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We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled
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April NONFICTION selection WE CROSSED A BRIDGE AND IT TREMBLED: VOICES FROM SYRIA
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Just picked this up from the library. Timely selection. I've been thinking about the plight of refugees and the current (US) administration's heartless policies. I hope part of our discussion can be about what, if anything, we can do to help. So far I've donated to a local organization that helps with refugee resettlement.
Mod
That's great - local organizations helping with refugee resettlement are wonderful and (at least in my experience) somehow are not very well publicized, so a lot of people don't know they exist. Glad to see others donate when they can.
I read part of the Introduction yesterday and the first Section on Authoritarianism this morning. Just FYI, I was glad I read the Introduction as it provides the historical context needed to understand the different sections. I chose to read the General Intro and the background to Part 1 and then jumped ahead to read Part 1 . . . then will go back to the Intro for the background on Part 2 before I read Part 2 . . . etc. I only mention this because I know people who skip over Prefaces and Acknowledgements and Intros and Forewards, etc. This is one case where it is pretty important to read the Introduction. The author (on p. xxx) suggests several different approaches to reading the book. I chose one of them.I was a little disappointed at how few women's voices there were in Part 1. I hope the rest of the book is more balanced. The men's voices are important and interesting, I'm just more interested in the women's stories . . . and the children's (I'm not sure we will hear from them at all).
I marked several of the passages related to Authoritarianism that showed how a government can get inside the heads of the people. Very frightening! No time to insert the quotations here.
Also wondering if we keep the entire discussion in this one thread? or do other threads branch off?
Lucinda wrote: "I was a little disappointed at how few women's voices there were in Part 1..."That would be interesting to know why is that.
Not having read the book, I am also wondering about "fair" representation of the syrian people, but more on a social/wealth basis. Given the author is a western scholar, and she's met refugees, and - big assumption to follow - lower class people are less likely to be able to flee, how much does it show (or not) in the output selection of testimonies ?
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We've always kept discussions in one thread, but if there's a growing need to branch off, we can talk about that!
I just got the book on Kindle. Probably not something I would have picked myself, but I am trying to intersperse the pleasure reading with important reading too, so this looks like an interesting one.
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For more information on the events from this weekend (an article from just a few hours ago - I was looking for something current and, as much as possible, reliable) see here.
DDee wrote: "Not having read the book, I am also wondering about "fair" representation of the syrian people, but more on a social/wealth basis. Given the author is a western scholar, and she's met refugees, and - big assumption to follow - lower class people are less likely to be able to flee, how much does it show (or not) in the output selection of testimonies ? "The answer to your concern is in the first few pages of the book. There's a complete listing of the people whose interviews are included in the rest of the book AND a discussion of the range of types of people represented AND a discussion of why, even if the huge range of the Syrian people is not fully represented, it is still important to hear these stories. (Sorry if that sounds a bit snarky or school-marmy, but one of my pet peeves is book comments that start "I haven't read the book but here's what I think about it anyway." . . .)
Lucinda wrote: "DDee wrote: "Not having read the book, I am also wondering about "fair" representation of the syrian people, but more on a social/wealth basis. Given the author is a western scholar, and she's met ..."I'm sorry it came across that way, my intention was simply to ask opinions and feelings from actual readers regarding this particular aspect. Like everybody else, unfortunately, I have to prioritize the things I get and read, and have my own criteria for doing so. Maybe I should have just asked it without exposing and synthetizing my reasoning behind it.
