neurotic Iraqi wife
February 13, 2007
The Iraqi Destiny...
I have only been here four days and yet I felt the difference immediately. That dead look in their eyes. And when I say dead, I mean dead. Its even more noticeable now. That hunger for work is gone. That hunger for success has disappeared. They are tired. They are exhausted. They have given up. I know youre gonna say but thats how it was before. No, its different this time. I dunno how to describe it. Their frail bodies says it all. Their empty hollow eyes tells of a story of hope that has long dissippitated into thin air.
Even their desire of saving money to travel afar for a better life has gone. Just Gone. Its no more. No body wants us they tell me with their sad quiet voices. No body wants us. Where do we go? Where CAN we go, they ask. No where. We are stuck here, this is our destiny. Our destiny is to die alive here or is to live to die. Thats what they say.
A in a moment of anger started cursing Iraq and the fact that he is Iraqi. I hate myself he says. I hate it. I hate everything around me. I hate this country. I hate this country. I hate everything it brought upon me. What did Iraq give me he said while taking a long puff from his cig. Then he shakes his head, this country gave me nothing but pain. As much as I loved it, as much as it hated me. It took away my uncles, it took away my cousins. Everything I ever enjoyed, it took it away. No, it didnt take it away, It snatched it. What do you want me to tell you, he asks. What more can I tell you.
Yeah, what more can they say. Even their screams have become empty echoes. Empty echoes silenced by their pain. Being an Iraqi as I said has become like a contagious virus. No body wants you. HUBBY came and picked me up as usual to go for dinner. He seemed very distracted. What is it I say, whats wrong? Im Iraqi Neurotica. Huh??? Im Iraqi and thats why my boss refused to make me the program manager. Did he tell you this to your face? Yes, he was honest and told me that even though Im a US citizen, even though I speak like one, even though Ive lived there almost all my life, I AM IRAQI. You can sue them I said, thats a racist remark. He shrugged his shoulders and said, you know whats worse, not the fact they wont make me program manager, but the fact that they are here, in Iraq, yet they hate Iraqis. They mistrust them. Thats the worse part, thats the biggest insult to me.
He still cant get over it. The Iraqi hatred virus has spread to even the most stupid of people. Mrs Chair, yeah Mr Chair has brought in his Mrs, 6 months back. She spent 3 months with our organisation when in her own words " I hate working here, Im not used to being with "Iraqis". They are rude, they are loud, its different from the States". Her reasoning of Iraqis being rude is because Mrs Chair, cant stand it when ppl dont tell her good morning every day, and good afternoon every evening. I said look B, the fact they come here alive everyday is a miracle by itself. THe last thing on their mind is to even remember each and everymorning to say "Oh B, good morning, you are looking so lovely today". B, didnt get it. But she quit anyway and joined another company.
Three months later, and its deja vu. B aka Mrs Chair, gave in her resignation 2 days ago and decided to come back to our company. I freaked out. I cant stand her. I cant stand her daily complaints about Iraqis and their ignoring her. I cant stand her fake niceness then her stabbing in the back. Theres something about her that gives me bad vibes. Really bad vibes. I have a feeling she will be working directly with me, and I have an even stronger feeling that they will put her as my boss. Only reason they will do that, is because one she is Mrs Chair (isnt it against work ethics to have your spuse as your boss???Her husband is the manager) and Two I AM IRAQI!!!! I have been here 16 months, I know the prog inside out, but no, its against their ethics to put me an IRAQI in charge. The same ethics that ended HUBBY's, the two H's, The two S's and Z's contracts before time. The same ethics that refused to hear (from Iraqi expats) the truth about how the program should be managed.
And no, Im not upset about the position, its the constant feeling that your boss, the so called thirty five year old inexperienced guy that was put a manager over a multi billion program does not trust me enough cuz I am first and foremost an Iraqi. I took an oath over myself that if they bring Mrs Chair, who has never even heard of Taj Mahal becomes MY F* Boss, Im gonna let all hell break loose. Its a right that I have. A right that I will definitely fight for. If they dont like what I say then Im giving my resignation in. I started looking elsewhere and many are interested. Some even want someone with an Iraqi background, a huge difference from the majority of companies here. Hence the failure of this so called historic reconstruction effort.
And you know what, its their loss. Their loss definitely. A and HUBBY lift your heads up, lift your heads high up cuz YOU ARE IRAQI. It may be a bad karma for some to be one today, but no, I believe in destiny. The Iraqi Destiny...
Even their desire of saving money to travel afar for a better life has gone. Just Gone. Its no more. No body wants us they tell me with their sad quiet voices. No body wants us. Where do we go? Where CAN we go, they ask. No where. We are stuck here, this is our destiny. Our destiny is to die alive here or is to live to die. Thats what they say.
