[Music] as she drove into homes her hometown in
as she drove into homes her hometown in
as she drove into homes her hometown in Syria she couldn’t stop the tears from
Syria she couldn’t stop the tears from
Syria she couldn’t stop the tears from falling and her body from shaking the
falling and her body from shaking the
falling and her body from shaking the familiar neighborhoods had now become
familiar neighborhoods had now become
familiar neighborhoods had now become ghost towns
ghost towns
ghost towns once upon a time seven years ago or so
once upon a time seven years ago or so
once upon a time seven years ago or so there used to be merchants roaming the
there used to be merchants roaming the
there used to be merchants roaming the streets and shouting at the top of their
streets and shouting at the top of their
streets and shouting at the top of their lungs are the Chokey bait engine
lungs are the Chokey bait engine
lungs are the Chokey bait engine artichokes eggplants with crowds of
artichokes eggplants with crowds of
artichokes eggplants with crowds of people haggling loudly and passionately
people haggling loudly and passionately
people haggling loudly and passionately over prices there were children in the
over prices there were children in the
over prices there were children in the streets racing on their bicycles filling
streets racing on their bicycles filling
streets racing on their bicycles filling the place with their loud and happy
the place with their loud and happy
the place with their loud and happy spirits ringing their bells sometimes to
spirits ringing their bells sometimes to
spirits ringing their bells sometimes to warn the crowds of their presence and
warn the crowds of their presence and
warn the crowds of their presence and sometimes simply to announce their
sometimes simply to announce their
sometimes simply to announce their childhood but today today the silence
childhood but today today the silence
childhood but today today the silence was deafening one sign of life
was deafening one sign of life
was deafening one sign of life were the clothes hanging on clotheslines
were the clothes hanging on clotheslines
were the clothes hanging on clotheslines on empty balconies vanilla scene she
on empty balconies vanilla scene she
on empty balconies vanilla scene she thought of the days when her mother
thought of the days when her mother
thought of the days when her mother would point to the facing balconies and
would point to the facing balconies and
would point to the facing balconies and identify the neither housewife from the
identify the neither housewife from the
identify the neither housewife from the messy one by the way the clothes were
messy one by the way the clothes were
messy one by the way the clothes were arranged on the clotheslines her mother
arranged on the clotheslines her mother
arranged on the clotheslines her mother could even tell which housewives whites
could even tell which housewives whites
could even tell which housewives whites were wider than the other
were wider than the other
were wider than the other there was also strict etiquette to be
there was also strict etiquette to be
there was also strict etiquette to be followed when it came to where to place
followed when it came to where to place
followed when it came to where to place specific clothing items undergarments
specific clothing items undergarments
specific clothing items undergarments especially those that belonged to the
especially those that belonged to the
especially those that belonged to the female in the house were to be placed on
female in the house were to be placed on
female in the house were to be placed on roads that were not exposed to the
roads that were not exposed to the
roads that were not exposed to the street or to facing balconies you see in
street or to facing balconies you see in
street or to facing balconies you see in Syria in Syria clotheslines are more
Syria in Syria clotheslines are more
Syria in Syria clotheslines are more than mere strings on which clothes hang
than mere strings on which clothes hang
than mere strings on which clothes hang their culture and tradition their
their culture and tradition their
their culture and tradition their etiquette they carry a mother’s scent
etiquette they carry a mother’s scent
etiquette they carry a mother’s scent and the aroma of Laurel soap they
and the aroma of Laurel soap they
and the aroma of Laurel soap they narrate all kinds of tales about
narrate all kinds of tales about
narrate all kinds of tales about next-door neighbors and make known who
