Friday, December 07, 2007
The Reality Tour
Monday, December 4th, 2007
Peace be upon you…
I spent last week with a delegation of the American Organization: "Global Exchange", as they came for a tour in Jordan and Syria which they call: A Reality Tour; meaning- to see things in reality concerning the Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. The program was crowded; meetings with organizations offering services to the refugees, then meetings with some families to observe things in reality, and to see their sufferings….
We met with organizations like UNHCR, UNRWA, Caritas, and Save the children. We listened to the representative of each organization as they explained the role their respective organizations played in soothing the suffering of the refugees, whether Iraqis or Palestinians…
But they were all angry at the bad behaviors of the politicians; waging wars, displacing people from their countries, putting them under cruel, difficult circumstances, and at the same time there is a somewhat slow response to fulfilling people's needs, people who live under the strain of displacement, asylum, and the shortage of financing these organizations to help them perform their humanitarian duties…
By God it is a saddening thing; the world's money being misused because of the corrupt politicians; as they exploit these moneys for wars, shedding the blood of the innocent, displacing people from their countries, and increasing people's suffering because of hunger, poverty, the shortages of medications, water supplies, electricity, fuels, and job opportunities… and at the same time, there aren't enough budgets to help the victims of those stupid, silly wars…
Where is justice? And why do we, the Earth's people, stand aside like dumb, helpless, negative creatures and watch a bunch of criminals who hold the political decision in their hands, watch them while they destroy this earth and whoever lives on it, and we haven't yet found a way to confront this destruction and ruin, or at least stop it at certain limits?
Isn't this a shame upon us?
*******************************
Then we went to Syria, and that was the first time I met with Iraqi families there…
The conditions of the Iraqis in Syria are indescribable…
The international organization's work there is limited and restricted, compared to the wide space they have in Jordan, in spite of some families' complaints because of the slowness and injustice of the given aid, but at least here there are some doors which the poor Iraqi family can knock upon in the hope that one of these doors might open to them…but in Syria, all doors are almost closed….
All my life I have never seen poverty like I saw among the Iraqis in Syria… widows or women who lost their sons because of criminal gangs and militias that entered Iraq after the occupation, and killed all Iraqis alike… whenever I met a woman who told her story while crying, I cried with her, at her situation, at the conditions of the sad Iraq, and at what happened to it; the destruction, the shredding. And when the women all gathered and we heard their stories with a member of the American delegation, I had my friend with me; Selma; a Turkish-American, a Muslim… I asked the women, with sorrow- but I had to ask the silly question: Are you Sunnies? Shia'ats?
It turned out they were a mixture of both sides…
This woman was a Sunnie; they threatened her and killed her son…and this is a Shia'at; threatened, and her husband was killed…
There is no difference; the Sunnies and the Shia'ats were displaced from Iraq to live side by side in exile, waiting for that who would pity them, give them a charity of food rations, a blanket, or a heater because winter is near, await some humanitarian organization to take care of their disabled children, or afflicted with cancer as a result of the depleted Uranium, with which the Iraqi environment is contaminated, since the Kuwait war in 1991, then the occupation war in 2003.
And…all is in God's will…..
*****************************
And there in Syria, the story spread about the Iraqi government's request for the Iraqis to return home, as the government would pay their return fees by bus to Iraq. I wondered at a government which abandoned its displaced people, not recognizing them, nor sending them food or medical aid for years, and now volunteers a free home- journey for the citizens, so the propaganda would spread that conditions are stable in Iraq, and this is an excellent, successful government….
I went to a bus terminal, and saw busses leaving with about 650 people. We asked some people- why did these people leave for Iraq; did they really believe the story of the returning stability, calm, and security to Iraq?
They answered; we don't know, but people got tired of poverty, the scant revenues, and waiting without effect, they would go back; they might live, or might die; only God knows, but perhaps this is better than staying here in exile without a result…
Others were talking in front of satellite-channels cameras, saying- we are Ba'athies, we ran from Iraq after being threatened to be killed, here we live through difficult conditions, but cannot go back for we will surely face certain death…
I stood aside watching the scene…. Exiled Iraqis, scattered around earth, poor, miserable, and sick. The reasons are many, but they are all deprived of aid, suffering from neglect, forgetfulness, and denial…
I don't know whether to be sad, or angry?
And what shall sadness or anger change?