A in a moment of anger started cursing Iraq and the fact that he is Iraqi. I hate myself he says. I hate it. I hate everything around me. I hate this country. I hate this country. I hate everything it brought upon me. What did Iraq give me he said while taking a long puff from his cig. Then he shakes his head, this country gave me nothing but pain. As much as I loved it, as much as it hated me. It took away my uncles, it took away my cousins. Everything I ever enjoyed, it took it away. No, it didnt take it away, It snatched it. What do you want me to tell you, he asks. What more can I tell you.
Yeah, what more can they say. Even their screams have become empty echoes. Empty echoes silenced by their pain. Being an Iraqi as I said has become like a contagious virus. No body wants you. HUBBY came and picked me up as usual to go for dinner. He seemed very distracted. What is it I say, whats wrong? Im Iraqi Neurotica. Huh??? Im Iraqi and thats why my boss refused to make me the program manager. Did he tell you this to your face? Yes, he was honest and told me that even though Im a US citizen, even though I speak like one, even though Ive lived there almost all my life, I AM IRAQI. You can sue them I said, thats a racist remark. He shrugged his shoulders and said, you know whats worse, not the fact they wont make me program manager, but the fact that they are here, in Iraq, yet they hate Iraqis. They mistrust them. Thats the worse part, thats the biggest insult to me.
He still cant get over it. The Iraqi hatred virus has spread to even the most stupid of people. Mrs Chair, yeah Mr Chair has brought in his Mrs, 6 months back. She spent 3 months with our organisation when in her own words " I hate working here, Im not used to being with "Iraqis". They are rude, they are loud, its different from the States". Her reasoning of Iraqis being rude is because Mrs Chair, cant stand it when ppl dont tell her good morning every day, and good afternoon every evening. I said look B, the fact they come here alive everyday is a miracle by itself. THe last thing on their mind is to even remember each and everymorning to say "Oh B, good morning, you are looking so lovely today". B, didnt get it. But she quit anyway and joined another company.
Three months later, and its deja vu. B aka Mrs Chair, gave in her resignation 2 days ago and decided to come back to our company. I freaked out. I cant stand her. I cant stand her daily complaints about Iraqis and their ignoring her. I cant stand her fake niceness then her stabbing in the back. Theres something about her that gives me bad vibes. Really bad vibes. I have a feeling she will be working directly with me, and I have an even stronger feeling that they will put her as my boss. Only reason they will do that, is because one she is Mrs Chair (isnt it against work ethics to have your spuse as your boss???Her husband is the manager) and Two I AM IRAQI!!!! I have been here 16 months, I know the prog inside out, but no, its against their ethics to put me an IRAQI in charge. The same ethics that ended HUBBY's, the two H's, The two S's and Z's contracts before time. The same ethics that refused to hear (from Iraqi expats) the truth about how the program should be managed.
And no, Im not upset about the position, its the constant feeling that your boss, the so called thirty five year old inexperienced guy that was put a manager over a multi billion program does not trust me enough cuz I am first and foremost an Iraqi. I took an oath over myself that if they bring Mrs Chair, who has never even heard of Taj Mahal becomes MY F* Boss, Im gonna let all hell break loose. Its a right that I have. A right that I will definitely fight for. If they dont like what I say then Im giving my resignation in. I started looking elsewhere and many are interested. Some even want someone with an Iraqi background, a huge difference from the majority of companies here. Hence the failure of this so called historic reconstruction effort.
And you know what, its their loss. Their loss definitely. A and HUBBY lift your heads up, lift your heads high up cuz YOU ARE IRAQI. It may be a bad karma for some to be one today, but no, I believe in destiny. The Iraqi Destiny...
79 Comments:
It's crazy. If they want to hand Iraq back over to Iraqis, they have to hand everything back. Don't think everyone hates Iraqis...I don't and I know others that don't. sis from the usa
Oh NIW that is so sad. I just want to hug each and every one.
I think in any war situation you will find the trust breaking down. Put simply, you just don't know who to trust. And there may be cultural differences that exacerbate the problem.
Good God, you can even see the lack of trust between Americans. The divide between those who supported the invasion and those who didn't. The continual squabbling between State and Defense. When the CPA was in charge in the Green Zone they effectively shut out State.
Btw, Mrs. Chair? Did I miss a story behind that name?
yet they hate Iraqis. They mistrust them. Thats the worse part, thats the biggest insult to me.
NIW, that's the biggest insult to many of us. The reconstruction projects, from what I've read, are suffering from incompetent management and are mostly a criminal waste of money. For your husband's company, it should be all about hiring strong managers who can bridge cultural and language gaps (which clearly your husband does), who have both integrity and street smarts, and can hold subcontractors accountable for incremental accomplishments along the way. Unfortunately, it looks to be more about how many of your closest friends can you get in to top jobs on the free-for-all before the spigot gets turned off. Its very sad for people like you and hubby who go there with idealism and hope, and for Iraqis like 'A' who risk their lives every day, wanting to contribute to Iraq's recovery and future. Between our mis-management and the continuing security risks, sadly the chance to make a difference is not quite yet. Maybe another year or two down the road. Maybe after the next election and a real Iraqi government takes hold. I've gotta believe that at some point in the future, you and hubby and all the 'A's in Iraq will be able to rebuild for the future. I'll be happy to pay for it when the time comes, but for now, IMO, its a criminal waste of my taxpayers money. I do wish you luck and safety.
