>>>
To go back to the HOME page and the Directory,
click HERE.
*********
NOTE: Letters of introduction and support--and some background--below
*********
History of Moji Agha's Talks at various Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregations in the U.S. (2013 to 2023--including at Standing Rock)
2023
Santa Fe, NM
UU Congregation of Santa Fe -- Apr. 14, 2023
Las Cruces, NM
UU Church of Las Cruces -- Apr. 13, 2023
https://www.uuchurchlc.org/
2016
Idaho Falls, ID
UU Church in Idaho Falls -- Dec. 21, 2016 (via Zoom)
Casper, WY
UU Community of Casper -- Dec. 20, 2016
Rapid City, SD
Black Hills UU Fellowship -- Dec. 19, 2016
Sioux Falls, SD
All Souls UU Church -- Dec. 17, 2016
https://sfuu.org/downloads/
Presentations at the Standing Rock (Co-organized by the UU in Bismarck)
Bismarck, ND
Moji Agha's talk at the Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist Congregation -- Dec. 13, 2016
Huffington Post Special Report -- Published Tues. Dec. 6, 2016
Something Extraordinary Happened At Standing Rock
Huff. Post Coverage of the Dec. 4, 2016 Interfaith Leaders Prayer Ceremony at the Sacred/Central Fire of the Standing Rock's Oceti Sakowin Camp (below--organized by the UU in Bismarck)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Bismarck, ND -- Mon. Nov. 28, 2016 (Moji Agha's brief talk)
Community Forum on Standing Rock at the Public Library
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Bismarck, ND
A Radio Report -- Mon. Nov. 14, 2016 -- A Prairie Public Broadcasting news coverage about the Standing Rock uprising, in Bismarck, North Dakota (reported by Dave Thompson) entitled: A Prayer Service for Dakota Access Protestors >>> The Bismarck Unitarian Universalist congregation hosted a prayer service Sunday (Nov. 13) with those protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline South of Mandan--Among the ones interviewed in this prayer service is Moji Agha.
2015
Glendale, Arizona (West of Phoenix) Sunday. April 5, 2015
Moji Agha's Easter "Un-Sermon" (entitled: There is NO "Other")
Unitarian Universalist Church in Glendale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
2014
Santa Fe, NM
UU Congregation of Santa Fe
Meeting of the Circle of Nonviolence of Santa Fe County
Part 1: Nov. 23 ** Part 2: Dec. 7, 2014
Las Vegas, NV
UU Congregation of Las Vegas -- Feb. 1, 2014
2013
Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque UU Fellowship -- Dec. 29, 2013
Beaumont, TX
Spindletop UU Church -- Nov. 13, 2013
Midland, TX
UU Church of Midland -- Oct. 19, 2013
Alamogordo, NM
UU Fellowship of Otero County -- Oct. 5, 2013
Colorado Springs, CO
High Plains Unitarian Universalist Church -- Sept. 5, 2013
Denver, CO
First Unitarian Society of Denver Sept. 3, 2013
-----------
Boulder, CO
Quaker/Friends Meeting House (Co-presentation with Moji Agha and David Barsamian)
Aug. 30, 2013
-----------
A History of about a dozen UU (and related) letters of
introduction and support for brother Moji's speaking
tours (2013 to 2024)
Christmas Eve / Dec. 24, 2023
Tonight I enjoyed the beautiful [Bellingham, Washington State, UU] Christmas Eve service online [on Zoom], as I’ve been laid low by one of the current major bugs and have no wish to share it.
There I met a visitor from Colorado, Moji Agha, who, in a few months, plans to move to our area.
He sang us an Iranian version of Silent Night and talked to us (after the service) about his peace and justice work, specifically with UU organizations, but also with other persons and organizations who are interested in developing “A Chamber of Compassion” -- basically a [systemically collaborative] network of peace and justice interested parties.
One of his interests is to assist in the development of Peace and Reconciliation processes with First Nations People. Another is to de-stigmatize the Western perception of Iranians and Muslims. He himself is a Sufi Muslim. He works hard to find opportunities to speak on this subject and I commend him to you, if you have not already connected.
I know this is just a small part of who Moji is and does. Here is some information he passed on in the Zoom chat:
Hi fellow UUers in Bellingham Washington. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
On Christmas Eve, 2015, I wrote Persian lyrics (an Iran peace song) on the melody of Silent Night. I am going to be moving to your neck of the woods in May of 2024.