******************************
And there is another sad phenomenon among the Iraqis in Syria, especially the women… the phenomenon of prostitution because of poverty…
I mean- here in Amman we hear about Iraqi women working in night clubs, more perhaps because they are professionals than being poor women driven by poverty into this path… but in Syria, when I met the women at the Sayeda Zainab area; the widows or the young women with children and a crippled, disabled husband; who shall stop those from drifting into the road of depravity if the doors of honest living were closed into their faces?
One women said- I work as a maid in a house, they give me (6,000) Syrian Liras a month, and my apartment rent is (7,000) S.L. a month. Another has a 15 years old son who works at a café, for a daily wage of (250) S.L.…(= 5 $)
We were staying in a hotel at Al-Marja Sq. in Damascus. I went to have a cup of fruit juice at the restaurant next door; I asked him what he thought about the Iraqis here. He said- their numbers are high, perhaps two millions, they caused a rise in rents in the country and a shortage of housing. "They also say, and please, Madame, don't be cross", he said, "that anyone who goes to Al- Sayeda Zainab area can get an Iraqi woman for 250 S.L…."… ( =5 $ )
I remained silent, and smiled….
This is the new Iraq that Bush and the villains who came with him, built for us….. This is the liberation of the Iraqi women that we got…. The free women became prostitutes….
Well, well, well….
And where are the leaders of Islam, and the Arab Nation? Are they a sleep or ignorant about what is happening to the Iraqi men, and women? Or are they Bush's partners in the "Liberation of Iraq"?
I don't know….
Each person should look for the answer….
My heart is sad, my soul is tired….but I am a faithful believer, and this is trial by God, The Lord of all creatures, hoping we will be among the enduring… not among the spoiling…
Hoping we will be among those who construct the land and what's on it… among those who aid the weak, the poor, and the deprived, and reproach the unjust until they stop their injustice…
****************************************
That reality tour wasn't only for the American organization and the delegation members, but was for me also; it opened my eyes more, and showed me more facts…
And I always say: the first step open your eyes; the second step put a plan of action to change the painful reality. And if you keep silent after what you learned, you are an accomplice in the crime….
You are an accomplice in what is happening to the Iraqis; the calamities, the disasters, the hunger, the poverty, the displacement, and the depravation….
And- peace be upon you, with God's mercy, and His blessings……
Peace be upon you…
I spent last week with a delegation of the American Organization: "Global Exchange", as they came for a tour in Jordan and Syria which they call: A Reality Tour; meaning- to see things in reality concerning the Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. The program was crowded; meetings with organizations offering services to the refugees, then meetings with some families to observe things in reality, and to see their sufferings….
We met with organizations like UNHCR, UNRWA, Caritas, and Save the children. We listened to the representative of each organization as they explained the role their respective organizations played in soothing the suffering of the refugees, whether Iraqis or Palestinians…
But they were all angry at the bad behaviors of the politicians; waging wars, displacing people from their countries, putting them under cruel, difficult circumstances, and at the same time there is a somewhat slow response to fulfilling people's needs, people who live under the strain of displacement, asylum, and the shortage of financing these organizations to help them perform their humanitarian duties…
By God it is a saddening thing; the world's money being misused because of the corrupt politicians; as they exploit these moneys for wars, shedding the blood of the innocent, displacing people from their countries, and increasing people's suffering because of hunger, poverty, the shortages of medications, water supplies, electricity, fuels, and job opportunities… and at the same time, there aren't enough budgets to help the victims of those stupid, silly wars…
Where is justice? And why do we, the Earth's people, stand aside like dumb, helpless, negative creatures and watch a bunch of criminals who hold the political decision in their hands, watch them while they destroy this earth and whoever lives on it, and we haven't yet found a way to confront this destruction and ruin, or at least stop it at certain limits?
Isn't this a shame upon us?
*******************************
Then we went to Syria, and that was the first time I met with Iraqi families there…
The conditions of the Iraqis in Syria are indescribable…
The international organization's work there is limited and restricted, compared to the wide space they have in Jordan, in spite of some families' complaints because of the slowness and injustice of the given aid, but at least here there are some doors which the poor Iraqi family can knock upon in the hope that one of these doors might open to them…but in Syria, all doors are almost closed….
