Several years ago, I taught middle school English learners and had a recently arrived student from Syria. Waiting for the buses one day, I noticed that his fingernail beds were very strange, sort of mangled. I asked him what had happened to his hands. His English was limited, but we had just finished a unit on the American government, so he was able to say: “I am baby, the government is angry at my mom. They want to make my mom sad. The government pulls off my fingernails and my mom sees. It’s ok, I can’t remember it.”
That description of torture will stay with me forever. I know the future is tenuous, but the Assad regime being gone is an important step for the Syrian people.
It is hard to grasp the horrors these people have been through. Some have been able to come to the US to escape the terrors and the violence they were living through yet Trump wants to deport them all…and people are cheering for that. It honestly breaks my heart to think about.
The quote "we're all just here to walk each other home" sticks out in my head and heart when I think about what you describe. "America first" is evidence of how detached from humanity people in this country have become.
Thank you, Sharon. This is the first in-depth account I’ve read of the rebels. I know the Assads’ history in Syria, and am anxious for their future. This is an opportunity for a better one, and a chance for America to have a role in a Just. Peaceful. Good. And Free. Syria and Middle East.
My great-great grandparents left Syria at the turn of the last century. I grew up listening to my great grandmother talk about the stories her parents told her. I have always wanted to see where they came from and it continues to break my heart to see the suffering and destruction. Thank you for writing all of this up. ❤️
Sharon, I subscribe to the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and my local paper, and you often provide better information and more interesting stories. Thank you for all you do! I am learning so much from you.
Thanks for this excellent background and current information update. You write so succinctly and explain things so well. I’ve seen accounts of Israel moving tanks to and over the boarder (plus other shady things) and would be interested in an expanded lesson from this angle.
Israel has confirmed that it has tanks in the "buffer zone" (uninhabited territory between Israel and Syria), and that they are striking military storage facilities, air fields, etc. to prevent weaponry and technology from being seized for use by terrorist groups now that the government has fallen, but there have been additional social media rumors that they're actively invading Syrian territory (for instance, that there were 'tanks outside Damascus'). At least one of those claims is using photos that are from last year in Gaza: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/were-israeli-tanks-spotted-outside-damascus-a-fact-check-7224391
Can you explain any religious dynamics at play in Syria? I do not know if there is a major population of one cultural group or another. Also, has any information come out about Austin Tice.... if he may still be alive? Thank you!
This 2022 report on religious demographics in Syria is interesting - obviously things are hard to account for with so much displacement, especially for the minority religious populations that may have shrunk considerably in recent years as they left Syria entirely, but the majority of the population (74%) are Sunni Muslims: https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/syria/
Several years ago, I taught middle school English learners and had a recently arrived student from Syria. Waiting for the buses one day, I noticed that his fingernail beds were very strange, sort of mangled. I asked him what had happened to his hands. His English was limited, but we had just finished a unit on the American government, so he was able to say: “I am baby, the government is angry at my mom. They want to make my mom sad. The government pulls off my fingernails and my mom sees. It’s ok, I can’t remember it.”
That description of torture will stay with me forever. I know the future is tenuous, but the Assad regime being gone is an important step for the Syrian people.
It is hard to grasp the horrors these people have been through. Some have been able to come to the US to escape the terrors and the violence they were living through yet Trump wants to deport them all…and people are cheering for that. It honestly breaks my heart to think about.
The quote "we're all just here to walk each other home" sticks out in my head and heart when I think about what you describe. "America first" is evidence of how detached from humanity people in this country have become.
Thank you, Sharon. This is the first in-depth account I’ve read of the rebels. I know the Assads’ history in Syria, and am anxious for their future. This is an opportunity for a better one, and a chance for America to have a role in a Just. Peaceful. Good. And Free. Syria and Middle East.
My great-great grandparents left Syria at the turn of the last century. I grew up listening to my great grandmother talk about the stories her parents told her. I have always wanted to see where they came from and it continues to break my heart to see the suffering and destruction. Thank you for writing all of this up. ❤️
Gosh, I am so nervous for the Syrian people. Thank you for this explanation.
Sharon, I subscribe to the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and my local paper, and you often provide better information and more interesting stories. Thank you for all you do! I am learning so much from you.
And I'm learning so much from commenters! Thank you all for adding intelligence to the conversations.
I can’t imagine what it must be like for the people living there. Are there are humanitarian organizations stationed there?
Thank you, Sharon!
Thanks for this excellent background and current information update. You write so succinctly and explain things so well. I’ve seen accounts of Israel moving tanks to and over the boarder (plus other shady things) and would be interested in an expanded lesson from this angle.
Israel has confirmed that it has tanks in the "buffer zone" (uninhabited territory between Israel and Syria), and that they are striking military storage facilities, air fields, etc. to prevent weaponry and technology from being seized for use by terrorist groups now that the government has fallen, but there have been additional social media rumors that they're actively invading Syrian territory (for instance, that there were 'tanks outside Damascus'). At least one of those claims is using photos that are from last year in Gaza: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/were-israeli-tanks-spotted-outside-damascus-a-fact-check-7224391
Can you explain any religious dynamics at play in Syria? I do not know if there is a major population of one cultural group or another. Also, has any information come out about Austin Tice.... if he may still be alive? Thank you!
This 2022 report on religious demographics in Syria is interesting - obviously things are hard to account for with so much displacement, especially for the minority religious populations that may have shrunk considerably in recent years as they left Syria entirely, but the majority of the population (74%) are Sunni Muslims: https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/syria/
Thank you for this!