Since a while I follow a blog written by a very brave and sad (sometime sacarstic and humorous...) Iraqi Girl commenting about what life is now in Iraq during war time. It is always interesting to read from the source instead of "learning" through the "controlled and censure" media.I am using "controlled and censure" as I am convince they are, even though they are not supposed to be. Being fully bi-lingual, and having also good notion of a third language, I often read or listen to media from different country, and you will be amazed to see how different the information can be given and interpreted.
Per example, a major incident implicating US forces can be just diffused lightly or not at all on American media, but fully covered on French, Spanish, British or Italian media... There are always two side of the story...
That say, lets go back to this girl in Iraq. She doesn't write about propaganda. There is no way to comment on her blog, and I found it totally by pure coincidence as there is pretty much no link to it anywhere.
It is really like a personal dairy, a journal, where she write about her personal feelings, fears, anguishes, her way of living and trying to survive on the middle of this dirty chaos which was irresponsibly created.
Her blog has been printed as books and published, and it is may be what's help her and her family right now.The author, a young woman which had a good job in the computer field lost her job after the war started and beguns a blog about the daily life and politics of Iraq. Written under the ghost name of "Riverbend", it is a fascinating insight into what it's REALLY like to live in Baghdad during this period of war and unrest.
She evokes laughter at times, but mostly sadness, anger and frustration as the situation continues to deteriorate.
As she write since august 2003, she made predictions years ago that people in the west are just finding out now.
This war wasn't popular and still not with the French and most of the European people who have staunchly opposed the invasion of Iraq , as we knew it was based on lies and manipulated evidence for the sole purpose of revenge and ego for one, and greed and control for his subaltern . Fortunately (but a bit too late...) the majority of American people realise that now, and can't wait to get out of the mass this administration created.
Anyhow, in any war, it is always the innocent civilians people who pay the price. Here are two link from her blog that I found (sadly) interesting, and could help people from the other side to learn about reality of life right now in Iraq for the innocents once. It may help also to open the eyes of the one who are still convince this is justified ( be aware that of course she is not enamoured with American people, and for the ones who do not like criticism I would suggest to avoid the reading) :
and :
I only can say "That's a shame" ... I wish her well and hope she and her family will manage to go through this hell safely.
For the ones who love it and want to read more, feel free to read the blog from the begining in the archives, or to purchase the book.
More food for thoughs :
On Sunday, December 31, 2006:
and on Thursday, April 26, 2007:
4 comments:
That's some tough reading. Has anyone in fact verified that it's an Iraqi person writing? It's not that I don't believe what is said is true (because I'm sure it is), but it's more that I'm so jaded that it would be just like an American to write this claiming to be an Iraqi in order to push an agenda.
I'm not sure I know more than a handful of American citizens who agree that the Iraqi war is just. We pretty much all feel it's wrong, but our politicians and our media... well, they definitely have an agenda and we don't always get the best and most correct information.
I'd like to say things will change with the 2008 election, but I think all politicians are the same, Democrat or Republican. We need to get the hell out of Iraq, and soon. We should all drive Prius's, that'd cut down on gas consumption. Who the hell needs an Excursion anyway (besides the 1% of families who have more than 3 kids)?
Yes it was verified that the blog was written by a 25-year-old Iraqi woman living in Baghdad, whose identity remained concealed for her own protection. The Riverbend blog, since 2003, is recognized around the world as a crucial source of information not available through the mainstream media. The blog was published into a book which won Third prize winner of the Lettre Ulysses Award for the Art of Reportage, and was nominated for the 2006 Samuel Johnson Pr.
The blog as well as the book it offers quick takes on events as they occur, from a perspective too often overlooked, ignored or suppressed.
Tough but real...
I read some more of her blog last night, going back to 2003. Just one person's opinion, but so very powerful. It reinforces beliefs I already had about the war, particularly about how the younger generation of Iraqi's now perceive the US.
As far as our US troops, it seems a few bad apples (engaging the rape, humiliation of prisoners, thefts, etc) are really spoiling the whole bunch in the eyes of the Iraqi people. This world really can be quite cruel, can't it?
Philippe
Thank you for posting this. It's very powerful writing. I think I will have to purchase the book and read it in little pieces.
Elaine
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