In part because of my Peace And Truth Heals (PATH: https://natr-peace.
Please contact me if you find PATH of interest. Thank you.
Peace and justice, Moji Agha >>> moji.agha@gmail.com.
Moji -- I have included in this email our minister, our choir director (who has had connections with the Muslim community here) and our staff administrator, who is new on the job. It was good to meet you.
Peace be with you,
Barbara
-----------------------------
Early October 2023
Hello Fellow UU Congregations.
We are excited to write to you about a Sufi "monk" (or dervish) peace activist, namely brother Moji Agha, whose multi-state peace-building 2024 speaking tour entitled: Iranian Nonviolence, Native/American Truth and Reconciliation, Intersectional Circles will commence at the Sanctuary of our UU, here in Grand Junction, Colorado,
This is the link to preliminary simple web page of this in-development speaking tour, and it summarizes brother Moji Agha's intended destinations, as well as providing some related additional information and context: https://natr-peace.blogspot.
We are proud to be the initial "physical" UU host of this exciting civility-nurturing educational tour--and therefore, we warmly invite your congregation (and especially your UU's "social justice" component) to join us in fostering this critically needed civil society effort, in one of the following two ways:
a) As a "physical" host UU, if your location is on the path of brother Moji's traveling speaking tour; or
b) As a "live-stream" Zoom co-host, if you are in other parts of the country -- please see the link, above, for more "Zoom Twin" information.
Please note that brother Moji does not require any payments for himself, given his vow of service and poverty as a dervish.
If you (or someone from your UU's social justice component) might be interested in this wonderful project, please let me know, and I'll happily put you in touch with him--or he can be emailed directly at moji.agha@gmail.com.
And finally, some biographical information about brother Moji:
The following three links will begin to give you a sense of his background and decades-long activism:
- Easter of 2015 "Un-Sermon" (entitled "There is NO Other") by Moji Agha, at the Glendale (AZ) UU church--35 min. video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
- The link to one of the projects Moji Agha has founded, namely Peace in the Middle: https://iranpeacemiddle.
Best regards,
Maya
--
Maya Kraushaar
She/Her/Hers
Director of Programming and Community Outreach
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley (UUCGV)
536 Ouray Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81501
(970) 257-0772 *** programs@grandvalleyuu.org
www.grandvalleyuu.org
***********************************************
UU & RELATED LETTERS OF SUPPORT / BACKGROUND
(2013 to 2015)
***********************************************
2015
I encourage you and your congregation/community to converse with Moji who embraces many UU-spirited values and actions about the possibilities.
May of 2013, brother Moji has been travelling the U.S. creating Circles of Nonviolence and Collaboration, beginning mainly in the western U.S.
http://
http://
Valerie Lynch, Social Action Chair
West Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Glendale, Arizona
**********************************************************
2014
From: Moji Agha <moji.agha@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 3:32 PM
Subject: For Rev. McTigue...To UUA: Nonviolence Circles InitiativeSeptember 4, 2014Dear Rev. Kathleen McTigue [Director, Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice], Greetings in peace, justice, and sustainability.Especially given your "integrated" passion for social justice in a wide and interfaith context, I was guided to contact you directly by one of the endorsers of the below-described initiative, Rev. Ian Riddell, Minister of the UU Congregation of Las Vegas, Nevada.Per the phone message I just left for you about an hour ago, it is my understanding that an earlier version of this email was CCed to you (sent to socialjustice@uua.org)about 2-3 weeks ago, but I am not sure you have seen it. The reason is that the author of the Introduction/Cover Letter (below), namely Ms. Sally-Alice Thompson (the “peace mom” of Albuquerque), is a wonderful 90-year-old peace and justice activist (also a delightful "Raging Granny") who is "not exactly familiar with computers." I hope that we would have your guidance and assistance in the pursuit of this project (I am ready to resume the speaking tour ASAP, now that my back is pain-free after the surgery), so I look forward to hearing from you--and please feel free to share this e-mail with all relevant persons and departments.Thank you.Blessings,Moji Agha-----------------Here are (self-explanatory) support letters re theSocratic Integration/Nonviolence Circles initiative:
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA
From: Steve Randall
Date: Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 9:29 AM
Subject: RE: To UUA: Support Letter for Nonviolence Circles Initiative
To: Mossadegh Institute <mossadegh.legacy.institute@gmail.com>
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this endorsement for the Socratic Integration and the work that Brother Moji Agha has undertaken, initiating and promoting the Circles of American Nonviolence. Peace and understanding among all peoples is so important and necessary, and no more so than between the so-called Christian West and the Islamic East. It has to start somewhere and Brother Moji has taken this important and overwhelming task upon himself. He needs all the support he can get.
