I still remember the day I first met Sam, many years ago during my visit to Brazil. At the time, I had no idea that a simple encounter would leave such a lasting impression on me. We met on a sun-drenched beach, the waves gently lapping at the shore as Sam walked barefoot, her eyes bright with an unmistakable passion for life. It was immediately clear that she was someone special, someone with a profound connection to her surroundings and an energy that was as vibrant as the landscape she called home.
What struck me most was how effortlessly Sam wove her love for nature and her dedication to activism into every conversation. She spoke with conviction about the issues that mattered most to her—her fight against oppression, her solidarity with the LGBTQ community, and her unwavering stance on political justice. It wasn’t just the depth of her beliefs that impressed me, but the way she lived those values, infusing them into every aspect of her life. As we talked, I realized I wasn’t just meeting a new friend, I was encountering a force of nature in human form.
From that day forward, Sam’s stories, her activism, and her commitment to justice became a source of inspiration for me. I left Brazil with more than just memories of its breathtaking beauty—I left with the knowledge that individuals like Sam can change the world, one step at a time.
Sam is a vibrant and passionate individual, deeply connected to her roots and the world around her. Born to a Lebanese father and a Brazilian mother, Sam embodies a rich cultural heritage that has shaped her worldview and values. Growing up in Brazil, a country known for its breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems, Sam developed a profound love for nature and the beach. These two elements are not just hobbies but essential aspects of her life, providing her with peace, joy, and a sense of grounding.
As a mother of two young adults, Sam has nurtured a home filled with love, support, and a deep understanding of individual identity. Her role as a mother extends beyond her children to her five beloved cats, who are just as much a part of the family. Sam is also an unwavering ally to her LGBTQ daughter, standing proudly beside her in support of love, equality, and acceptance. This advocacy is a natural extension of Sam’s broader worldview, as she identifies as anti-fascist, anti-zionist, anti-imperialist, and anti-capitalist. Her beliefs are rooted in a desire for a more just, equitable, and compassionate world, free from oppression in all its forms.
Sam’s passion for political and social justice is mirrored in her taste for books and films. She enjoys romance stories that explore the depths of human connection and political books that challenge systems of power and oppression. While her love for movies spans various genres, she avoids horror and ultraviolent films, preferring narratives that evoke thought and emotion rather than shock and fear.
Sam is a traveler at heart. Over the years, she has explored many corners of the world, from the rich cultures of Uruguay and Argentina to the historical wonders of Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. Her travels have also taken her to European destinations like Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland, and even to the United States. Each of these journeys has enriched her understanding of different cultures and landscapes, feeding her love for nature and her curiosity about the world. However, her travel aspirations are far from over. Sam dreams of visiting Cuba, a country rich in culture and history, as well as exploring the natural beauty of the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Tocantins, and the vast Amazon rainforest, where the sheer magnificence of nature is on full display.
Her political beliefs and personal experiences shape Sam into a multifaceted, empathetic, and outspoken individual. Through her love for family, her advocacy for justice, and her deep connection to the natural world, she continues to inspire those around her with her authenticity and unwavering commitment to her values.
Through following instances of her life, Sam’s deep commitment to her values—whether it’s standing by her LGBTQ daughter, rescuing animals, fighting for political justice, or fostering community through books—shines through. Her life is not just a testament to her beliefs but a living embodiment of them, in every action she takes.
1: The Beach Walk that Sparked a Movement
One warm afternoon, Sam decided to take a long walk along her favorite beach. The ocean waves gently kissed the shoreline, and the scent of salt filled the air. It was a ritual for her, a place where she could think clearly, away from the noise of everyday life. That day, she walked with her daughter, who had recently come out to her as part of the LGBTQ community. The conversation flowed easily, as it always did between them, until her daughter hesitated, her voice catching as she spoke.
“Mom,” she said, staring at the waves. “Do you think… people will accept me?”
Sam stopped, the sand shifting beneath her feet, and turned to face her daughter. Without a second’s hesitation, she wrapped her arms around her. “It doesn’t matter what others think,” Sam replied firmly. “What matters is that you accept yourself. And I will always stand by you. No matter what.”
That moment at the beach was transformative for both of them. Sam had always been vocal about her beliefs—her opposition to fascism, imperialism, and oppressive systems—but this moment crystallized her role as an ally in a more personal way. It was one thing to fight against injustice in the abstract, but it was another to stand by her own daughter, to be her shield in a world that might not always be kind. That day, Sam resolved to become more involved in LGBTQ advocacy, not just for her daughter, but for anyone who needed a voice.
2: A Family Dinner, A Cultural Bridge
It was a typical Sunday evening at Sam’s house, the kitchen filled with the warm scent of spices. Her father, who had emigrated from Lebanon decades ago, was at the table, recounting stories of his childhood in the Lebanese mountains. Her mother, with a twinkle in her eye, listened while preparing a traditional Brazilian dish. The fusion of Lebanese and Brazilian cultures was something Sam had grown up with, and it made her see the world differently.
