English Section - Persian Cultural Center
English Section - Persian Cultural Center
English Section - Persian Cultural Center
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Editorial<br />
128<br />
By: Shahri Estakhry<br />
WHO?<br />
I really would prefer to get back to what I love most…my philanthropy/charity work instead of<br />
nagging about who, what, why… and on and on. I had planned to write this editorial about the<br />
enormous need of over one billion hungry human beings that are struggling for survival but then<br />
we were given a gift by an American friend that diverted my thoughts and thus this editorial.<br />
At a gathering, this friend had been “sold” a book of arranged music of well known Iranian<br />
songs. I was lucky and happy to receive this book as a gift from this friend. I knew all of the<br />
songs and have enjoyed them with different arrangements through the years. Looking through<br />
the pages, I began to realize that none of the “arrangements” had the name of the original<br />
composers mentioned; only the name of the arranger. It sent a shiver down my spine and it<br />
struck the wrong cord with me!<br />
It brings up a question to which we should try to find an answer. What happens to the rights of<br />
Iranian artists who don’t live here, but whose works are used and rearranged for profit without<br />
their consent or knowledge or share of any funds?<br />
I remember having a conversation about this, with the late poet Feridoun Moshiri when he was<br />
in San Diego. He was deeply concerned and, through his own experience, felt often enough<br />
his work was being used without his consent. He expressed that this concern existed amongst<br />
many of his other poet, composer, lyricist friends back home. He was adamant about giving me<br />
a power of attorney to represent and protect his work here. I felt it was best for him to have legal<br />
representation from the start.<br />
Unfortunately, non-resident artists have no rights to their own creations. Actually, they do<br />
under the laws of this country, so perhaps it is best to say that the artists have no representation.<br />
This brings forth the question of WHO should look into this problem and protect their rights<br />
and interests? Should it be an organization? A legal team? We can’t talk about caring about our<br />
cultural heritage without protecting its artists who are part of this heritage. I don’t want to be<br />
just proud of my “past” cultural heritage, I want to hold my head up high because of who we can<br />
be now.<br />
We are civilized human beings, surely we can and must recognize the rights of others. If the work<br />
of an artist is misused or abused here, you can be certain there will be hell to pay. In America,<br />
an artist and generations of his children benefit from his creativity time after time. With laws<br />
to protect these rights why can’t we do something to protect the rights of our amazing and<br />
wonderful artists that have brought so much pleasure and enjoyment for us throughout the<br />
years?<br />
I should have been a lawyer; without doubt this would take priority for me! Everything in our<br />
lives cannot be for self profit. It is incumbent upon us to find, as a community, a proper solution<br />
to this enormous problem. Certainly, this situation is nothing we can be proud of, it has been<br />
kept under the rug for much too long! However, it is one that we can remedy by promoting fair<br />
play in protecting the rights of all.<br />
<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>Cultural</strong> <strong>Center</strong>’s<br />
Bilingual Magazine<br />
Is a bi-monthly publication organized for<br />
literary, cultural and information purposes<br />
Partially Funded By<br />
The San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture<br />
<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>Cultural</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
9265 Dowdy Dr. # 105 • San Diego, CA 92126<br />
Tel :( 858) 653-0336<br />
Fax & Message: (619) 374-7335<br />
Email: pcc@pccsd.org<br />
Web site: www.pccus.org<br />
www.pccsd.org<br />
July-August 2010<br />
Vol. XX1 No. 128<br />
Circulation: 6000<br />
<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>Cultural</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
A non-profit national corporation<br />
Established in 1989. San Diego, California<br />
Board of Directors:<br />
Fariba Babakhani-Ghazi, Rosita Bagheri,<br />
Abdy Salimi, Shaghayegh Hanson,<br />
Maryam Iravanian, Hamid Rafizadeh,<br />
Ali Sadr and Shahla Salah<br />
Editorial Board<br />
Shahri Estakhry, Aria Fani,<br />
Shaghayegh Hanson, Sara Hosseinizad,<br />
Maryam Iravanian, Shahrzad Julazadeh,<br />
Reza Khabazian and Rachel Tait<br />
Editor–In–Chief: Ali Sadr<br />
Graphic Design: Saeed Jalali<br />
Peyk reserves the right to edit all materials<br />
at its sole discretion. Materials submitted<br />
will not be rturned to sender, even if not<br />
used, and the contributor will be deemed<br />
to have given consent and license for<br />
the reproduction and publication of such<br />
submission in Peyk magazine and / or the<br />
Peyk website<br />
PCC Foundation<br />
Charitable Organization<br />
Affiliate of <strong>Persian</strong> <strong>Cultural</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
Tel:(858) 653-0336<br />
Fax & Message: ( 619) 374-7335<br />
Cover Design: Saeed Jalali<br />
No. 128/ July-August 2010 5
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