The Big Apple

Hello. I write from my tiny room on 55 E. 3rd Street at Maryhouse Catholic Worker. After stopping by Camden overnight I climbed the coast and found my way to old friends and new compatriots here in New York City. My time here has been deeply soothing, hectic, and lots of fun. I am to continue the fast for economic justice in Iraq. Cynthia Banas and Cathy Breen, two friends I met while in Baghdad in the fall of 2003 joined our small group of fasters in NYC. After several turns in plans and events the fast continued thanks to Joel and Ed, but I along with my Maryhouse friends didn't make it down to the UN until today. I leave NYC with a tender heart. It breaks for the news of many people suffering from the ever present violence in Iraq. It is hopeful as I share with friends stories of resistance to war making and dreams of another world. This week Peter DeMott and his brother came down from upstate New York for an interview with WBAI a radio station in the city. They were joined with Theresa Grady and Jessica and Danny Burns from Ithica doing an interview with Democracy Now.

For many years Voices in the Wilderness had a wonderful friend, Sattar, who would make the perilous journey between Amman and Baghdad to take one delegation of Voices folks after another. Sattar had worked as a civil engineer before the sanctions left little options in that field and he was forced to be a driver for internations visiting Iraq. His kindness, depth of heart, and perseverance inspite of the terrible hardships is tangible and I am honored to call him friend. Eager to get a job in his field now that the sanctions have terminated, he has made the very difficult decision to leave Iraq and come to school here in the states, earning a masters degree that will help him to find a better paying job in Iraq. After several difficulties along the way including a terrible car accident last month, he made it across the world to New York where he will spend the next two years studying while his family is still in Iraq. Please pray for him and his family as this is a hopeful, yet difficult time for them.

Tonight Marie Grady and Anna Flores-Grady arrived for a six month stint at the worker. I met them in March at the trial of the Pitstop Ploughshares 5 in Dublin. Marie was studying music in Cork at the time and Anna was working as a house cleaner and waitress in Ithica. They are some of the most lovely young women I have ever met - God bless them on their journey here.

Both Maryhouse and St. Joe's are bubbling with activities and new adventures. I love visiting here and ask that you remember the mission of these two houses in your intentions.

Last Monday I was arrested with 46 others at the Pentagon. I went with a grateful yet melancholy heart - remembering that the war machine is fuelled by us all, not just the leaders of our country. I wish to end all forms of warfare and violence in my heart and in the world around me, and I believe an active resistance to that warfare is necessary to change hearts and challenge our leaders, friends, family and society at large to consider the way of peace set before us by so many. After fasting for economic justice I hoped my prayerful witness at the Pentagon would challenge the military occupation of Iraq - and all those whose work is perpetuating warfare. Today the gospel reading talks about the sacrificial blood of the lamb. In Theresa Grady's interview on Democracy Now she recalls how the blood which was poured out over the military recruiting center in Ithica dripped off the smiling faces of life-size posters of military personel. She mentioned the contrast between the image of those posters and the real-life trajedy that lays before so many young people who are drafted into war by false promises and poverty. Their blood is mixed with that of thousands of Iraqi civilians everyday. The lambs blood was poured so that we might live in peace with one another. It was a sacrificial and merciful blood given - not taken - for love of the world's people. Blood is the river if life within us and I pray that we may recall how precious it is both symbolically and literally. Let us use blood to give life, to awaken life. Let the lamb's blood, the promise it bears, be the water for the gardens of our soul - let it never be used to protect the idols of empire again.

I pray that all those who attended the demonstrations for peace from Washington to San Francisco act in accordance to their beliefs and stop paying for this war through their tax dollars.

I pray that the peace movement continues to remember the profound economic aspect of this occupation and preassures our government to cancel the debt against Iraq.

I pray for the mission of Sacred Heart in Camden and her paritioners. I am so grateful for this church! Thanks to all who server her in big and little ways.