I first met Brother Moji when he brought his tour to Flagstaff, Arizona on March 17th of this year. I found him to be delightful and loving. I was honored to assist him during his presentation and Q & A afterwards. His message was a real eye opener in that he brought up some truths of history that the Western media either chose to ignore or purposely hid from us. During this tour Brother Moji was suffering from extreme back pain which eventually required him to curtail his activities and submit to surgery. But he is not one to give up and he is now fully recovered and ready to get back on the road.
Like so many great movements the Circles of American Non-violence is starting out small. But it is starting out with a consciousness of Love, and as I already mentioned, with a goal of Peace and Understanding. I believe it is so important to bring this message of Peace and Understanding to the “common people”, who can then insist that this movement be noticed and heeded by those in power. Bombs and hateful rhetoric are not the answer!
As technology continues to make our world smaller and smaller it is imperative that we learn to celebrate and honor our diversity, not to destroy one another. Let’s face it, there are no boundaries when it comes to armament. Let’s work together to break down the boundaries of understanding instead.
I urge you to support Brother Moji in his work through hosting him on his tour, financial support and of course joining him in consciousness and in spreading the word. The time is now. As we recognize the inter-connectedness of all peoples and the Oneness that we truly are we must also recognize the right that we all have to live in Peace and Understanding.
Respectfully,
Steve Randall, RScP
Flagstaff, AZ
---------------------
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
From: Guthrie Miller
Date: Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 3:27 PM
Subject: Support Letter for the Unitarian Universalist Socratic Integration/Nonviolence Circles Initiative
To: socialjustice@uua.orgDear Unitarian-Universalist Association,
I am writing this email to urge you to support the Socratic Integration Initiative being presented to the Social Justice/Multicultural Growth and Witness Team of the Unitarian-Universalist Association, which will greatly facilitate Moji Agha in bringing these ideas to UU congregations around the country.I met Moji when he came to Santa Fe to give a presentation of his ideas including the Socratic-Integration Circles of Nonviolence. I recognized an original, forward thinker and someone guided by spiritual principles. For me--inspired by, and involved in, the Santa Fe Occupy Movement--Moji's Circles of Nonviolence seem a next step in the forward direction . They preserve the ideas of non hierarchy, while the Socratic Integration approach would seem a way to counter the difficulties of non-hierarchical, consensus-based organizations.The members of the Circles represent ideas that they do not have a passionate attachment to (ideally, representing other's ideas, or making every effort to be non attached) continually asking the question, in the Socratic manner, "How can what we do together have cumulative (integral-cumulative) impact in the direction we all wish to move?"
Moji is dedicating his life to this cause, and I for one am very grateful and wish to support him in any way I can. I hope you will do the same.
Thank you for the activities you support,
Guthrie Miller PhD.
http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Guthrie_Miller Initial facilitator for America for Nonviolence Circle of Santa Fe County, New Mexico (ANV-CSFCNM)
--------------------
AMARILLO, TEXAS
From: Cletus Stein
Date: Sun, Aug 24, 2014 at 4:55 PM
Subject: RE: To UUA: Support Letter for Nonviolence Circles Initiative
To: Mossadegh Institute <mossadegh.legacy.institute@
Dear Social Justice Team at the UUA,
I am the president of the Peace Farm of Amarillo, TX. You can find us on the web at peacefarm.us. I support the work of Moji Agha and the nonviolent circles he is creating around the nation. I heard his talk and visited with him while he was in Amarillo. I think any one or group who can support his work would be of great benefit to the world and the violence that seems to be escalating in it. There is a growing group dedicated to nonviolence in Amarillo, and we plan to be part of the national actions on and after Sept. 21 concerning war and global warming.
Thank you for any help you can give.
