Welcome to the inaugural edition of Foreign Correspondence! I’m so glad you’re here.
I started mulling the idea for this newsletter last month. Ramadan had only just begun and my fasting-addled brain decided that the only thing better than facing a month of writing without coffee would be to add more writing to my life. Luckily for you, though, Ramadan ends this weekend. My caffeine consumption—and, with any luck, the quality of these emails—can only get better from here.
What I’ve written
To call this Ramadan unusual would be an understatement. While most folks associate the month with spiritual discipline and fasting, Ramadan is also a holiday centered around gathering: for predawn breakfasts with family; for sunset feasts with relatives and friends; and for special communal evening prayers.
The coronavirus rendered most of these gatherings too dangerous to go ahead, at least in their usual form. I wrote about how Muslims around the world have adapted their celebrations to our new socially-distanced reality, and the lessons that can be drawn from Islam’s long history with plagues. I also reflected on the fundamental tension that people of all faiths and none are grappling with right now: At a time when the world is experiencing grief and hardship, the temptation to physically come together is high—but so too are the risks. You can read more here.
In non-Ramadan news, I wrote about a European country where the curve has flattened, where life is slowly returning to its usual rhythm, and where leaders follow their own advice. This isn’t an especially rich nation, nor was it even regarded as particularly well equipped to handle a pandemic in the first place. It’s … Slovakia.
What I’ve read
This piece on the strangely life-affirming art of obituary writing:
“We treat the subject [of death] as a taboo. Many of us can’t even bring ourselves to say the word, which is why you end up with unlovely euphemisms such as ‘passed away.’ But it is important to think about death because it gives our lives meaning, shape and circumference. We have no choice but to come to terms with it as best we can, because no one gets out alive.”
This masterful essay on the “age of the global pantry” and who holds power in food media:
“[T]he way we define what is contemporary and fashionable in food is tied to whiteness as a cultural norm — and to its ability to incorporate other cultures without actually becoming them.”
This compelling (and slightly terrifying) deep dive into the rise of QAnon:
“QAnon is emblematic of modern America’s susceptibility to conspiracy theories, and its enthusiasm for them. … To look at QAnon is to see not just a conspiracy theory but the birth of a new religion.”
What I’m thinking about
I’ve been thinking a lot about how difficult these last few weeks have been for the journalism industry. In that time, I’ve watched dozens of talented peers from BuzzFeed, Quartz, Condé Nast, The Economist, and Vice lose their jobs. Yesterday, 68 of my Atlantic colleagues were also let go. To call it a loss would be an understatement. These folks represent some of the very best of our craft. To lose them under these terrible circumstances, and at a time when their talents are needed most, is heartbreaking.
I hope they get scooped up soon. I also hope that if you love what The Atlantic does, and are in a financial position to support us, you’ll subscribe. (Fun fact: Abraham Lincoln did.)
Thanks for reading and see you next time,
Yasmeen
P.S. I love replies, so if you have any thoughts on the newsletter or suggestions for how to make it better (or if you just want to say hi), email me back!