My thoughts are with you and your husband NIW. Yes, Iraq needs people like yourselves, and I can sympathise with you in having to face such downright hostility and prejudice from Americans.
American white people are like that.
They think that only they know everything and people who are "different" (meaning not American and white) must be shepherded about like children and treated as such.
As a black woman, at least I'm used to it over here. Sorry, that you get treated like that in your own country.
Even if call them on their crap or if you quit, they won't understand. You'll just be that rude Iraqi lady who used to work there.
I have a lot of white friends but sometimes I cannot believe how clueless even my nearest and dearest can be.
NIW, back in the 1970s I read a book called the "Peter Principle". It was about how people can rise to their level of incompentence in a company. I've seen it in action too many times that someone deserving of promotion is passed over, in favor of someone else who's only real talent is kissing butt.
Why don't the Americans trust the Iraqis. Multiple reasons, but a big one is that the Iraqi system is full of corruption. Iraqis have always worked on the system of bribes and pay-offs. They expect it. That was one of the biggest battles my husband fought over there as a project manager - trying to get it through to them that pay-offs were no longer part of the picture.
If people (and it started at the lowest levels and goes all the way up to the highest levels) don't get their pay-offs, then the work doesn't get done, or things are sabotaged, etc, etc.
Iraqis have to get over the system of bribery and corruption before they will be trusted.
Another reason for lack of trust is that it is impossible for Americans to know which Iraqis can be trusted, and which may be insurgents planting themselves in order to cause mass destruction.
There is absolutely no solution for us but death.
Thanks for writing about that! Since you don't hold the Iraqi passport the world might believe you.
Even though I know you are Iraqi in your heart.
dpHappy valentines day to you and the HUBBY! let's forget the politics for a day and enjoy this day. Enjoy the day with your husband.
A few more posts like this one, and your antagonists and enemies at your work place will know exactly who you are.
I know what you are saying! I felt the same in my office a few weeks before I left the country. I hate being alive. I hated seeing my family suffers, my friends sad, and my whole country burning. I hated Sunnis, Shiites, Muslims, Americans and everyone around me. I know I feel so much better now but there are millions who are feeling this now. How could we bring Iraq back if we feel like this. I really don't know what to say!
Begin hating the people behind
the carbombing of innocents,
The death squads and the corruption
in the recon projects which you can identify ... it is not worth the stress to get involved with office politics ... do a decent days work ... do your best to rebuild Iraq and tolerate your managers ... you do not have to work with these people forever
just another year or two ...
perhaps less as US State department
will always have fairly quick
turnover in Iraq projects.
The most important thing is to hope the new security plan gathers strength and real progress can be
seen soon ... perhaps by mid-summer Iraqi exiles will be able
to return to baghdad and help
consolidate and strengthen the progress even further.
What is needed in Iraq is a huge
movement to eradicate the extremists and and build safe neighborhoods.
This worrying about who should be manager etc is all temporary
political office type stuff
in a very difficult situation.
It is a minor detail toward the overall goal which is huge ...
If you and hubby feel that your existing positions are helping
Iraqi people then stay ...
If you feel you could do more
somewhere else the leave ...
The point being Bush is sending
20,000 more soldiers ... and more
money to Iraq ... Bush is not giving up on Iraq so you and the Iraqi you work with must maintain your concentration and work
hard to the ultimate goal ...
It would be nice if the Saudis
kicked in a billion or so of aid also ... say directly to Baghdad
Hospitals ... the Universities
Clinics etc ... I mean
a peaceful Iraq will lead to huge
benefits for all the neighboring states and the investment made now
can be returned tenfold over time
once Iraq is stable ... I urgethe Kuwaitti and Saudis and UAE etc
HELP IRAQ NOW IN ITS TIME OF NEED
Your rewards will come later with
a peacefull border and mutually beneficial trade agreements.
And lets not be idiots here
these management choices involve many things ... this notion that
the US is going to leave 5 billion
dollars in the green zone with no American oversight is moronic ...
Bremmer handed over 12 Billion dollars to Allawi ministries and people are crying about the lack of oversight ... It was Iraqi money
so US citizens are not that concerned ... strict accounting
and keeping waste/fraud/corruption
down must start somewhere.
I want your Iraq given back to you and your husband. I want the fighting to stop. I want peace and happiness and love for you there. May God be with you all.
Gabrielle
Well, your traitor of a husband finally realized what his superiors really think of him. Boo hoo hoo, I'm touched. That's what happens when you collaborate with the occupiers of your country against your countrymen for money.
American white people are like that.
