05/18/2021
This was a tough read today. Tough because I know my grandparents never had the chance to grow old on their land, among their trees, among their people and a culture they knew. They were forced to leave all they knew. Forced to find and make new family members in unfamiliar lands. Forced to learn a new culture and start fresh. They wouldn’t know it (but likely would not be surprised) that most of their children would never get the chance to set foot on their land. They might also not be surprised to know that their grandchildren pray for a day they could visit the land of their ancestors but sadly may only have that chance in Jennah (paradise) inshaAllah.
There is no tree with my name on it in Palestine. My tree was uprooted with my grandparents. Palestine didn’t get the chance to learn my name. But I know Falesteen’s name and my heart aches to be reunited with her. And so as so beautifully reminds us, we continue to learn her stories and tell her stories (and retell them again and again and again) so future generations will always know her name even though the world wishes us to forget her.
“The old will die, and the young will forget.”
Let us show our resistance and never forget ♥️