after I’d cross the lebanese-syrian border
border
border I stopped pulled out my camera because I
I stopped pulled out my camera because I
I stopped pulled out my camera because I had resolved that the entire time I was
had resolved that the entire time I was
had resolved that the entire time I was the Middle East I was going to keep a
the Middle East I was going to keep a
the Middle East I was going to keep a detailed photographic record of all my
detailed photographic record of all my
detailed photographic record of all my landscapes and have a real collection of
landscapes and have a real collection of
landscapes and have a real collection of geographic photographs as it turned out
geographic photographs as it turned out
geographic photographs as it turned out I took about 20,000
when I when I I saw the
when I when I I saw the description of this photo it just had a
description of this photo it just had a
description of this photo it just had a church on the outskirts of our deal when
church on the outskirts of our deal when
church on the outskirts of our deal when I saw the photo I I couldn’t believe it
I’m an iraqi-american but my parents are
I’m an iraqi-american but my parents are both Iraqi born bred and instilled the
both Iraqi born bred and instilled the
both Iraqi born bred and instilled the ideals and the idea of this country in
ideals and the idea of this country in
ideals and the idea of this country in our head this Garden of Eden I was very
our head this Garden of Eden I was very
our head this Garden of Eden I was very aware of this monastery my entire life
aware of this monastery my entire life
aware of this monastery my entire life that it existed and that one day I was
that it existed and that one day I was
that it existed and that one day I was gonna go visit it my great-grandparents
gonna go visit it my great-grandparents
gonna go visit it my great-grandparents kept having daughters and they wanted a
kept having daughters and they wanted a
kept having daughters and they wanted a son so they went to this monastery named
son so they went to this monastery named
son so they went to this monastery named after a st. Behnam and they prayed to
after a st. Behnam and they prayed to
after a st. Behnam and they prayed to st. Behnam and said please give us a boy
st. Behnam and said please give us a boy
st. Behnam and said please give us a boy please give us a boy and my grandfather
please give us a boy and my grandfather
please give us a boy and my grandfather Bram was born and they dressed him up
Bram was born and they dressed him up
Bram was born and they dressed him up like a girl when they for it when I took
like a girl when they for it when I took
like a girl when they for it when I took him back because the evil spirits that
him back because the evil spirits that
him back because the evil spirits that were guaranteeing that my great-grandma
were guaranteeing that my great-grandma
were guaranteeing that my great-grandma didn’t have a son would be tricked
didn’t have a son would be tricked
didn’t have a son would be tricked sadly March 2015
sadly March 2015
sadly March 2015 Isis blew it up and my whole family was
Isis blew it up and my whole family was
Isis blew it up and my whole family was was distraught It was as if my
was distraught It was as if my
was distraught It was as if my grandfather had died again
these photos give a lot of insight into
these photos give a lot of insight into these artifacts because so many them are
these artifacts because so many them are
these artifacts because so many them are destroyed and were destroyed by Isis
destroyed and were destroyed by Isis
destroyed and were destroyed by Isis recently for Americans I think it’s
recently for Americans I think it’s
recently for Americans I think it’s really useful to look at these photos
really useful to look at these photos
really useful to look at these photos and see like this is the beginning of
and see like this is the beginning of
and see like this is the beginning of civilization one of the most ancient
civilization one of the most ancient
civilization one of the most ancient lands of all time I mean we all care
lands of all time I mean we all care
lands of all time I mean we all care about history and culture and which is
about history and culture and which is
about history and culture and which is weird like you don’t listen to Drake
weird like you don’t listen to Drake
weird like you don’t listen to Drake you’re you know going to cheese steak
you’re you know going to cheese steak
you’re you know going to cheese steak joint and filling be like this is
joint and filling be like this is
joint and filling be like this is civilization but it is you know series
civilization but it is you know series
civilization but it is you know series known as a credit of civilizations and
known as a credit of civilizations and
known as a credit of civilizations and walking down the streets of sphere you
walking down the streets of sphere you
walking down the streets of sphere you see a diverse mix of people you know you
see a diverse mix of people you know you
see a diverse mix of people you know you see you can literally see the history
see you can literally see the history
see you can literally see the history through the ages among senior analyst
through the ages among senior analyst
through the ages among senior analyst and activist bono raised in Damascus the
and activist bono raised in Damascus the