Sincerely,
Cletus G. Stein
*****
From: Sethian Lubbock
Date: Sat, Aug 23, 2014 at 8:54 AM
Subject: Support Letter for the Socratic Integration/Nonviolence Circles Initiative
To: "socialjustice@uua.org" <socialjustice@uua.org>Dear Social Justice Team at the UUA,Greetings. I am the Presiding Bishop of the Progressive Episcopal Church and the Minister General of Societas Christi. I am writing this letter to fully support the draft proposal to the Unitarian Universalist Association, of the “Socratic Integration / Nonviolence Circles Initiative,” which I understand has already been introduced to you through the letter by Ms. Sally – Alice Thompson (the “peace mom” of Albuquerque); please see the attachments to this email.I had the opportunity to see Moji Agha’s presentation, when he brought the nonviolence tour to Lubbock, Texas – please see: http://mossadeghlegacyinstitute. blogspot.com/p/mossadegh- awareness-tour.html. And later on “brother Moji” asked me to be an “interfaith advisor” to the “America for Nonviolence Circle of Lubbock County” which was born that evening – Thursday, October 17, 2013; and I was happy to accept such a role (within my limitations, especially regarding time), in part because Prof. Noam Chomsky is the lead honorary endorser of the mother project of the proposed initiative. While I am in full support of brother Moji’s current work, the Progressive Episcopal Church is relatively small and cannot be an effective ally of brother Moji’s speaking tour. I encourage you to support this work in whatever way you can.Sincerely,Bishop Mansell C. GilmorePresiding BishopProgressive Episcopal Church"You cannot transcend what you do not know. To go beyond yourself, you must know yourself." ~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Rt. Rev. Mansell C. Gilmore-------------------
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
Introduction/Cover Letter AttachmentDate: August 11, 2014
To: UUA's Social Justice / Multicultural Growth and Witness Team
From: Sally-Alice Thompson
RE: Suggesting a Proposed Project: The “Socratic Integration” (SI) Initiative
NOTE:
This e-mail is composed of 3 attachments: Introduction Letter, More Info, and Sample Flyer
Dear Social Justice/Multicultural Growth and Witness Team at the Unitarian Universalist Association,
Greetings in peace and justice. Endorsed by the undersigned UU Ministers and fellowship leaders, I am writing this letter of introduction (containing the outline of the suggested project--in summary) to open a dialogue with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), with the purpose of proposing (and hopefully initiating) a needed and timely undertaking, which we believe fits most naturally within the horizons of the UUA's Social Justice / Multicultural Growth and Witness component/ministry, perhaps in conjunction with its College of Social Justice. What we, the undersigned, have in common is that our UU congregations/fellowships hosted the speaking tour (see below and the attachments) that brought to our attention the effort (and the concept) underlying the herein proposed “Socratic Integration” Initiative.
As to why I was asked to introduce this project to you, I am a 90-year-old (still active) “Raging Grannie” peace and justice activist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A member of the Albuquerque Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, I have been a Charter Member of the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice. I was among the marchers who walked across the country in the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament in 1986, and I am pleased to be the “Honorary Chair” of the below-referenced America for Nonviolence Circle of the Albuquerque Area.
INTRODUCTION: As outlined herein (and in the attachments) the proposed undertaking [whose mother project has been endorsed by Prof. Noam Chomsky, among many distinguished others] is preliminarily called (by Moji Agha, its founder) the “Socratic Integration” (SI) initiative. Practiced within the below-described “Circles of American Nonviolence,” this “Socratic” kind of “integration” attempts to address (using a co-exploratory method of “Socratic questioning,” meant to lead to co-creative collaboration, eventually causing “cumulative impact”) what we believe, in agreement with Moji, to be perhaps the central element missing from the overall picture of our civil society's ability to produce (within this country's peace, justice, environmental, and interfaith dialogue movements) synergistic and sustainable change for the better, so human civilization and life may continue to have a real chance on our deeply distressed planet.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE / CONTEXT:
We hope that the herein proposed “Socratic Integration” (SI) initiative would become, as appropriate and possible, a project of (or be adopted/supported by) the UUA's Social Justice / Multicultural Growth and Witness component/ministry, perhaps in conjunction with its Social Justice College; so that this urgently needed work can get back under way (beyond its present seedling stage) as soon as possible. In other words, this “Socratic Integration” is the essence of the facilitation process for which the “Circles of Nonviolence” component of the “America for Nonviolence” (ANV) initiative has been formed—and so far 45 such Circles have been initiated (from July 2013 to Mid-March 2014), currently in their very early infancy, with the goal of starting 1,000 Nonviolence Circles before the below-described speaking tour concludes. In turn, the ANV itself is an independently functioning initiative started (but not run by) the Mossadegh Legacy Institute (MLI), whose organizational mother (tax-exempt fiscal agent) is an Arizona-registered non-profit, called the Universal Coalition for Interfaith and Intercultural Knowledge and Action (UCIIKA), also founded by Moji Agha.
