June 18, 2023 will mark 40 years since 10 Baha’i women were hanged in Shiraz. Their only ‘crime’ was their refusal to renounce their beliefs in a faith that promotes the principles of gender equality, unity, justice, and truthfulness. This collection highlights Baha’i Blog content relating to the ongoing persecution of Baha’is in Iran.
Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour is a beautiful film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice that reflects on the efforts and learning carried out by a burgeoning Baha’i community since the passing of Abdu’l-Baha in 1921. If you haven’t already seen it, we definitely recommend watching it – you can find it here on the official YouTube channel for the Baha’i Faith.
“It is a story” is the poem included near the end of the film and we’re thankful for permission to share it with you as per the film’s terms of use. 1
It is a story
It is a story
almost as old as time itself.
Even before she was born
they tried to make her disappear
like a magic trick.
But her presence was noted
if only
in her absence.
When she was born
instead of sharing sweets
they shared ribbon-tied bags
of sorrow.
And when she received
she received
the smallest, the least and
the last
or often none
at all.
Food, comfort, education, respect.
If she went to school
she had to be careful to
not to learn
too much, to
not to speak
too much, to
not be seen
too much.
She must not take up
too much
space.
She must make herself
smaller and
smaller.
Fold herself
into shapes
that are
quiet, restrained, contained.
Learn that her
own body
is not a safe
house for her soul.
But now
with this new Revelation
a new story is being written.
A story that unravels all the stories
of the past.
A story where women stand
side by side
with men.
Even before she is born
there is celebration
for the anticipation of a
brand new soul.
When she is born
the family, the village, the city, the nation
rejoice.
She will receive.
Food, comfort, education, respect.
She will go to school.
She has so much
to learn
to understand
to speak of
to teach.
She will grow
and she will grow.
She will breathe and
she will dream and
she will do and
she will know that
her voice is powerful.
She will arise.
She will unfold
from shapes that are
quiet, restrained, contained.
Until her family, her village, her city, her nation,
too,
will blossom.
Glimpses of a Hundred Years of Endeavour is available in Arabic, English, French, Persian, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. You can watch or download the film here: www.bahai.org/glimpses
Subject to the following restrictions this film may be freely reproduced in whole or in part without the need to obtain special permission:
The Baha’i World Centre retains full copyright protection for this film;
You acquire no rights to or license over the content other than the limited right to use the film in accordance with these terms;
You may reproduce, copy, distribute, publish, or display the film in whole or in part for any non-commercial use [for Baha’i communities only],but you cannot modify, edit, create derivative works from it or use it in any manner inconsistent with its original intent;
This copyright notice must always be attached to any reproduction of this work.[↩]
In her innermost heart, Sonjel is a stay-at-home parent and a bookworm with a maxed out library card but professionally she is a museologist with a background in English Literature. She currently lives on Prince Edward Island, an isle in the shape of a smile on the eastern Canadian coast. Sonjel is a writer who loves to listen to jazz when she's driving at night.
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