Tuesday, July 25, 2006

REMEMBER

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you plann'd:

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.


Christina Rosetti.


How will we be able to forget Soraya Serajeddini? You were a lioness for Kurdistan, Soraya, a true activist and a model for all the young Kurdish women in the American community who were coming up in the ranks behind you.

Forgive us our sorrow, Soraya; we cannot help it now. It is a sign of your honor and our respect. Perhaps even more than that, it is the pain we feel at the sudden void in our midst and in our hearts. It is the pain of shock that a treasure has been snatched from us far too early.

You should have lived a long life.

In place of longevity, you lived a life of selflessness, a life of devotion to the Kurdish people. You lived a life of richness because you never closed your eyes to, nor turned your back on, the suffering of Kurdistan.

One day, when the pain is easier to bear, we will be able to remember you and smile because you had been among us.

To Soraya's family, my deepest condolences.

3 comments:

madtom said...

What happened, and who was she?

Mizgîn said...

Bi xêr hatî--Welcome--Madtom.

There is a good article about Soraya Serajeddini's life and work as a Kurdish activist at KurdishMedia. She passed away suddenly on Monday morning from complications of asthma.

She will be missed very much.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your condolences. She was indeed an amazing woman.

~Beth (Soraya's niece)