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Heaven in Hell
They hope the calmer climate in Iraq will last. But they long for an overall turnaround in their country's stature. "We were more sophisticated than the countries in southern Arabia. Why are we going backward while they are going forward?" she asks. On trips outside their protected world, she sees the unemployed men selling tissues and gum in intersections. Salah, the engineer, thinks the United States should sponsor large road and bridge projects that would relieve both the traffic and unemployment. "Can't they do that?" he says. As for their new contractor neighbors, Manal says, "What have they done?"
Whatever happens, they say, they will not give up their house to follow their friends into the dangerous Red Zone or out of Iraq. When the phones work, they stay in close contact with the little diaspora from their side street. Those now on the outside, they say, miss the old neighborhood.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: roadrunner @ 05/30/2008 12:12:31 PM
Comment: My heart aches for these brave Iraqis who have perservered through some very bad times. From the information in the article, they were upper class people who may not have had it too bad under Saddam's rule. However, many others suffered extreme cruelty for many years and therefore he had to be removed from power. And anyone who knows anything about WAR, you know that conditions can get much worse before they get better, because there are those who would like to take over and maintain their rule over the people i.e. Status-Quo.
We have two sons who are both in the military. Our second son served in Iraq in 2004. He was with the US Army's 2nd ID, near Ramadi when things were very bad. He was injured by a suicide car bomber when they were leaving Ramadi after paying reparations to Iraqi Citizens. I'm certain the money they paid out was more than those folks earned in a year. But the point is, our Country's Sons answered our the call to duty and they wrote a blank check with their own lives as payment to the citizens of Iraq, in an effort to rid them of terrorists and bring peace to this region of the world. THEY are our HEROES and we, the protected had better wake up to that fact. There is no way we can ever imagine what they go through each day or went through in WAR. Whether it be this WAR of past War's. WE NEED to SAY THANK YOU to our Soldiers whenever we see them. THEY need to know that WE APPRECIATE their selfless sacrifices for their SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
I am married to a Vietnam Veteran and after living with his post war problems, we made a promise to each other that our children would never taste WAR. However, both our boys joined the military. Our #2 son joined joined the Army Infantry and has spent the last 4 years recovering from wounds received from the suicide bomber. Our #1 son joined the Navy and is at the ready when the call comes for him to go.
To all of AMERICA's SONS, I say THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, and for keeping US FREE.
Posted By: MorrisUSMC @ 05/30/2008 11:36:22 AM
Comment: hey cajungirl what the hell does a tree going through your roof have to do with the war in iraq. I as a iraq veteran personally know what is going on in iraq. you on the other hand have no idea. You just listen to the media and base your judgement on their democratic view. Which is nothing good is coming from the war. Im not sayin all is good in iraq by all means, but it is a start seeing these people have water and electricity for the first time in yeasrs
Posted By: lovernotfighter @ 05/24/2008 10:16:42 AM
Comment: What is better then...having your neighbor pull the trigger everyday with no bullets, or having someone from another "town" come in and blow up your house? Because that is what happened to these people in Iraq. Yes, their way of life before wasn't great and for some it was terrible. But now it is terrible for all of them and for us and our soldiers here in the states. You tell me which is better.