Eurasia Group | A Girl from Aleppo
Back

A Girl from Aleppo 

Ian Bremmer 
30 January 2017
dsf Maria Orfaly (fourth from the left) with her family soon after arriving at Ellis Island in 1923
One day in 1923, Maria Orfaly fled her home. Maria was the daughter of Simon Orfaly (originally Simon Ourfalian), a merchant from Aleppo. Simon also had three sons—and two other children who died shortly after birth. Maria and her brothers grew up in Ottoman Syria as Armenians, branding them as outcasts from the day they were born. It was genocide that forced them onto the road, and she fled persecution for Ellis Island, just four miles from what is now Eurasia Group's global headquarters. I'm proud to tell you that Maria was my grandmother.

A glance was enough to see that Maria was a tough old lady. Fiercely intelligent and outspoken, she waved off offers of help she felt she didn't need. She inspired my love for politics at an early age by organizing a 'silver haired senate,' an organization of senior citizens in Boston brought together to promote legislation in line with their interests.

I come from immigrants. From refugees. People from everywhere, of every description, and from every tradition have worked hard to make America greater tomorrow than it is today. They bring skills, plans, drive, and endurance. These are my people. These are American people. May it ever be so.
as
My grandmother and me in 1981
publications_detail.inc
Searching...