Azadeh Tabazadeh's Blog, page 2
February 24, 2016
Packed House at Palo Alto Books Inc.
Book Talk at Palo Alto Books Inc. on February 16. It was a great event, a packed house and lots of questions. I picked up 18 brand new readers!! Books Inc. did a wonderful job advertising the event to the community. Laughter filled the room as I told the audience about my trip to the White House and the unfortunate Monica Lewinsky scandal that prevented a group of young scientists, including myself, who were there to receive a Presidential Award, to be greeted by the president.
Hope to see you at the next Book Talk in SF or Berkeley.
The post Packed House at Palo Alto Books Inc. appeared first on Azadeh Tabazadeh.
PACKED HOUSE AT PALO ALTO BOOKS INC.
Book Talk at Palo Alto Books Inc. on February 16. It was a great event, a packed house and lots of questions. I picked up 18 brand new readers!! Books Inc. did a wonderful job advertising the event to the community. Laughter filled the room as I told the audience about my trip to the White House and the unfortunate Monica Lewinsky scandal that prevented a group of young scientists, including myself, who were there to receive a Presidential Award, to be greeted by the president.
Hope to see you at the next Book Talk in SF or Berkeley.
The post PACKED HOUSE AT PALO ALTO BOOKS INC. appeared first on Azadeh Tabazadeh.
February 4, 2016
THE SKY DETECTIVE – A BOOK CLUB PICK IN THE EAST BAY
A BOOK CLUB gathering at Sandra’s beautiful home in Castro Valley on 2/3/16. Thank you SO much Carol for selecting my book, Sandra for hosting, and to you all for reading “The Sky Detective” and sharing your thoughts with me. Almost everyone requested that I tell the story of my journey once we landed at the LAX airport on July 1982 with nothing other than a 6-month student visa, which is where the narrative ends in “The Sky Detective.” Write to me if you are of the same opinion!
The post THE SKY DETECTIVE – A BOOK CLUB PICK IN THE EAST BAY appeared first on Azadeh Tabazadeh.
January 7, 2016
Kirkus names “The Sky Detective” as one of the best books of 2015
Read the Kirkus Review at:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/azadeh-tabazadeh/sky-detective/
Enter the Goodreads Giveaway Contest to win a free softcover copy of The Sky Detective: A memoir of how I fled Iran and became a NASA Scientist.
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/167690-the-sky-detective-a-memoir
Naturally, I am super-excited and wanted to share the news with colleagues, followers and friends. I hope my personal story touches the hearts and minds of those who may wonder about who we (Iranian-Americans) are and what values we stand for.
Azadeh Tabazadeh
The post appeared first on Azadeh Tabazadeh.
Kirkus Reviews names “The Sky Detective” as one of the best books of 2015
Read the Kirkus Review at:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/azadeh-tabazadeh/sky-detective/
Enter the Goodreads Giveaway Contest to win a free softcover copy of The Sky Detective: A memoir of how I fled Iran and became a NASA Scientist.
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/167690-the-sky-detective-a-memoir
Naturally, I am super-excited and wanted to share the news with colleagues, followers and friends. I hope my personal story touches the hearts and minds of those who may wonder about who we (Iranian-Americans) are and what values we stand for.
Azadeh Tabazadeh
The post appeared first on Azadeh Tabazadeh.
December 20, 2015
President Obama and Donald Trump’s views regarding Muslims are converging
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/president-obama-donald-trumps-views-regarding-muslims-tabazadeh
I voted for President Obama twice, hoping that he would be “the” President who will bring harmony and peace to people from all races and religious backgrounds. However, his steadfast support for the discriminatory visa bill, which singles out dual nationals from Syria, Iran, Iraq and Sudan, speaks volumes as to where he truly stands–not that far from Donald Trump who publicly stated that all Muslims should be barred from entering Unites States.
The identities of the nineteen 911 hijackers are as follow: Fifteen from Saudi Arabia; one from Egypt, two from the United Arab Emirates, and one from Lebanon.
Click to see full names and identities of the 911 attackers
Given the above facts, isn’t it odd that none of the above countries are listed on the discriminatory visa bill that President Obama just signed? Could the horrific acts of 911 have been intercepted if this visa bill was signed into law prior to the attacks? How about the recent terrorist acts in Paris or San Bernardino? The answer to all is an overwhelming NO.
What is even more troublesome is that the visa wavier bill states that Iran is a county that sponsors terrorism. If that were the case, then why did President Obama signed a nuclear deal with Iran a few months ago that would free up $ 100 billion of frozen (sanctioned) assets, which could provide tremendous wealth to the government of Iran to sponsor even more acts of terrorism. You cannot have your cake and eat it too! If the American government has credible intelligence that links the government of Iran to a state that sponsors terrorism–as clearly stated in the visa wavier bill–then don’t make deals and release funds to assist them with their activities.
I am not advocating that a visa discriminatory bill should be issued against dual citizens of any country, but if there needs to be one , then why not Saudi Arabia instead of Iran? What facts support the notion that putting more travel restrictions upon the law-abiding dual citizens of Iran will make America a safer place.
