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No Ruz will be here in a couple of months, and I think now is the time for us all to start thinking about doing something CONSTRUCTIVE for once in celebration of the event.

Long gone are the days when Americans had no understanding of Iranian cultural events -- nowdays we practically overtake the parks in several major US cities during our No Ruz celebrations. I am sure this year we'll all set up a Haft-seen table, and go to the park and eat a lot of kebabs. However, the one thing that celebrants don't seem to do is something GOOD and CONSTRUCTIVE for OTHER people. We need to incorporate that into our traditions too.

And no, I'm not talking about just giving pocket change to your local homeless person. I mean giving in a significant way, in a way that requires you to actually make a sacrifice that makes an impact on your life. Of course, this can mean donating a significant amount of money instead, but there are many things you can do if you don't want to spend money too.

How about, for example, using No Ruz as an opportunity to sign up to be a potential bone marrow donor? In the US all you have to do is to go to //www.marrow.org/ and sign up there. They'll send you a kit that includes some cotton swabs, which you rub inside your mouth and return via mail.

If you're lucky enough to be a close genetic match to an unfortunate person who needs a bone marrow transplant, you'll have the once in a lifetime chance to actually save someone else's life.