“The people of Egypt have spoken,” says President Barack Obama after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak steps down. Iranian-American writers switch between English and Persian. In the U.S., South Asia Centers provide unique opportunities for students. As the 10th Cricket World Cup approaches, the popularity of cricket in the U.S. remains a well-kept sporting secret. And finally, learn why the cells of Henrietta Lacks are immortal.
In Egypt, the Power of Human Dignity
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President Obama says the Egyptian people have inspired the world through their nonviolent struggle to change their country’s government and the United States stands ready to provide any assistance the country needs as it transitions to a more democratic future. “The people of Egypt have spoken, their voices have been heard, and Egypt will never be the same,” Obama, right, says February 11 after the resignation of former President Hosni Mubarak.
English or Persian?
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Many Iranian-American writers count themselves as bilingual, but most choose one language or the other as their primary tool, taking into account the different literary customs of the two languages. Poet Sheema Kalbasi, who writes in both languages, says, “I find English a more precise language than Persian. Poetry thrives in vagueness and metaphor and so does the Persian language!”
South Asia Centers in the U.S.
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Students in the United States can participate in a version of an authentic Indian experience through Hindi and Urdu language education programs hosted by one of nine South Asia National Resource Centers. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the centers seek to bolster American universities’ capacities to educate on global cultures and affairs.
Cricket in America
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Cricket fans around the world — including millions of fans and thousands of players in the United States — are awaiting the February 19 start of the 10th Cricket World Cup. People have played cricket in the U.S. since the country was still a British colony, says Rohit Kulkarni, director of a new documentary, “Pitch of Dreams: Cricket in America.”
Henrietta Lacks’ Immortal Cells
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Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman who died of cancer in 1951, became the source of a cell line that has contributed to cancer research and medical milestones such as polio vaccine, cloning, genetic testing and in-vitro fertilization. Today, HeLa cells, named after Lacks, at left with her husband David, are the most commonly used cells in research labs all around the world. Lacks’ story also raises questions about economic justice and scientific ethics.
American Indian Heritage Month