Pomegranate

Just days before the 2016 presidential election,

the Michigan Democratic Party has filed

a lawsuit against the Donald Trump campaign.

The suit is a preemptive move to block Trump supporters

from trying to intimidate voters on election day.

Meantime, Michigan has become part of the Big Blue Wall

Hillary Clinton needs to protect her path to the White House.

That's one reason she is in Detroit right now,

and she has been leading Trump in Michigan,

but with the race tightening nationally,

it's critical to win states like Michigan, Wisconsin,

and Pennsylvania.

She got...

My name is Niran.

It means "fire" in Arabic.

My parents wanted a boy, as all of them do.

Instead, they got a girl.

A girl with the heart and brain of a thousand men,

the extraordinary design of a warrior,

the fearlessness of a jungle cat.

Push me down and tell me I can't do it,

and I will prove you wrong once again.

I am a rebel child.

My body, my voice.

Don't tell me what to cover or what to leave exposed.

Don't tell me what I need or how to wear my clothes.

I do not identify with the people of this house.

In the morning, I claim the title of a Judeo-Christian.

By evening, that of a Shia Sufi Muslim.

By night, I am free to fall asleep

with the handsome shining sky,

without the labels the world must--

Wow.

Only, your philosophy is very good.

-Can I buy it on Amazon? -Get out.

Niran!

Miss Niran!

Niran?

Hey, Mom.

Muah!

No, no, Alawi.

Ah!

You think this is funny, huh?

Mom...

Why are you freaking out?

Alawi?

You say "F" word?

Mama, no.

I said "freaking".

-Not fucking. -Ah!

Mom was calling you.

Woman, she must restrain.

Preserve herself for the ultimate man.

But is she a jar of pickles or jam made to be preserved?

Not human with a collection of feelings?

Is she not articulate?

Who are you talking to?

I'm practicing my Facebook Live.

Wow.

Do, uh, Mama and Baba know about this, or?

I'm just practicing. I'm not actually doing it yet.

- Hmm! -God knows you'd be the first one to know.

No, they already hate hearing about the shit you post.

Now you want people to see you saying it.

I'm going to be a warrior for women.

- Hmm. -It's not shit.

A warrior? Yeah?

More like a keyboard warrior.

Because it's all bullshit.

Get your ass up, and see what Mama wants.

- -Shut up.

Right.

Um... Is she not articulate?

Engaging?

Is she not engaging, articulate?

And made to-- made to blossom, and create?

Here you go.

Niran, brush your sister's hair.

I was thinking, today is a good day,

We make some Dal Maha, and some Torshi, too.

And you know, it is nice outside, maybe--

Mama, the day has barely started,

and you're already thinking about food?

Mama. You know without food,

we would starve, huh?

And who would want to marry you if you don't know how to cook?

No one, I hope.

Alright Niran, tell me,

what do you want to do with your life, Mama?

I'm gonna be a journalist.

No.

A poetic warrior for women.

A modern day Enheduanna.

"Be it known that I will roar.

Be it known that with flashing eyes,

you will hear me everywhere."

Maybe even a rapper.

A robber?

Ya Allah.

You are going to steal for a living?

Mama, a rapper. Like, a singer.

You know, Niran, if I tells you who called for you...

...there would be no this robber nonsense anymore, huh?

So do, who called?

Someone tall, and white, and works hard.

So, a refrigerator?

Okay, okay. Stop this craziness, huh?

Did you read the letter I gave you yesterday?

-What letter? -The letter from Obamas.

It was something about our food stamps.

Our food stamps?

What about it?

I don't know.

You didn't read it, huh?

I tried to read it, but it was a little confusing.

Mama, you know I am better than the FBI and ZIA, huh?

Why is this letter confusing?

What is so confusing about this letter?

You know how to read English, no?

You studied in Iraq.

Mama, I barely started college before stupid Daesh came.

Oh! Blame, Daesh, huh?

Alhamdulillah, I am smart enough not to have an education!

Go on the Facebooks, Mama.

Every day you are on the Facebook going, tick, tick, tick, tick.

-Good morning, Baba. -Good morning, Baba.

-Do you want some tea? -Please, habibi.

-Good morning, little princess. -Good morning.

-Hassina, good morning. -Good.

Mama and Baba, why do you call us kids Mama and Baba,

if we're not your Mama and Baba?

What kind of question is this, habibi?

It's, like, confusing.

Mama, habibti, look.

You are my eyes, my soul, my love.

But you better be good at school, huh?

So you can become a dectoor,

not a robber like other people, huh?

You still didn't answer my question.

Baba, some questions have no answer.

And Mama, some things are more important

to answer, like the letter.

-What letter? -The letter from Obama.

We got it yesterday. Go, go, go bring it for me,

so I can take it to Nisreen's house.

No, Mom, please don't take it to them.

What? Why?

I can't stand that Mary.

She acts like we're beneath her.

Well, we kind of are.

She's been in America a long time,

and she speaks better English than you.

All she does is post things

from the Bible on Facebook,

acting like she's holy, and better than us.

Oh-ho-ho! What about the stuff you post on the internet, huh?

Calling everybody...

Every week, your Aunt Akeela, she calls me,

complaining about your Facebook garbage.

It's because they are.

Ya Allah, ya Allah, what did I do in my life

to deserve a daughter like this?

Who cannot even read a letter from Obama?

You know what?

The Dream Narget make a very special on the chuck roast.

What?

Baba, it's Dream Market.

- ...is there a limit? -

Yes, habibi. The limit is four.

["Off This Ground" by Gethen Christine]

Why can't we just follow the rules and just buy four roasts?

What? You want us to go broke, huh?

We don't have to stock so much food.

Mama, it is not about the food.

It is about the sale.