METHODOLOGY OF ACTION:
As outlined in the attachments to this cover letter, the basic action/method that brought the awareness of this project (and concept) to our UU congregations or fellowships (and to many other “awareness centers,” including the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice) has been a lecture presentation (and Q & A) tour, whereby Moji Agha [an Iranian-American Sufi “monk” who has been analogized by many to the late Mildred Lisette Norman, the mystic “Peace Pilgrim”] started to drive around the country (in May of 2013) going town to town--so far in the West and Texas--in his “still running” 1997 car.
On this journey Moji has been (for many--especially in the more rural areas of this country) the “first Muslim man” (especially from the so-called “enemy” country of Iran) whom they have ever seen, heard, touched (and hosted) face-to-face, who (contrary to their stereotype-informed expectations) happens to advocate peace and (most specially) “Islamic” nonviolence. Hence, I do not believe I need to even begin to emphasize the “interfaith and intercultural” value of this badly needed “humanization” effort, especially at this critical time in human history on our deeply imperiled Mother Earth. And this is only one of the reasons we are bringing the herein proposed “Socratic Integration” (SI) initiative to the attention of the Unitarian Universalist Association, hopefully to begin an “urgent” dialogue, to explore how we “UUers” could collaborate with and adopt/support this “civility-nurturing” project.
In the attachments to this letter, please find more information, including Moji Agha's bio and contact information, and the flyer (as a sample) for the presentation of the tour (earlier this year) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas, Nevada. And while I would welcome your contact, for the purpose “formally” responding to this draft proposal, please contact our UU fellowship's Board President, David Dawn, at this email: aeba38@yahoo.com.
Moji Agha's contact information: E-mail: moji.agha@gmail.com
Thank you, in peace and justice,
Sally-Alice Thompson, Member, Albuquerque Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
ENDOSERS
Listed in reverse chronological order of (some of) the brother Moji's tour presentations:
Rev. Ian Riddell, Minister; UU Congregation of Las Vegas, NV
Date of Presentation: Saturday, February 1, 2014 (6:30 to 8:30 PM)
*****
David Dawn, Fellowship Board President; Albuquerque (NM) UU Fellowship
Date of Presentation: Sunday, December 29, 2013 (11:00 AM to 12:30 PM)*****
Lynn Delage, Master of Sunday Services; Spindletop UU Church, Beaumont, TX
Date of Presentation: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 (7:00 to 9:00 PM)
*****
Rev. Thomas Schmidt, Pastor; UU Church of Midland, TX
Date of Presentation: Saturday, October 19, 2013 – 6:30 to 8:30 PM
*****
Jennifer Fultz, Fellowship Chair/VP; UU Fellowship of Otero County, Alamogordo, NM
Date of Presentation: Saturday, October 5, 2013 (2:00 to 4:00 PM)
*****
Rev. Beatrice Hitchcock [Previously served as Interim Minister when the tour came to town/church]
High Plains Unitarian Universalist Church, Colorado Springs, CO
Date of Presentation: Thursday, September 5, 2013 (7:00 to 9:00 PM)
******************************
2013
Date: Sun, Jun 2, 2013 at 7:01 PM
Subject: Methodist Federation of Social Action MFSA) Introduction Letter
To: MFSA CHLDRSHP <mfsa-chapter-leadership@
Cc: moji.agha@gmail.com <moji.agha@gmail.com>
Hello to all MFSA Chapter Leaders from Oregon-Idaho Chapter,
I am passing along information that you may wish to follow below about a unique opportunity for those with interest in peace, particularly as it relates to our country and Iran. I have spent some time with Moji Agha and pass along my highest personal recommendation on his behalf.
Moji is in his mid-50's, born in Iran but has lived in the U.S. the past 35 years and holds dual citizenship in both countries. He has worked as a cultural psychologist, poet, essayist, lecturer, climate activist and peace activist. He is highly educated, articulate, authentic, and was at one time highly paid though he has chosen relative poverty as he dedicates himself to the work of peace.
His current project for peace is his nation-wide tour promoting the Mossadegh Legacy Institute which he has founded in Philadelphia, Pa. For those unfamiliar with this project, Mohammed Mossadegh was the democratically elected leader of Iran and a proponent/practitioner of non-violence along the lines of King and Gandhi. He was overthrown in 1953 by our CIA and replaced with the tyrannical Shah of Iran who was himself overthrown by the people's revolution in 1979 that ushered in the brutal theocracy which still rules to this day.
