Bahereh's Writings  2006

______________

“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens”

“I Wish to be a

Root        Less

HEART    izen”

 

I love the roots that I come from, my roots are deep rooted in the land of Persia,
in my beloved country of Iran; yet I consider myself, Root Less.

Who Am I?

Am I an Iranian/ a Persian?

Am I an American?

Am I an Iranian American?

 

In Summer 1979, I came to America with a student visa. So I was considered
 simply a foreigner.

A few years later, I became a permanent resident of the USA, and I obtained
my Green Card based on Religious Asylum.

So, who am I now?! Am I simply an Alien? I mean a Legal Alien with a card
to prove it! A card that is called: a Green Card, but oddly enough it is not even
Green!

Am I an Alien? Or am I a Rootless Alien?

Why are you called an Alien? Isn’t it that you are considered Root Less in your
 new land?!

However, I am always 1^st an Iranian in my heart; but I must admit that I am
 grateful for the positive experiences I have had here, too. I think of myself more
of an Iranian-American. So, my country is the land of the HEARTS.

 

As a HEARTizen (I wish to be one!), anywhere life beckons me, is HOME. Yet,
I cannot deny my special love for where I was born and raised, IRAN/ PERSIA.
 Usually when I say “my country”, I mean Iran, but I do consider my host
country of the United States of America as my 2nd HOME!

 

Have I ever had Roots?

Perhaps I did, whatever was holding me up was considered my Roots!

But were there really my Roots, or were there the roots of my beloved parents
that so lovingly were holding my branches up?

Whatever they were, today I don’t care where I live, and I don’t know where is
 the right place for me to live!

Perhaps I have acquired so much Roots that I have become Rootless!

I can live anywhere today, and I proudly consider myself a Citizen of the
HEART! Therefore I declare to be A Rootless Alien HEARTizen!

I can adapt to many situation just because I have learned to carry my roots
in my HEART! These are the roots that keep on adding, and keep on flowering
 because I have known many friends along the way! Because I always remember
that the true part of the Culture, NEVER dies. The Arts, and the Literature will exist
forever! The Love Songs will never cease to exist, no matter what! And that is what I
have known all along.

 

I CELEBRATE LIFE, and

I feel blessed! Although I am Root Less,

I can’t believe I just said that word again!

Not that I don’t believe in it,

Rather afraid that that people might think that

 I mean Rootless!

You see the difference is in being Root Less as opposed to being Rootless!

 

However, I can take pride in being Root Less,

Or may be not taking Pride, rather in being comfortable in being Root Less,

Meaning that I feel like the kind of a plant or a tree that can be easily
 transplanted  in a new land, in a new soil, in its next home if you wish!

I am not only a Persian/ Iranian offspring; I am a Human/ HuWoman being!

I am, or better to say, I wish to be a Root Less HEART izen!

 

Do I have Roots?,

Of course I do!

But are they My Roots?

Are they the Roots of my parents that have always held my branches? Are they
 your roots? Are they American Roots?

Are they Persian Roots? Are they… Roots?

Does not matter?

Because no matter what? I have roots! I have acquired some roots over the
 years that I call them the Roots of Humanity or in my case HuWomanity!:-)

Are they HEART Roots?

That is all that matter to me,

To have so much roots that one can become Root Less,

But not any Root Less, rather a HEARTizen Root Less!

______________