I am also very grateful for the little community house across the street. The lessions of love, forgiveness and hospitality that I learn from each of you makes me believe the Kingdom is only in the shadows, coming to life by each turn of dirt, each meal of thanksgiving, each kindness that is your work in Camden.

Tomorrow I am off to Minneapolis, MN to see my Mother and to attend the Word and World School on William Stringfellow. My Mom has an appointment with her doctor at the Mayo Clinic, but otherwise we will spend our time enjoying one another. Please do remember my Mom in your intentions. Her heart is not well and the doctors are thinking of upping the dosage of her medicine which often leaves her feeling very ill for several weeks.

More to come,
farah marie

Back in Camden. . . overnight

Hey. I am sitting at our Camden House Community computer, back in Camden for the evening. After spending two weeks in Washington doing a fast with Voices its nice to be back in Camden even if briefly. I was a part of an organized CD event at the Pentagon today, 46 arrested. We felt that it was necessary to come to the Pentagon as adminstrations come and go, but the witness for peace needs to begin at the root of war. The pentagon has been used by many administrations, democratic and republican to build and defend the empire. A great showing of Catholic Worker folk from all over - Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, D.C., CT! Woowee. We continue the fast until Thursday - please join us if you can or pray for us as we finish the last difficult days of the fast.

Next I travel from New York City to Minneapolis. I am hoping to spend some time with my Mom out there as well as attend the Stringfellow mini-school hosted by Word and World. Should be a great line up of folk Bill Wylie-Kellerman, Rose Marie Berger, Liz McAllister, Ched Myers, James Bradeen etc.

Love love.

farah marie

The King of Basrah, my Uncle Ali

Some of you may have noticed I have an unusual name for your run of the mill American - it's not Irish, German, English, or French. It's Persian as my family on my Father's side are from Iran.

My Father emigrated to the States in 1978 and most of his family, his three brothers and sisters and his parents followed. My Father's sister, Farahnaz, stayed in Iran as she was already married where her husband and her ran a large pistachio farm in Kerman. My Father's next youngest sister, Shanaz had already moved to Algiers and married a pied noir Algerian man named Madi.

When my Father came to the U.S. he began working several odd jobs hoping to learn English. It was not easy for a man with little English coming from Iran to find friendly company at that time in the States.

After a year my Father decided to move from New York City to Kentucky where he attended Kentucky State University's graduate business school and met my Mother, Elizabeth. They fell in love, got married and moved to Reston, Virginia where my Father worked for an environmental NGO and my Mother worked for the local YMCA. Very soon after that, on Easter Sunday in April 1983 I was born. The African-American doctor who delivered me, Dr. Armstrong, was late making it to the hospital as he was celebrating his own birthday.

Everytime my Mother calls me on my birthday she reminds me about how I stole Dr. Armstrong away from his family and friends on a beautiful Easter Sunday to deliver a five pound, blue eyed Irish-Iranian baby named Farah Marie. Ma, whatever happened to those blue eyes?

Anyhow, here I am again in Virginia visiting my Grandmother and Cousin who live outside Washington. My Cousin, Saman, is nineteen and moved to the United States two years ago from Iran to attend college. My Grandmother, or Mamonjuni, who's husband, Mohammed Bugard, died about 15 years ago, lives here with my Cousin, watching after him. The house they share belongs to my Uncle who is currently (over the last two years) in Iraq.

(My cousin Saman and my Mamonjuni)

My Uncle used to work as a civil engineer at the State Department, and now is serving as deputy U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. The U.S. government split Iraq into essentially four provinces geographically, and my uncle serves the Southern province and resides in Basrah. Packages he sends home with clothes and candies read APO: Basrah Palace. Some call him "the King of Basrah".


It is very transformative and difficult to realize the hospitality I enjoy here at my Uncle's place is, in the words of Toby Keith, "brought to me curtsey of the red, white, and blue."

