Iranian crown prince brought a taste of royalty to Lubbock By Doug Hensley | for the AVALANCHE-JOURNAL -Sunday, April 20, 2008
Once upon a time.Wait a minute. That's no way to start a news story.Except, perhaps, in the case of this story, which is the tale of a West Texas city and its all-too-brief brush with royalty.In the summer of 1978, before the words "political unrest" and "Iran" regularly occupied the same sentence, Reese Air Force Base officials learned a special pilot was about to join the ranks of military trainees.Reza Pahlavi, eldest son of the Shah of Iran, already was an accomplished pilot when he arrived at Reese. According to news accounts, Pahlavi recorded his first solo flight at age 11 and earned his pilot's license a year later. His $180,000 tuition was paid by his home country's government, which also purchased a home for him in the Tanglewood addition on the city's west side.The crown prince, not yet 18 years old, was suddenly Lubbock's most well-known resident."My focus at that time was on my Air Force training," Pahlavi said during a telephone interview from his office in the Washington, D.C., area earlier this week, where he serves as an advocate for human rights around the world. "Most of my time I spent at Reese itself. I had a separate residence that I also stayed at outside of the base."Pahlavi used the West Lubbock home as a weekend retreat. Toward the end of his stay in the city, the heavily guarded estate played host to other members of the royal family."A lot of people there were concerned about myself, and they were a tremendous boost to my morale," Pahlavi said, "especially because I was so far away from home. I haveencountered many Americans in my life who have been kind and offered hospitality, but the people of West Texas stand apart in my experience. I will always be grateful for that hospitality and will never forget how warm and kind everyone was."Dean Shuman, a Lubbock attorney, lived across the alley from Pahlavi during that time and said having the prince as a weekend neighbor was nothing unusual - most of the time."We had one occasion that caught our attention," he recalled. "We had a gathering at our home one weekend evening, and my young son was home at that time. He and one of his friends were taking the trash out to the Dumpster, and they were accosted by guards. They actually had a guard station in the backyard on stilts."Despite the security, Shuman had fond memories of his famous neighbor."He was very personable and charming," he said. "I met him on one occasion when we had lunch at the old University City Club."Pahlavi indeed was the prince of the city. His every move made news, including a clandestine visit to Rush Elementary, where he gave autographs to students and told them, among other things, that one of his favorite television programs was "Gunsmoke," according to an A-J article."Back then, I was 18," Pahlavi said. "I am 47 today. At that age, I wanted people to understand it is the person they have to know as opposed to what they represent. That has always been my nature, regardless of circumstances."Still, Pahlavi was no ordinary citizen. According to A-J accounts, former President Jimmy Carter called to wish him a happy 18th birthday, and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was among those who visited his home.Pahlavi, who has lived in the Washington, D.C., area since 1986, said the eight months he spent in Lubbock were enjoyable, although his personal life took a sudden turn in 1979 when his father's government was overthrown, forcing the royal family to flee."You must realize those were quite trying and difficult times for myself and my family because of what was going on," he said.As Iran's monarchy disintegrated, Pahlavi's pilot training was accelerated. He finished four months sooner than normal. Reese officials said part of the reason was his proficiency as a pilot upon his arrival. Nevertheless, his life and the lives of his family members were in jeopardy. He and others in the royal party left West Texas for good in mid-March 1979.Even in this stressful moment, Pahlavi's regal manner came through. His final act before boarding the plane was to hand an A-J reporter an open letter to the city, thanking citizens for the treatment he received here."I remember how people were concerned for me," Pahlavi said. "They were beyond concerned; they were even protective. People in the neighborhood wanted to stand in line and create a barricade for me. They adopted me as one of their own. It is one of many things I am grateful for and will never forget."Pahlavi lived in Morocco and Egypt and has lived in the U.S. since 1984. He earned a political science degree from the University of Southern California, according to his biography.The home, meanwhile, became a source of dispute. When the prince left town, it was official property of the Iranian government. It stayed in legal limbo for years before coming back on the market."Those are memories and moments that are etched in stone, a part of my life," Pahlavi said. "Becoming a pilot was something I was very much focused on. It was a unique and special experience for me. The individuals there in Lubbock were very cordial, very warm, very friendly. What can I say? True Texans."
همراه شو عزیز،این رزم مشترک،هرگز جدا جدا، آسان نمی شود
Hamid Hamidi
گرامی باد 8 مارس ، روز جهانی زن
OMID-E-MEHR: empowering disadvantaged young women in Iran This is an invitation for you to join us in helping disadvantaged young women in Iran. You can help by volunteering time, by fundraising for us, by engaging in academic research on topics that are of importance to us, or simply by making a donation.
Our mission Our mission is to strengthen the social, emotional, and economic competencies of disadvantaged young women (aged from 15 to 25) in Iran, and to provide them with a sense of self-worth and with the opportunities to experience a full range of life options through self-empowerment, education and training. Starting with a small group of 15 clients in late 2004, we now cater to approximately 75 young women at any one time, more than a quarter of whom are Afghani immigrants. Our track record speaks for itself. Over 80% of our 'graduates' hold permanent secure jobs and are able to enjoy a fulfilling and enjoyable life. Our clients Our clients have typically either been put into care from an early age, or run away from abusive homes, or live in extreme poverty. They often suffer from severe mental health and emotional difficulties, mostly stemming from their experiences of neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and exposure to drugs and violence. We value and nurture the voices, hearts, and minds of these underprivileged and vulnerable young women and help them transform their lives. We believe that through love and care in the context of sustained relationships where practical and emotional needs are addressed, our young clients will be able to overcome the traumas of the past and will eventually be able to take responsibility for their emotions and behaviour.
