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Years ago, I read an interesting quote whose author said that women are barometer for democracy in a country.   Now we may be able to argue that Nouroz is the barometer for our old ancient Persian culture.   Yes, I believe we can say that.   Just the fact that people keep enjoying this big event of the year, whether they live in Iran or around the world, we can appreciate survival of a culture that has been attached over the centuries.   All our great poets and philosophers such as Ferdowsi, Molana, Saadi, Khayam, and Hafez all have emphasized on Nouroz as a celebration of spring with the promise of new days.

Just surfing the internet, it is most exciting to see all the festivities and celebration of Nouroz by Iranian and people who are connected to this ancient Persian culture.  Nouroz is now not only being celebrated in Iran, but in many other countries and by many other nations who are somehow facinated about  this beautiful, secular, and lively tradition.
Nouroz is really out of the ordinary, optimistic, and inclusive tradition.

Proudly we can learn from the history confirming how this culture based on validation of happiness has been handed over to us.  Although for many of us Iranians who have lived out of our home country for a longer time, Nouroz does not smell the old days we used to celebrate this tradition; still our hearts beat faster around this time of year.  Who can forget all the shopping for new clothes, new shoes, and new accessories along with goodies, fruits, and good food for these 13 days of festivity?  Still, we need to keep acknowledging spring and Nouroz. Still we have to do what our ancestors wanted us to do, to keep our culture alive; culture of peace and happiness.

Day 5 of Nouroz
Poran Poregbal
www.middlepeace.com

A long and interesting question led one or more readers to the middlepeace website:

“How can two people who have been abused have a healthy relationship?”

If the two partners in a relationship have been abused we can only imagine how hard it is for each one of them to help the relationship working. Why is that? Certainly each person is busy dealing with own pain and trauma.  The unresolved issues of abuse occupy the person’s mind to the degree that no energy is left for his / her partner.  Sometimes we are more or less resilient people, sometimes we have good support system in place, and sometimes we are just left out by ourselves.  In any case if you have been abused, neglected, abandoned, threatened, scared, and isolated, these are all reasons for seeking professional help.  You will not be able deal with these issues alone and not without help.

March 18, 2009
Poran Poregbal

International women’s Day, March 8th was celebrated this year of 2009 in Vancouver, British Columbia with the hard work and efforts of the Iranian Women’s Cultural Society.
Again in the third year in a row, Kay Meek Center in West Vancouver was filled with Iranian women and men who came out to acknowledge women.

This evening was significant in order to remember women who have fought the odds of being a “female only.”   In our Iranian history we have numerous brave, courageous, and outspoken women who really battle their way into a human society.   This was a warm and joyful evening, appreciating Mrs. Fakhri Khorvash, a pioneer in the Iranian Theater and Cinema.
In our past century and even before that we know of many Iranian women who used their talents and skills to be part of a society that will only blossom when we let go of gender segregation.  Presentation about Mrs Khorvash showed us how we can be proud of calling ourselves Iranian.  She let go of her comfort zone to do what she liked to do.  She played hundreds of female characters who all wished to be emancipated and find their voice.

The presentation about the queen of Iranian Theater Mrs. Khorvash was clearly one sample of how many Iranian women try to be who they are.  It is unfortunate that in our Iranian culture we have not had a sense of appreciation for all our pioneers who fought to be singers, dancers, musicians, managers, writers, poets, movie directors, and artists in really unique ways.
Mr Ardalan Mofid set a positive and happy tone to this gathering by taking us to those women and men whose artistic work is admired greatly by the Iranian people in large.  This celebration came to be a night of reliving our recent history by calling out all the names of those who have left our physical world.
This evening was a successful gala.  Without a doubt there was a message of hope and optimism while there was a feeling for a community in the air.

March 8, 2009
Poran Poregbal
www.middlepeace.com