I rarely post anything other than book reviews here, and I tend to avoid political discussions online. However, the current situation seems to call for action, and writing comes most readily to me.
As a resident of a non-border state, I may not fully appreciate the complexities of the immigration issue. But the present path pursued by ICE cannot be the answer.
The letter below to Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, references specific recent incidents and contains links to articles from major news outlets. Feel free to borrow from these if you wish to compose your own letters to leaders and representatives. Links to contact information appear at the bottom.
I Want Golden Eyes: Futuristic YA Sci-Fi from the Middle East
I Want Golden Eyes, by Maria Dadouch, trans. M. Lynx Qualey and Sawad Hussain (Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Austin, 2025, 184 pp, ages 12-18)
In the year 2095, Quartzia is a sharply segregated city in which the majority of citizens—the Limited—live underground, in the Burrow. The privileged ruling class—the Goldens—live above ground in a city of quartz domes.
Supposedly, the factor that determines who lives where is IQ—whether one scores above or below 1111 at birth. Protagonist Diyala, however, uncovers suggestions that other factors are involved in the distribution of assets. Also tellingly, the Limiteds are forbidden to read; it turns out that reading raises one’s IQ.
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Filed under book review, children's literature, translation, young adult
Tagged as activism, Arabic, futuristic, Middle East, protest, science fiction, social commentary, social justice, Syria, translation, young adult