next-door neighbors and make known who
next-door neighbors and make known who is the tidier housewife they announced
is the tidier housewife they announced
is the tidier housewife they announced the arrival of a baby and disclosed
the arrival of a baby and disclosed
the arrival of a baby and disclosed whispers of wedding nights massage
whispers of wedding nights massage
whispers of wedding nights massage affair good afternoon my name in Arabic
affair good afternoon my name in Arabic
affair good afternoon my name in Arabic is pronounced Radha my identity I
is pronounced Radha my identity I
is pronounced Radha my identity I identify myself as a Syrian Canadian
identify myself as a Syrian Canadian
identify myself as a Syrian Canadian Syrian – Canadian I locate myself on the
Syrian – Canadian I locate myself on the
Syrian – Canadian I locate myself on the – between the Syrian and the Canadian
– between the Syrian and the Canadian
– between the Syrian and the Canadian the truth of the matter is that today
the truth of the matter is that today
the truth of the matter is that today there exists a sharp dichotomy between
there exists a sharp dichotomy between
there exists a sharp dichotomy between east and west a binary that has
east and west a binary that has
east and west a binary that has succeeded to divide us into
succeeded to divide us into
succeeded to divide us into us-versus-them discourses and rhetorics
us-versus-them discourses and rhetorics
us-versus-them discourses and rhetorics that otherwise rhetoric that bars and
that otherwise rhetoric that bars and
that otherwise rhetoric that bars and bans humans from entering national
bans humans from entering national
bans humans from entering national borders noisy discourses that highlight
borders noisy discourses that highlight
borders noisy discourses that highlight our differences difference is based on
our differences difference is based on
our differences difference is based on what on ethnicity and religion and color
what on ethnicity and religion and color
what on ethnicity and religion and color of skin mind you we are all of the same
of skin mind you we are all of the same
of skin mind you we are all of the same color of
color of
color of as a Vietnamese Canadian friend once
as a Vietnamese Canadian friend once
as a Vietnamese Canadian friend once pointed out today today I hope to
pointed out today today I hope to
pointed out today today I hope to highlight the similarities that we share
highlight the similarities that we share
highlight the similarities that we share as humans and I hope to do this by way
as humans and I hope to do this by way
as humans and I hope to do this by way of stories and I hope that my stories
of stories and I hope that my stories
of stories and I hope that my stories will allow you to put yourselves in the
will allow you to put yourselves in the
will allow you to put yourselves in the place of the other to try to understand
place of the other to try to understand
place of the other to try to understand and to feel and listen to their hearts
and to feel and listen to their hearts
and to feel and listen to their hearts for I believe that stories are keys to
for I believe that stories are keys to
for I believe that stories are keys to opening doors and windows and hearts to
opening doors and windows and hearts to
opening doors and windows and hearts to an empathetic cultural understanding
an empathetic cultural understanding
an empathetic cultural understanding stories that can act as the signal
stories that can act as the signal
stories that can act as the signal amidst the deafening noise stories
amidst the deafening noise stories
amidst the deafening noise stories stories that can be those synthesizing
stories that can be those synthesizing
stories that can be those synthesizing agents emits a desensitizing deafening
agents emits a desensitizing deafening
agents emits a desensitizing deafening discourse stories that can restore the
discourse stories that can restore the
discourse stories that can restore the human to what has been dehumanized
human to what has been dehumanized
human to what has been dehumanized stories that can act a signal amidst all
stories that can act a signal amidst all
stories that can act a signal amidst all the noise and today I wish to be that
the noise and today I wish to be that
the noise and today I wish to be that bridge to Syrian hearts my bridge is
bridge to Syrian hearts my bridge is
bridge to Syrian hearts my bridge is made of voices voices of hearts and
made of voices voices of hearts and
