The Grand-Child of the Empire

My grand-father was an Ismaili and one of the subjects of the Ottoman Empire. He joined the "Arabic Revolution" and fought against the Empire. I don't know if my grand-father, who died before I was born, kept his Ismaili faith until the end of his life. One of his many secrets I'm still trying to discover.

Assem, my father, lived through "An-Nakba" and "An-Naksa". The "arabist" who became a "Fedayee", and the defeated who died surrounded by his broken dreams.

My son Assem, the carrier of his grand-father's name, but not of the heavy weight of his history. He only expresses himself in English. The Hard Rock lover who dreams to grow wings and fly to New York.

Three men on my family tree. My personal icons: the secrets of the grand-father, the defeat of the father and the departure of the son, the grandchild of the Empire.

Rim El Jundi