Thank you for sharing this heartfelt (and heartbreaking) post, Yasmin. I love Sabzi so much and have shared it here on my Substack. I truly believe that this (and your other books) spread awareness of your beautiful culture, and that the forms of creativity you mention (including food and recipes) are reminders of what connects us as humans. There is both so much more to say yet so few words to say it well. So, I'll just say once again, thank you for sharing, and for all that you do.
So sorry about the grief; I know how overwhelming it is. I've been feeling it for all my friends and people like you whose work I've followed. As someone who experienced war up close in Bosnia, I keep speaking and writing, trying to make people understand that war is "an abomination." Exactly what you said: there are no winners.
I know how hard it must have been to write this. And it is important to take breaks and breathe and celebrate. It's the only way to cope when faced with the enormity of world events that are beyond our control. Sending you a big hug.
Oh Yasmin I can’t even imagine how you’ve been feeling watching this horror not hearing anything from relatives and knowing all too well about the manipulation people are put through etc.
All I can say is that I often thought of you and have always admired your resilience resistance and wise words. Thanks for sharing your grief with us. Please stay strong and do not change!
Happy Nowruz and Eid (still waiting to hear when it will be here in Morocco 😀)
Thank you. I’ve not been able to say very much either, if anything at all, d when people have tried to check in, I’ve just found it to feel performative or lacking anything, just ‘unrespondable’. I think “That heaviness is compounded by my background. Of being told that you are not Iranian enough to speak. That being half Iranian somehow disqualifies you from having a voice — even when that country lives in your bones, in your family, in your rituals, in your language, in your memories and in your dreams” really captures it for me.
I’ve been thinking about you and your family everyday since the war began. My heart aches for all the suffering that these bullies have caused. I will hold you in my heart.
You are welcome. As so many in Palestine told me, I’m not optimistic the suffering/occupation will end, but I’m hopeful. With much hope in this New Year and Eid.
Tears began to fill my eyes as I got to the end of this piece. I'm half Palestinian and keeping culture alive despite the knowledge that my grandfather's home has been decimated keeps me afloat. Sharing my culture with my kids and my friends gives me hope ❤️
I understand your grief, and I meet you on this journey to the other side of it. So very glad that you will still celebrate the spring holiday; these rituals keep our cultures alive and give meaning to our cultural identity.
Please try not to look at the news so often. I have promised myself that I may read newspapers/substack articles in the morning but not after 6:00 pm. It’s hard to hold myself to that promise but I must if I am to maintain the strength to be of service to others and care for myself.
I find it so important to hold to the rites and traditions of our cultures in times of stress. Thank you for expressing what so many of us feel. May Nowruz bring better things this year.
Oh I feel for you and all you’ve touched on. And how helpless we feel at the outrageous actions of the little ‘big men’ dominating the world right now! Then I remember the joy of leaping over an Iranian friend’s Nowruz bonfire and yes, how culture in its many forms can help maintain hope. I cling to that thought and to the story my mother told me about how finding an unexpected glimpse of beauty in the midst of a bomb-site helped her believe in peace beyond the bad times.
I left many friends in Iran. We keep in daily touch and I feel sorry for the conditions they have to live, not only today but over the years of sanctions and hostilities. When in Iran, I had many conversations and got a strong impression of highly advanced, well educated, and open society. I felt pretty much like in Europe. More here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-191117219
Thank you for sharing this heartfelt (and heartbreaking) post, Yasmin. I love Sabzi so much and have shared it here on my Substack. I truly believe that this (and your other books) spread awareness of your beautiful culture, and that the forms of creativity you mention (including food and recipes) are reminders of what connects us as humans. There is both so much more to say yet so few words to say it well. So, I'll just say once again, thank you for sharing, and for all that you do.
So sorry about the grief; I know how overwhelming it is. I've been feeling it for all my friends and people like you whose work I've followed. As someone who experienced war up close in Bosnia, I keep speaking and writing, trying to make people understand that war is "an abomination." Exactly what you said: there are no winners.
I know how hard it must have been to write this. And it is important to take breaks and breathe and celebrate. It's the only way to cope when faced with the enormity of world events that are beyond our control. Sending you a big hug.
Thank you so Amela. Sending a big huge back xx
Oh Yasmin I can’t even imagine how you’ve been feeling watching this horror not hearing anything from relatives and knowing all too well about the manipulation people are put through etc.
All I can say is that I often thought of you and have always admired your resilience resistance and wise words. Thanks for sharing your grief with us. Please stay strong and do not change!
Happy Nowruz and Eid (still waiting to hear when it will be here in Morocco 😀)
Thank you. I’ve not been able to say very much either, if anything at all, d when people have tried to check in, I’ve just found it to feel performative or lacking anything, just ‘unrespondable’. I think “That heaviness is compounded by my background. Of being told that you are not Iranian enough to speak. That being half Iranian somehow disqualifies you from having a voice — even when that country lives in your bones, in your family, in your rituals, in your language, in your memories and in your dreams” really captures it for me.
I’ve been thinking about you and your family everyday since the war began. My heart aches for all the suffering that these bullies have caused. I will hold you in my heart.
thanks so much Linda x
You are welcome. As so many in Palestine told me, I’m not optimistic the suffering/occupation will end, but I’m hopeful. With much hope in this New Year and Eid.
Felt so incredibly seen in everything you described, thank you for this reminder that we’re not alone.
❤️❤️❤️
Tears began to fill my eyes as I got to the end of this piece. I'm half Palestinian and keeping culture alive despite the knowledge that my grandfather's home has been decimated keeps me afloat. Sharing my culture with my kids and my friends gives me hope ❤️
So powerful. Wishing you and yours a Happy Nowruz. Keep that flame of hope for better times ahead.
I understand your grief, and I meet you on this journey to the other side of it. So very glad that you will still celebrate the spring holiday; these rituals keep our cultures alive and give meaning to our cultural identity.
Please try not to look at the news so often. I have promised myself that I may read newspapers/substack articles in the morning but not after 6:00 pm. It’s hard to hold myself to that promise but I must if I am to maintain the strength to be of service to others and care for myself.
I hold you in a deep embrace.
I find it so important to hold to the rites and traditions of our cultures in times of stress. Thank you for expressing what so many of us feel. May Nowruz bring better things this year.
Oh I feel for you and all you’ve touched on. And how helpless we feel at the outrageous actions of the little ‘big men’ dominating the world right now! Then I remember the joy of leaping over an Iranian friend’s Nowruz bonfire and yes, how culture in its many forms can help maintain hope. I cling to that thought and to the story my mother told me about how finding an unexpected glimpse of beauty in the midst of a bomb-site helped her believe in peace beyond the bad times.
Thank you for finding the words that have been frozen inside of so many of us.
Thank you. Happy Nowruz for when it comes xx
A beautiful piece, Yasmin, in the midst of such a heartbreaking time. Thinking of you and yours and wishing you a very happy Nowruz with your family.
I left many friends in Iran. We keep in daily touch and I feel sorry for the conditions they have to live, not only today but over the years of sanctions and hostilities. When in Iran, I had many conversations and got a strong impression of highly advanced, well educated, and open society. I felt pretty much like in Europe. More here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-191117219