tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post112949333901650449..comments2023-10-17T03:46:54.909-07:00Comments on Karen's Thoughts: Baha'i Individual Initiative and Varqa MagazineKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915968995957299554noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-42445414328736037642012-08-16T02:34:16.950-07:002012-08-16T02:34:16.950-07:00I really appreciate your work.Bahi's are well ...I really appreciate your work.Bahi's are well known for their amazing creativity specially <a href="http://www.divinejewelry.com/Bahai-Jewelry-Religious-Jewelry/b/3353040011" rel="nofollow">Bahai Jewelry</a>.Davidwillsonhttp://www.divinejewelry.com/Bahai-Jewelry-Religious-Jewelry/b/3353040011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1148581183557801572006-05-25T11:19:00.000-07:002006-05-25T11:19:00.000-07:00Just passing by. More is said by the attitude than...Just passing by. More is said by the attitude than in logic and presumption. As everyone who has experience in and knowledge of the Bahá'í Faith knows, there are fair and dignified ways to criticize the Instutions of the Faith, which are certainly open to this. One is the first Institution established in the Faith, The 19 Day Feast. There, grass-root Bahá'ís remark and consult about matters pertaining to the local and national communities. When posting criticisms over the internet it is not merely between those chatting but accessed by anyone in the world. Be fair and consider the ethics of such actions. Hopefully anyone reading blogs such as these will be inspired to investigate the truth for themselves and not be swayed by mere randome complaints, especially by those who are no longer members of the Bahá'í Faith.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1144281496653825212006-04-05T16:58:00.000-07:002006-04-05T16:58:00.000-07:00Doesn't make any sense. No one is saying that Varq...Doesn't make any sense. No one is saying that Varqa was given a list of addresses.<BR/><BR/>What they're saying is that Varqa is being discriminated agains. Treated unfairly and unlike other entities that engage in the same behavior.<BR/><BR/>But then again, there are always people who will twist things and spin them to confuse even the simplest of facts.<BR/><BR/>sheeshBaquiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666496567257618823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1136781569487804332006-01-08T20:39:00.000-08:002006-01-08T20:39:00.000-08:00Just so people know, none of the other organizatio...Just so people know, none of the other organizations whose advertisements end up in the LSA mailbox have been given access to official mailing lists either. Most have just been around collecting addresses (often paying other Baha'is to submit them) for enough years that they reach a fair percentage of the country. <BR/><BR/>The NSA's policy of not promoting independent publishers goes so far that when communities send articles describing successful teaching efforts to The American Baha'i, they are censored to remove the name of the publisher of the materials used, or a description of them.<BR/><BR/>The other difficulty that Varqa faced was that the US NSA decided to give away free subscriptions of Brilliant Star just as Varqa was about to take off. A wonderful gift, but the timing was unfortunate to say the least.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1136006121129306432005-12-30T21:15:00.000-08:002005-12-30T21:15:00.000-08:00Jon, gimme a break! LSAs receive commercial advert...Jon, <BR/><BR/>gimme a break! LSAs receive commercial advertisements in the form of pamphlets and direct mails all the time. Whether for Baha'i jewelery or a retreat, or a summer/winter school, etc.<BR/><BR/>The LSA secretary puts the stuff on the table and anyone who wants to get more info can do so. And anyone else can just ignore it.<BR/><BR/>This is not about the LSAs pimping a 'commercial interest' like a movie. This is about LSAs informing their members about the existence of a wonderful chidren's magazine that can be used in conjunction with their children's classes.<BR/><BR/>The personal decision to shut down such an avenue, which lets face it, is the only one with which a venture such as Varqa can cost effectively reach its target market, dooms them to failure.<BR/><BR/>It is a reprehensible decision and unfortunately it seems the person running Varqa is such a sensitive and obedient Baha'i, even a whisper from a member (not the whole institution) is enough for him to chuck all his hard work.<BR/><BR/>The way things are done in the community is dysfunctional. No wonder things are stagnant and moribund.Baquiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666496567257618823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1133178445714115802005-11-28T03:47:00.000-08:002005-11-28T03:47:00.000-08:00Hi, just a small note re. individual initiative vs...Hi, just a small note re. individual initiative vs. official initiative:<BR/><BR/>Official Baha'i magazines are used to report the activities of the world & local communities, to keep various communities up to date on plans and letters, and are usually run under the aegis of National Assemblies. They are an administrative tool, essentially.<BR/><BR/>Magazines like Varqa, while noble and beneficial and great, are run privately, and therefore operate as businesses.<BR/><BR/>Assemblies are fantastic institutions for communication, but they are administrative institutions. To use them for advertizing and distribution of privately published resources would be unwise, because it blurs the line between religious administration and personal business. Imagine a minister pimping Narnia in his sermon. I dunno about you, but that gives me shivers (the bad kind).<BR/><BR/>Varqa /is/ a good magazine. Here in Canada at least, it's advertized in the magazine produced by the National Assembly.<BR/><BR/>Take care!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1129692467531213982005-10-18T20:27:00.000-07:002005-10-18T20:27:00.000-07:00Thanks for the link to the magazine. I've enjoyed ...Thanks for the link to the magazine. I've enjoyed reading through your posts too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com