, NowRuz celebration with all of its beauty and history will be dear to all true Iranians  till the end of time. IR will be buried in the pages of history with the rest of the tyrannical and barbaric regimes of time but Iran will always be there with her beautiful children and majestic history.

 

-YT 


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hamsade ghadimi

alireza, don't be a silly rabbit

by hamsade ghadimi on Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:40 PM PDT

i think that you're minimizing this achievement.  it's good for iranians to be known for the wonderful celebration of norooz instead of holocaust-denying, terrorist-sponsoring, fatwa-issuing, rapist, murderous pashmaloos who're representing iran. as you will see, it will be a good public relations piece for iranians just as the celebration of chinese new year.  for non-iranians to care about us or what we fight for, one needs to show a more complete picture of who we are. well, unless you don't think there is any value to what non-iranians think about iranians.

incidentally, from what you've described, it seems that paiaa has done the work and niac is sharing the credits.  but don't quote me on that.


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Cost-of-Progress

Recent arrival

by Cost-of-Progress on Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:24 PM PDT

I think ali joon here signed up just to post about his objection to this resolution. Perhaps he would have preferred for one of the Vafaats or Ghatls or the myriad of other morde parasti traditions of the Alliance of Reesh-o Pash to be recognized.  The very fact that Norooz is recongnized is an immense push to recongize us for us not for the religion shoved down out throat. 

____________

IRAN FIRST

____________


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masoudA

It is No-Rooz

by masoudA on Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:18 PM PDT

Not Now-Rooz.

There is a deliberate attempt to Arabify everything we have, ala Mowlana, Khawrazmi,...  Please be careful.

Also - If it was not for Iranians putting up a cultural war against the premitive Arabs, we would bee speaking Arabic today.   I am glad we saved No-Rooz and the culture for the rest of the world.   Let me make a prediction for you - 200 years from now - all religious related events shall be passe, but because of it;s ties to science and nature, No-Rooz will still be around.


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