After spending nearly 4 years here in Iraq, I have seen and experienced more than my share of the evils of war. I have also witnessed a depth of human caring rarely expressed back home. I have had the misfortune of standing ankle deep in blood and human debris. I’ve sat with some of the poorest people, ravaged by war and a generation of despotism, only to have them respond to me in a kind and generous way. The “layers” of Iraq are so varied and so deep that anyone who claims to be an expert is simply not looking past the bombs and 30 second news bites.
That is the impetus behind this blog. Because I’ve spent less than a total of four months back home since I came to Iraq in 2003, I lost touch with what people viewing the war through the eyes of the American media felt was truly news. When I recently returned home and watched the “experts” discussing Iraq, I felt like the people were being cheated in some way. The brave soldiers fighting and dying here are being cheated. The local Iraqi’s risking their lives working along side them deserve more. The courage of the children has never been told. The private security contractors who are here risking their lives to make that small stretch of road, or convoy, or compound a little safer one more day are silent heroes. All of these people are here living in Iraq for reasons that most would find archaic in our aloof world.
I believe that news consumers back home should be presented with a picture of what is happening here that could validate the spirit of the freedom-loving heart, regardless of the flag you march under.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a war here. People are suffering and dying. In truth, you may not have seen the worst of it. I have to continue to live a surreal existence between being “out there” every day, balancing what I see with what we all hope for – a better day. I do not live with the military. In fact I have not lived on a military base since early 2004. So what you will get from me is a snapshot of what I experience. Some “news” from a regular person who lives an irregular life in Iraq. Nothing more…nothing less.
Comments (6)
I thank you for this blog. It's a great place to reveal small but significant bits of information not gathered by MSM. God speed.
Posted by Matthew Cole | March 6, 2007 11:01 AM
Posted on March 6, 2007 11:01
I am an American who has lived in France for the past 35 years. After reading what has been posted on this site, I wish that newspapers here and in the US would print this sort of information, show these sorts of photos, instead of statistics and political news. Maybe people out there would begin to wake up to the horrors of war and all violence. When it becomes individual - one to one - it is unbearable! For the first time in history, we can bring the horror of war and violence into everyone's living room via the internet and TV. We don't need war movies. We need these "reality shows" to make it stop. You are so human that it hurts!
Posted by Roberta Rivin | June 23, 2007 9:22 AM
Posted on June 23, 2007 09:22
I am an America who has lived in France for the past 35 years. After reading what has been posted on this site, I wish that newspapers here and in the US would print this sort of information, show these sorts of photos instead of statistics and political news. Maybe people out there would begin to wake up to the horrors of war and all violence. When it becomes individual - one to one - it is unbearable! For the first time in history, we can bring the horror of war and violence into everyone's living room via the internet and TV. We don't need war movies. We need these "reality shows" to make it stop. You are so human that it hurts!
Posted by Roberta Rivin | June 23, 2007 9:22 AM
Posted on June 23, 2007 09:22
I agree, I really do. But I am skeptical about what good it would actulaly do. Mind you, these were not rockets launched by Iraqis on Americans, or the other way round. This was a marketplace that was targeted by Iraqis against Iraqis.
I am willing to bet my bottom dollar that people in the U.S. use more strategy when they discuss who is going to win "American Idol," or they could give me more details on the show "Desperate Housewives" than they can about the goings on here. Until the people who send their sons and daughters to war, and then take an active role in their reason for being there --winning--- then obscure sites like mine will remain as they are, and "Survivor" and "American Idol" will continue to dominate and win the hearts and minds of the American people.
Please keep coming back as I am trying to post more photos and experiences.
Posted by Marshall | June 23, 2007 3:28 PM
Posted on June 23, 2007 15:28
Re your comments about "Desperate Housewives" or American Idol", I can only say that in the years I have lived away from the US, the population in general has been "dumbed down". I see it in U.S. visitors that come this way. If a college-educated American can ask me "What is the capital of Paris?" how can he/she possibly care or know what goes on in the world?! My mother used to say to me "Fascism will come to America in the guise of "Americanism." I used to laugh at that. I believe that when people, a nation, can be led around by the nose, it is in great danger. That Iraqis kill one another, somehow I can only feel that they also have been "dumbed down," none think, just act. History is filled with such examples. And I don't see that any of our human race seems to have clued into much of this. Thanks for your comments. I will pass on your site to as many people as I can.
Posted by Roberta Rivin | June 25, 2007 7:32 AM
Posted on June 25, 2007 07:32
Marshall, we would probably disagree on many aspects of the war you are participating in (such as terming the insurgents who attacked you for 30 mins 'terrorists') but I sincerely thank you for your blog, and hope that you will continue to be able to help Iraqi civilians caught up in this madness.
Posted by brian | July 11, 2007 9:11 PM
Posted on July 11, 2007 21:11