Some of us know exactly what war is; its ugly, relentless nature; how it creeps into everything, leaving fear in its path. It’s like an insect crawling into your soul, impossible to shake.

I was just five years old when the Iran-Iraq war started; even now, I can still smell the dampness of our basement, feel the heavy silence, and see the fear in my parents’ eyes.

A few years later, when Tehran was under missile strikes, I remember the cold, crowded shelters; the bloody sound of sirens sending shivers through us; our hearts trembling with each sound. My father would cover me with his body, shielding me from a world that was falling apart. That kind of fear, and the trauma that comes with it, never really leaves you.

War doesn’t just take lives; it rips apart families, steals childhoods, and leaves deep scars on the innocent. It’s a force that destroys lives and futures in an instant, leaving nothing but grief and loss behind.

No to war.

-s
Toronto, Oct. 2024