Solace of the Eyes

When I first learned about the great heroine, Qurratu’l-‘Ayn, I was a young girl.  I was gratified to hear Dr. Abbas Milani (director of Iranian Studio at Stanford University) revere this heroine in his recent address to supporters of the Baha'is in Iran at the Herbst theater in San Francisco:

"There is an Iran different from the zealotry, bigotry, and brutality of its current rulers--an Iran of Neda Agha Sultans and Qurratu’l-‘Ayns, the 19th century early convert to Bab, a great poet and scholar and the first woman to lift her veil and give a public lecture in Iran." 

Qurratu’l-‘Ayn, meaning "Solace of the Eyes", and Tahirih, meaning "The Pure One", are the titles of Fátimih Baraghání. Qurratu’l-‘Ayn expounded subtle theological truths, invoked the word of Muhammad to remind corrupt governors of how "unbelievers" like her ought to be treated, and removed her veil in a public meeting eloquently proclaiming "this is the day on which the fetters of the past are burst asunder". 

Reading Saving the World's Women in the New York Times this week, I marveled at Qurratu’l-‘Ayn's contribution to the world-wide emancipation of women. Indeed, where there is terrorism, political unrest, or economic strife, women are usually marginalized. Their emancipation brings greater social and economic prosperity. 

Qurratu’l-‘Ayn was strangled and executed with her own veil in August of 1852. Her last words were, “You can kill me, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women.” 

Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith, wrote that the reins of mankind fall into the hands of the foolish and ignorant and begged the question:

"What oppression is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it?"

As women like Qurratu’l-‘Ayn are being written back into history, oppressed women around the world and especially in Iran have a legacy to prop them up and carry them forward. 

The British orientalist Edward Granville Browne wrote:

"The appearance of such a woman as Qurratu'l-'Ayn is in any country and any age a rare phenomenon, but in such a country as Persia it is a prodigy -- nay, almost a miracle. Alike in virtue of her marvellous beauty, her rare intellectual gifts, her fervid eloquence her fearless devotion, and her glorious martyrdom, she stands forth incomparable and immortal amidst her countrywomen."

"An Evening in Support of the Baha'is in Iran" at the Herbst Theater In San Francisco


19th Century Persian woman's indoor dress


19th Century Persian woman's public dress

E.G. Browne

Swimming Lessons

Mottos can be cheesy - but sometimes they work. Here's a sampling of some mottos from around my office:

Time-Space Storytelling

Published in 1869, Charles Minard's eloquent graphic story is peculiarly relevant in an age of geotagging our own personal data.

Minard's graph of Napoleon's Russian Campaign of 1812:

Through a sort of flow chart imposed on a map, Minard tells a story of time and space, gracefully documenting multiple variables:

• The army's location in Russia
  
• The direction and path the army traveled
  
• Where units spun off and rejoined
  
• The declining size of the army
  
• The low temperatures during the retreat (retreat shown in black)
• The dates

Look what happened when the army crossed the Berezina river. In France, the word "berezina" is synonymous with the word "disastre". For another data "berezina", check out this horrifying government PPT slide - they could use a few tips from Minard.

Aunt Evelyn

My great-great aunt Evelyn scaling Half Dome (center) and waving her hat at the top (right) in 1933.  Not sure how to tie this in to the theme of illusion, magic, and handiwork, but it just seems to belong.  Maybe this is more handiwork than anything else.... the grand creation of things type of handiwork.  Side note: Aunt Evelyn and her husband did live part-time in a cave in Yosemite Valley.