It is Moji's belief and now life's work to promote peace through non-violence after the legacy of Dr. Mossadegh. He does not ask for your money or any assistance other than an openness for conversation and education toward reconciliation among two great peoples. Please feel free to contact him directly if you would like to arrange for him to appear in your area. It does help him if accommodations can be provided in a local home, mosque, church, etc. Moji is of the Sufi Muslim faith but recognizes the oneness of God and welcomes participation in Christian Eucharist. His schedule is included as an attachment to one of the emails below for your perusal.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of Moji's work and for the great work that all of our MFSA Chapters do on behalf of peace and justice through social action.
Blessings & peace,
Dave Bean, President
OR-ID Chapter MFSA
Pastor, Cherry Park UMC
Portland, OR.
Thank you for this information, Moji! It was a great pleasure chatting with you yesterday and I look forward to June 12-13 when you return to Portland and the Peace House. May your journey continue safely, successfully, and productively! Later this week I will make contact with others who may be able to help along the way.
Blessings & peace,Dave
To: Wes Howard Brook -- Author of "Come out my People"On Mon, May 27, 2013 at 8:55 PM, John Schwiebert <john@tearsoup.com>wrote: Dear Wes,This coup, which few Americans today know about, threw Iran and that region irretrievably off the path to democracy, and the memory of that intervention by the U.S., still deeply traumatizes U.S.-Iranian relations to this day, affecting the entire Middle East.
I am writing to introduce to you Moji Agha, who has been our recent guest here at the 18th Ave Peace House. I have told him about you and have urged him to contact you because I believe that you, he and I share common interests as we continue in the struggle against violence and injustice in America and across the globe.
Moji is an Iranian-American cultural psychologist/poet/essayistand a human rights/peace activist. Moji has founded many organizations and projects, including the International Institute to Study Climate Change in the Islamic World, as well as the Universal Coalition for Interfaith and Intercultural Knowledge and Action.
In part due to his Sufi perspective on the oneness of all beings, Moji seeks a "wisely humble" nonviolent global struggle against injustice, war, and ecocide.
He is currently touring the United States on behalf of the Mossadegh Legacy Institute which he recently founded—an organization-in-formation with Professor Noam Chomsky as its honorary chairman. The Institute is dedicated to U.S.-Iranian understanding and reconciliation by reawakening an interest in the "Gandhi" of Iran, the former democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran who was overthrown in a CIA-led coup in 1953.
I told Moji about your life and work and about “Come Out, My People.” He immediately connected with your understanding of the two religions which he also experiences within Islam!
Moji offers a convincing argument that only by understanding "what might have been" under Dr. Mossadegh and the nonviolent movement he led, may the U.S. and Iran find a "middle" path between an Iran under foreign domination (as under the U.S.-imposed Shah) and an Iran under totalitarian extremism (as under radical Islamist clerics today)--the only path that can lead to real peace.
Moji is leaving Portland tomorrow (Tuesday) to spend some time in the Seattle area. If he is able to connect with you, I hope that you will find it well worth your time to visit with him.
Peace to you and Sue!
John SchwiebertJohn T Schwiebert
PS Moji will be speaking a Portland gathering here at the Peace House on Thursday, June 13 at 7:00 PM. In his talk, sponsored by Veterans for Peace and other local peace and justice groups, Moji will review the life, career and legacy of Dr. Mossadegh; the unfortunate long-term breakdown in U.S.-Iranian relations that resulted; and how the CIA is back to its old tricks in Iran with drone overflights and covert operations. The basic theme of the tour is one of caution and hope: that with an understanding of history, and genuine efforts at reconciliation, the cycle of extremism and tyranny need not be repeated for another 60 years. Moji’s talk is titled, “Mossadegh Awareness Begets Sanity in Foreign Policy.”
