an open letter to my country

The simple act of writing a letter can be cathartic. 

What happens when the personal collides with the political?

When the individual becomes a part of the collective ? 

Like many others, I have been in awe of the diversity in thought, culture, and geographical background that our community at NYU Abu Dhabi holds. The fabric of our community is grounded in these differences. But it doesn’t stop there. With the privilege of diversity, comes a responsibility to not only celebrate our differences but equally acknowledge the complex challenges that persist across our borders and contexts. 

While talking to a Brazilian friend about the effects of the Amazon fires on the local population, witnessing Indian and Pakistani students peacefully engage in dialogue about Kashmir, learning about the rise of extremist parties in Slovakia from my roommate, among other instances, I came to the realization that we as a community have astoundingly personal and unique insights on the history and present realities of the places we come from. 

If we were to take the bold step to speak up, or in this sense put pen to paper, a powerful collective consciousness can be sought. 

​