Unfortunately there is far too much truth in that. And yes, I'm a "white American", I tend to avoid many of "my own kind" for this reason. Many of my own fellow citizens are treated just as badly.
I don't know what to say except I'm sorry. I mean that, I really am.
NIW,
I heard a faint glimmer of hope on the news last night. It looks like they are looking at raising the number of Iraqis given visas from 50(shared with Afghanistan) to 7,000(I think for Iraq alone). I haven't found anything concrete yet to show how far along they are on that, though.
This will be for those who have worked with us. Such as the interpreters.
American white people are like that.
Great way to teach "American white people" how bad it is to generalize based on skin color.
When did NIW say anyone was white? Did I miss that part or did you just assume that based on your prejudice?
What happened to judging individuals based on the "content of their character"?
This month is Black History Month in the US. When I read this post I thought of how racism has affected this country. Thatdeborahgirl expressed her personal experience with it even now. Iraqis like yourself would do well to see how blacks in this country have risen above racism and their circumstaces and the prejudice against them and gone on to be successful in spite of the arrogant attitude of the whites. You are making a difference NIW. We need someone over there keeping account of where the money is going. If people know that someone is holding them accountable for what they are spending, they may be more responsible, (we can only hope). Can Hubby break out on his own and start his own recontruction business?
I can't begin to imagine the horrors that go on in your country every day. My heart goes out to you.
Don't listen to someone who berates you and calls you a collaborator. You are working towards a better Iraq. There has to be a better way, a peaceful way for your country.
There will be. Don't give up. Hang in there. Know that there are many people praying for you and your nation.
I have been listening to a talking book about Bagdad by Bus. Do you know those to slakers who tried to do good?
Is their book accurate?
This is a two-way street of distrust and generalization. One reason behind "no Iraqi" is they don't know which Iraqis to trust, they've seen so much duplicity. So they generalize, just as so many here have generalized about Americans, or whites. There are some of us white Americans whose voices can't be heard, who feel responsible even though they cast votes against their government.
So, there are millions of us who care deeply but are unheard. We are disgusted with our American government, the corruption in American overseas missions, the incompetence in American leadership. As someone already said, it happens here in "safe" America too. We can't get through the media control so we say it here.
That's why your blog is so important, NIW. Please keep it going until you leave. Because after you turn out your light, there'll be nothing.
What I don’t understand is why you only keep it here in your blog. Contact BBC, The Independent and all other newspapers and media outlets and let your husband and others tell them they are Iraqi and are NOT allowed to serve their own country because of the US occupation that has all the control and they don’t want Iraqis who serve Iraq.
Who's Iraqi?
NIW, I believe you carry a UK passport. Does Hubby carry a US passport? These indicate your NATIOALITY. Not your ethnicity.
If you're being discriminated against because of ETHNICITY, that's not allowed in companies spending tax dollars.
Now, if I'm wrong about your passports, you're stuck.
I agree with Iraqi Patriot...You and your husband knew what you were doing the day you decided to help the occupation rape and murder your countrymen...Might as well take the consequences of your actions without the boohooing.
Take a good look around your kitchen. If you're like most American homeowners there are several things you'd like to
change about its functionality and appearance. And if you're like most American homeowners, you'd rather make these
changes than buy a new home.
"Decision number one with any kitchen remodeling project begins with the cabinetry. Cabinets and cabinet accessories
set the tone and personality of the entire kitchen and in some cases, up to 60 percent of the remodeling budget may
go towards cabinets," said Connie Edwards, Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) for Timberlake Cabinet Company,
Winchester, Va., one of the nation's leading cabinet manufacturers.
"Today, many manufacturers offer semi-custom cabinet lines and coordinating accessories," said Edwards. "These
cabinet lines are quite popular with homeowners because you can specify sizes and interior fittings for a customized
look at an affordable price."
I.P. and Anon, you mean working with the coalition as opposed to working with the terrorists to murder people in their homes, marketplaces, schools, and businesses? It's a shame we have to fight an enemy that is so gutless, they have to hide behind the innocent to protect themselves.
Solo why do you give NIW and her husband only two options to choose from? Is that how you view your life always only two options?
They could work with all the NGO outside the GZ. They could work with children’s shelters or universities and school. They could write articles in local and international newspapers about the corruption and mismanagement in the GZ from their own experience and how to stop it.
Nadia, they have many options, and you made good suggestions. I was just making a point to I.P. and Anon that NIW and her husband have shown considerably more bravery in working to help Iraq, than those that plan and execute bombings and killings of defensless Iraqis daily.
"Iraqis like yourself would do well to see how blacks in this country have risen above racism and their circumstaces and the prejudice against them and gone on to be successful in spite of the arrogant attitude of the whites."
Since when did this blog become a haven for racist anti-white diatribes?
Get lost and leave NIW alone.
Since when did this blog become a haven for racist anti-white diatribes?
