Thoughts on being here after 2 months (a brief)

tsltm · 11-26-2003, 10:59 AM

So here I am on my final 2 weeks before I leave for America. There was much to learn as well as much to digest here in the dynamic culture that seperates the Iraqi's from the rest of the Middle East. They are now only beginning to understand what a great weight that has been lifted off of them. Children can play in the street without fear of abduction or getting killed for sport. Women can walk in public, shop in public and converse in public without fear of being picked up and raped by one of Saddam's henchmen. Men of all ages can freely walk the streets, meet friends for an cup of the Turkish coffee here that is so rich like their culture without fear of being drafted into the Baathist Party or the army. I share this with you as you cannot even imagine how fortunate even the poorest American is. The people here, although they dont even realize it are allowed to make descisions, allowed to control their destiny, and allowed to experience what we in the Western world give as much thought to as tying a shoe. They are only just starting to realize it, like waking up from a long nightmare, for some their whole lives lived under the regime. As when any person wakes up, the fog of the new day slowly clears up. Very few words can describe the buzz on the street which could best be defined as excitement. This was their first Ramaddan where they could freely practice the holiday as they chose to. This is also the first time they are seeing the world through their own eyes with a strong desire to travel, to explore, to gain knowledge just as their anscestors had done when the capital was once known as Babylon. I talk to many of them, always approached with a hello, a handshake and a smile. Maybe we should take a lesson from them in humility and on greetings. Small kids grin widly and wave frantically at passing hummers which always draws a smile off the hardened American soldier from behind the .50 cal, if anything was worth the trip, this would have to be it for mnay of them. Whenever they are parked, the hummers are always approached by kids, young adults, grown men to say hello and wonder what state they are from, not having any idea what the difference is between North Dakota and California. Many of them dream of traveling, their number one choice is America. When engaged in the conversation, I will ask them where in America, they always reply that they dont know, they just want to go there. Clearly, they have little knowledge of this giant of a country which occupies their daydreams. Is the American dream dead, I think definetely not outside of our own peripheral borders.

I am grateful to be here to witness this and I will be back soon,
Leif

Hokie_Audi · 11-26-2003, 11:01 AM

raco · 11-26-2003, 11:02 AM

thats very touching... gave me goosebumps reading it

looey · 11-26-2003, 11:02 AM

Jack in FL · 11-26-2003, 11:02 AM

Maybe support for our efforts would be better. Really glad to hear your thoughts. I can only imagine what it's like there and how lucky we are back in the US.

Gop-Dogg · 11-26-2003, 11:02 AM

Jack in FL · 11-26-2003, 11:03 AM

It's a nice goosebump.

eug (MK V) · 11-26-2003, 11:04 AM

_T("Andreas") · 11-26-2003, 11:06 AM

going on.

The day to day events like kids smiling to soldiers doesn't really make into the headline yet it is still important to know about that aspect of the mission.

Have a great thanksgiving and be safe.

raco · 11-26-2003, 11:07 AM

:P... hehe i'm sure pr0n's avaliable. who here at AWOT was sending their issues of maxim?

11-26-2003, 10:59 AM	#1
tsltm Elder Member Account #: 4656 Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 17,864	Thoughts on being here after 2 months (a brief) So here I am on my final 2 weeks before I leave for America. There was much to learn as well as much to digest here in the dynamic culture that seperates the Iraqi's from the rest of the Middle East. They are now only beginning to understand what a great weight that has been lifted off of them. Children can play in the street without fear of abduction or getting killed for sport. Women can walk in public, shop in public and converse in public without fear of being picked up and raped by one of Saddam's henchmen. Men of all ages can freely walk the streets, meet friends for an cup of the Turkish coffee here that is so rich like their culture without fear of being drafted into the Baathist Party or the army. I share this with you as you cannot even imagine how fortunate even the poorest American is. The people here, although they dont even realize it are allowed to make descisions, allowed to control their destiny, and allowed to experience what we in the Western world give as much thought to as tying a shoe. They are only just starting to realize it, like waking up from a long nightmare, for some their whole lives lived under the regime. As when any person wakes up, the fog of the new day slowly clears up. Very few words can describe the buzz on the street which could best be defined as excitement. This was their first Ramaddan where they could freely practice the holiday as they chose to. This is also the first time they are seeing the world through their own eyes with a strong desire to travel, to explore, to gain knowledge just as their anscestors had done when the capital was once known as Babylon. I talk to many of them, always approached with a hello, a handshake and a smile. Maybe we should take a lesson from them in humility and on greetings. Small kids grin widly and wave frantically at passing hummers which always draws a smile off the hardened American soldier from behind the .50 cal, if anything was worth the trip, this would have to be it for mnay of them. Whenever they are parked, the hummers are always approached by kids, young adults, grown men to say hello and wonder what state they are from, not having any idea what the difference is between North Dakota and California. Many of them dream of traveling, their number one choice is America. When engaged in the conversation, I will ask them where in America, they always reply that they dont know, they just want to go there. Clearly, they have little knowledge of this giant of a country which occupies their daydreams. Is the American dream dead, I think definetely not outside of our own peripheral borders. I am grateful to be here to witness this and I will be back soon, Leif __________________ Range Rover HSE Lamborghini Superleggera

11-26-2003, 11:01 AM	#2
Hokie_Audi Member Account #: 17024 Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 8,214	Good post man... gonna be back for Christmas? __________________ 2001.5 1.8TQMCX Digital Audio Powered by Phatnoise "Hokie, what makes you standout from so many other AWOT posters?" "Well Bill I bring three uncommon things to AWOT: I have a degree, a job, and I actually own an Audi."

11-26-2003, 11:02 AM	#3
raco Senior Member Account #: 53039 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,848	wow... i'm speechless thats very touching... gave me goosebumps reading it

11-26-2003, 11:02 AM	#4
looey Elder Member Account #: 7832 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 13,631	thanks for sharing- everyone should have such an eye-opening experience __________________ MY'01 A4 1.8TQSXBCT

11-26-2003, 11:02 AM	#5
Jack in FL AudiWorld Expert Account #: 5393 Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 27,218	Now if someone would report what you just did on the media... Maybe support for our efforts would be better. Really glad to hear your thoughts. I can only imagine what it's like there and how lucky we are back in the US. __________________

11-26-2003, 11:02 AM	#6
Gop-Dogg Elder Member Account #: 3141 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 25,074	Nice summary, but you left off the most important detail: is pr0n now available in Bagdad? __________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I drive an SMG 'cuz I ain't got no mAd r0wIn' sKilLz. A true playa' has to have three women: His wife, his mistress and his ho'. - Ice-T

11-26-2003, 11:03 AM	#7
Jack in FL AudiWorld Expert Account #: 5393 Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 27,218	Same here. The thought of people just running around and saying hi to the troops. It's a nice goosebump. __________________

11-26-2003, 11:04 AM	#8
eug (MK V) Elder Member Account #: 19746 Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 16,962	hear, hear

11-26-2003, 11:06 AM	#9
_T("Andreas") Elder Member Account #: 31 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 29,683	I really appreciate all your updates from the region. It gives us a better understanding of what is going on. The day to day events like kids smiling to soldiers doesn't really make into the headline yet it is still important to know about that aspect of the mission. Have a great thanksgiving and be safe. __________________ the original cool blonde e-mail me: aschobel [at] mac (dot) com

11-26-2003, 11:07 AM	#10
raco Senior Member Account #: 53039 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,848	way to ruin the decency... :P... hehe i'm sure pr0n's avaliable. who here at AWOT was sending their issues of maxim?

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