Article: On recent Kurdish events in Southern California  

Thursday, 09 February 2006 

California  by Dr. Kamal Artin - On February 4th Kurdish American Education Society had a cultural and educational event at Irvine City Hall. The members of the society gave lectures on Kurdish history, on role of Kurdish women, and on Kurdish self determination rights. The guest speaker Dr. Rebwar Fatah, director of Kurdishmedia.com had a speech on the role of Kurdish intellectuals in Diaspora.

At the end of the presentations Master Shahram Nazeri and Rumi Ensemble had a remarkable and unique performance of a combination of classical Kurdish and Western music. Mr. Nazeri was reluctant to perform under any national flags; it seemed he was not willing to be associated with any political organization despite his love and passion for Kurdish language and culture. He had known that KAES is not a political organization, but unfortunately anything Kurdish at this stage seems considered political. To honor the guest’s request, KAES placed the US and Kurdish flag in a different location other than the stage; this led to a stimulating discussion.

Thinking about this issue in retrospect I noticed that for the past few decades Sorani and Kermanji Kurds have been paying heavily for the kurdayatee by the lives of their sons and daughters and therefore might have a different affinity to the Kurdish flag. In contrary to them, Faili Kurds have given priority to their faith than to their national identity and been passive and introverted observant without forgetting their identity.

I think Sorani and Kurmanji Kurds should be proud of those Faili Kurds who now are gradually and step by step are coming out and joining Kurdish national movement after decades of enforced assimilation by dictators. As long as they confirm that they have a Kurdish identity, they should be respected and welcomed. In fact some of them might have even contributed more to Kurdish cause than many active but corrupt politicians.

The issue of the flag is very important. It is essential that gradually all Kurds accept the flag as representation of their national identity. Once Kurds are equal with their neighbors, they could become globalists and forget the flag. In fact the nations who have political power now should be the one to start eliminating their national flags not those who have no recognized identity yet.

I think Mr. Nazeri is a Kurdish peaceful Sufi idealist who thinks beyond nationality, which is a positive trait, if Kurds have had a country. For now such an attitude is not useful for Kurdish movement. I think in such a situation Gandhi would not have opposed Indian flag! At the same time, keep in mind that Mr. Nazeri does not have the freedom that most people enjoy in the West; otherwise he might have had a different attitude! Let's admire him for his musical talent, even if he has a passive attitude toward Iranian assimilation policy.

It is also of note that some of the members of KAES and KNC as well as Dr. Fatah from Kurdismedia.com had complimentary speeches on Kurdish vision for the Middle East, anniversary of the Republic of Mahabad, and Kurdish Self-determination right two days later, on February 6th.

The event was hosted by school of public affairs at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). Interestingly this event which was held in an educational facility was more political than the event held at city hall, a political facility. At this event no flag was present either, yet the points were clear that ultimately Kurdistan should be independent.

In order to have a pluralistic national alliance, Kurdish movement needs to welcome all Kurds, who have an affinity for their identity. With this in mind, some of KAES (www.kaes.us) members think more democratic and pluralistic and have become members KNC-NA (www.kncna.org) too. KNC-NA will be having its annual conference on March 17-19, 2006 in Washington DC. Hopefully special attentions are given to such stimulating discussion in the conference.

Dr.  Kamal Artin is a member of KAES and KNC-NA; however, his views are not necessarily reflecting the views of all members.