So poignant and beautifully written Yassmin. We live in such a fucked up siloed world.
I was out doorknocking today for Huong Truong’s election campaign and had to consciously be curious rather than angry at people who told me they have no interest in politics; everything was fine for them and they decide who they vote for randomly on the day.
But there’s so many things in the world that need changing I wanted to yell at them. But didn’t. That would have just made them abusive and defensive to me.
And it’s not as if they are even getting much joy a la your aunt in their tuning out.
Thank you for this. This reminded me of the idea of Palestinian exceptionalism and of it being seen as “different” to other causes, which ultimately goes back to the importance of the enemy: Zionism & the US. “We Palestinians matter because our enemy matters” is a common saying amongst us Palestinians. But I wanted to let you know that Sudan is in every Palestinians heart and we pray and fight for you everyday.
I really appreciated this read. And the way you articulate the actual problem: there is no narrative battle to fight, or hope to win.
When someone asked me on IG why I talked so much about Palestine and not so much about Sudan, my initial answer was that CNN, the Beeb etc aren't on a mission to make their readers approve of or tacitly accept the genocide in Sudan. They don't care one way or another whether you take sides. So there's this urgency of supporting the counter-narrative.
So we 'accept' that the war in Sudan is just horrible, awful, like any other civil war...it feels more distant, like we are uninvolved. But in a way it's almost more tragic. There isn't that sense of tangibility. So the horror and the death happens behind a hazy screen. And isn't that how dehumanisation happens? And what Europe has always done to Africans? Separate us from them and empathy drains away. It never ceases to sadden and anger me.
Incredible text and a powerful question. Another link between the two genocides is how long they have been happening, with fluctuating intensity. I remember being in my twenties and hearing about the terrible things happening in Darfur. Now I’m in my mid-forties and here it is again, still, and no one seems to know anything beyond ‘it’s bad’. It really does make me question why are some tragedies almost transparent to the west, almost invisible. Somehow taken for granted.
Thank you for sharing. The experience of silence around Sudan vs noise around Gaza must feel so hard - yes, it's not a competition of causes, but the contrast must weigh so heavily all the same.
Thank you for writing this🤍 I’ve been thinking more about how the perspective on Palestine has been shifting and we’ve seen more support to the cause by more people, but there’s always that “then what?” feeling I have and your piece made it clearer. It breaks my heart how even if people are “against” wrong, it doesn’t matter if our people continue to suffer and no real aid/action is being provided. That inaction is incredibly frustrating and eats at me. Making extra duaa for Sudan, Palestine and everyone else suffering ❤️🩹
Thank you for providing a narrative toehold, a base. You’re right of course, there’s ‘nothing to see here’ in MSM. It takes hunting to find something, anything about what is going on in Sudan. I’m ever grateful to read your thoughts and at least bear witness 🙏
thank you for writing this beautiful piece. it is so so important to understand the ways in which palestinian and sudanese liberation are completely intertwined (along with the fights of all other occupied peoples). our struggles are rooted in the same thing we can’t fight for our people alone- complete liberation happens together or not at all 🫶🏼🫶🏼
I read this with tears in my eyes. 💔💔💔❤️❤️❤️
💕💕💕💕💕💕
So poignant and beautifully written Yassmin. We live in such a fucked up siloed world.
I was out doorknocking today for Huong Truong’s election campaign and had to consciously be curious rather than angry at people who told me they have no interest in politics; everything was fine for them and they decide who they vote for randomly on the day.
But there’s so many things in the world that need changing I wanted to yell at them. But didn’t. That would have just made them abusive and defensive to me.
And it’s not as if they are even getting much joy a la your aunt in their tuning out.
This is really beautiful, thank your for describing your perspective about this so honestly.
Thank you! for reading and commenting. Yx
Thank you for this. This reminded me of the idea of Palestinian exceptionalism and of it being seen as “different” to other causes, which ultimately goes back to the importance of the enemy: Zionism & the US. “We Palestinians matter because our enemy matters” is a common saying amongst us Palestinians. But I wanted to let you know that Sudan is in every Palestinians heart and we pray and fight for you everyday.
I really appreciated this read. And the way you articulate the actual problem: there is no narrative battle to fight, or hope to win.
When someone asked me on IG why I talked so much about Palestine and not so much about Sudan, my initial answer was that CNN, the Beeb etc aren't on a mission to make their readers approve of or tacitly accept the genocide in Sudan. They don't care one way or another whether you take sides. So there's this urgency of supporting the counter-narrative.
So we 'accept' that the war in Sudan is just horrible, awful, like any other civil war...it feels more distant, like we are uninvolved. But in a way it's almost more tragic. There isn't that sense of tangibility. So the horror and the death happens behind a hazy screen. And isn't that how dehumanisation happens? And what Europe has always done to Africans? Separate us from them and empathy drains away. It never ceases to sadden and anger me.
Incredible text and a powerful question. Another link between the two genocides is how long they have been happening, with fluctuating intensity. I remember being in my twenties and hearing about the terrible things happening in Darfur. Now I’m in my mid-forties and here it is again, still, and no one seems to know anything beyond ‘it’s bad’. It really does make me question why are some tragedies almost transparent to the west, almost invisible. Somehow taken for granted.
This is beautiful and so important. I wish I had more words. Heart broken, for both your people and for the Palestinians.
Thank you for sharing. The experience of silence around Sudan vs noise around Gaza must feel so hard - yes, it's not a competition of causes, but the contrast must weigh so heavily all the same.
Thank you for writing this🤍 I’ve been thinking more about how the perspective on Palestine has been shifting and we’ve seen more support to the cause by more people, but there’s always that “then what?” feeling I have and your piece made it clearer. It breaks my heart how even if people are “against” wrong, it doesn’t matter if our people continue to suffer and no real aid/action is being provided. That inaction is incredibly frustrating and eats at me. Making extra duaa for Sudan, Palestine and everyone else suffering ❤️🩹
Yassmin, your Substack is the reason I now pray for the Sudan regularly.
Thank you for providing a narrative toehold, a base. You’re right of course, there’s ‘nothing to see here’ in MSM. It takes hunting to find something, anything about what is going on in Sudan. I’m ever grateful to read your thoughts and at least bear witness 🙏
thank you for writing this beautiful piece. it is so so important to understand the ways in which palestinian and sudanese liberation are completely intertwined (along with the fights of all other occupied peoples). our struggles are rooted in the same thing we can’t fight for our people alone- complete liberation happens together or not at all 🫶🏼🫶🏼