Yes, We Can!

Guest post by Negin Sobhani

NIAC is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 c(3), and therefore does not endorse candidates for political office.  The following article should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any candidate for any office, and reflects solely the personal opinion of the author.

I understand Michelle Obama now more than ever. On Thursday, August 28, 2008, for the first time in my 26 years, I was truly proud of America and to be an American citizen. It went a little deeper than that though, because for the first time in my life, I cried during the singing of the national anthem. Usually, I have not been moved by emotions of the Olympian, soldier, astronaut, veteran, politician, or baseball player who stands up and pays homage to a flag and country that has not instilled in me that level of nationalism that it has for those who have more roots or owe their achievements solely to this country. I’m not sure if it was the way Jennifer Hudson sang the most beautiful and heartfelt rendition of the anthem I’ve ever heard or if it was the cumulative exhaustion from a 5-day whirlwind of events, activities, and sleeplessness or perhaps the sheer historic importance of the opening to a night I will remember for the rest of my life. Whatever it was, I know I wasn’t alone.

 

Kerry to be the next Biden?

You probably noticed that Massachusetts Senator John Kerry had a pretty public role at the convention. This is not only because he was the democratic presidential nominee last time around, it’s also because he’s positioned to be the dem’s next foreign policy authority in Congress.

This Isn’t Vegas, It’s Your Life

This isn’t Las Vegas; what happens in the rest of the world doesn’t stay there.  In fact, it very much affects us here in the United States.  It makes us more secure and prosperous, and that’s what makes America great.

It’s why we, as Iranian-Americans, have chosen to come here to the US.  In America we have striven to build our own expatriate version of the Persian Empire with prominent doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, intellectuals, aspiring politicians and visionaries.  We have chosen to raise our future generations here, who will no doubt stay in the United States permanently.  It’s where some have come to escape uncertainty, choosing to live out their remaining years in a quiet corner of this country in the perfect house with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, a garden, and a dog.  It’s where others have come to scream and shout.  But in the end it has been our choice; and so it must be our choice to participate and have a say because no one is going to hold our hands and ask us what we need and want from America.

The Most Popular Kid…or a Has Been?

The United States is in horrible shape and is in dire need of some serious leadership.  Whoever the next president is, they would have to crawl out of a hole to ground level before reaching the sky.  At least that was the message to the 500 diplomats from 100 countries and 760 students from 12 high schools from around Colorado, which surrounded me.  We were gathered to hear Madeleine Albright and other prominent individuals speak on Enhancing America’s Reputation in the World.

The Rocky Mountain Roundtable was moderated by Tom Brokaw where the panelist painted a desperate picture of America’s foreign policy practices and its current state in the international forum.  According to pollster Geoff Garin even American’s have lost faith in US foreign policy and no longer agree that terrorism and war should be at the top of the agenda.  Instead they believe that the next president needs to focus on the economy and jobs.

Obama speech not open to everyone

Its a little past noon, and I’m on my way to Invesco Stadium to get in line to see Obama’s speech tonight. Contrary to what the candidate proclaimed during his surprise appearance at the convention on Wednesday, the event is only quasi-open to the public. While 75,000 tickets have been made available, I’ve talked to die hard supporters and volunteers from out of state who have not been able to secure a ticket to get in.

When Obama declared that everyone could come to see him speak, I was sitting with about thirty supporters congregated around the televison at a hotel near the convention center. They all booed and shook their heads. It was the first time, and likely the last, I’ve seen such as response since I’ve been here.

Washington Prism covers NIAC in Denver

Check out the farsi media outlet Washington Prism’s coverage of NIAC at the Democratic convention!

Denver is like DC on steroids

From every one of the city’s natives I’ve talked to, I hear the same thing: “I’ve never seen the streets like this! I cant believe this is Denver!” Someone said it is like the sidewalks have been “Anne-taylorized.”

After little more than three days, I can confidently conclude that the convention is all the politicking, networking, socializing, and drinking that turns the wheels of Washington, but magnified and condensed, and with a couple of celebrities thrown in.