It makes absolutely no logical sense to make a deal with Iran and then turn around and label the state as a country that sponsors terrorism and discriminate against dual Iranian nationals. The problem is that the deal is made with the “bad guys,” whereas the discrimination is enforced upon the “good guys” who pose no threat to the United States and their allies. The “good guys,” including myself, are willing and ready to help the United States with any type of intelligent services that we can provide to assist with their counter-terrorism efforts. Instead of labeling and discriminating against dual nationals, work with them and use them to win the war against terrorism worldwide.
Read more about the visa wavier bill at politico.com:
White House stands by what visa bill critics call discriminatory
Azadeh Tabazadeh
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December 11, 2015
Discriminatory Visa Wavier Bill Targets Iranian-Americans
Written by Azadeh Tabazadeh
The proposed Visa Wavier Bill (H. R. 158) will discriminate against Iranian-Americans and other “marked” dual-nationals
The photo shown depicts a protest in 1979 where a group of Americans were demanding that all Iranians should be deported because of the extreme acts of the newly established government of Iran—more specifically the “Islamic Republic of Iran.” The events that triggered hatred toward Iranians were the seizing of the American embassy in Tehran and taking 52 U.S. diplomats and citizens hostage for 444 days.
Is it fair or reasonable to punish the citizens of an entire nation for the extreme actions of their irrational governments or extremist groups who “uninvitedly” reside in their countries while inflicting acts of terror upon them and the rest of the world?
Although the U.S. government did not deport Iranians or Iranian-Americans in 1979 and early 1980s, it became exceedingly difficult for Iranians who had courageously fled Iran to be granted visas to enter United States.
Below see an excerpt from my memoir where I describe an act of kindness extended to my brother and me by an African-American diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Madrid. He took a chance of granting us visas to come to America in 1982 after we had fled Iran. My brother now owns a business that employs more than 500 people and I became a Ph. D Scientist. By all measures, I would say that the U.S. diplomat in Madrid made the right choice by granting us visas. There are many success stories likes ours, but politicians seem to mainly focus on a few terrorist acts and their strategies of combating them to gain sentiments and win more votes. I can only speak for Iranians, but it is a fact that no Iranian or Iranian-American has been involved in any act of terrorism outside of Iran, yet Iranians and Iranian-Americans have been singled out in the proposed Visa Wavier Bill (H. R. 158).
This Bill, it seems, is pretty much in accord with Donald Trump’s vision for America, where innocent, hard-working American citizens are profiled solely because they were born in a “wrong” country. It’s disturbing that neither Donald Trump nor the Visa Wavier Bill states the name of “the country” where most of the terrorists have indeed originated from. I will not name this country, as all of you, including the politicians, know which country in the Middle East breeds and supports terrorism the most, but for some reason this clearly known fact is something that no politician is willing to talk about or address.
Please write to your congressmen/women and senators to let them know that this Bill is anti-American and that you do not believe in discriminating against people based on their place of birth. The Bill has just passed congress and you can help by using the link below to have your voices heard.
Petition opposing the Visa Wavier Bill
Thank you for your support.
Azadeh Tabazadeh
An excerpt from my memoir: The Sky Detective (Madrid, Sept. 1982)
The next morning, we meet Sharon and Mr. Banki in front of the American embassy at four o’clock. Already, a bustling crowd of mostly Iranians is lined up behind the closed gate.
By noon, not a single Iranian has walked out of the embassy victorious, smiling, showing off his or her approval visa stamp. But Sharon keeps insisting, “Everything is fine. Trust me; you’ll get your visas in no time. Don’t worry.”
My only hope is that no other Iranian is standing alongside a persistent, attractive American chaperone. We’re next in line when a middle-aged black man in a full suit and tie flags us over to his booth. We approach and present him with our passports.
“I am very sorry, kids. I can’t grant visas to Iranians.”
His throaty voice echoes in my ears as I swallow and watch his hand reach for that infamous rejection stamp. The thought of spending even one more day in Madrid brings tears to the back of my eyes.
“Just wait. Wait a second. Hold on, please,” Sharon interrupts, and the man stops reaching for the stamp. “Come on now. I know these kids. They’re good kids, and they’ll be staying with me. All they want to do is to come to the United States for a few months to learn English. That’s all. I have signed them up to take ESL classes at a community college in Los Angeles.” She continues to talk as she hands him college registration forms.
He examines the papers, takes off his thick, black-framed glasses, leans forward on his chair, and stabs his desk with a pencil a few times. Then he glances up as I look down and collapse into tears.
“Young lady, why are you crying?” he asks, staring at me as though he can read the thoughts of despair imprinted on my forehead.
“I don’t want to live in Madrid. I don’t speak any Spanish. I don’t know how to go back to Iran. We have friends in America, but we have no one in Madrid.” I choke up and shed more tears.
“Well,” he says with a sigh, rubbing his forehead. “In that case, I will grant you a six-month student visa, but you have to promise me to leave the United States before your visas expire.”