It is difficult to understand why my Iranian Uncle, who made frequent trips back to Iran in the 1980's would collaborate in such a significant way with the U.S. occupation? In some ways it makes sense, with the significant number of shiite Muslims in the South, some Iranian, and my Uncle who speaks Arabic, Pharsi, and English. I noticed he has a framed certificate up on the wall in his room from the U.S. State Department congratulating him on his "bold professionalism" and "courageous spirit" in assistance of the January 2005 elections in Iraq.

I suppose this is yet another lesson on how important it is that when we dream of the beloved community, it must expand to encompass not just the poor and afflicted among us - but perhaps our own families, the rich and powerful, the "kings of our present age". They too need our strength and courage in love and relationship so that they may too be redeemed. We must remember them in our prayers, hopes, and dreams of another world - and not cast them away in words of hatefulness and anger.

I pray that folks joining for the mobilization in D.C. remember the people behind the great edifices of the empire, and invite them to join the circus outside with courageous words of hospitality and love.

Until we all have faces,
Farah Marie

(Mamonjuni and my Aunt or "Ahme" Farahnaz)

ps. Day Six of the fast. Wow! What a week we have had. Joel G. And I got to Dulles Airport last Saturday and we spent the night at Jonah House in Baltimore. We had a blast walking the llamas and feeding the little goats Paul and Silas. Not to mention a fantastic time hanging out with Susan, Liz, Carol, Gary and Shirely - what a crowd to be around. The next day we hitched a ride with Lou Anne and Art to the apartment Joel, Jeff, Lori, Ed and I are staying at in Rockville, MD which is about 40 minutes outside D.C. We began our vigil at the IMF/World Bank on Tuesday but were promptly thrown off the sidewalk by Officer Effler of IMF Security. After consulting with many lawyer folk about our 1st amendment Rights, we were assured that a public side walk was a fine place to hold a small, respectful vigil and returned with smiles and warm thoughts the next day. Our demeanor must have been contagious since Officer Effler returned our smiles with a green light to hold the vigil. He even took a picture with Jeff to bring home to the kiddies.

Jeff and I joined about 35 others including Colleen, Art and Susan of the Dorothy Day CW, Rose Marie Berger of Sojourners, and Liz, Gary, and Susan of Jonah House on Tuesday Night at the vigil/protest of the Arms bazaar, a night where the military and various companies dine ($250 a plate) and talk war machines, weapons systems, and the militarization of space. Hey now that is some scary stuff! Our vigil might of been humble in comparison, but it was full of song, friends, and an invitation to join us at the table of the beloved community.

The next evening Joel and I joined a meeting of the Mobilization for Global Justice and shared vision with some rad, creative, and wacky folks helping to put together some of the artistic stuff for the 23-25 protest. Three cheers for MGJ!

Washington Revisited

Hi. First off I am very sorry that I have not updated my blog. I think I am experiencing the postmodern phenomenon of blogger anxiety. My housemate Cassie encouraged me to post blogs despite my feeling that no one really cares about the day-to-day activities of a young peace nic. However, I am confidentthat the days and weeks ahead will be quite interesting.

Speaking of, today I had a radio interview with a media station in South Africa. Phew! I actually hate talking with press mainly because I get so nervous my voice shakes and I can’t think clearly, but since our media man Jeff was in transitfrom Chicago to D.C., I became the next mostly likely candidate to speak with the media. The interview didn’t go too badly until the radio interviewer said I was with a group called Voices for Non-Creative Violence.

An easy mistake onair, but woo wee what a difference that would be eh?

For the record we are Voices for Creative Nonviolence.

Our eighteen-day fast begins tomorrow.

There is much on our minds . . .

The continued suffering and oppression of the Iraqi people.

This year Camden, whereI live, was named the most dangerous city in America. Over the past two years Baghdad has been considered the most dangerous city in the world. Like Camden, Baghdad (and for that matter all of Iraq) is in needof basic civil infrastructure, job security, adequate health and education systems, and an economic recovery plan that benefits its citizens. Like Baghdad, Camden will not fully recover until the occupation (Randy Primas asstate-appointed COO) ends!