Since she was broadcasted in SF? They think anyone outside their enlightened city is in the Klan.
Hmmm, C.R.B. seems to think kitchen remodeling may be a possible solution. Caution Iraqi bloggers, you have become a target for spammers.
NIW-
WAKE UP!
(google/video) The Disclosure Project, Dr Steven Greer, Loose Change, 911blogger.com.
NIW,
Are you and HUBBY okay? Its been a while since your last post or comment. Are you two still safe?
"In the past, yes, I have made sweeping indictments of all white people. I will never be guilty of that again -- as I know now that some white people are truly sincere, that some truly are capable of being brotherly toward a black man. The true Islam has shown me that a blanket indictment of all white people is as wrong as when whites make blanket indictments against blacks."
- Malcolm X
You seem like a well educated person, NIW, so it surprises me that you are not putting one and one together, so to speak.
Invasions and occupations are an old concept, yet one need not look back further than the conquistadors of the 'new world', nor the English colonization of India to understand what is taking place.
Exploitation, thievery, oppression, hate.........
Those are the morals of the people you work for. It's the old one step forward, two steps back cliche.
If I were you, I'd quite taking paychecks from the very people who are invoking chaos in the region you call your homeland. They are evil. And you work for them. Nuff said.
You might be interested in this, NIW:
Extract from Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran, published next month by Bloomsbury. To order the book for £11.99 (rrp £12.99) with free uk p&p, go to guardian.co.uk/bookshop or call (from UK only) 0870 836 0875.
The decision to send the loyal and the willing, instead of the best and the brightest, is now regarded by many as one of the Bush administration's gravest errors. Many of those selected because of their political fidelity spent their time trying to impose a conservative agenda on the postwar occupation, which sidetracked more important reconstruction efforts and squandered goodwill among the Iraqi people, according to many who participated in the reconstruction effort. ... many CPA staff members were more interested in other things: in instituting a flat tax, in selling off government assets, in ending food rations and otherwise fashioning a new nation that looked a lot like the United States. ... Medical care in Iraq had long been free. Under Saddam, the government picked up the tab. That was anathema to Haveman, who insisted that Iraqis should pay a small fee every time they saw a doctor. He also decided to allocate almost all of the health ministry's $793m (£407m) to renovating maternity hospitals and building 150 new community medical clinics. His intention was "to shift the mind-set of the Iraqis that you don't get health care unless you go to a hospital".
A noble goal, no doubt, but there was no money set aside to rehabilitate the emergency rooms and operating theatres at Baghdad's hospitals, even though injuries from insurgent attacks were now the country's single largest public health challenge.
In my view, the Bush administration has been criminally incompetent.
Dear Iraqi Wife.
i am a journalist with the Swedish TV trying to get in touch with you. Please send me contact details to : stina.blomgren@svt.se
All the best
http://www.riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#117192450286818012
How can you, a woman, a human being, a life, continue to support an opperation that makes these things possible?
Sad. Just sick and sad.
It is unfortunate but rape occurs all over the World. How can you say NIW is supporting this? Could it possibly be a cultural thing? You know every Race has good and bad. Have you heard about these men that raped numerous women in Australia? http://www.australian-news.com.au/Leb_rapists.htm
Its not just something that occurs in Iraq, sad but true.
"rape occurs all over the World."
But it would NOT have happened here, without the demoralization of Iraqis, a concept NIW gives her life for.
"How can you say NIW is supporting this?"
She cashes the paycheck, doesn't she?
Hello? Iraqi Wife? Are you OK? I am worried because you have not written in a week.
Do you see any change since the security plan began in Baghdad?
So it was ok when Uday was abusing and raping women? What is different? Like I said maybe its a cultural thing. The way these men were bought up, that they are superior. Perhaps if they were not employed as security forces they would be inflicting the same thing on their wives, sisters or cousins. You can not blame it on someone who cashes their paycheck.
If you think there was less rape in Saddam's Iraq then you are delusional.
If you think NIW has somehow help create a safe haven for new rapists you are flat out insane!
K
A few weeks before the handover of sovereignty, CPA staffers gathered by the palace pool for a farewell barbecue. ... Bremer walked on to a small stage. The world would look back on the CPA, he said, and "recognise what we've done".
"We've made Iraq a better place," he said. Everyone applauded. He shed a tear.
How I despise the deluded, greedy people running America and her foreign policy at the moment, and I despise those who keep them in power. My contempt for Bush, Bremer, Rumsfeld, Negroponte, Cheney, et al, is deep and wide and will never be erased.
No matter what the U.S. does or doesn't do for other country's people are going to complain. I truly wish the U.S. leadership would leave the middle east, as a whole, to fend for themselves, including Isreal. I am tired of the complaining.
I would also like to add that I find it amusing that people find it acceptable to make racists comments, as long as it is against white people. So much for following in the footsteps of Allah, God, or Jesus Christ.
عيوني نيوروتك ..
ترة صارة هنا هوسة وهايسة..