“I’ll promise you, I mean, we—my brother, my cousin, and I—we all promise you. Thank you, sir,” I say quickly, my heart almost bursting out of my chest.
“You’re most welcome,” he says, opening each passport and punching in the approval stamp. “Now, go on, young lady. Pack your bags. Good luck to you, your brother, and your cousin.”
I look at him and smile. He sticks his thumb up in the air, and I do the same while laughing in my head: that gesture in my culture is equivalent to giving an American the middle finger.
Outside the embassy, Sharon hugs me tightly as I cry on her shoulder. “This is unbelievable, just unbelievable. I’m so happy for you all. We have to celebrate tonight,” Sharon says, her light hazel eyes sparkling like jewels in the bright sunlight.
“We can’t, Sharon. We have other plans,” Mr. Banki objects like he did last time, and we part shortly thereafter.
That night, I go to the telephone house to call home. The phone rings a few times before Baba picks up, and we exchange jubilant greetings.
“Baba, today is the best day of my life. Thank you for sending me with Jahan.”
“I have no regrets, Azadeh. You were right, and I was wrong. Have a nice journey to America. Our thoughts are with you. Good-bye, my lovely daughter.”
“Good-bye, Baba jan.” I hang up, feeling a rush of relief to have finally won Baba’s approval.
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December 1, 2015
Booklist assigns a starred rating to “The sky Detective.”
The 1979 Iranian Revolution
http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Sky-Detective-Azadeh-Tabazadeh/pid=7872413
An award-winning atmospheric scientist recounts her coming-of-age against the backdrop of the Iranian revolution in this engaging, deeply perceptive memoir. Growing up in 1970s Tehran, Tabazadeh was only eight when two unrelated life events made a lasting impact on her: first, Uncle Mahmood gave her a chemistry kit, sparking her lifelong love of science. Shortly thereafter, 11-year-old Najmieh, a village girl from northern Iran, moved in as household help. Their friendship deeply shaped Tabazadeh’s awareness of class and gender differences, eventually ending when Najmieh was shipped back to her village to be married, and Tabazadeh found herself swept up in the tidal forces of the Iranian revolution. The author recounts her resistance to sharia, the Islamic law that forces even teenagers to adopt the veil, ending her story rather abruptly as she immigrates to the U.S. at 17 and leaving one hopeful for a follow-up volume. This is a sobering, enlightening glimpse of growing up in the shadow of a revolution—a struggle that merely replaced one kind of oppression with another.
This title has been recommended for young adult readers:
YA/General Interest: This coming-of-age story will draw teen readers to this strong multicultural title. —Sarah Hunter
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The Sky Detective: Booklist Book Review (starred)
The 1979 Iranian Revolution
http://www.booklistonline.com/The-Sky-Detective-Azadeh-Tabazadeh/pid=7872413
An award-winning atmospheric scientist recounts her coming-of-age against the backdrop of the Iranian revolution in this engaging, deeply perceptive memoir. Growing up in 1970s Tehran, Tabazadeh was only eight when two unrelated life events made a lasting impact on her: first, Uncle Mahmood gave her a chemistry kit, sparking her lifelong love of science. Shortly thereafter, 11-year-old Najmieh, a village girl from northern Iran, moved in as household help. Their friendship deeply shaped Tabazadeh’s awareness of class and gender differences, eventually ending when Najmieh was shipped back to her village to be married, and Tabazadeh found herself swept up in the tidal forces of the Iranian revolution. The author recounts her resistance to sharia, the Islamic law that forces even teenagers to adopt the veil, ending her story rather abruptly as she immigrates to the U.S. at 17 and leaving one hopeful for a follow-up volume. This is a sobering, enlightening glimpse of growing up in the shadow of a revolution—a struggle that merely replaced one kind of oppression with another.
This title has been recommended for young adult readers:
YA/General Interest: This coming-of-age story will draw teen readers to this strong multicultural title. —Sarah Hunter
The post The Sky Detective: Booklist Book Review (starred) appeared first on Azadeh Tabazadeh.
November 28, 2015
An ongoing Saga: Refugees from the Middle East
Written by Azadeh Tabazadeh
An Ongoing Saga: Refugees from the Middle East
Nov 28, 2015
If you really want to know how innocent families fall victim to retaliating wars and bombings in the Middle East read my story. My family and I had the means to flee Iran 33 years ago in the midst of a raging war and political chaos, but the majority of Iranians, Afghanis, Iraqis and now Syrians don’t have the resources to get out.
In the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution in Iran only Spain would allow Iranians to enter without a visa. My family and I fled Iran in 1982 and sought refugee in Spain before winning visas to come to the United States. Frankly, I don’t know what would have happened to my family and me and thousands of Iranians in the early 1980s if all countries would have shut their doors on us. Today, I would say that we have blended well into the American melting pot. I became a Ph. D scientist, and my family now owns a business that employees over 500 people, making a positive contribution to the US economy.
Helping refugees and educating them is the best longterm solution to end the reign of terror in the Middle East.
Have mercy on Syrian refugees!
Azadeh Tabazadeh
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