18th Ave Peace House
john@tearsoup.com
****************************
The "More Info" Attachment:
NOTE: What you find below has been directly pasted from the initial segment (i.e., the "two page" brochure) of this Internet page: http://
mossadeghlegacyinstitute. blogspot.com/p/about.html
------------------------------
-----------------------------
Background
------------------------------
------------------------------
About the "CIRCLES OF NONVIOLENCE" Tour
AN IRANIAN-AMERICAN SUFI MONK'S "WE THE PEOPLE" JOURNEY OF PEACE AND DIALOGUE IN AMERICA [ Please see: http://
mossadeghlegacyinstitute. blogspot.com/p/mossadegh- awareness-tour.html ]
SPECIAL NOTE: Mossadegh Legacy Institute (MLI) is extremely proud to announce that Prof. Noam Chomsky ("the world's top public intellectual") has given us the profound honor of acting as the “Honorary Chair” of the MLI's Board of Endorsers (please see our website's HOME and WHO WE ARE pages), AND he has also kindly signed our "historic" petition (at signature number 19) calling for a Special Nobel Peace Prize for Gandhi and Mossadegh; Please see: http://
mossadeghlegacyinstitute. blogspot.com/p/nobel-prize. html
MOSSADEGH AWARENESS BEGETS CIRCLES OF AMERICAN NONVIOLENCE TOUR
This on-going 2013-2015 (or 2016?) tour of the U.S. has been mounted in part to celebrate the nonviolent legacy of the beloved democratically-elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh--the "Gandhi of Iran."
Moji Agha is the Sufi monk who has started this speaking tour (as he drives around the country in his “still running” 1997 car) providing his American “brothers and sisters” with fresh insights about the still unfolding consequences of the CIA's “successful” 1953 covert coup that threw Iran (and the Middle East) off the indigenous path to nonviolent democracy, and profoundly destabilized the region to this day.
In each gathering of the “Mossadegh Awareness Begets American Nonviolence” tour, Moji and (the occasional) other speakers lead a dialogue about: a) Dr. Mossadegh's life and legacy; b) The paralysis of relations between the U.S. and Iran--affecting the region and beyond--directly and indirectly resulting from that awful coup; which solidified destructively the on-going mutual inter-dependence of “external colonialism” and “internal despotism” – in Dr. Mossadegh's memorable words; and c) How "WE THE PEOPLE” can be empowered to cause WISDOM in foreign and domestic policy, in part by engaging in our own indigenous "Circles of Nonviolence" movement.
SUMMARY Mission Statement for "America for Nonviolence" (ANV) Initiative
OUR GOAL: To do what we can (while we can) empower the American civil society toward having “integra-cumulative" impact, so that human civilization and life may have a chance on our deeply wounded Mother Earth.
A non-partisan, facilitative, and horizontal META-organization, the America for Nonviolence (ANV) is NOT yet another initiative to add to (and unintentionally compete with) the already existing peace, justice, interfaith-dialogue, and environmental groups within the American civil society. Rather, the ANV is a MOVEMENT-BUILDING SYNERGISTIC initiative, started but not run by the Mossadegh Legacy Institute—MLI.
Our ethically informed core AND ONLY mission is to facilitate effectively the "indigenous" co-creation of a comprehensive grid of "circles of American nonviolence," eventually integrated across the whole of the U.S. We the People will tackle this profoundly challenging task non-ideologically, democratically, systematically, inter-faithfully, and inter-culturally--or in other words "integra-cumulatively." This grass roots co-empowering integration process is impact-focused. It will try to integrate (not "unify" -- see below) the inevitably and invaluably diverse (but currently un-integrated) nonviolent actions and efforts of our "divided and conquered" American civil society.
The heart of this integration process is retaining, and indeed cherishing (by definition), the unique and needed roles of all participating actors (persons or organizations) within the civil society, while facilitating an effective process of "indigenous" mutual co-empowerment among them--aiming to result in synergistic impact. We believe that this ethically-informed diversity-minded nonviolent "post-modern" form of co-strengthening integration of action (in contrast with "unification" of mission or identity) is profoundly needed at this point in our history.
WHY? Because "we the people" are struggling against militarism/violence, injustice/inequality, and nature abuse/ecocide; and we recognize that this historic challenge is a critical (initially) American nonviolent movement for real and sustainable change, toward restoring a Mother Earth on which all potentials of life, in nurtured synergy, balance, and justice, would flourish sustainably in the peaceful bosom of true wisdom.
FOR FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Google the phrase: “Mossadegh Legacy Institute,” and then from the menu go to the “America for Nonviolence” page: http://
mossadeghlegacyinstitute. blogspot.com/p/america-for- nonviolence-anv.html
About the Mossadegh Legacy Institute
Founded in November 2012 by Moji Agha, the Mossadegh Legacy Institute (MLI) is a non-profit American initiative dedicated to building global nonviolence and reconciliation, by awakening an “integrated” interest in the life and legacy of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh--the "Gandhi of Iran."
