Sunday, September 23, 2007
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About Me
- ZYNA - Zoroastrian Youth of North America
- Laguna Niguel, California, United States
- Chairman: Nikan H. Khatibi -- Board of Directors: Farzin Avari, Zain Mavalvala, Shireen Cama, Daryush Mehta, Farzin Morena Chissta Farahmand, Ferzeen Chapgar, Gustad Mody, Urvaksh Patel, Anahita Khosraviani, Tinaz Dhunjisha, Keyarash Jahanian, Farah Panthakee, Rita Balaporia, Tina Mehta, Dustyn Shroff, Hanoz Kapadia
What is the biggest concern our community faces?
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3 comments:
Is it really twilight over
Camelot? What can we do?
After spending the last few weeks collecting material on worldwide Zarathushti demographics, I cannot but feel in my heart, that, unless we sit up and do something, it could very well be the ‘sunset,’ if not the ‘twilight' for our community.
The broad themes that emerge from this exercise on demographics are: the rueful declining numbers for Zarathushtis in the ‘homelands’ of Iran and the Indian sub-continent; the small numbers and threat of assimilation by dispersion in the diaspora communities; and the communal loss to inter-marriages around the world.
On the other hand, the emergence of new Zarathushti identities, mostly in the last decade or two, adds yet another dimension to the global picture.
So what can we do?
To all those going out (be it through apathy or inter-marriage or conversion) can we appeal to their sense of responsibility to their religion and community (if not on grounds of religious belief or ethnic preservation or societal compatibility) to stay in?
To all those going out, rather than debar them, can we not, instead, ‘lure’ them into staying in – by offering succor, spirituality and self-actualization (ultimate fulfillment).
To all those on the fringes, can we not show them the benefits of bonding and belonging to our global Zarathushti fraternity?
The key is Coming Together.
Globalization, which led to our dispersion in the first place, may well now be bringing us together again: with a properly structured, sound and strong world body (without further ado please!) to keep the far flung pockets in the diaspora connected with our roots in the homelands; with high tech travel and communication; and by meeting frequently, locally at social and religious gatherings, and globally at conferences and congresses, across all ages and all interests. With our personal and collective commitment, we can come together, grow together and stay together, in perpetuity.
Maybe we shall see sunrise over Camelot again.
From Susan Kaboly-Zadeh: I find that being a First Generation Zoroastrian-Iranian Canadian these are a few of the questions and dillemmas I have had to face and currently still do. I will be speaking on this topic at the 4WZYC as I find it a common challenge for most to first come to know and understand their own identity being bicultural, bilingual and equally importantly, from an ancient religion and rich cultural heritage that many people have never heard of. A few points....If a community truly wants to survive, they must adapt to the modern age and practices. Intermarriage is not a threat, it is an opportunity to engage new potential members to our community. Assimilation is a by-product of being in contact with other human beings, and cannot be ignored. For those who are on the fringes, one must look to the root and find why they are in this situation? Talk is good but action is better. For decades this topic has come up time and time again. Worry changes nothing. Change, Root focused Action and Positive Envisioning can help lead the way.
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