Wisall: Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Wisall Safi
Marwa: Asalamu Alaikum. My name is Marwa Ahmadzai
I was born in 2002 in Thornton, CO
I was born in 2004 in Jalalabad, Afghanistan
My parents came here from Afghanistan in the 1980s
My family and I came here from Afghanistan in 2011
Marwa and I have completely different experiences growing up
But our love for Afghanistan is the same
When I would leave in the mornings for school, I would forget to say goodbye to my parents majority of the time because I would be so excited to go to
When I would leave in the morning, I would hug my mom very tight and not let go knowing that it may be the last time I ever saw her
I would be sitting in my living room at home hearing the sounds of bombs and bullets through the TV broadcasts that were being streamed
I would be sitting in my living room at home hearing the sounds of bullets and bombs outside my door.
I would see my parents cry watching the TV and seeing what was once their homeland being destroyed
My family and I would cry looking out the window watching our homeland being destroyed, we knew it was time for us to leave
I feel like I have so many memories of Afghanistan but they are all just pictures that I have painted in my head through stories that I’ve been told. Pictures that I hope to see in-person one day
I have so many memories of Afghanistan but the fact that I can’t create more breaks my heart, I want to reunite with my uncles, aunts, cousins and my beautiful grandma who’s been waiting for us to come everyday. I wish I could tell them it’s not that easy.
All we want is peace in Afghanistan
Happiness
Opportunity
Joy
When seeing pictures of Afghanistan
We don’t want to see guns and blood
We want to see the beautiful gardens
The beautiful mountains
The beautiful rivers
The beautiful people
Our hearts are aching seeing the injustices that are occurring in our homeland
Seeing all these people suffering just makes me feel like I am living through my childhood trauma all over again.
The one thing we know is that the people of Afghanistan are strong
And we also know that they are brave and resilient.
InshAllah one day, the tears rolling down the people’s faces will become tears of joy
And inshAllah one day, all their dreams will become reality
Black, Red, and Green: The colors of our flag
Black indicating the darkness that afghans have to overcome
Red indicating the bloodshed that was spilled to overcome that darkness
And the beautiful green, represents the era of prosperity when that darkness is gone
I grew up and was raised America, but I always knew the colors black, red and green were somewhat significant to my identity
I grew up and spent my childhood in Afghanistan, and the colors Red White and blue were my dream
Now we both stand here knowing
The colors black, red, and green are not only significant to our identity
But they are a part of our combined dream
The dream to see Afghanistan at peace
The dream to see Afghan children with smiles on their faces, with a roof above their heads and food on their tables
The dream to see our parents be able to go back to their watan and be able to see where their lives started
The dream where the girls in Afghanistan are not deprived of their human rights
The dream where Afghanistan is seen for its beauty, not its tragedies
The dream to see the black, red and green flag be waving high in the sky again
InshAllah we will see all of our dream come true
We just need to have sabr and make dua
Because this too shall pass
And in the Quran, chapter 94 ayat 5, Allah tells us:
For indeed, with hardship will be ease
One day we hope to see the people of Afghanistan wake up with smiles on their face
One day we hope to see the people of Afghanistan wake up and not be afraid of the day that is ahead of them
Although our narratives of growing up are different
Our pain, love, and hope for Afghanistan are the same.
We are one people
One watan
We can’t lose hope, I will go back to my home one day
We won’t lose hope, I will go see my motherland one day