Only by understanding "what might have been" under the (“communitarian self-reliance”) democratic and pluralistic government of Prime Minister Mossadegh, overthrown by the CIA's 1953 coup [in the first of many traumatizing and destabilizing “colonial” interventions and wars in the past 60+ years] would the people of the U.S. and Iran be empowered to beget a middle road to peace and REAL democracy (in both countries) to an enchanted land of nonviolent common ground, instead of Iran (and the Middle East) being placed either under the corporate-controlled foreign domination of brutal and corrupt "colonially” imposed dictators, or under the despotic rule of the so-called “radical” clerics (who defame authentic Islam) found today.
About Moji Agha
Founder of the Mossadegh Legacy Institute (MLI), Moji Agha, a.k.a. Mojtaba Aghamohammadi, is an Iranian-American Sufi monk, bilingual poet and essay-writer (and author of a book on how to quit smoking naturally) with extensive education and experience in cultural psychology and conflict resolution. He has been a peace, justice, human rights, and Mother Earth activist for over 3 decades.
Moji has founded many non-profit organizations and projects, including the International Institute to Study Climate Change in the Islamic World and the Universal Coalition for Interfaith and Intercultural Knowledge and Action—whose active project, the “Simple Peace Vigil” (see Mossadegh Legacy Institute's Home page for more info) is an around the clock vigil--so far being observed by over 13,000 vigilers around the world--symbolically integrating the causes of peace, justice, and Earth-protection; and Sunday, March 2nd, 2014 marked the Day 4,000 of this on-going “green leaf in a glass of water” simple vigil of profound awareness.
Moji has also made integrated contributions to the “Move to Amend” and “Occupy” Movements in the U.S., and he has been active in the non-violent Iranian “reform” and “green movement” struggles for democracy, justice, moderation, and civil spirituality, in part due to his Sufi sensibility of naturally understanding the oneness of all beings. He has a unique psycho-culturally informed view on how we can (and should) embrace and nurture an “Integrated” nonviolent movement against violence, injustice, and ecocide—the perspective that has compelled him to initiate the "Circles of American Nonviolence" project.
----------------
For more info/context, please see this 7-minute video clip, which includes Moji Agha's mini-bio: http://www.
texansunitedtoamend.org/moji- agha-mossadegh-nonviolence- tour.html ******************************
****************************** **************************** The "Sample Flyer" Attachment:
SAMPLE FLYER FOR THE TOUR
Mossadegh Awareness Begets American Nonviolence Tour
A Sufi Monk / Poet's “Pilgrimage of Peace” – Also for
PEACEFUL DIALOGUE WITH IRAN, NOT SANCTIONS, NOT WAR!
A Special Peace Gathering in Las Vegas, NV
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas (UUCLV) & America for Nonviolence invite you/all to: UUCLV, 3616 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89115
ON
Saturday, February 1, 2014 (6:30 to 8:30 PM)
Come and learn about the the "Gandhi" and "George Washington” of Iran, whose legacy is producing “CIRCLES OF NONVIOLENCE” in the US!
A national lecture tour promoting integrated (especially American) nonviolence;
Organized by the Mossadegh Legacy Institute (MLI), a non-profit initiative advocating indigenous “We the People” DIALOGUE for PEACE—and not just with Iran!
SPEAKER: Moji Agha, Founder, MLI: http://
mossadeghlegacyinstitute. blogspot.com/ Q & A and Dialogue
MLI'S ENDORSERS: Noam Chomsky, David Barsamian, Richard Falk,
Ervand Abrahamian, Stephen Kinzer, David Swanson, Cindy Sheehan, Tariq Ali, and...
An Educational Forum and a Benefit for the MLI, Peace, and Democracy
Free Admission: Tax-exempt free-will donations appreciated
Come and hear about the vision and mission of the Mossadegh Legacy Institute (MLI) to create a world that nurtures the nonviolent virtues and values of the “Gandhi of Iran,” not only for his beloved Iran, but for the global community on our distressed Mother Earth.
The MLI is a relatively new non-profit organization, inspired by the historic legacy of the late Iranian Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh, overthrown 60 years ago in the CIA’s 1953 coup, in an act of “insanity” In foreign (or domestic) policy—and not just for the U.S.
Host/Co-Sponsors: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas; MLI's America for Nonviolence Initiative; Universal Coalition for Interfaith & Intercultural Knowledge & Action
No comments:
Post a Comment