The economic side of the occupation of Iraq is far more devastating, in my opinion, than the occupation itself. You see we are out fasting and vigiling because the IMF/World bank plan to end the food subsidies that are already inadequate to meet the needs of 60% Iraqi’s that rely on them. A recent study done by UNICEF estimates that 7% of children under 5 years of age suffer acute malnutrition. That means nearly 300,000 Iraqi children are not receiving the adequate caloric intake needed daily to grow up healthy and strong –they will likely fall victim to stunted growth, basic illnesses such as diarrea and the flu, stunted brain development etc). We see this same issue amongst children in many of our inner cities--even amongst those children in our very school at Sacred Heart.

We are vigiling in front of the IMF and World Bank to ask for the unconditional cancellation of the odious debt and war reparations Iraq's occupiers believe must be paid back in the reconstruction of the country.

The odious debt incurred by Saddam Hussein’s regime is money used by the regime, for their own benefits (mainly to build an internal security apparatus that was used to suppress politically dissident voices in Iraq)– none of the money benefited the people ofIraq. When contries, like the U.S., lend this money to despotic dictatorships like in Iraq, the risk is very high that the investments in the long-run will not be wise. However, in the short term certain kick-backs (like cheap oil) may look very good, especially if there is an "energy crisis".

The IMF/World Bank (of all monies lent only 1% was loaned to Iraq by IMF/WB) plan to ask the Iraqi people to take on 20% of that debt outright, 30% will be cancelled only if Iraq agrees to sign an economic restructuring strategy that would privatize Iraq’s oil, water, and utility resources. Another 30% will be cancelled once the economic restructuring process is complete. The last 20% is being cancelled outright.

Earlier this year I went to Geneva in protest of the U.N. Compensation Commission hearings on war reparations Iraq "owes" for Saddam Hussein's illegal invasion of Kuwait – another situation everyday Iraqi citizens had no responsibility for.

The war reparation claims are as high as $365 billion dollars. If Iraq is asked to pay back even the claims the United Nations Compensation Commission has thus approved, 1/3 of the $365 B, it won’t be finished paying these back till 2070.

The chaos and despair of folks in New Orleans is in some ways similar to the plight of the Iraqi people.

Imagine asking the citizens of New Orleans to take on the responsibility of paying to reconstruct their city, paying for the food subsidies being handed out, paying to rebuild the poorly managed levee system.

All the while bombs drop on the French Quarter because suspected looters or gangs are rummaging through the streets . . .

It seems unimaginable, inhuman. I suppose that is why I continue to work with Voices, and we continue to do the essential work of advocacy and witness on behalf of the people who we grew to know and love in Iraq. For those of us who live the everyday life of a person in Waterfront South the despair and rage and hopelessness is easy to understand - what is more difficult is when those same people extend hands of hospitality, forgiveness, and love. Love of "enemy" of "stranger" of "undesirable" will force us into odd places of the heart. It will challenge us to take more risks to save the men and women lying on the road to Jericho. Perhaps, we will learn it is them who have saved us and together, that relationship and Dr. King's prophetic words, will force us to transform the whole road to Jericho.

What shall it be like to rebuild the roads of our hearts?

I pray that the economic occupation ofIraq will be challenged by the mobilization in September and by our daily effortsto live simpler lives in love and relationship with those we and our society pass by.

I pray for those folks down in New Orleans. I believe themass majority of “victims” did not result from Katrina, but resulted at the hands of all who did not take the appropriate and necessary steps to assist poor folk out of those areas in LA and MS. I am angered and deeply saddened that the funds from the federal government were not made available earlier to fix the levee system, where hundreds of lives could have been saved.

