Lebanon ft. Samira Bechara

Today's guest is Samira Bechara. Samira's father was born in Lebanon and her mother was born in the United States. Samira was born in the Seattle area and recently moved to Lebanon, where she now resides. In this fascinating episode, Samira shares how it was to grow up in the US as a brown Lebanese girl during the time of 9/11, and how even though her family was Christian, she received racist and Islamophobic comments from people around her. She talks about how this Islamophobia was also perpetuated within her own family, and how she connects with her Christian roots as someone who is liberating herself from colonial systems. We discuss how keeping what is important and helpful within certain belief systems is as important as letting go of what no longer serves us. Samira shares what it's like living in Lebanon and some of the challenges that exist there, pointing out the disconnect between the area that is being actively demolished and the quiet community where she lives. We talk about holding compassion for people who have to live through this fragmentation and trauma, and how Samira feels passionate about contributing to a more liberated, just world through her work and the choices she makes as a human being on a daily basis. Other topics we discuss include Samira's ancestors who had mystical gifts, how certain aspects of Christianity has been co-opted by empire, building intimacy through accountability, celebrating other people's authentic selves and much more in this multidimensional conversation.