I just got my e copy from the library. Thanks for the heads up about the introduction because I would have undoubtedly skipped it. I had a recent bad experience with the intro to the Kristin Lavransdattar saga... I understand it was a classic but that doesn't mean I've already read it intro writers. anyways, I digress. I will dive in tonight
I'm in Part IV: The Crackdown, and this essay by Adam, media organizer (Latakia) really stood out to me. After years of protests and demonstrations, someone finally comments on the regime creating this rift between the people:"From day one, the regime was saying that groups of radicals were coming. It was like, "imagine if one of those terrorists get into power." Alawites felt that they had no choice but to be 100 prercent behind the leadership... Are you kidding me? Or children are in prison and we have a shitty government and you're talking about Shia and Sunnis? I didn't even knew the difference between Shiite and Sunni until this whole thing started, because nobody cared. Don't get me wrong - Shia and Sunnis have been fighting forever. But nobody was mentioning any of that in Syria at the time. In 2011, the needs, the goals, and the demands had nothing to do with that. The goals were political reform, participation, real representation, and some actual active citizenship in the country.We're 30 years in on these essays before this point comes up. Scary. And not to shift the conversation, but I'm baffled as an American as to why our National Guard is going to the border right now.
The people in power saw those goals as a fundamental threat to their grip over the country. The only way they could maintain full control was by reframing the argument from reform to Shia and Sunnis and radicals..."
I have enjoyed the demonstrations and shows of solidarity between the religious communities up to this point, but I can't help but feel so disheartened knowing how long this has been going on. It's on the news today about Trump and Syria and Russia...
I'm so sorry for my typos. I tried to catch them but the text box in my phone is like an inch tall. apologies.
Anita wrote: "After years of protests and demonstrations, someone finally comments on the regime creating this rift between the people:"From day one, the regime was saying that groups of radicals were coming. It was like, "imagine if one of those terrorists get into power." "
Still am yet to start the book, but yes. Poland was the same, the current government started by polarising the society to the n-th degree and things are only getting worse and worse back home. Demonstrations are nice, but the situation isn't.
Not gonna take away from the main subject any longer, but we do live in scary, volatile times :/
through part VII, the demonstrations, rise (and some would say fall) of the FSA was hopeful and then horrifying. It almost reads like Animal Farm, in the sense that it seems like no matter what one does, corruption worms its way to the top of the ladder. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's the regime, the Syrian Army, the FSA, ISIS groups, or any of the other mentioned fighter groups - there is always someone waiting to line their own pockets. The refugee stories of escape, travel, and camps brings back into mind the little boy's body which washed up on shore and caused international outrage - years ago. There are multiple mentions of the "red line" of chemical attacks that were drawn by the UN and Obama with no action to back up their words. How hopeful they were to hear that the world was watching and on their side and how disappointed they are in the actions not taken. But then also messages of coalition bombings that destroyed more than the regime ever did... I can't help but wonder what Syria are saying now of Trump's (and England's) missiles. Are they relieved? Do they feel hopeful and renewed once again? Are there tears of joy? sorrow? loss?
It's such an emotional read. At times it feels so full of hope and rebelliousness, and then there are stories full of despair and resentment. One essay reflects upon how a person becomes a terrorist or Jihadist, while another brims with satisfaction at being able to finally complete the ninth grade at 38 and learning German alongside her child.
As for the structure of the book - I think it was quite a work of editorial magic. The order of the stories breathes to life the story of the people. While they are all different voices, they really bring across the voice of movements and social currents. Quite masterful, in my opinion. And there is a mix of class and standpoints - activists, fighters, families fleeing. The hopeful, bitter, and resigned.
Mod
Once, a young man entered one of the mosques in Homs. You could see a necklace around his neck, but the rest of it was tucked inside his shirt. He lined up and prayed with everyone else. And when he bowed, the necklace fell out. The pendant was a cross. People said to him, "Either you're wearing that necklace by mistake, or you came to the mosque by mistake." And the Christian young man said, "I came here to go out in the demonstration with you all."Ziyad, doctor (Homs), p72
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I agree El. I really enjoyed this compilation. The amount of work put into collecting and editing these different voices from so many people into this streamlined story of a movement of an entire people just astounds me. I'm very glad to have read this one.