شنوا السالفة؟
How many children have been murdered? How many humans have been raped? How many humans will be tortured before you decide to stop living off the evil ones? NIW - save your soul! Karma spares no one. Get out, leave that disgusting life before it takes you. US forces are lost and sick, don't be one of them, Get out while you still can. Don't be the future's Nazi. Please.
Anonymous,
"US forces are lost and sick, don't be one of them,"
You realize that Iraqi Wife has worked very closely with U.S. soldiers, right? She obviously is not scared of them. :-) They are probably scared of her, though. :-)
Look, I think my comment to NIW was valid. Arrogance and greed have gotten us into this war. American-style racism has also gone a long way toward fueling the fire.
Lumping all the people of Iraq into one view and on view only and refusing to allow them to run their own country...whose arrogance is that?
Maybe racism has warped me a little. I've certainly experienced enough of it. I just can't believe that white folks can claim "we've learned our lesson, we don't do this anymore" and then take the same brand of bigotry to a whole other country and use it justify wholesale murder.
I may be wrong but I do now believe and will always believe that the war has lasted this long because white folks have an amazing tolerance for allowing brown people
to die. It took four years, the slaughter of thousands and the displacement of millions for mostly white America to even begin to dare express that Bush may have been wrong.
And while people are still dying we quibble over how many troops and how much longer and how much money.
No one else should have to die for this. What on Gods Green Earth will it take to STOP this horrendous quagmire?
Original_Jeff, you area sad sick soul. I almost pity you.
"white folks have an amazing tolerance for allowing brown people to die."
Sadly there is some truth in that! The "brown people" of the world are are more likely to live in poverty, slavery and under despotic regimes! But what does that really tell us? Is this just because of OUR wars? No! This is because of the racism of INDIFFERENCE.
I lived in an small African dictatorship when I was a boy and wow, did that open my eyes! I wish ALL Americans could see what I saw for themselves. When my family returned I was really shocked. I was shocked because no one cared! No one cared about Africa. No one had heard of the country I had been to and no one cared that the people had no political freedom. They were Africans! No cares or knows about Africans - even black Americans. That is why no one did ANYTHING during the Rwandan genocide. The UN stood back and WATCHED. Then as if that was not enough - years later the same black-on-black conflict spilled over to the Congo and 4 MILLION people died! Hundreds of thousands of women were systematically raped. Again no one did anything. Do Americans think Africans don't deserve our help? Plus how could we help? How could a "mostly white" army invaded a country full of black people when they might be caught on camera shooting at black people or commit any other crimes? Clearly YOU would not have any of it. So how could the rest of America? And now we see the same thing in Darfur. 2 MILLION muslim Africans displaced and hundreds of thousands exterminated by other "brown people". Once again, no one cares - they're Africans. And what are we suppose to do? A stern letter? Sanctions? - they're already starving!
These conflicts involve people of the same color skin oppressing each other so few Americans can put into a simplistic context they can understand.
The same was true of Iraq! You say, "why is it taking so long"? I say: why did it take so long to start? Why did we wait 30 years? Why are we waiting to help the others around the world? Are white people stopping us? Are you?
K
K,
I appreciated your post immensely. The problem that arises is what we are seeing in Iraq. We as Americans are damned if we do and damned if we don't. Also it pains me to see the world feel about us the way they do. Americans are good people, spoiled, but good. The problem we have run into in the U.S. is that our elected leaders do not listen to the voice of the people. They are all, democrat and republican run by big business, not the good of the nation. It also seems that whenever we try to help a nation we fail to meet everyones standards. I am rambling a bit but I would like you to know that I am aware of what happened in Ruwanda and the Congo and it is all beyond belief. I would like to make a point though, that the world has to understand that Americans cannot fix the problems of other countries, we cannot fix our own. Americans need to also understand this also. We are not the savior of the world. I think the world would be a better place if we would stop trying to be.
Jason,
Good point about us not being the savior of the world. I agree. But we do have the worlds largest, most powerful army. That makes us the defender of the oppressed if we want to defend ourselves.
Complaints I can handle, terrorism I cannot. In a world where 4 box cutters can murder thousands we have no choice! We either do it for them or for us but I say both!
Plus don't assume we don't get anything out of it. Imagine all the thoughts and ideas the masses of the world have locked in their heads with dictators holding the keys. Their liberation would pay us back 1000 fold.
We can already see this in Iraq. So many new opinions and insight to their magnificent history when before all we saw was the stupid smiling face of Saddam.
And a planet of free people is the SAFEST world we could have for our kids. This is the new realization of our time.
K
"Lumping all the people of Iraq into one view and [one] view only and refusing to allow them to run their own country...whose arrogance is that?"
