madly in love with Iraq

29.4.06

The pumpkin

I was sitting in the park last week when a small girl of about 4 years came up to me and said “Can I tell you a joke?” I hugged her and replied “of course you can; go on”, “Why is Cinderella bad in football?” “Why is that?” I asked, “Because her coach is a pumpkin!” I laughed so much; the little one couldn’t believe she was that funny and went back to her mother jumping with a triumphant smile;

The pumpkin reminded me somehow of the turban, not only the sound of it but the shape as well.
You might think I have a twisted mind, but those turbans are really worrying, and they should be to all of us.

My late father was born to a very religious family in Najaf. He opened his eyes in a house full of students from Iran, Lebanon living in, learning the Shariaa laws and the basis of Islam from as they believed its real source. When he was 15years old with a small turban over his head, he was very proud to join his father in a trip to Iran. Upon their arrival many reached out for his feet and tried to kiss them. Since that incident he left his city and took a completely different route, a 180 degree to the opposite direction.

Recently I read in Iraq the model blog, how the Saderist bunch is going after the education ministry;
Let the others fight over Oil, defence, interior or exterior, and while other blocs are concerned about the present, they are trying to control the future.

A series of documentaries on orphanages back home, were very disturbing when I watched them in one of the Iraqi channels. Those poor deprived children spend their after school time praying and attending religious lessons, and of course the young girls are in hijab already. No music, no art and no sport.
I don’t want to sound nasty but for one minute I questioned the Iraqi charities integrity; not money wise but their real aim. Are we going to bring up another herd?

I thought if my father could run away, those youngsters cannot. They are being coached by the wrong people and they are stuck with them.

Then I quickly remembered my nephew and nieces, who don’t know anything about outdoor activities, confined indoors in front of the TV or the Computer. When I was in Baghdad last year, my two nieces were so excited one night asking me to give them extra chocolates; they packed all their toys as they were going for a picnic. The picnic was sitting in the school garden for the whole day!
What type of people are they going to grow up into?

Their school in my time was named after the founder of the Baath Party (Michael Aflak) and now it is called Al Al-Bait (the family of prophet Mohamed)!

Doesn’t this say it all?

It looks like everybody wants to capture the Iraqis hearts and minds not only the Americans!
Everyone wants to put us in a certain mould and expect us to fit in whether we like it or not.

We have long established that it is impossible for a secular government to rule Iraq at the moment and not for a long time to come. But our future is in danger; someone is trying to steal our hopes and yet again influencing our children’s right of choice.


Two churches in the area where I live in London were sold to two different Islamic foundations and became two Mosques instead!

Just today on the radio the Archbishop of Winchester Cathedral was defending why for £20,000 he allowed the crew of The Da Vinci Code movie to film inside his Cathedral!
This controversial story which rocked the core of Christianity!

Dose this make the Christians less devoted than Muslims? I don’t think so.

On the contrary it proves the fact that their scarcity means people will go to them by choice, being everywhere and interfering in every detail will never make them more popular.

It is amazing to see how the English Muslims (coverts) behave or deal with Islam.
In my opinion they are the people who should wear the turbans and teach us all what our religion is all about.

First they don’t have our anger; they were brought up in stable and secure societies. Second; they had the freedom to think, compare and choose what they thought best.

When I hear a child screaming uncontrollably; honestly before I look behind, I bet that 90% he/she is from our part of the world! 90% of the times I am right.

This child is rebelling against the so-called facts imposed on him without explanation; Haram (against God’s wish), God will punish you; you will end up in hell, and so on

This heritage which we drag behind us wherever we go is based on fear, injustice and endless restrictions on our liberties.

When I loose hope in Iraqis living in here; I remember my mothers’ words; Iraqis back home are different, those people in here are lost and they want to defend their existence; In Iraq they are fighting to defend their newly gained freedom!

In the end, all I can say is “Beware of the pumpkins”.