This dinner, however, was different. Sam had invited a local activist over, a woman involved in anti-imperialist movements, to discuss a community event they were organizing. The conversation naturally flowed from personal stories to politics, as Sam’s father began talking about the struggles Lebanon had faced due to foreign intervention. The activist shared stories of economic imperialism affecting Brazil’s indigenous populations.
As Sam listened to their stories, she realized the common threads that wove their experiences together—imperialism was not just a global phenomenon; it was personal. It impacted her father’s homeland and her own, in different ways but with the same root causes. That dinner solidified Sam’s anti-imperialist stance, fueling her activism. The next week, she took the lead in organizing a rally, and when she spoke to the crowd, she wove in her family’s story, reminding people that these issues were not just political—they were personal.
3: The Refugee She Never Expected to Meet
Sam was on a trip to Germany when she first met Khaled, a refugee from Syria. She had traveled through Europe many times, visiting cities and soaking in the culture, but this trip was different. Khaled, a young man in his early twenties, was working at the small café where Sam stopped for coffee. His eyes held a weight far beyond his years.
They struck up a conversation, and soon, Khaled shared his story—how he had fled his homeland during the Syrian Civil War, leaving behind his family, his friends, and everything he knew. He had walked for days, crossed borders, and faced unimaginable hardships just to reach safety. His voice trembled as he spoke about the devastation in Syria and the fear that his family might never escape.
Sam listened intently, tears welling in her eyes. She had been to Syria many years ago and remembered its beauty, the warmth of its people. Now, the country was in ruins, and young men like Khaled had been forced to leave everything behind. She felt a deep connection to his story, not just because of her own travels, but because of her father’s experience fleeing Lebanon during turbulent times.
That night, Sam donated to several refugee organizations and wrote letters to her local representatives, demanding that more be done to support refugees. Khaled’s story became a cornerstone of her activism, a reminder that the political issues she fought against—imperialism, fascism, oppression—had real faces, real lives attached to them.
4: The Cat Rescue that Made Her a Hero in Her Neighborhood
One day, as Sam was walking home from the beach, she noticed a tiny kitten, shivering and alone, near the side of the road. Without a second thought, she scooped the kitten into her arms and brought it home, much to the surprise of her five cats. She nurtured it back to health, feeding it and nursing it through the night. Her love for animals was well-known in her neighborhood, and soon word spread that Sam had saved yet another stray.
What her neighbors didn’t know was that this act of kindness extended far beyond her love for cats. For Sam, every life mattered, whether human or animal. Her anti-capitalist beliefs were rooted in the idea that the world should be a place where compassion, not profit, drove people’s actions. Taking in that kitten was a small rebellion against a world that often valued convenience over care.
Her neighbors began to bring her stray cats, and soon, Sam became the go-to person for animal rescues in the area. Each life she saved was a small but significant act of resistance against a world that sometimes seemed indifferent. It wasn’t just about the cats—it was about living her beliefs every day, in every way.
5: A Political Book Club in the Amazon
Sam had always been a lover of books, especially those that challenged the status quo. One day, while visiting a remote part of the Amazon rainforest, she met a group of local activists fighting to protect their land from deforestation. They invited her to join their community meeting, where they discussed political strategies and shared stories of resistance.
Sam, ever the book lover, suggested they start a book club to learn from revolutionary thinkers around the world. The activists were intrigued, and soon, Sam was organizing monthly meetings where they read works by figures like Frantz Fanon and Angela Davis. The group discussed how the struggles in the Amazon mirrored those in other parts of the world—imperialism, exploitation, environmental destruction.
Sam’s ability to connect her love of political books with real-world activism helped strengthen the local movement. She stayed in touch with the group long after her trip, sending them books and resources to help in their fight. That book club became a symbol of resistance, a small but powerful way of building solidarity across borders.
As I reflect on that unforgettable encounter with Sam all those years ago, I realize just how much she has influenced my own perspective on life. Her unwavering passion for justice, her fierce love for her children, and her deep connection to both nature and her cultural heritage have all stayed with me. Sam is not just a person who speaks about her values—she embodies them, living each day with a sense of purpose and integrity that is truly rare.
Through her advocacy for the marginalized, her role as a loving mother and ally, and her dedication to protecting the environment, Sam continues to inspire those fortunate enough to cross her path. My time with her was brief, but the impact she left on me is profound. She reminded me that no matter where we come from or what challenges we face, we all have the power to make a difference. Sam’s journey is a testament to that truth, and I feel privileged to have been part of her story, even for a little while.
#MothersOfStrength #LGBTQAlly #AntiFascism #AntiImperialism #PoliticalActivist #NatureLover #TravelWithPurpose #AnimalRescue #BrazilianHeritage #LebaneseRoots #BooksForChange
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