But THEY did NOT run the country before we invaded. Saddam did. I am sorry to say this but I believe many of the problems are because now they are running the country for the first time in over 30 years. Iraq doesn't yet have a great leader like Mandela or Gandhi. Someone who has a passion for Democracy and a love of peace and reconciliation. I think someday soon Iraqis will. Maybe they already did and Saddam killed him (or her). I don't know. But lets not just blame the US whites for everything. That does not help. Look at these comments. Many here think Americans are evil and racist and that we want to exterminate them and their religion because people wrongly tell them so. But do you personally know anyone who thinks this way at home, I don't. Look at Condoleezza Rice. She helped plan this war. Is she racist too? Her childhood friend, Denise McNair, in Alabama was murdered in a terrorist bombing by white supremacist! Yet ignorant people call her terrible names for "collaborating" with white Republican Bush much the same way people say and threaten terrible things to NIW for doing her part for what she believes in. Bush got C's in school, Dr. Rice was Provost of Stanford! The truth is she knows more about what Freedom means to the Middle East far more than Bush ever did.
I feel really helpless about the chaos that is happening in Iraq right now. I feel like the UN should have done more years ago about Saddam's humanitarian abuses, but the world seems to feel comfortable sitting by and watching unspeakable acts happens because it is not happening to one of "us". It is that whole "us" versus "them" mentality. I was against invading Iraq from the beginning because I felt like we were 1. Invading another sovereign country for personal reasons (WMD- gimme a break) 2. We did not gather substantial worldwide support, and 3. It was a distraction from where Al-qaeda really was: Afghanistan.
However, I also feel like we broke it, we buy it. We cannot invade a country, realize, oops, there's not WMD's here, and leave the country to fend for itself. That is what really bothers me about the American mentality (I am American). Not only do we tend to have the "us" versus "them" mentality, (and have mercy on you if you fall under the "them" category), but we also feel this right to invade other countries and dictate to them what they should do, how they should govern, and what their principles should be. And if you think racism does not play a part in the way this war has been waged and how policies have been developed, then you are sorely mistaken.
We are a product of our environments, good or bad. And America has always touted how free we are, how fair we are, and how we embrace the diversity of our country. But when you really look at it, we have such deep inequities in our own country, how could that not carry over to Iraq? How can we honestly say we don't feel this over there, when we can't shake those ideas here at home.
It's not surprising to me that Hubby was not promoted due to nationality or national identity. Americans have this idea (most of the time secretly), that if you want a job done right, we have to do it.
I love America. Don't get me wrong. But the true value of democracy is that I speak these truths (as I see them) and still see the generous and kind spirit that most Americans have. i wish these same rights on the people of Iraq.
You should make something better of your life. You work for hired killers. They are killing people. Doesn't that bother you? Children, dead. Women, raped. Men, tortured. You get a paycheck.
Don't waste your opprotunity! LIVE life with appeciation! Work for those that bring the world joy!
I was in Africa during Apartheid. I got to witness another myth debunked. That Democracy is somehow "our" invention - that only westerners want freedom - that "brown people" can't handle Freedom - that its "our" culture and not "theirs" - this is TRUE racism!
Why did South Africa become the first Democratic nation in Africa? How did a nation go from being the premiere world symbol of colonial racism to being the first and only free nation on a continent that would love to live free?
I believe it is because the oppressors were white. Americans and Europeans could understand THAT problem because it mirrored our own history quite literally in Black and White. So we put pressure on the diplomatic and economic pressure on the white Afrikaans government to change. And it worked!
South Africa was lucky: Not only did they have a political problem easy enough for Americans to understand, more importantly they had a great moral leader to take the country to Democracy rather than revenge and chaos. Here's what Nelson Mandela had to say about freedom and Democracy when he was arrested and threatened with a death sentence for sabotage:
"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people, I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if it needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
- Nelson Mandela
Thirty years later - he saw that ideal realized for his country. This war is not a fight between White vs. Black, Sunni vs. Shia, Christianity vs. Islam. Its a war for Freedom for ALL PEOPLE regardless of race from tyrants of ANY RACE - by any means necessary - including the worst means - war. Even if you don't believe that Bush wants Freedom for all in his heart WE can still make it be about those things if we keep repeating that message and fight for that end. We can FORCE him to make it about Freedom. He doesn't rule us - we rule him! He is our employee. It doesn't make us "collaborators", "occupiers" or "Nazis"- it makes us honest - because that's what we all want.
K
Enjoy your posts.So well written. They're are my source of what is really happening. Forget CNN,etc.Even if the Americans leave, I don't believe Iraq can function without a continuing civil war. For example,the various fractions cannot even agree on how to use the millions of oil $. They should be celebrating that this oil money can now be shared by the populace, but no, they're squabbling over this. Any comments. Thanks!
Salam NIW, just wanted to say i LOVE your blog, found the link to it recently (2 days ago) through BBC and i can say i've officially caught up on ALL your posts. yup, from your first one in aug '04....
about your recent december blog:"
So what difference am I making or the others are making?"
you are making a HUGE difference to all of us by simply educating us and you are an inspiration (along with HUBBY).
thank u for informing us (without bias such as that of north american media) and thank u for not leaving iraq. please keep on blogging!!
