Diaspora

Hero for humanity

Today, I am grieving at the loss of 83 year old legendary actor and social activist Paul Newman, who was also a great humanist and dedicated his life to helping the world's needy, especially the sick children. Although I had met him only once at a fund raiser for his ‘Hole in the Wall’ charity, I felt I knew him rather well, not simply because I am like countless millions of others a devout fan of his movies and always admired his tireless charitable activities, but also because Paul was a dear friend of my brother, Mohsen>>>

Sacrifice to success

It was in the midst of the horrific slaughter of the Iran-Iraq War that I received a call from a distraught, but concerned father who wanted to save his only son, twelve years old at that time, from the certain fate that awaited him. The caller was my brother who had been teaching with his wife at the Iranian school in Kuwait for the past three years. He had received a notice from the Ministry of Education to immediately return to Iran with his family. My brother and his wife were ready to go back and continue with their teaching at home, but they wanted to know if they could send their son away on a temporary basis? The wish and aspiration of my Atlanta born wife and I, as it was with many other Iranian ex-patriots, was to save as many children as we could>>>

A better tomorrow

You have become the symbol of “Hope and Change” for most Americans, including the youth, elderly, Black, White, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Immigrants, and others. I think you are going to win this election and that’s why I have some concerns. Although The Reform movement in Iran gave Iranians a “taste of freedom,” but once in power, they failed to deliver the promises that they had made. Hence, they lost people’s trust. I am afraid, this could happen here too! As you know, many analysts in the US and Iran have been saying that George W. Bush and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are very similar, in terms of political policies, worldviews, and religiosity. I agree with them, but the good news is that there are many similarities between you and Mr. Khatami as well.>>>

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Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) policies can be a real benefit, but often they are sold to unsuspecting customers. Canary Claims announces a PPI claims processing service. >>>

Shall we dance?

Born in Tehran in 1930 into a mixed family of a Tartar mother and an Azerbayjani father, Haideh Ahmadzadeh started dancing at the age of seven in a country that was struggling to keep up with modern times. Dancing for girls was not an accepted or desirable occupation. Her love of dance made her overcome many obstacles and with the approval and backing of her mother and later her husband Nejad, she got to the top of her profession. With a great deal of hard work, discipline and drive, Haideh and Nejad founded a Ballet Academy, Iranian National Ballet Company and Iranian Folk Dance, Music and Song Group. They performed regularly for State guests at home and abroad, their travels wrought with a great deal of incident and adventure>>>

On the political map

Darius Shahinfar, the first generation American of Iranian descent who captivated the attention and interest of the Iranian American community from coast to coast, lost his bid to be the Democratic nominee for New York’s 21st Congressional District last night. The disappointing result was the culmination of a ten month journey which saw Mr. Shahinfar embrace his Iranian-American heritage and identity. The long-shot candidacy of Shahinfar in a five-person field was particularly notable for the serious amount of money he was able to raise for a political neophyte in his first election>>>

Dah-e Shast

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OOBAAMAA

Bay Area Iranian American Democrats (BAIAD) held a special public event featuring Steve Westly, the former candidate for California governor and co-chair of Obama’s campaign as the keynote speaker. The eloquent MC, Lily Sarafan, started the event by welcoming everyone and introducing the agenda for the evening which included a roster of speakers and grassroots community organizers. The first speaker was Ira Ruskin, the California assemblyman from the 21st district who has led key efforts on environmental issues. Ira commended the Iranian American community for taking the lead in becoming one of the fastest politically active ethnic groups in America; according to him it took other immigrant minorities many generations to realize the value of activism and civic participation>>>

Teaching grandma

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Boycotting Ahmadinejad's U.S. Visit?

For most of the last two decades, I felt strange when I was asked if my sons speak Farsi. When it was too late to change anything, I felt vaguely embarrassed for not having taught them my native language. I wondered silently if I'd cheated them or betrayed my heritage by not sending them to weekend Persian language schools that exist in my city, Washington. But I'm getting over those feelings lately, and it's not only because they are delightful young adults now. Rather, I'm comforted because I look around me in the expatriate community and I realize that my sons have learned something equally valuable, if less tangible. Their social consciousness goes well beyond accepting superficial tales of American virtue. Like me, they want this country to move towards its professed ideals before issuing judgment on human rights elsewhere>>>