A few months back I heard the incredible news that among the artists selected for a residency this spring at Willapa Bay AiR was a young writer from Tehran. Imagine!  Not only did she apply to come half-way across the world to Oysterville, but the panel of jurors chose her over hundreds of other applicants!  What great news – for her and for us!  After all, it’s not every day that anyone from our tiny village might have an opportunity to meet a writer from Iran with the exotic name of Aida!

Once accepted, it took some doing for Aida to get her visa.  There was an interview process but the wait would be too long for the March residency.  Cyndy Hayward, founder of Willapa Bay AiR, contacted Lisa Smith who has a home here on the bay and works for New York University in Abu Dhabi. Lisa immediately contacted an official and arranged for the interview.  Aida got the visa!

This week, after yet another executive order from the oval office – this one on immigration and apparently targeting Muslims in seven countries including Iran – it was with aching hearts that Cyndy and Willapa Bay AiR manager Jeff McMahon wrote to Aida telling her they would do everything possible…

Yesterday Aida’s response came.  Lest we ever think that the world is so big and we are so insignificant that we will not be affected by the unconscionable actions of the small-minded, I want to print her letter in its entirety.  Her English is not perfect, but I don’t think her thoughts could be stated in any words but her own:

All the past days I have followed news, care about every details and I wanted to email you too.
I wanted to say whatever happens I never, never forget what you have done for me from the first day that I received your email. You always have been kind to me and beside me. When I had written “You don’t know how your work mean to me” it was not only about me, it was what are you doing for humanity.
You asked about my feeling. I extremely want before and even now to be there. But for than myself, I think and worry about the people who coming to US is depend on their life. In one of the scene in my novel I talked about a little girl in her father’s arms running in Damascus streets. Truly nowadays I can’t omit this scene from my mind. I hope there will be a way for them. I wish there will be a way for all the people.
And today your email so impressed me and I think with all these nightmares there is “hope”. With people like you there is always light even for that little girl and her parents.
Dear Jeff and Cyndy I grow up in a country that people suffer from injustice laws many times. I understand that people are separated from their government.
I truly want to see you from my heart and see other artists too. I want to talk to them about my people that have suffered before and then. I want to talked about my people that love peace and friendship and tell you that these days I’ll be with all Americans and know they captured in extremist.
I hope there is a way to see you in March and if there is no way I hope to see you later in these year.
This is your kindness to me and so respectful. I appreciated from my heart.
Best Wishes, Aida