Excellent article, with opinions & views from the Iraqis themselves. Despite your political opinions, these folks need to be in our prayers daily. Most Iraqis are good people who just want a normal life. They seemed to be split right down the middle in their opinion whether or not life was better under Saddam, or better now under temporary U.S. occupation.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/17/iraq.anniversary/index.html
A few interesting excerpts:
"My story didn't start after the war. It started as a child under Saddam. I remember that, in my early 20s, I was sent to a prison for a month and tortured because I did a report on Iraqi TV showing an American flag."
"Life was much better under Saddam," one man said from the back of the bus.
But he couldn't finish the sentence. An angry man at the other end of the bus, turned around and yelled, "What was better under Saddam? Give me one example. Are you talking about the wars Saddam put us through? Or the mass graves that he created during his era? Or the torture centers? Tell me one thing that was better under Saddam and I will applaud you."
Eleven of us were on the bus that day -- everybody giving a different opinion about the current situation. Some criticized the Iraqi government, others the United States, and some blamed Saddam loyalists. And, of course, many blamed the terrorists who kill Iraqis daily.
Listening to the exchange was remarkable because it never could have happened under Saddam. Before the war, nobody could voice frustration or anger.
There was no free press to question politicians. Now, when there is so much to talk about, we can finally exercise that right. Whether riding the bus or sitting at restaurants, talking freely has become part of the atmosphere everywhere.
Every Iraqi has a story to tell.
The very end of the article is what really gets to me.
But now before my eyes, I am seeing my people killed. We never expected to live through an era of such fear and anxiety. I cannot accept what is happening now, but still I do not want to turn back.
I remember one day when my mother was watching news on local TV as they showed the aftermath of an explosion that missed a joint U.S. and Iraqi military convoy, but killed two nearby children.
Tears ran down her face, as she cried in silence. I approached her, hugged her shoulder and asked her in this moment as she sat there crying, "Hey Mom, if you could return to the days before the war, would you?"
She looked at me for a while -- and still crying, shook her head slowly and said, "No".
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/17/iraq.anniversary/index.html
A few interesting excerpts:
"My story didn't start after the war. It started as a child under Saddam. I remember that, in my early 20s, I was sent to a prison for a month and tortured because I did a report on Iraqi TV showing an American flag."
"Life was much better under Saddam," one man said from the back of the bus.
But he couldn't finish the sentence. An angry man at the other end of the bus, turned around and yelled, "What was better under Saddam? Give me one example. Are you talking about the wars Saddam put us through? Or the mass graves that he created during his era? Or the torture centers? Tell me one thing that was better under Saddam and I will applaud you."
Eleven of us were on the bus that day -- everybody giving a different opinion about the current situation. Some criticized the Iraqi government, others the United States, and some blamed Saddam loyalists. And, of course, many blamed the terrorists who kill Iraqis daily.
Listening to the exchange was remarkable because it never could have happened under Saddam. Before the war, nobody could voice frustration or anger.
There was no free press to question politicians. Now, when there is so much to talk about, we can finally exercise that right. Whether riding the bus or sitting at restaurants, talking freely has become part of the atmosphere everywhere.
Every Iraqi has a story to tell.
The very end of the article is what really gets to me.
But now before my eyes, I am seeing my people killed. We never expected to live through an era of such fear and anxiety. I cannot accept what is happening now, but still I do not want to turn back.
I remember one day when my mother was watching news on local TV as they showed the aftermath of an explosion that missed a joint U.S. and Iraqi military convoy, but killed two nearby children.
Tears ran down her face, as she cried in silence. I approached her, hugged her shoulder and asked her in this moment as she sat there crying, "Hey Mom, if you could return to the days before the war, would you?"
She looked at me for a while -- and still crying, shook her head slowly and said, "No".