and activist bono raised in Damascus the last time I visited the city was 2011
last time I visited the city was 2011
last time I visited the city was 2011 and then I was detained and I had to
and then I was detained and I had to
and then I was detained and I had to leave and I was never be able to visit
leave and I was never be able to visit
leave and I was never be able to visit the city again I’m a Syrian American I
the city again I’m a Syrian American I
the city again I’m a Syrian American I was born and raised in Florida but I’m
was born and raised in Florida but I’m
was born and raised in Florida but I’m originally from Damascus in 2011 we were
originally from Damascus in 2011 we were
originally from Damascus in 2011 we were full of hope after a few weeks from the
full of hope after a few weeks from the
full of hope after a few weeks from the uprising or the revolution it evolved
uprising or the revolution it evolved
uprising or the revolution it evolved and they invented something called the
and they invented something called the
and they invented something called the how would you translate that the
how would you translate that the
how would you translate that the the flying protest something like that
the flying protest something like that
the flying protest something like that which is like three four minutes they
which is like three four minutes they
which is like three four minutes they they agree to go to that point and to
they agree to go to that point and to
they agree to go to that point and to pretend that for example they are just
pretend that for example they are just
pretend that for example they are just walking or eating it starts and
walking or eating it starts and
walking or eating it starts and everybody’s chanting and they are
everybody’s chanting and they are
everybody’s chanting and they are filming and and then like two three
filming and and then like two three
filming and and then like two three minutes and they say that’s it
[Music]
[Music] we didn’t think about this industrial
we didn’t think about this industrial
we didn’t think about this industrial torture and and killing from the
torture and and killing from the
torture and and killing from the government and we didn’t expect that
government and we didn’t expect that
government and we didn’t expect that we’ll have one day something called Isis
we’ll have one day something called Isis
we’ll have one day something called Isis for example those pictures are very
for example those pictures are very
for example those pictures are very important to show so people when they
important to show so people when they
important to show so people when they look at them they don’t only see
look at them they don’t only see
look at them they don’t only see buildings and stones but also they
buildings and stones but also they
buildings and stones but also they realize that there are stories
realize that there are stories
realize that there are stories associated to those places many places
associated to those places many places
associated to those places many places in Turkey always had a shortage of water
in Turkey always had a shortage of water
in Turkey always had a shortage of water we had an agreement among ourselves that
we had an agreement among ourselves that
we had an agreement among ourselves that when the water came on we would all go
when the water came on we would all go
when the water came on we would all go to the window in the courtyard and call
to the window in the courtyard and call
to the window in the courtyard and call out
out
out sous-sous so that everybody could run
sous-sous so that everybody could run
sous-sous so that everybody could run fill the bathtub this is one of the
fill the bathtub this is one of the
fill the bathtub this is one of the strong memories in one of our family
strong memories in one of our family
strong memories in one of our family stories we sometimes forget like like
stories we sometimes forget like like
stories we sometimes forget like like teeth were like very different like
teeth were like very different like
teeth were like very different like years ago and like when I look to these
years ago and like when I look to these
years ago and like when I look to these photos
photos
photos I remember ah like some parts of
I remember ah like some parts of
I remember ah like some parts of Istanbul has not been always like a
Istanbul has not been always like a
Istanbul has not been always like a shopping mall of course I have lived on
shopping mall of course I have lived on
shopping mall of course I have lived on my life in Istanbul two years ago I came
my life in Istanbul two years ago I came
my life in Istanbul two years ago I came to United States into my masters you
to United States into my masters you
to United States into my masters you should see this place
should see this place
should see this place now there like all these like very chic
now there like all these like very chic
now there like all these like very chic breakfast places cafes restaurants it
breakfast places cafes restaurants it
breakfast places cafes restaurants it creates like some sort of class-based
creates like some sort of class-based
creates like some sort of class-based segregation in the city tour should
segregation in the city tour should
segregation in the city tour should there is something lost their Grand
there is something lost their Grand
