Millions who fought, bled, and died for their freedom, who are demanding a system that represents them, are being told no without any discussion having taken place, and they’re meant to trust that their rights will magically be protected? Our region has seen enough. Real change or nothing else.

The new Syria hasn’t established a new social contract, a new constitution, or even given any real promises that people can put their trust in.

Good neighborly relations, trade, and respect for culture: three things can improve the region so much. They seem so simple and so achievable, but nationalism is a poison that isn’t easy to flush out. I long for a future when these wars and conflicts are the past. One day.

After a century of massacres and repression, Kurds (and Armenians, Assyrians, etc.) aren’t looking for payback. We’re all exhausted and want stability and peaceful lives. Turkey can become that major political and economic power if only it would let go of this violent nationalism.

Kurdistan, all parts, is abundantly rich in resources and is free of extremist religious and political views. If Turkey manages to genuinely show good will and let go of pan-Turkic nationalism and Kemalism there can be lasting peace.

In Rojava/North Syria Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, and Armenians are staying up tonight not to tell stories and laugh, but to mourn their dead, and fight back against Turkish-backed terrorists who want to butcher them as Turkish bombs fall from the sky. Evil has an air force this Yelda night.

Since the western and Israeli governments’ statements backing Kurds against the Turkish military in Rojava/North and East Syria there’s been a huge influx of anti-Kurdish propaganda on social media.

It’s slowly starting. They’re all trying to score political points. Fully expect it to lead to a very strongly worded letter asking the extremists to not be so extreme.