Still a Work in Progress
Iran has had its fair share of ups and downs for well over the past few centuries and although some progress has been made, the country still has a long way to go to find peace for all of its inhabitants. There continues to be plenty of activity—both good and bad—from all parties with an interest in gaining control.
Turn on any cable news network channel these days and there is bound to be at least one, if not more, stories related to the latest news in Iran (i.e. the continued hunger strike over the Camp Ashraf massacre, currently in its 58th day). Even local channels, which normally focus on community related events, make it a point to inform viewers whenever there is a significant development or happening during its world news segments.
The concern over what is occurring in Iran and the movers and shakers behind the scenes definitely hasn’t gone by unnoticed by the rest of the world, especially the United States. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is one of the most renowned groups identified and supported by US politicians, special interest groups and even those on the student level.
The NCRI’s ongoing efforts to maintain a democratic approach to transitioning power over to the Iranian people after long years of an overbearing regime has made headlines around the world. Their concentrated efforts have also allowed students at the college level to remain in the know, with access to various informative resources—namely, its website: www.ncr-iran.org.
Serving as the destination for all of the latest Iran news, students and other supporters have the ability to keep abreast of the activity taking place in Iran regardless of where they themselves are located. The fact that the NCRI is currently headed by a woman, Maryam Rajavi, and the fact that women make up 50% of the council’s members has also proved to inspire confidence in a country that is notorious for its treatment of women.
Students of Iranian descent in particular, have gone above and beyond to remain connected to their culture and in states all across the US, college campuses have become home to scores of groups and student organizations, aimed at promoting a positive and educational mission in regards to Iran. Stanford University is one of many schools that is known for its strong Persian community. The Persian Student Association, while non-political, states on its group’s website that their objective is to “sponsor Persian social and cultural activities and events, to promote an understanding of Persian culture, to help foster friendship among different cultural groups, and to provide a source of union and support for the Persian community at Stanford.”
While the battles being waged in Iran show no signs of slowing down anytime soon, the efforts made on behalf of students (Persian and non-Persian alike) strive to continue spreading its message of peace, understanding and not simply tolerance but acceptance and mutual respect.