made of voices voices of hearts and souls voices that I hope can disrupt all
souls voices that I hope can disrupt all
souls voices that I hope can disrupt all the noise and I hope that as the
the noise and I hope that as the
the noise and I hope that as the empathetic is tapped into activated and
empathetic is tapped into activated and
empathetic is tapped into activated and turned on I hope that we can better
turned on I hope that we can better
turned on I hope that we can better understand a member of the Syrian
understand a member of the Syrian
understand a member of the Syrian diaspora or of any other diaspora for
diaspora or of any other diaspora for
diaspora or of any other diaspora for that matter for these are humans who
that matter for these are humans who
that matter for these are humans who have been yanked and uprooted from their
have been yanked and uprooted from their
have been yanked and uprooted from their lands from their homelands from their
lands from their homelands from their
lands from their homelands from their places of belonging and dispersed and
places of belonging and dispersed and
places of belonging and dispersed and scattered in all corners of the world
scattered in all corners of the world
scattered in all corners of the world not by their own choice but by a
not by their own choice but by a
not by their own choice but by a sentence pronounced on them by F
sentence pronounced on them by F
sentence pronounced on them by F very harsh and merciless fate let’s talk
very harsh and merciless fate let’s talk
very harsh and merciless fate let’s talk about Syria Syria is the smell of
about Syria Syria is the smell of
about Syria Syria is the smell of Jasmine’s serious smells of jasmine did
Jasmine’s serious smells of jasmine did
Jasmine’s serious smells of jasmine did you know that it really does I’m not
you know that it really does I’m not
you know that it really does I’m not making that up a Jasmine tree to a
making that up a Jasmine tree to a
making that up a Jasmine tree to a Syrian heart is like an olive tree to a
Syrian heart is like an olive tree to a
Syrian heart is like an olive tree to a Palestinian and a cedar tree to a
Palestinian and a cedar tree to a
Palestinian and a cedar tree to a Lebanese and a mango tree to my
Lebanese and a mango tree to my
Lebanese and a mango tree to my Trinidadian Professors heart and a
Trinidadian Professors heart and a
Trinidadian Professors heart and a sakura tree to a Japanese heart and a
sakura tree to a Japanese heart and a
sakura tree to a Japanese heart and a maple tree to a Canadian heart two years
maple tree to a Canadian heart two years
maple tree to a Canadian heart two years ago here in Calgary at a local
ago here in Calgary at a local
ago here in Calgary at a local greenhouse
greenhouse
greenhouse I bought a Jasmine tree a Jasmine plant
I bought a Jasmine tree a Jasmine plant
I bought a Jasmine tree a Jasmine plant I bought it so that the aroma of its
I bought it so that the aroma of its
I bought it so that the aroma of its white flowers can alleviate that longing
white flowers can alleviate that longing
white flowers can alleviate that longing burning sensation when I think of my
burning sensation when I think of my
burning sensation when I think of my homeland of Syria today and so that I
homeland of Syria today and so that I
homeland of Syria today and so that I can return to the days when my father
can return to the days when my father
can return to the days when my father would hold my hands as we walk the
would hold my hands as we walk the
would hold my hands as we walk the streets of Damascus where the white
streets of Damascus where the white
streets of Damascus where the white flowers climbed out of the black
flowers climbed out of the black
flowers climbed out of the black railings on Syrian door gates and
railings on Syrian door gates and
railings on Syrian door gates and stroked the space earthwise by their
stroked the space earthwise by their
stroked the space earthwise by their charming fragrance this spring and for
charming fragrance this spring and for
charming fragrance this spring and for the first time one of my plants but it
the first time one of my plants but it
the first time one of my plants but it white flowers and those the aroma of
white flowers and those the aroma of
white flowers and those the aroma of these flight white flowers have filled
these flight white flowers have filled
these flight white flowers have filled my heart with hope and possibility for
my heart with hope and possibility for