Charlize Therone was here, as was Ben Affleck, and Winonna Rider. Tom Hanks starred in a video montage on the trials of army reserve officers when they return to their regular lives after multiple tours of duty.

And the Republicans are here too. I was talking to a reporter from Politicker who said he saw Mitt Romney at the convention center. When he realized it was the former Massachusetts governor and prospective VP pick standing behind him on the escalator, the reporter promptly began grilling him on why he was there. Romney responded that he was at the Democratic convention just to have a good time!! Word on the street is that the other prospective Republican VP picks are here too.

Do you know your neighbor?

Last night, NIAC held an informal meet and greet where members of the community were welcomed to come by to meet NIAC staff and ask questions and discuss any issues on their mind.  Between the hours of 7-9 pm, Iranian-American Denver residents dropped in at their own convenience to say hello and talk politics.

During the meeting I was amazed to find out that there are approximately 4,000 to 10,000 Iranians in Colorado!  The large difference in the numbers is mainly due to a lack of accurate data since the last census was taken.  The 2000 U.S. Census places the overall Iranian number far lower than what is commonly predicted and Iranians are constantly growing in numbers. Hence, speculation often tends to range from the very low to the very high.

My amazement at the discovery of the numbers in Colorado came at the fact that we don’t know we exist!  We all know about Tehrangeles and New York and some other key locations Iranian Americans have chosen to migrate to, but we’re not too sure about our own neighbors.

Regardless, I am impressed by the large numbers and the apparent vibrant community here.  The individuals that we had an opportunity to meet with are well informed and very much aware of the political environment.  All in all, our informal event was well received and well attended.  Thanks to all of those who chose to take an hour or two of their evening to join us for an informal chit chat session!

To be or not to be: what is your identity?

Soldiers crowding the streets, strapped with imaginary guns, make their way through the city as they reenact combat as if they are on the streets of Baghdad.  Military veterans from Iraq are only few of the many groups in Denver, here to make a statement.  Everybody here has a message, whether in suits and in formal panels, or in dreadlocks and on the streets.  But it is obvious what the big issues are: everything!  Oil dependency, the economy, poverty, environment, race/gender/ethnicity/religious issues, women’s issues, healthcare, foreign policy, to name a few and all of them with their own long list of subcategories.

McCain ad hits Obama on Iran

In the most focused ad of the 2008 Presidential election dealing with Iran, Sen. McCain comes out swinging at Sen. Obama’s approach to Iran. The McCain campaign has said it will run the ad in key states in the coming weeks.

Though NIAC does not endorse or oppose candidates, we feel it is important to show what the candidates are saying about Iran. We would like to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

more about “McCain ad hits Obama on Iran“, posted with vodpod

Minority groups represent at the Dem Convention

There are about 200 outside events going on in the four days of the Denver National Democratic Convention. (On Monday alone, there were no less than 84).

New congressional lobbying rules require that these events- which are organized by corporations, unions, political caucuses and other interest groups- don’t honor just one individual candidate or elected official in particular, but rather a larger group or theme. Finger food abounds, as the rules also prevent organizations from giving full meals to Congress or their staff for free.

Yallah, Vote!

“I am Persian, like the cat, meow!”  And the crowd already rolling with laughter breaks out in an even louder burst of hilarity.  Just a few hours before, Michelle Obama delivered an inspirational speech formally kicking off the Democratic National Convention, speaking of “belief in America’s promise, [and] commitment to our children’s future.”  A harder act to follow, was that of an emotional Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), predicting a “new wave of change.”

Despite the challenge, Maz Jobrani and fellow comedians, Dean Obeidallah, Ahmad Ahmad, and Maysoon Zayid, did a stand up job in bringing in the crowd to two back to back shows and having them laughing their socks off at the Kabob Comedy show.  Jokes aside, all four comedians spoke passionately about the importance of voting and being an active Iranian/Arab/Muslim/female American (or any combination of) in today’s political climate.  Each having faced their own challenges, from the extreme of being detained post September 11 to racial slurs, they saw hope and change with the 2008 presidential election.