In the case of the Kurdish people, the mainstream media presented only one aspect of their culture, the Peshmera, or fighters, who supported the American effort in Syria. While I was aware of the deprivation of a homeland for the Kurds, I didn't know about their language, customs, or cultural mores until I read Homa's book. The picture of a fully developed people, trapped within foreign countries and struggling to maintain their identity would have provided more sympathy for and support of the Kurdish struggles over the years. When the United States withdrew from the battlefield, leaving the Kurds to fend for themselves, I, like many others, thought little about the ramifications for a people who lacked anywhere to flee. With more nuanced reporting and placing the Kurdish fighter in the context of their historic struggles, I, and others, would have urged our government to make provisions for the safety of the men, women and children who were left behind like so much used tissue.