Archive for October, 2010

On Forced to Leave: Fanaticism drives Baha’is from the homes in Iran past and present

By on Oct 18, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

 
Here is Part II of Enayat's story on being a Baha'i in Iran as shared at last Thursday's Baha'i devotional meeting in our home. He continues telling a story (here is Part 1) of events that occured many decades ago involving his own family. Baha'is were attacked and injuries were sustained. A Baha'i defended himself and other Baha'is with unfortunate and dramatic consequences. The events he describes are reminiscent of the events that occurred in the village of Ivel in Iran recently.-gw
 
 
 

On Our 21st Baha’i Intensive Program of Growth: Moving towards maturity

By on Oct 18, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

 
 
"You, too, could choose to be spending your time doing this." This is the invitation we extend not just to others in the Baha'i community, but to everyone we meet in the larger community as well. Building a spiritual neighborhood involves everyone, and Baha'is make no distinction.
 
 
The first weekend of our 21st Baha'i Intensive Program of Growth went fabulously. These first few photo and video clips will convey a bit of the focus and sprit. -gw
 
 
 

On a Photo Set for the Baha’i Month of Ilm or Knowledge: Mental ablutions

By on Oct 16, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

The end of my work week coincides with the end of one Baha’i month and the beginning of another, ‘Ilm or knowledge. My friend Jamie Frank has put together another soul-stirring photo set around the theme of knowledge. View it in preparation for experiencing Baha’i Feast. It’s a form of mental ablutions. -gw

 
 
the Baha’i month of Ilm ( that’s eye-el-em … ) is now in progress…. anyone know why a capital ‘eye’ has to be identical to lower case ‘el’ ?
 
james ugene frank · Sets
 
 

On Baha’is Prevented From Opening Businesses and Other Stories: Being Baha’i in Iran

By on Oct 16, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

 
Senators should be aware that seven prominent Iranian Baha’i leaders are currently in prison, facing sentences of up to 10 years, charged with espionage, establishing an illegal administration, and promoting propaganda against the Islamic order. These spurious charges are only the latest example of the mistreatment of the largest religious minority in Iran.
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Ironically, the Baha’i faith originated in Iran during the 19th Century, separating the Baha’is from their previous affiliation with Islam. The founder of the faith, known as The Báb, was then arrested, locked in a dungeon, and executed, as were some 20,000 of his followers. These atrocities devastated a religion whose tenets include global unity, peace and diversity.

Persecution of the Baha’is in Iran continued into the next century, with the Iranian Government’s destruction of Baha’i literature in 1933, and in 1955 the demolition of the Baha’i national headquarters. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, the government has stepped up its active discrimination against the Baha’is. Children are prohibited or discouraged from receiving higher education, Baha’is are unable to practice their faith in public, they are prevented from opening businesses or advancing their careers, and Baha’i cemeteries are destroyed. Baha’is are slandered by the Iranian media, often called worshippers of Satan.

 
 
Senator Leahy’s comments in the senate are a reminder of the history of persecution of the Baha’is in Iran. Local Baha’i Enayat tells a story here of what it was like to be a Baha’i in Iran about 40 years ago when his family ”pioneered” to a town to open a business and live before being driven out by fanatical elements and the local Muslim clergy after just two years. -gw
 
 
 
 
 

On Historical Salishan: Before Baha’i core activities came to the neighborhood

By on Oct 15, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

 
 
These still shots are taken of a video on the Salishan neighborhood of Tacoma that was produced by a third grade class at Lister Elementary School a few years ago. The images will have special meaning to those who have walked the streets of Salishan, where we have experienced such success in the establishment of Baha'i core activities. Among the people featured in the video is one dear Baha'i community activist. -gw

On Increasing the number of Baha’i Study Circles and Potential Tutors: Goal of our expansion campaign

By on Oct 15, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

 
Our Baha'i intensive cycle for expansion of core activities in our community begins tomorrow. Here are two video's to give you inspiration and demonstrate the direction we are taking with this campaign. Study circles. We are looking to raise up more of them. More Book 1s will lead to more Book 7s and more "graduates" who can then take the next step of becoming tutors for their own study circles. In Pierce Peninsula, Lakewood, Tacoma, and Salishan.
 

On After L.A: Kat Key music coming to Seattle

By on Oct 14, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

This Saturday
 
 
Oct 1, 2010 I gave it in Chattanooga, TN; Oct 2 in Atlanta, GA. Tomorrow (Oct 14, 2010) I'll be giving it in the Los Angeles area, and November 13 in Seattle, WA. Contact me at http://www.justkat.com/contact.html if you are interested.

 

Kat is coming to the Northwest. I'm gonna go see. Hope I can help get the word out! -gw
 

On Holly Reinhorn’s Interview on ABC News Radio: The ABCs of Baha’i

By on Oct 14, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

 
Rainn is not the only member of the fam whose interviews spread the news of Baha'i. Holly, too. -gw
 
 

On Baha’i Musicians in the World: Probably a whole lot more than admit it

By on Oct 13, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

“Both my parents were professional musicians when I was growing up,” says Snook. “My father is a singer songwriter, my mother was a violin teacher, and my grandmother was a musician too. We all played in the orchestra together. I started learning piano when I was two or three, I did Suzuki violin when I was three, and played cello, bassoon, baritone, oboe and percussion in the marching band. In fact, my dream when I was young was to play oboe in the Boston Pops.”
 
 
Mitko tells a lovely story on his blog Befriended Stranger about Kelly and Caeli and makes a personal admition. Good going coming clean! How many other Baha'i muscians are there out there? Probably a whole lot more than admit it.  -gw
 
 
I got asked a question if I am a musician, and as always I said, “No, but I am a singer”, explaining that I could never consider myself a musician since I’d never had a formal musical education. Later,at home, we sat around the dinner table to share prayers (somehow both Kelly and Caeli picked prayers I had never actually heard!) and I sang a prayer song to wish them safe travels. Kelly complimented  me on my singing saying that she had never actually heard my voice before — I answered jokingly that I had been talking the whole evening. But Caeli nailed it down, saying directly: “Mitko, you ARE a musician; stop retelling a false story…”So, I guess it is time to admit, or rather make a statement: I am a musician!
 

On Valerie and Cornelia at Baha’i Devotions: In depth spiritual conversation

By on Oct 13, 2010 in All categories | Comments Off

Some of the video from last Thursday’s Baha’i devotional meeting in our home is simply too personal to share. But here are excerpts which convey the depth and breadth of discussion.
 
 
This meeting was marked by the visit of Valerie who was there to do research she for a class paper she is writing for school. But it is more than just research, she said. There is strong personal interest as well.
 
 
Also present were regulars, Cornelia and Liam. Cornelia has been investigating the Faith for several years now, and has completed both Book 1 and Book 4 of the Ruhi series in aBaha’i study circle tutored by Deb, who was also present.
 
 
The format of our home devotional: a time for greetings, a round or prayers with recorded music by Baha’is interspersed, study of a prayer or brief Baha’i writing, followed by a round of “what’s in your heart.” It’s a simple format that is really working.
 
 
Valerie said she is joining to join us again this Thursday.  I’m so glad. Hope Cornelia and Liam come, too.
 
BTW, the four vidieo clips, totaling just three minutes, took all night to download. HD files are massive, something I’m not used to. I prefer quick to slow. Oh well.  -gw
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