my heart with hope and possibility for my homeland you see to me and to many
my homeland you see to me and to many
my homeland you see to me and to many Syrian hearts today the name Syria
Syrian hearts today the name Syria
Syrian hearts today the name Syria embodies the fragrance of jasmine it
embodies the fragrance of jasmine it
embodies the fragrance of jasmine it embodies the the aroma of Arabic coffee
embodies the the aroma of Arabic coffee
embodies the the aroma of Arabic coffee mixed with cardamom
mixed with cardamom
mixed with cardamom it embodies the smell of bread at dawn
it embodies the smell of bread at dawn
it embodies the smell of bread at dawn in the local ovens where fathers would
in the local ovens where fathers would
in the local ovens where fathers would line up in queues and wait to take the
line up in queues and wait to take the
line up in queues and wait to take the hot bread that tasted like heaven to
hot bread that tasted like heaven to
hot bread that tasted like heaven to their children
their children
their children Syria is below the seal clotheslines and
Syria is below the seal clotheslines and
Syria is below the seal clotheslines and these are the memories that induce the
these are the memories that induce the
these are the memories that induce the sweetest of images for a Syrian heart
sweetest of images for a Syrian heart
sweetest of images for a Syrian heart but Syria today Syria today is another
but Syria today Syria today is another
but Syria today Syria today is another story I will read to you about Syria
story I will read to you about Syria
story I will read to you about Syria through the eyes of some of the women in
through the eyes of some of the women in
through the eyes of some of the women in my stories
word word thought of Damascus but
word word thought of Damascus but Damascus today was in no mood for lovers
Damascus today was in no mood for lovers
Damascus today was in no mood for lovers the city’s doves stopped cooing and the
the city’s doves stopped cooing and the
the city’s doves stopped cooing and the white Jasmine’s were dressed in black
white Jasmine’s were dressed in black
white Jasmine’s were dressed in black mourning the dead Damascus children were
mourning the dead Damascus children were
mourning the dead Damascus children were seeking refuge in all corner of the
seeking refuge in all corner of the
seeking refuge in all corner of the corners of the world looking for a tent
corners of the world looking for a tent
corners of the world looking for a tent in which to shelter their bare souls and
in which to shelter their bare souls and
in which to shelter their bare souls and to shelter their Shivering hearts Reem
to shelter their Shivering hearts Reem
to shelter their Shivering hearts Reem Reem cried cried her beloved Syria Reem
Reem cried cried her beloved Syria Reem
Reem cried cried her beloved Syria Reem cried her beloved country her country
cried her beloved country her country
cried her beloved country her country the mother of all country was now
the mother of all country was now
the mother of all country was now pleading mercy at the feet of a
pleading mercy at the feet of a
pleading mercy at the feet of a cold-hearted callous fate Syria is a
cold-hearted callous fate Syria is a
cold-hearted callous fate Syria is a mother who had to witness her sons and
mother who had to witness her sons and
mother who had to witness her sons and daughters aiming weapons at one another
daughters aiming weapons at one another
daughters aiming weapons at one another in the name of a country and
in the name of a country and
in the name of a country and slaughtering and beheading in front of
slaughtering and beheading in front of
slaughtering and beheading in front of her own eyes and the eyes of the world
her own eyes and the eyes of the world
her own eyes and the eyes of the world in the name of a god and saddest of all
in the name of a god and saddest of all
in the name of a god and saddest of all is the story of a muhanad in in arabic
is the story of a muhanad in in arabic
is the story of a muhanad in in arabic means mother and muhammad is the mother
means mother and muhammad is the mother
means mother and muhammad is the mother of Muhammad
of Muhammad
of Muhammad [Music]
five a.m.
five a.m. the first day of exams at the University
the first day of exams at the University
the first day of exams at the University of Aleppo she prepares breakfast for her
of Aleppo she prepares breakfast for her
of Aleppo she prepares breakfast for her son Han Ned who stayed up until 2 a.m.
son Han Ned who stayed up until 2 a.m.