Where are you, NIW?
Getting worried about you and Hubby.
Bamboo
This young woman had a bad day, too, for you:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=39535011
This young woman had a bad day, too, for you:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=39535011
Ila jahanam u bi2sa alma9eer.
Hello, NIW! I have noticed that you have not written in a couple of weeks, and I would just like to let you know that we are thinking of you. I hope that you are OK!
I can completley relatted to what you said about saing good morning to someone.When just being alive is a joy.I work here in Bagdad myself.And ive been here for over two years. I know i havent seen the true eyes of death.But.I have seen my friends,coworkers,and the iraqi people laying on the street.And as time goes on you have to ask yourself when is it my turn.
But most in the states will never have to have that burden.Or fell that pain.And i never wish that on anyone.But then again they really need to look at where they are and whats going on around here.And get off there high horse.I have told people that and i either get a blank face or told that im out opf line.But I support your thoughts.And my god bless you.
Someone in Bagdad
Hope you are okay, NIW! I'm worried, your absence is something I began to prepare for in case, considering your situation, anything, you know, um, happened. Let us know that is not the case, for the love of life!
I don't understand where are you going with this. I have seen the link to your website on BBC, I have read some passages of what you have posted. I do not find it useful in any way.
If people feel that their life is normal, they would be under less stress. All that talk about "we hate being iraqis, we don't want to be here..." stems from the fact that people like yourself [I don't mean to be offensive] make them feel that they are living in a dangerous place and they are not safe inside.
Throughout history, there were many countries that were damaged by war. Take Japan for instance, I imagine that the place was much worse than Iraq. If you spend some time reading how the Japanese stood up on their feet again, you would recognize the trap that most Iraqis are falling into. In other words, too much talk about how hard it is being in Iraq would only make the thing worse. I really do not see the advantage of what you are doing .
zaid, with all due respect your speech is mere theory. It's obvious that you haven't lived here in Iraq to estimate the dangerous life we are living or in Japan so shut tfu.
U thought that by using such name we'd think you are Iraqi or something?
Hey NIW...you ok? Haven't heard from you on your blog in a while...
Ditto what dubai sunshine said. It's not like you...hope all is well with you.
Ziad makes a good point. Surround yourself with negative, and negative is what life becomes. Anon makes a good point too,(in a negative way ;-) that it's fairly easy to be positive, when not in the middle of the situation.. There's a saying that "It's not the situation, but how you handle it". You got the BLAGHgs NIW?
I am becoming increasingly worried about you. It's been 3 weeks since you've posted. And from what we see on the television, things are not going very well in Iraq. Pray that all is well.
yes indeed: HOW are you? where, and what???
take care!
Hi NIW.. haven't heard from you in a while, and frankly a bit worried.. hope u and Hubby are doing well and in safety and rawa2 el baal inshalla dayman.
There are people out in the world who are concerned about you. Please let us know tht you are ok.
Don't give up, Hubby!!!! Don't give up, NIW!!!! This American wants you to both be happy and safe in a free Iraq, still! Iraq for Iraqis, safe and happy! Don't give up the dream!
"They mistrust them. Thats the worse part, thats the biggest insult to me."
How dare those Americans mistrust someone who takes potshots at America in every other paragraph. Shame on them.
Thank you for writing this, thank you for complaining, thank you for letting the world know about Iraqis not being allowed to be in charge in their own country.
We Americans will never, ever read about such things in our newspapers, but we can see the absurd injustice of your situation if we hear about it.
Americans can go on being idealistic about the ultimate outcome of our invasion - they can turn off the TV and shut it out - but anyone living in Iraq needs something other than idealism to survive. (And I don't think it's being greeted with "good morning" by an undereducated American who, I'll bet, thinks she's doing Iraqis a favor being there.)
I'm sorry to say I am not optimistic about what will happen in Iraq, but I do hope you win your personal struggle. And that you continue to write about it.
P.S. To the post just above mine ("How dare those Americans mistrust someone who takes potshots at America in every other paragraph. Shame on them."): I know returning your sarcasm would be the smarter, quicker way, but I really want to point out the thinking behind it:
Iraqis shouldn't take potshots at America because ... they owe them something. Iraqis should be good-natured about all their problems because ... Americans mean well. - I wonder how many Americans used to feel (or, heaven help them, still feel) that the Vietnamese should have been more grateful for what America did for them.
You are right to be worried sick out of your mind. Just who did the bombing on the Samarra Shrine?
Who gains from a disunited Iraq?
History shows again and again that a foreign invader can only be expelled when the indigenous population unites as a cohesive fighting unit to force the invader out.
When Iraqis are expending their energies fighting one another, and effectively reducing their numbers, it makes it so much easier for the occupying forces.
There has always been an agenda behind the the sectarian violence in Iraq.
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