there is something lost their Grand Bazaar is like this old Ottoman Bazaar
Bazaar is like this old Ottoman Bazaar
Bazaar is like this old Ottoman Bazaar in Istanbul when you go to it’s like you
in Istanbul when you go to it’s like you
in Istanbul when you go to it’s like you rent like few centuries back it’s a
rent like few centuries back it’s a
rent like few centuries back it’s a place that carried that thing from the
place that carried that thing from the
place that carried that thing from the past but also like transformed itself I
past but also like transformed itself I
past but also like transformed itself I mean I don’t really like Istanbul being
mean I don’t really like Istanbul being
mean I don’t really like Istanbul being presented like I like a bridge between
presented like I like a bridge between
presented like I like a bridge between like East and West it’s like you can
like East and West it’s like you can
like East and West it’s like you can like show are availablein is like the
like show are availablein is like the
like show are availablein is like the east of Turkey and like a woman with
east of Turkey and like a woman with
east of Turkey and like a woman with like a miniskirt is like the Western but
like a miniskirt is like the Western but
like a miniskirt is like the Western but it doesn’t work like that like you can’t
it doesn’t work like that like you can’t
it doesn’t work like that like you can’t like apply these categories you lose
like apply these categories you lose
like apply these categories you lose what actually is happening America likes
what actually is happening America likes
what actually is happening America likes to focus on the juicy headlines of
to focus on the juicy headlines of
to focus on the juicy headlines of violence and radical groups
violence and radical groups
violence and radical groups I’ve been asked if from oil grows in my
I’ve been asked if from oil grows in my
I’ve been asked if from oil grows in my backyard I ride camels to school I’m
backyard I ride camels to school I’m
backyard I ride camels to school I’m being completely and genuinely serious
being completely and genuinely serious
being completely and genuinely serious the Gulf countries have a lot to offer
the Gulf countries have a lot to offer
the Gulf countries have a lot to offer in terms of how they prospered from
in terms of how they prospered from
in terms of how they prospered from nomadic communities and pearl divers
nomadic communities and pearl divers
nomadic communities and pearl divers accommodations were not then what they
accommodations were not then what they
accommodations were not then what they are now Kuwait had one more or less
are now Kuwait had one more or less
are now Kuwait had one more or less decent hotel but the walls of my room
decent hotel but the walls of my room
decent hotel but the walls of my room were made out of cardboard I have to
were made out of cardboard I have to
were made out of cardboard I have to laugh at the super super luxury hotels
laugh at the super super luxury hotels
laugh at the super super luxury hotels that are there now I’m a Kuwaiti of
that are there now I’m a Kuwaiti of
that are there now I’m a Kuwaiti of Palestinian origin I am born and raised
Palestinian origin I am born and raised
Palestinian origin I am born and raised Kuwaiti from a large coin family in
Kuwaiti from a large coin family in
Kuwaiti from a large coin family in terms of this picture if you were to
terms of this picture if you were to
terms of this picture if you were to look at what it looks like today you’d
look at what it looks like today you’d
look at what it looks like today you’d see like a lot more skyscrapers every
see like a lot more skyscrapers every
see like a lot more skyscrapers every other Street you can see huge
other Street you can see huge
other Street you can see huge skyscrapers and then a few corners away
skyscrapers and then a few corners away
skyscrapers and then a few corners away you have old traditional houses you have
you have old traditional houses you have
you have old traditional houses you have the stoop curling through the middle of
the stoop curling through the middle of
the stoop curling through the middle of the city and what’s really amazing is
the city and what’s really amazing is
the city and what’s really amazing is the youth actually built an extra sides
the youth actually built an extra sides
the youth actually built an extra sides to the souk and they’ve called it somos
to the souk and they’ve called it somos
to the souk and they’ve called it somos it’s their own like burger joints and
it’s their own like burger joints and
it’s their own like burger joints and pop-up stores these are showing me
pop-up stores these are showing me
pop-up stores these are showing me images that for some reason maybe due to
images that for some reason maybe due to
images that for some reason maybe due to technology weren’t available for cadiz
technology weren’t available for cadiz
technology weren’t available for cadiz to create the
to create the
to create the so you know we don’t necessarily have
so you know we don’t necessarily have
so you know we don’t necessarily have access to these we’re spend more time
access to these we’re spend more time
access to these we’re spend more time learning about World War 2 in Europe
learning about World War 2 in Europe
learning about World War 2 in Europe than we do of our own history so for me