son Han Ned who stayed up until 2 a.m. studying – the light of a candle for his
studying – the light of a candle for his
studying – the light of a candle for his architecture exam the electricity was
architecture exam the electricity was
architecture exam the electricity was out yet again she bruised his coffee
out yet again she bruised his coffee
out yet again she bruised his coffee with extra cardamom and 2 / full
with extra cardamom and 2 / full
with extra cardamom and 2 / full teaspoons of sugar
teaspoons of sugar
teaspoons of sugar very sweet just like him she prepares
very sweet just like him she prepares
very sweet just like him she prepares mint tea just in case by 5 a.m. on the
mint tea just in case by 5 a.m. on the
mint tea just in case by 5 a.m. on the table is a bowl of her homemade Lebanese
table is a bowl of her homemade Lebanese
table is a bowl of her homemade Lebanese condensed yogurt with olive oil and dry
condensed yogurt with olive oil and dry
condensed yogurt with olive oil and dry mint sprinkled on top a plate of
mint sprinkled on top a plate of
mint sprinkled on top a plate of cucumbers the reddest tomatoes and she
cucumbers the reddest tomatoes and she
cucumbers the reddest tomatoes and she could find a bowl of green and black
could find a bowl of green and black
could find a bowl of green and black olives with lemon and stems of time her
olives with lemon and stems of time her
olives with lemon and stems of time her hand made pickled mcdu eggplants and saj
hand made pickled mcdu eggplants and saj
hand made pickled mcdu eggplants and saj bread she baked this week she doesn’t
bread she baked this week she doesn’t
bread she baked this week she doesn’t have eggs but in Nabil the neighbor will
have eggs but in Nabil the neighbor will
have eggs but in Nabil the neighbor will deliver some later tomorrow she will
deliver some later tomorrow she will
deliver some later tomorrow she will scramble them with parsley and onions
scramble them with parsley and onions
scramble them with parsley and onions just as he likes them for there’s always
just as he likes them for there’s always
just as he likes them for there’s always tomorrow 5:00 a.m. it’s 5:00 Habibi my
tomorrow 5:00 a.m. it’s 5:00 Habibi my
tomorrow 5:00 a.m. it’s 5:00 Habibi my beloved your coffee’s ready and so is
beloved your coffee’s ready and so is
beloved your coffee’s ready and so is your breakfast she doesn’t eat
your breakfast she doesn’t eat
your breakfast she doesn’t eat but she watches his hands as they move
but she watches his hands as they move
but she watches his hands as they move from one plate to another to the light
from one plate to another to the light
from one plate to another to the light of a candle he holds her two hands
of a candle he holds her two hands
of a candle he holds her two hands kisses them one by one and says you ma
kisses them one by one and says you ma
kisses them one by one and says you ma habibti mother my beloved
habibti mother my beloved
habibti mother my beloved pray for me I will be back by five
pray for me I will be back by five
pray for me I will be back by five inshallah God willing 1 p.m. 2
inshallah God willing 1 p.m. 2
inshallah God willing 1 p.m. 2 explosions
explosions
explosions 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. amendment praying to an
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. amendment praying to an
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. amendment praying to an Allah deafened by the noise of praying
Allah deafened by the noise of praying
Allah deafened by the noise of praying mothers 3 p.m. banging at the door and
mothers 3 p.m. banging at the door and
mothers 3 p.m. banging at the door and Nabil the neighbor weeping wailing
Nabil the neighbor weeping wailing
Nabil the neighbor weeping wailing howling pulling her hair
howling pulling her hair
howling pulling her hair screaming they bombed the University of
screaming they bombed the University of
screaming they bombed the University of Aleppo man Ned Muhammad Mohannad 5 p.m.
Aleppo man Ned Muhammad Mohannad 5 p.m.
Aleppo man Ned Muhammad Mohannad 5 p.m. man not 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 9 10 11 12 a.m.
man not 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 9 10 11 12 a.m.