I am angered that the mayor of New Orleans didn’t work with the Govenor of LA to open the public transport systems to all folks in need of evacuation. I am angered that folks at the Astro Dome are being given $2000“Independence” Cards per family (whether your family is 2 or 10) and then being asked to leave, while government officials pretend this will be enough to get any person, let alone a family, back on thier feet.

I am encouraged by the efforts of thousands who have opened their homes to strangers in need.

I am encouraged by the work of thousands who have risked their lives to save the lives of those who for whatever reason have not been able to get to safety.

I am encouraged that our housemate Andrea and our friend John have takenmewithYou’s veggie powered bus down to Baton Rouge to give out schoolsupplies, money, and other resources to folks in need.

I am encouraged by the response of many folks in the church who are practicingthe works of the radical gospel of hospitality and healing, walking with al lthose whose lives have been turned upside down.

I am encouraged by one young man's journey, from Camden to California, the map of Ireland on his face and the people of Camden in his heels as he rides for us all the road to peace.

A heartfelt thanks.

More to come. . .

Farah Marie

VOICES FOR CREATIVE NONVIOLENCE

Begining next week, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, successor to Voices in the Wilderness, will begin a fast in Washington D.C. and New York City to call for economic justice for the people of Iraq. Here is our press release:

Contact: Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Jeff Leys or Farah Mokhtareizadeh
856-236-6141

For Immediate Release:
September 13, 2005

D.C. Fast Calls for Economic Justice and Cancellation of Debt in Iraq

CHICAGO, IL and WASHINGTON DC, September 13—For the next sixteen days, advocates for economic justice in Iraq will fast outside the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) in Washington, D.C. With the IMF and World Bank meeting in ten days, fasters with Voices for Creative Nonviolence will call for the cancellation of the $125 billion of debt incurred by Saddam Hussein and now thrust upon the Iraqi people.
From September 27-29, fasters will move on to the United Nations building in New York City while the UN Compensation Commission meets in Geneva. Both the IMF and UNCC meetings are critical because they will determine the United States’ and international demands for Iraq’s repayment of debt and reparations.

The UNCC’s claims for Iraqi debt relate to the invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91 by Saddam Hussein’s regime. Iraq has paid $19 billion in reparations claims, including over $2 billion since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime. The UNCC imposed an additional $33 billion in war reparations claims against Iraq which are yet to be paid. Virtually all unpaid claims are owed to oil companies or governments. Virtually all claims of individual people are settled and paid.

Fast participants will present five key demands which must be met for economic justice for Iraqis:

1) the unconditional cancellation of the odious debt incurred by the regime of Saddam Hussein;

2) the unconditional cancellation of war reparations imposed against Iraq by the U.N. Compensation Commission for the invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91 by the regime of Saddam Hussein;

3) the elimination of all aspects of any economic restructuring plan imposed upon Iraq by the I.M.F., the World Bank, the Paris Club and other international financial interests and government;

4) comprehensive reparations paid to Iraq by the U.S., the U.K., and their allies for the damage inflicted upon Iraq over these past 14 years of military and economic warfare—especially the damage to Iraq’s health care, education, electrical and water systems.;

5) prevention or repeal of the privatization of state owned enterprises and respect for rights of workers as enunciated by international law.
a speedy end to the occupation of Iraq by the U.S., the U.K., and their allies.
In announcing the fast, organizers from Voices of Creative Nonviolence state:
“As international social justice activists and citizens of the U.S., we stand united and resolved to seek an end to the ongoing economic exploitation of Iraq. Such exploitation is a form of violence which must be resisted. We as citizens of the U.S. have a special responsibility as it is our country that created and held firm to the economic sanctions regime which devastated Iraq’s health care, education, water and electrical infrastructure.
“It is neither right nor just that the Iraqi people be required to pay in perpetuity for the regime of Saddam Hussein.”
Voices for Creative Nonviolence is a Chicago-based campaign to challenge US military and economic warfare against Iraq and to end the global “war on terror.”