Building a community

White tents stretched across the Park Blocks this Saturday, filling the space between Shattuck Hall and the Millar Library with a multitude of sights, scents and sounds from Iran.

On a brightly decorated stage, commendations were given to recognize commitment and dedication to the local Persian community. Among those recognized were Multnomah County Commissioner Deborah Kafoury and Reed professor of political science Dr. Darius Rejali.

“This is my first time at the festival,” said Kafoury, whose parents served in the Peace Corps in Iran. “It’s great to see such joy and tenderness here.”

Rejali, an expert on modern torture and interrogation methods, won the 2007 Human Rights Book Award for his book Torture and Democracy.

“I was Iranian-American at a time when you could fit all the Iranian-Americans around a swimming pool on a hot summer day in Tehran,” Rejali said. “I really learned a lot from that about respecting different perspectives.”

Through informative booths, public speakers and art displays, the ninth annual Iranian Festival highlighted aspects of Persian culture often hidden or overlooked within the Portland community.

“There is a large and vibrant Iranian community here,” Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer said.

Blumenauer said it was nice to have Saturday’s festival at PSU, so Iranian-Americans could interact and celebrate their heritage and be a part of the community as well. Blumenauer added that he was very impressed with Portland State.

“This is just what a university should do in regards to international understanding,” he said.

The murmur of Saturday’s crowd throughout the Park Blocks was subdued, aside from the yapping of a small dog in a baby carriage, as presentations were given and attendees meandered past the booths.

Pictures of different regions of Iran and a few samples of artwork and popular culture were displayed around a tent on the grass in front of Shattuck Hall, while across the diagonal pathway, a crowd of about 40 people gathered near the raised stage as presentation announcers spoke first in Farsi–an official language of Iran-then translated into English.

Persian and Kurdish music was performed by Seattle musicians Kamand, as well as poetry readings from the anthology Belonging, by translator Niloufar Talebi.

The anthology is part of an ongoing multimedia project in its fifth year, simply called the Translation Project, which aims to bring Iranian pop culture to the rest of the world.

One of the festival’s highlights was the sharing of stories of Iranian experiences.

Yasi Dinatale, a PSU alumnae and daughter of an Iranian immigrant, described having to wear long sleeves at the peak of an Iranian summer on a visit with her family, while her brothers wandered around in short sleeves.

The tables were turned, she said, when they hiked up a mountain and the weather grew colder. Then her brothers were begging to borrow her jacket, while Dinatale laughingly asked, “Do you have any idea how inappropriate that would be?”

Saturday’s festival followed an eventful Friday, which included the Images of Iran Workshop, focused on presenting a broad picture of Persian culture, and brought together many members of the local Persian community.

Dr. Jean Campbell opened the workshop with a small speech.

“We’re not trying to whitewash the big issues to do with Iran by focusing on culture,” Campbell said, who is the associate director for Middle East Studies at Portland State. “This is a workshop designed primarily for teachers…but we all have our moments for teaching.”