man not 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 9 10 11 12 a.m. 1 2 3 4 a.m. waiting 5 a.m. breakfast is
1 2 3 4 a.m. waiting 5 a.m. breakfast is
1 2 3 4 a.m. waiting 5 a.m. breakfast is ready
ready
ready a plate of scrambled eggs this happens
a plate of scrambled eggs this happens
a plate of scrambled eggs this happens to be the fate of many mothers in Syria
to be the fate of many mothers in Syria
to be the fate of many mothers in Syria but I too like every Syrian heart I know
but I too like every Syrian heart I know
but I too like every Syrian heart I know I believe in hope ml is the Arabic word
I believe in hope ml is the Arabic word
I believe in hope ml is the Arabic word for hope ml and I also believe that that
for hope ml and I also believe that that
for hope ml and I also believe that that with the conscience of all the red
with the conscience of all the red
with the conscience of all the red hearts that Syrian hearts will sing
hearts that Syrian hearts will sing
hearts that Syrian hearts will sing again for darkness also has an end and
again for darkness also has an end and
again for darkness also has an end and after each night there is
after each night there is
after each night there is day light and so on that hopeful note I
day light and so on that hopeful note I
day light and so on that hopeful note I will close it with the words of my
will close it with the words of my
will close it with the words of my Syrian friend who wrote her words while
Syrian friend who wrote her words while
Syrian friend who wrote her words while living in Syria dr. Nezhat at the summit
living in Syria dr. Nezhat at the summit
living in Syria dr. Nezhat at the summit she I hope her voice is a signal amidst
she I hope her voice is a signal amidst
she I hope her voice is a signal amidst all the noise that we hear on Syria
all the noise that we hear on Syria
all the noise that we hear on Syria today and she says from her heart to
today and she says from her heart to
today and she says from her heart to yours well in Elam may be dolphin when
yours well in Elam may be dolphin when
yours well in Elam may be dolphin when LM maybe dolphin are typical baby
LM maybe dolphin are typical baby
LM maybe dolphin are typical baby Sabrina sir I saw reality Alma hi when I
Sabrina sir I saw reality Alma hi when I
Sabrina sir I saw reality Alma hi when I am overcome with weakness when I am
am overcome with weakness when I am
am overcome with weakness when I am overcome with weakness i bandaged my
overcome with weakness i bandaged my
overcome with weakness i bandaged my heart with a syrian woman’s patience in
heart with a syrian woman’s patience in
heart with a syrian woman’s patience in adversity i bandaged it with the upright
adversity i bandaged it with the upright
adversity i bandaged it with the upright posture of a Syrian woman who was not
posture of a Syrian woman who was not
posture of a Syrian woman who was not bent by bereavement poverty or
bent by bereavement poverty or
bent by bereavement poverty or displacement I bandaged it with the
displacement I bandaged it with the
displacement I bandaged it with the steadiness of a child’s footsteps in a
steadiness of a child’s footsteps in a
steadiness of a child’s footsteps in a refugee camp a child weighing a small
refugee camp a child weighing a small
refugee camp a child weighing a small black shoe on one foot and a large blue
black shoe on one foot and a large blue
black shoe on one foot and a large blue sandal on another singing and wandering
sandal on another singing and wandering
sandal on another singing and wandering off to butterflies and skies seen only
off to butterflies and skies seen only
off to butterflies and skies seen only by his tiny eyes i bandaged it i
by his tiny eyes i bandaged it i
by his tiny eyes i bandaged it i bandaged it with December’s frozen tree
bandaged it with December’s frozen tree
bandaged it with December’s frozen tree roots trees that have sworn to blossom
roots trees that have sworn to blossom
roots trees that have sworn to blossom in March or April I bandaged it with the
in March or April I bandaged it with the
in March or April I bandaged it with the voice of reason that was not affected by
voice of reason that was not affected by
voice of reason that was not affected by a proximate desolation i bandaged it
a proximate desolation i bandaged it
a proximate desolation i bandaged it with the conscience of the living with
with the conscience of the living with
with the conscience of the living with the conscious of all the red human
the conscious of all the red human
the conscious of all the red human hearts and with the image of a homeland
hearts and with the image of a homeland
hearts and with the image of a homeland envisioned by the eyes
envisioned by the eyes
envisioned by the eyes of the poor thank you
of the poor thank you
of the poor thank you [Applause]
”
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