Iris Chang

Her life was like a shooting star: Shining, bright but short-lived. Yet, she left precious memories for her friends and family, and important books for all others to learn and benefit.

Iris was a beautiful woman: tall, long flowing hair and big eyes. She radiates with liveliness, happiness and confidence. She was also a top student in her class. She was ambitious and achieving. In an early age, she started to write and won admiration from her peers. For her books, she chose difficult but important subjects: The Nanjing (Nanking) massacre by Japanese, and the history of Chinese in the US. For the first subject, she became the first person who documented comprehensively and authoritatively an important part of World War II history. For the Chinese community, her work was deeply appreciated, as no Chinese has had the resource and knowledge to do so. As a historian, her book has the hallmark of thorough research and unique access to historical materials. I marvel at her courage of facing those unthinkable crimes. By documenting and presenting the worst of worst of a human can do to other humans, she chose to face the evil and give this world despite her own suffering.

Iris’ other book, The Chinese in America, is in fact more powerful than the previous one. It documents the whole immigration history of Chinese in America, starting from the first group in 1840s, all the way to current stage 1990s. It reads like a novel, vivid and intriguing. But it is in fact the history, with real data, real people and their narratives. The book is full of compassion, for people who are poor, for people who are in disadvantaged social groups. It’s not just about Chinese, but also a history book of the American justice system. How it initially openly discriminated minority people, persecuted Chinese, and then eventually embrace the idea of equal treatment for all. Reading the beautiful narratives in this book, I feel as if I am listening to Iris Chang. She is still alive, as her words, thinking and passion are all here for me to see and feel.

Is our life span measured by the years, or is it measured by how much we have given during the life? Iris lively only 36 years, yet she has created 3 excellent books that changed history, moved us and future generations. She left behind her passion and love. She still lives among us.

Trita Parsi

He is a quiet smiling young man. Only when he starts to talk, you realize how much passion he has for his subject.

Standing at the podium, he spoke eloquently on how he came to write his book, The Treacherous Alliance. He talked about trips to Iran and Israel to interview high-level decision makers. How initially people thought it was an impossible task: how could both sides talk to you? But he went ahead and found it not that hard. He interviewed 40 high-level officials in Iran and then easily got meetings in Israel by promoting his Iran visit.

A typical book promotion tour is also a call for peace and action. By telling people about what’s behind Iran and Israel relationship, Parsi raises awareness and give people most needed knowledge to make a decision. An articulate speaker, he holds your attention by telling you stories of these two nations over a time period of 40 years. His deep knowledge and the analysis based on geopolitical viewpoint are very illuminating.

As the president of National Iranian-American Council, Parsi leads the policy advocacy group in Washington DC. He builds alliance with 50 other organizations to try to influence the policy making. He is not seeking his own glory but the service for a group. His selfless spirit shines through. In him I see what is giving, courage and excellence.