Tag: College

I’m a Proud Iranian-American, but Not Proud of America at this Moment by Rose

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Given the social climate that President Trump is creating here in the U.S., particularly his decisions regarding immigrants, blogger Rose’s no-holds-barred opinions are just the sort of voice we all need to hear…

Rose overlooking the beautiful city of Shiraz after a morning hike with her family.
Rose overlooking the beautiful city of Shiraz after a morning hike with her family.

Hello lovely readers, my name is Rose. I’m a college student studying business entrepreneurship and I’m hoping to gain some sort of platform to help people in any way I can. I’m creative and passionate and blogging is a wonderful outlet for me. I blog about makeup, fashion, sex, and anything on my mind really! I have been invited to make a guest post for da-AL, and I am so appreciative of the opportunity, I’m a baby to this blog world and I’m grateful for all it has brought me so far. The original post that inspired this one can be found here, please check that out.

I am just going to talk a bit more on how I feel as a United States citizen but proud Iranian citizen as well. It’s beyond devastating that the world is simply falling apart around us. I am surrounded by hope, my family member’s voices’ saying “don’t worry, this will all pass” but will it? The problem is quite deeper and more complicated than most people assume. There is racism deeply enrooted in some that cannot be erased. The solution, ironically, is simple. If we could all love and accept each other and take each other in as allies, this earth would be a much better place. History has proven the tragedy that is war, but for some reason people just aren’t learning. Why are we so prone to hatred? As humans we must realize the value of loving each other and spread positivity instead of anything negative. We must research, open our eyes, and put ourselves in other’s shoes with as little personal bias as possible. Subconsciously, you are always going to be biased in some ways, the key is to understand yourself and then try to understand another person’s situation as well as you can.

Rose and friends at a shopping mall in Shiraz, Iran. She addes, "Note the personal fashion, makeup, and hair being out."
Rose and friends at a shopping mall in Shiraz, Iran. She addes, “Note the personal fashion, makeup, and hair being out.”

I was supposed to go to Iran this summer and I was beyond thrilled to take pictures and make amazing blogs about it, but now I am afraid of leaving. As a citizen, I deserve the right to safely visit another country I am a citizen in, who is allowed to take that away from me? But as a college student, I am afraid that even if I am able to go, I may not be able to come back.

Please pray for our broken world.

If you would like to know more about me, here, and here, and here are some posts to get you started! I absolutely love interacting with you and hearing your opinion.

Art Love: My Art by da-AL

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"Guajira" flamenco monoprint by da-AL.
“Guajira” flamenco monoprint by da-AL.

Before I started working on my novels (more about them h-e-r-e), I had a two-year degree in business, but worked as a journalist. As a reporter and producer in print, radio, and video (more on that h-e-r-e), many people said higher education would advance my career, and that any degree would do.

Hand-dyed Ikot weaving by da-AL.
Hand-dyed Ikot weaving by da-AL.

So I picked something easy: fiber art. Hah! Talk about challenging! In most schooling, there’s no arguing with multiple choice quizzes and single-answer tests. However, art is subjective; grades rely on the professor’s opinion. It was rough but fun!

"Fandango" flamenco monoprint by da-AL.
“Fandango” flamenco monoprint by da-AL.

Fiber includes traditional drawing and painting, as well as paper making, weaving, fabric dying, pattern making, painting, screen printing, sewing, book binding, sculpture, felting, and more. It even allowed me to incorporate design, writing, and videography.

Silk hand and eye batik art by da-AL.
Silk hand and eye batik art by da-AL.

An amazing collection of fine papers became a collage tribute to my Argentine grandmother. In it, her daughters and the two husbands she outlived surround her, as do references to her love of making music, folk dancing, and gossiping over yerba mate tea.

Collage of my grandmother, Abuela in Spanish, by da-AL.
Collage of my grandmother, Abuela in Spanish, by da-AL.

Around when I was studying art, I stumbled upon the joys of dancing. My father was a Spaniard who instilled in me an awe for flamenco, but it wasn’t until my Persian husband became inspired to learn flamenco that we began taking classes for it together.

"Siguiria" flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.
“Siguiria” flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.

Flamenco was glorious and difficult. Nowadays we dance Argentine tango, which you can see h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and h-e-r-e and more if you type “Tango” into the search bar.

"Tientos" flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.
“Tientos” flamenco monoprint by da-AL shows guitars, shoes, clapping hands, and flowers.

What sort of art do you indulge in?