HUMAN first, then a proud IRANIAN

This blog represents the way I see some of the most significant events impacting the world and its citizens. This blog also represents how I react to the events as a member of humanity with a voice, a determined voice that insists to be heard. The voice of an Iranian who loves his country but his priority is humanity; humanity without border. I will say what I want to say, when I want to say it, and how I want to say it, but I will never lie. I will also listen; I promise.

March 24, 2006

Happy Norouz, the Iranian New Year!

Although it is a few days gone from the beginning of the Iranian new year (the Norouz), it is never too late to wish the citizens of the world life in peace. With the hope of that wish one day turning to reality, please allow me to convey my best wishes to all members of humanity in the arrival of spring and Norouz.

I also wrote a bit last year on the same occasion and about how my generally joyful feeling towards Norouz was replaced by sorrow as it was coinsided by the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

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March 13, 2006

In the memory of Rachel Corrie

Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer on March 16, 2003 while trying to prevent demolition of a Palestinian house; America never really went after the killers... . I wrote about her last year and a year before that. and once again, it's time to remember and charish the memory this great human being who gave her life while protecting the lives of innocent people, especially children. Remember, she left the comfort of her life and put herself in the danger while protecting those who had no relation with her but being her fellow world citizens. Death of people like Corrie will forever remain as a reminder of the Isreali brutality and crimes.

Now, 3 years after her murder by the Israeli occupiers, the Israeli lobbies in the US are even afraid of her memory and are doing all they can to kill the thoughts about her, and unfortunately, once again it appears that they are being successful in doing that. One wonders how much of an influence these lobbies have in the US which allows them to limit the democratic freedoms and exchanges of ideas and thoughts in the most "powerful" country in the world.

Rachel Corrie's memory will not die in the minds of those who care, and THAT is what really matters.

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March 05, 2006

Schools are no place for weapons; any kind of weapons

Recently something interesting has happened in Canada and an important ruling was made by the Supreme Court of Canada which while I would disagree with the ruling, it is an indication of the high value the Canadian legal system gives to religious freedom.

Here is the issue:
The case stems from a November 2001 incident at Ste-Catherine-Laboure school in LaSalle, Quebec. A sikh student's cloth-wrapped dagger came loose from around his waist and fell to the ground at the elementary school while he was playing with his friends.
The principal ordered the then 12-year-old to remove the kirpan, but the student left the school rather than remove the 10-centimetre-long ceremonial dagger, which, he says, is a key component of his faith. He eventually switched to another school and his family took the matter to court.
The case has been winding its way through the legal system for four years.
In May 2002, the Quebec Superior Court ruled Gurbaj (the student) could wear his kirpan to school if it were wrapped in heavy cloth inside a wooden case, underneath his clothing.
Quebec's government at the time appealed the decision. In 2004, the Quebec Court of Appeal struck down the decision, ruling the kirpan had the makings of a weapon and was dangerous.
Although banning the weapon was a hindrance to freedom of religion, the court ruled community safety comes first.

Before I state why I disagree with the decision, I have to point our that the nature of the decision is noble and deserves credit and I solute the Supreme Court of Canada for that. However, as a secular person with a Muslim background, I believe any device that can be used as a weapon (not necessarily by the owner of the device but by anybody else), should not be allowed into public schools. I understand that in this case, the device is considered as a religious tradition, but that should not be the excuse to allow that to be taken into the schosome might tyht argue what about religious rights? Well, how if there is a religion which requires people to take machine guns, or even tanks or even bigger weapons into the school? Are we going to say it is ok because it is part of their religious tradition? You may laugh at my example as say that there is no such a religion that would require its followers to carry such weapons with them. Yeah, may be there isn't. But how if I create one? Religion doesn't need to be old and traditional and doesn't need to have millions of followers to be called a "religion". Really, what defines "religion" and who determines if "this" is a religion and "that" isn't? I am not against allowing people to use and carry their religious items, as it should be considered a personal choice, but I am absolutely against allowing people to bring into schools or confined public spaces the devices with the potential of being used (by anybody) as a weapon.

In my opinion, the recent ruling, although respectable in nature, is a potential slippery slope which in the future cases can be argued as a precedent in Canadian legal system and as a result of referring to that ruling, any potentially dangerous act or device may be considered lawful only if it can be placed under the banner of "a religion".

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Simply too pre-occupied!

I've been absent for a while and I would like to apologize to the visitors, specially the regulars of this blog who have seen not much updates. The fact is that I've been (and still am) simply to pre-occupied at work and on personal issues and this might be the case for a while.

My regards to all!

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