Anita wrote: "I'm in Part IV: The Crackdown, and this essay by Adam, media organizer (Latakia) really stood out to me. After years of protests and demonstrations, someone finally comments on the regime creating ..."I flagged that section too Anita. I also had noticed something in the introduction about how way back in history the French divided Syria up according to factions. It seems that this often happens when someone comes in from outside to "organize" a country. . . . And then later dictators use those same divisions to pit people against each other and control them. Interesting.
I finished the book over a week ago, but have been typing up some of my notes. I'm very glad I read this collection. I just wish I had a better sense of what I could do to help.My favorite person interviewed in the book was Marcell, an activist, blogger, and Christian who writes about her role in the revolution as a feminist. She appears several times.
At the beginning her enthusiasm is contagious and exciting: "Demonstrations were amazing. There were so many heroes—heroes who never knew how heroic they were. Amazing people who took huge risks just to spread leaflets or to bring someone to thet hospital. I also did crazy things to rescue total strangers, things that could have gotten me killed. Because we were together, shouting for the same goals."
Later the situation gets more dangerous: [after moving to a different area of Aleppo] "I discovered that there were poor people in Syria. I was a woman who didn't wear a headscarf living alone in an area where no woman was without a headscarf or lives alone." . . . ."It was a harsh year. Especialy with regard to women's issues. It wasn't like going to a demonstration for two hours. It became a whole lifestyle. It was the fight with your friends because they don't want you to go alone in the street. You consider yourself a feminist, and say, "C'mon, do you really need to accompany me to buy a kilo of potatoes?" They say, "This is a situation of war. " and I say, "No, it's a revolution!"
"If the armed groups called for a rebel meeting, I'd be the only woman there. Everyone was shocked, like, "When we said rebels, we didn't expect HER to come." I would say "We're equals. Let's talk."
[Later, after fleeing to Turkey, she's reflecting on her life.] "I'm afraid that I'm forgetting who I am. Sometimes I find myself writing "she" when I should be writing "I." As if I'm telling someone else's story."
"This year I'm going to try to go somewhere and find some space to become a person again. Right now, my friendships are politica, my work is politica, my reading is political, my writing is political. I went on a date, and the first question the guy asked me was, "Do you tink the opposition will go to the peace talks in Geneva?"
"I don't want to be only a political thing. I want to be able to laugh, tell jokes, enjoy music. To be a person with dreams, hopes, love. I have a lot of anger at the world and I want space to heal. I want to find space to be me."
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I'm just starting to read so I'll be super delayed, but I will get back to you with my thoughts.
Right. So I actually delayed reading it for a while because of not feeling my top self for a while, and having read Power which was also quite brutal, I needed a time to recoup. Having said that, once I started I could not put it down.
It's such a good, through provoking important book. So beautifully and heart breakingkly shaped from the multitude of interviews conducted by the author with numerous Syrians.
You can of course do additional research on the subject of the history and events that transpired, but as for human element THIS is the book to read about situation in Syria.
I wish all the fearmongers and ppl who listen to them and end up spouting all the hateful dehumanising words, both in my country of origin (Poland) and the country I call home now (UK) and everywhere else in the world would read this account.
This is a "collection of intimate wartime testimonies and poetic fragments from a cross-section of Syrians whose lives have been transformed by revolution, war, and flight" that was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal.
I'll admit this book wasn't on my radar previously, so I'm looking forward to reading this which is exceptionally timely with everything going on in the world. I've put my request in at the library and hope to get it soon so I don't fall as far behind on the group read as I normally do. :)
Wendy Pearlman is a political science professor at Northwestern University (Chicago, IL) where she specializes in Middle East politics. She has spent more than twenty years studying and living in the Arab world, and she speaks fluent Arabic.
Northwestern interviewed Pearlman in their summer 2017 issue. You can read Five Questions: Wendy Pearlman here.
Has anyone already read this and have thoughts they'd like to share? Will anyone be reading with me this month? Look forward to hearing thoughts on this one.