All my life I have never seen poverty like I saw among the Iraqis in Syria… widows or women who lost their sons because of criminal gangs and militias that entered Iraq after the occupation, and killed all Iraqis alike… whenever I met a woman who told her story while crying, I cried with her, at her situation, at the conditions of the sad Iraq, and at what happened to it; the destruction, the shredding. And when the women all gathered and we heard their stories with a member of the American delegation, I had my friend with me; Selma; a Turkish-American, a Muslim… I asked the women, with sorrow- but I had to ask the silly question: Are you Sunnies? Shia'ats?
It turned out they were a mixture of both sides…
This woman was a Sunnie; they threatened her and killed her son…and this is a Shia'at; threatened, and her husband was killed…
There is no difference; the Sunnies and the Shia'ats were displaced from Iraq to live side by side in exile, waiting for that who would pity them, give them a charity of food rations, a blanket, or a heater because winter is near, await some humanitarian organization to take care of their disabled children, or afflicted with cancer as a result of the depleted Uranium, with which the Iraqi environment is contaminated, since the Kuwait war in 1991, then the occupation war in 2003.
And…all is in God's will…..
*****************************
And there in Syria, the story spread about the Iraqi government's request for the Iraqis to return home, as the government would pay their return fees by bus to Iraq. I wondered at a government which abandoned its displaced people, not recognizing them, nor sending them food or medical aid for years, and now volunteers a free home- journey for the citizens, so the propaganda would spread that conditions are stable in Iraq, and this is an excellent, successful government….
I went to a bus terminal, and saw busses leaving with about 650 people. We asked some people- why did these people leave for Iraq; did they really believe the story of the returning stability, calm, and security to Iraq?
They answered; we don't know, but people got tired of poverty, the scant revenues, and waiting without effect, they would go back; they might live, or might die; only God knows, but perhaps this is better than staying here in exile without a result…
Others were talking in front of satellite-channels cameras, saying- we are Ba'athies, we ran from Iraq after being threatened to be killed, here we live through difficult conditions, but cannot go back for we will surely face certain death…
I stood aside watching the scene…. Exiled Iraqis, scattered around earth, poor, miserable, and sick. The reasons are many, but they are all deprived of aid, suffering from neglect, forgetfulness, and denial…
I don't know whether to be sad, or angry?
And what shall sadness or anger change?
******************************
And there is another sad phenomenon among the Iraqis in Syria, especially the women… the phenomenon of prostitution because of poverty…
I mean- here in Amman we hear about Iraqi women working in night clubs, more perhaps because they are professionals than being poor women driven by poverty into this path… but in Syria, when I met the women at the Sayeda Zainab area; the widows or the young women with children and a crippled, disabled husband; who shall stop those from drifting into the road of depravity if the doors of honest living were closed into their faces?
One women said- I work as a maid in a house, they give me (6,000) Syrian Liras a month, and my apartment rent is (7,000) S.L. a month. Another has a 15 years old son who works at a café, for a daily wage of (250) S.L.…(= 5 $)
We were staying in a hotel at Al-Marja Sq. in Damascus. I went to have a cup of fruit juice at the restaurant next door; I asked him what he thought about the Iraqis here. He said- their numbers are high, perhaps two millions, they caused a rise in rents in the country and a shortage of housing. "They also say, and please, Madame, don't be cross", he said, "that anyone who goes to Al- Sayeda Zainab area can get an Iraqi woman for 250 S.L…."… ( =5 $ )
I remained silent, and smiled….
This is the new Iraq that Bush and the villains who came with him, built for us….. This is the liberation of the Iraqi women that we got…. The free women became prostitutes….
Well, well, well….
And where are the leaders of Islam, and the Arab Nation? Are they a sleep or ignorant about what is happening to the Iraqi men, and women? Or are they Bush's partners in the "Liberation of Iraq"?
I don't know….
Each person should look for the answer….
My heart is sad, my soul is tired….but I am a faithful believer, and this is trial by God, The Lord of all creatures, hoping we will be among the enduring… not among the spoiling…
Hoping we will be among those who construct the land and what's on it… among those who aid the weak, the poor, and the deprived, and reproach the unjust until they stop their injustice…
****************************************
That reality tour wasn't only for the American organization and the delegation members, but was for me also; it opened my eyes more, and showed me more facts…
And I always say: the first step open your eyes; the second step put a plan of action to change the painful reality. And if you keep silent after what you learned, you are an accomplice in the crime….
You are an accomplice in what is happening to the Iraqis; the calamities, the disasters, the hunger, the poverty, the displacement, and the depravation….
And- peace be upon you, with God's mercy, and His blessings……
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 4:59 pm 