Click here to read about the transformation of our 'graduates' Firouzeh, Mandana, Nina, Neda and Leila. Our program Despite their past difficulties, and the obstacles still facing them, our young clients have the same dreams as all of us. They yearn to participate in life, and to make meaningful contributions to the world around them. At Omid, we use a holistic approach to provide our young clients with the opportunities to realise such dreams. We offer them the tools, structure and support to help them succeed. And, above all, we offer them the chance to be heard. The cornerstones of our approach are self-empowerment, education and training, supplemented by effective work placement, counselling and assistance. Professional and vocational (workforce skills) training is one of our major priorities. There are three distinct phases in our involvement with our clients:- Phase 1: In-house (15-18 months)Creating a welcoming environment, core education, vocational training, recreational activities, therapeutic interventions and workshops, psychiatric counselling.- Phase 2: Professional training (6-48 months)Advanced training for white collar professions, preparations for trade careers, enrolling in a university degree program.- Phase 3: Job placement and monitoring (6-18 months)Job placement of our graduates and monitoring their performance at work.Click here for a detailed description for the above described three phase program. YOUR INVOLVEMENT We will only be able to thrive and to continue with our work through the generosity of other people and their belief in our capacity to change lives. You can help make a difference by volunteering time, by fundraising for us, by engaging in academic research on topics that are of importance to us, or simply by making a donation. We value each and every form of contribution, all of which help us directly to improve the lives of our clients in some vital way.VolunteeringClick here for a list of free services needed in Iran, the UK and the USA.FundraisingOrganise a fundraising drive in your own community or circle of friends using supporting materials provided by us.Academic ResearchWork with us and engage in the analysis and study of the social issues that are central to our work. Contact us to discuss specific needs.DonationWe aim to raise 160,500 GBP / 214,000 EUROS / 321,000 USD in 2008.Click here for a description of each of the projects/programs that need to be funded in 2008. When making a donation please specify if you want your sponsorship funds to be allocated to(i) a specific project,(ii) disbursements inside Iran,(iii) disbursements outside Iran.Click here to make an online donation using your credit/debit card.Click here to make a donation by cheque, wire transfer, standing order and payroll giving. Our legal status We are a privately funded, non-political organisation, operating through two registered charities (one in Iran, and one in the UK):- Omid-e-Mehr (a charitable foundation registered in Iran, registration number 18047), which is responsible for the day-to-day care of our clients in Tehran and local fundraising.- Friends of Omid (a charity registered in the United Kingdom, registration number 1115318), which is responsible for strategic planning, fundraising and activities outside Iran. Our management and organisation As charitable foundations, both Friends of Omid and the Omid-e-Mehr are supervised by a board of trustees (both chaired by Marjaneh Halati) which formulates and approves long-term goals and objectives, formulates and adopts policies, develops financial resources for achieving goals, adopts and monitors annual budgets and financial development plans, and monitors the achievement of goals and objectives. In the operations in Iran, the policies set by the board of trustees are implemented by an executive committee consisting of a number of key members of the operational management team. Eshrat Gholipour is chief operating officer of the operations in Iran with responsibility for day-to-day management. She works closely with two assistants (Ladan Kani and Farnaz Gordan), and is supported by a team of 18 full ! and part-time (paid and volunteer) employees and external specialists, most of whom are teachers, social workers, and clinical psychologists who provide counselling services. Our sources of funding We are privately funded. Our sources of funds are donations received from charitable trusts, agencies, companies, organisations and individuals. Enquiries and additional information Request a printed copy of the 2006/7 issue of our annual report HOPE, or click here to download a pdf version. The HOPE report includes detailed descriptions of examples of our core education program (English language training, etc.), vocational training courses (computer skills training, etc.) as well as the new programs and initiatives we have planned for 2008 (workshops, residential shelter, etc.).Request a copy of our audited accounts.Visit our website for additional information.Contact us at info@omid-e-mehr.org, or:- Friends of Omid: Flat 21, 39/40 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5HR, United Kingdom, Tel +44 (20) 75846949, Fax +44 (20) 75262051- Omid-e-Mehr: Vahid Dastgerdi Avenue (Zafar), 15 Shahid Omrani Avenue, Tehran, Iran, Tel +98 (21) 22256420, Fax +98 (21) 22226919 ,
A Tribute to Mahasti 1946-2007
http://www.bebin.tv - In memory of Mahasti;one of Iran's music Divas, who lost her battle againts cancer on 25th June 2007 in Santa Rosa, California.
ahange tajiki ( manija .vai vai vai) I Love Tajikestan
Dorood beh yadeh_e_shirin_e_Shahanshah Aryameher
Light of the Aryans, the greatest lover of all
things Iranian/Persian and the Pahlavi Dynesty.
Dorood beh Queen Farah Pahlavi & Prince Reza Pahlavi.
Payandeh Iran - Sarfraz baad Iran e Novien
Death to the Islamic Republic of Idiots- the butchering fascist mafia's of Qom and Tehran
FARAVAHAR
AHURAMAZDA
Happy Nu Rooz
NU ROOZ E TON PEEROZE BAD
I A M A R A I N D R O P.
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Tulips in Holland
