Date

LETTER

That's not the spirit

Open Letter to Congressmen refusing to wish the Iranian people a Happy Norooz

by Trita Parsi
22-Mar-2010 (59 comments)
Last week, Congress took the unprecedented step to recognize the Iranian New Year, Norooz. The House passed resolution H.Res.267, sponsored by Congressman Mike Honda (Democrat-California) and wished the Iranian-American community, as well as the Iranian people, a happy New Year. The resolution was as uncontroversial as could be - just a sign of America's humanity. Oddly enough though, two lawmakers from Florida, Congressmen Jeff Miller (Republican-Florida) and Bill Posey (Republican-Florida), chose to vote against it, effectively stating that they don't wish 300 million Norooz celebrators worldwide a happy new year>>>

NOROOZ

A prayer for hope

Be safe, to be happy, and to be free

by Nazy Kaviani
22-Mar-2010 (6 comments)
In the early hours of Saturday, I set our Nowruz spread. I grew up in a household of ceremonies and rituals. Everything was a BIG deal to my parents, worthy of time, attention, and love. Of all the ceremonies celebrated in my childhood, however, nothing was as big as Nowruz. Weeks of preparations and cleaning chores and shopping delivered my family into the moments the year changed, the biggest deal of the year. I left my parents' home when I was 18. Whatever I learned there has obviously made a serious impact on me! >>>

NUCLEAR

Peaceful? Not.

Nuclear Proliferation and Nuclear Power in the Middle East

by Daniel Poneman
22-Mar-2010 (8 comments)
It does not appear [that Iran's] nuclear program is "for peaceful purposes." Iran essentially has not been in compliance with its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards Agreement since 1982, as a result of its import of undeclared nuclear material, undeclared nuclear experiments, and construction of nuclear facilities without timely declaration to the IAEA.... Iran has not satisfied IAEA concerns about the possible military dimensions of its program, has not ratified the Additional Protocol, and continues to defy resolutions issued by the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council>>>

POETRY

نوروزانه
by Jahangir Sedaghatfar
22-Mar-2010 (one comment)
نوروز نوید نوبهار آورده است
عیدی، خنکای کوهسار آورده است
دلسوختگان ِ فصل بی باران را
امسال دلی امیدوار آورده است
از کوچه شمیم آشنا می آید
این عطر بنفشه از کجا می آید >>>

POETRY

God's masterpiece!

Let's not forget our precious slain brothers and sisters

by Shirin Tabibzadeh
22-Mar-2010 (2 comments)
I saw your picture lying down in the morgue
God's masterpiece
You looked exactly like David
Michelangelo's masterpiece
Except that:
Your body seemed so well proportioned
But David's head is a bit too big
For its form >>>