Iran? Afghanistan? What?

Greetings everyone,I recently realized how long it has been since I've written. There's been lotsof changes since February, and I've had my nose to the grindstone in many ways.Now on a cold rainy day, after my Israel's Prophets final exam and before I wrapup a couple papers tonight, it's more than time to catch up.The big--and somewhat urgent--news is that I've decided to take up my friendLadan's invitation to participate in a delegation to Iran and Afghanistan laterthis month after classes let out (May 23--June 23), provided the visas comethrough. Since I am considered to be a "well-known activist" (who, me?),meaning that if you Google my name lots of articles come up, it is notguaranteed I'll get into Iran. But I shouldn't have any problem enteringAfghanistan, and the delegation there would be ten days in Kabul. It would be along letter to attach the trip information below, but most of it is online athttp://www.globalexchange.org./I was really hoping to have more definitive information on the visas beforewriting and getting everyone riled up, but I have a feeling things are runningmore on Eastern time than Western time--meaning I'll know whether I get to go atjust past the last minute but everything will still be okay. When I get back,I'll have fresh material and focus for public speaking, presentations, andwriting articles. I wonder if I will be the first Lutheran-girl-peace-activistever in these two countries? At first, this was going to be a trip to Syria andLebanon over my spring break, but things got riled up there just in time topostpone that to a time when I was already back in classes. So...next bestthing, no?I'm working the trip into an independent-study course for seminary by focusingon Christian-Muslim relations in both countries; the role of religiousminorities, women, and the impact of U.S. foreign policy and military activity(i.e., how does the church need to respond?); and the PowerPoint and thearticles and a reflective journal will serve as tests and papers. The schoolapproved that last Friday. I am hoping to recoup some of the extra travelexpense through my speaking and article writing afterwards also, and I wouldgreatly appreciate your contacts!I got to know Global Exchange (which is also the founder of the 'Code PINK'women's antiwar movement) a few years ago while in Palestine when I took a groupof theirs down to Gaza for a long weekend. I was really impressed by theirorganization and the number of places they are involved, as well as theiradvocacy efforts in the U.S. And the number of women in their leadership roles.I don't know how much I shared earlier that I resigned from CPT in December dueto a losing two-year struggle with sexual harrassment and sexism in theorganization. It was incredibly tough to leave, and I'd wanted to spend manymore years with them, though it was proving quite toxic to do so. Perhaps thisis a next step in getting back in the international sphere. I am still lookingforward to working for ELCA Global Missions after seminary, and have had somereally encouraging, inspiring talks with people in their offices about thefuture. However, that is still a few years away yet.It will be kind of good to get off-campus and off-country for a while thissummer. There are many things I enjoy about seminary, and I've been about asactive on campus as a student can be. I spend most of my time with theinternational students and the students from McCormick (Presbyterian) seminary,as well as the peaceable folks on campus. However, I was quite surprised, thendisillusioned, and then have become quite activist about the levels of fear,silencing, control, and power displays on campus. Yikes! Theupperclass(wo/men) let me know about it real quick. I never expected such athing from an ELCA seminary, let alone this particular one which has areputation for being 'open-minded.' The seniors and PhD students tell me it'sbeen this way for a while. It's a culture of not sticking your neck out orspeaking up about issues in the classroom or in the community, and I feel quitecompelled to work to change that in whatever way I can. It's meant doing a lotof what I spent the past four years doing: Listening to peoples' stories ofpainful experiences here; looking for patterns; going to talk to faculty andadministrators; and writing plenty of articles for the student paper. Andstaying involved in the groups that are making a difference. It's wasn'tsomething I was expecting to do, for sure, and I remember feeling like I quitebacked into it by accident--which is what happened with the Middle East, anyway.That work has meant some incredibly lonely and frustrating moments this pastyear, but also lately is starting to show its fruits. I went to our first-yearclass retreat, and most of the other folks who attended were not my usual'crowd'--the white, younger students who haven't spent much time outside thecountry or in other cultures, and associate mainly with folks like themselves oncampus--yet each one of them in our 'affirmation' afternoon told me specificallythat I was doing something important and necessary for our campus and communityand I needed to keep on going. Wow! There are more people beginning to speakout and organize too on addressing the issues here, and that is giving me muchhope for a healthier school. Last week, I was surprised to get nominated toevery position in student government that was open in my class for next year; Iaccepted for the spots I thought I could do the most good; and I learned thisafternoon I only missed being elected class co-convener (president) by a hair.Fortunately, two close buddies did win and I've spent a lot of time talking overissues with them and I believe they'll be good for us for next year. And I gota little email pep-talk from an outgoing co-pres about the necessity of mycontinuing to be the rugged grassroots agitator on campus still. Hmmm.......Back from a quick phone break where one of said above buddies just called up andsaid the two of them are scared they got the job and maybe they should hand itover?! And an invitation to chat/celebrate/cross-stitch tonight. The papersare almost done, and then I have much housecleaning, winter-put-away-ing, andsibling-welcoming to do. James is moving in with me for the next few years toget his B.A; Andrew is coming for at least part of the summer to work; Tom iscoming for a few visits. I should yet make it home for a couple little visitsthis summer.It is indeed a strange world. Made stranger by a new adorable kitten. But thisletter is long enough and I promise to write again soon. From outside thecountry, if possible!peace,Le Anne