than we do of our own history so for me
than we do of our own history so for me this is amazing to see how far we’ve
this is amazing to see how far we’ve
this is amazing to see how far we’ve gone quite has progressed so much even
gone quite has progressed so much even
gone quite has progressed so much even if we revert to the way things were
if we revert to the way things were
if we revert to the way things were configured we’re not going to lose our
configured we’re not going to lose our
configured we’re not going to lose our claim to modernity Lebanon is an example
claim to modernity Lebanon is an example
claim to modernity Lebanon is an example of a country that had difficult times
of a country that had difficult times
of a country that had difficult times but has managed to have a society which
but has managed to have a society which
but has managed to have a society which is inclusive and very open it and free
is inclusive and very open it and free
is inclusive and very open it and free and that’s rather unique in the world
and that’s rather unique in the world
and that’s rather unique in the world let alone unique in the Middle East
let alone unique in the Middle East
let alone unique in the Middle East I am Lebanese and American and I grew up
I am Lebanese and American and I grew up
I am Lebanese and American and I grew up in a Lebanon that was very open to the
in a Lebanon that was very open to the
in a Lebanon that was very open to the world very vibrant it was called the
world very vibrant it was called the
world very vibrant it was called the Paris of the Middle East but it had a
Paris of the Middle East but it had a
Paris of the Middle East but it had a number of political problems and it
number of political problems and it
number of political problems and it descended into a long civil war to see
descended into a long civil war to see
descended into a long civil war to see the collapse of a state and the basic
the collapse of a state and the basic
the collapse of a state and the basic order that you grew up in and thought
order that you grew up in and thought
order that you grew up in and thought and took for granted being replaced by
and took for granted being replaced by
and took for granted being replaced by people with guns in every neighborhood
people with guns in every neighborhood
people with guns in every neighborhood setting up their own checkpoints seeing
setting up their own checkpoints seeing
setting up their own checkpoints seeing friends of mine getting polarized
friends of mine getting polarized
friends of mine getting polarized picking up guns and maybe shooting at
picking up guns and maybe shooting at
picking up guns and maybe shooting at somebody who might have been a neighbor
somebody who might have been a neighbor
somebody who might have been a neighbor and that’s scary since then we’ve had 26
and that’s scary since then we’ve had 26
and that’s scary since then we’ve had 26 years of rebuilding an inclusive
years of rebuilding an inclusive
years of rebuilding an inclusive democratic society
democratic society
democratic society the massive demonstrations what’s known
the massive demonstrations what’s known
the massive demonstrations what’s known as the cedar revolution happened around
as the cedar revolution happened around
as the cedar revolution happened around this statue in 2005 maybe more than a
this statue in 2005 maybe more than a
this statue in 2005 maybe more than a million or million and have people in a
million or million and have people in a
million or million and have people in a country of 4 million these moments when
country of 4 million these moments when
country of 4 million these moments when you know citizens by their hundreds of
you know citizens by their hundreds of
you know citizens by their hundreds of thousands who are all agreeing on one
thousands who are all agreeing on one
thousands who are all agreeing on one unifying passion they really want
unifying passion they really want
unifying passion they really want something different than the reality
something different than the reality
something different than the reality that they’re in but those beautiful
that they’re in but those beautiful
that they’re in but those beautiful wishes are rarely realized even if you
wishes are rarely realized even if you
wishes are rarely realized even if you take pictures of Europe seven years ago
take pictures of Europe seven years ago
take pictures of Europe seven years ago you’d see devastation civil war the
you’d see devastation civil war the
you’d see devastation civil war the Nazis genocide you know but time moves
Nazis genocide you know but time moves
Nazis genocide you know but time moves on yes Middle East is going through a
on yes Middle East is going through a
on yes Middle East is going through a very difficult dangerous traumatic
very difficult dangerous traumatic
very difficult dangerous traumatic period but history is about change it is
period but history is about change it is
period but history is about change it is about you know phases and things
about you know phases and things
about you know phases and things developing it hasn’t been always this
developing it hasn’t been always this
developing it hasn’t been always this way and it’s not always going to be this
way and it’s not always going to be this
way and it’s not always going to be this way
”
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