“The need to nurture”

The article "The need to nurture” (Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, September 2001) is a well researched, balanced and positive account of events as they occurred, and the current situation.

Unfortunately, one of the fallouts of the article is the (additional) furore that has been caused by the misrepresentation of facts reflected in the article by some members of the community.

The purpose of this letter is to clarify the scope of the Secret Women’s Business (SWB) conference, and the results of the survey completed at the SWB.

SWB was convened to:

•map a vision for the future of the community

•gather information through discussion and a survey on the community’s concerns and requirements; to help set goals to achieve this vision

•foster goodwill, cooperation and understanding in the community.

The purpose of the SWB survey was to collect information on general social problems which have an impact on, or are of concern to the community.

The SWB report reflects the results (raw data and percentages) of the survey. Forty-three attendees completed the survey, out of a community of over 1,000. The survey does not reflect that 30 percent of the community are homosexual. It just highlights the survey respondents’ level of concern on various issues, including homosexuality. (It seems that homophobia is rampant, as none of the other more pressing concerns are singled out with the same degree of fear and vitriol.)

It is sad to see Dinaz Mistry’s efforts being denigrated by a small minority who are using this as a platform for self-aggrandizement at the expense of the welfare of the community.

We should be asserting our future identity in the wider Australian community by creating a reputation for being a well educated, broad-minded, generous, progressive and flexible community that embraces change. Instead we seem to be choosing to remain static, becoming increasingly phobic and insular.

VIRSTINE YASDANPARAST

Sydney, Australia