Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Diana]

The following was posted by an Iraqi named Mohammed in one of the Iraqi blogsites. There is much wisdom in his words. I think that the world should listen more to the Iraqi people. After all, it is their country and therefore, their opinions matter more.
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Friday, May 21, 2004

I'm all ears.
It�s easy for anyone to hate, criticize and complain of the bad situations but it�s difficult to love and work to overcome the hardships. I�ve been accused many times of being over optimistic and unrealistic while my country is passing through a critical period and the future of the region and the world is going to be affected by the result of this war.

I know this well and I feel it everyday when I deal with people; I�m in the middle of this and I can see the dangers and the coming difficulties, but is this my duty?!

The point here is that I�m trying to work hard to overcome the difficulties. I�m not going to blame others all the time or put the responsibilities for what happens on others as this will not push the progress forwards, instead, I�m trying to look through the smoke of the battle to see tomorrow�s Iraq.

When an old regime is dying, it will do anything, not to come back but to hinder the birth of the new being and the old regime�s battle is going to be costly and cruel but it�s certainly a defeat and I see this everyday, when someone thinks that terror is proving itself as a power and strikes violently I see that it�s moving backwards despite the loss we endure.
The process of change is moving onwards and it�s going to leave behind lots of minds and powers that failed to catch up with it.

The difficulty of the situation lies in the complexity of anti-change alliances.
Yes, it�s always easy to look for the bad events and show them to the public like most media sources do but this is not my duty and this is not what I believe in.

I find those who try to spread the bad impression unable to do anything but to hate and their main objective is to spread hatred to the public opinion to make it an international policy that will lead us only to doom. They don�t offer alternatives neither they ask you to think deeper to find a solution for the problems you have. They just want you to hate and hate and to stop your brains from reasoning things out.

This reminds me of a friend of mine who�s house was the target for a grenade attack a few days ago (we thank God, no one was hurt) just because he works to build this country with the coalition. He said �Ok, I�m ready to leave this job, but those who attacked my house, what are they going to offer as an alternative? They just want to see everyone paralyzed with fear and hate�.

Love, is another subject, it demands that you think a lot, fight against what you are told about "the others" and to give a lot for others. Building love takes more time and keeping the faith in it requires patience and sacrifices and a vision that exceeds the limits of today or tomorrow and this is what the losers can�t afford, that�s why they chose the easier road of hollow criticism that lacks the spirit and creativity and this would be obvious if you looked closer at the nature of the efforts that counter act the changing process, they provide no alternatives at all or sometimes, with great foolishness, try to compare the current situation with the previous one or to go back to it saying that things were better then.
Some say that the US must withdraw from Iraq right now for the best of Iraqis; I say, Ok, the US withdrew from Somalia long time ago and what was the result? What�s Somalia like now?

Humanity, in it�s nature has an inclination to move forwards and those people are acting against this nature and once again I tell you that their job is very easy and it won�t need much to be done while my job is a hard one that needs a lot but I�m not giving it up.

A prosperous and democratic Iraq will be a reality; it�s just a matter of time. Everyone should believe in this, more than this, we should start to feel it from this moment and the obstacles we�re facing right now will be a history that we would only discuss in the future to get some lessons from.
Finally, I have a question to the anti-change and to our friends in the biased media wherever they might be; if all your stories were true and if we were wrong about everything we did, what suggestions would you offer to make things better? what are your plans?
What?! What did you say? I'm listening.

By Mohammed.

[Diglossia]

Sadly, my worst concern regarding post-war Iraq has been confirmed by U.S. Brig-Gen. Mark Kimmit, who said that "the collateral damage estimate of 16 civilians killed as missiles hit a suspected terrorist hideout was within permissible limits"

I had hoped for higher standards fromt he U.S. military when it came to civilian deaths, particularly since it only remaining argument (and the one many pro-war individuals cling to) is to free the people from tyranny. How, I ask, is it 'acceptable' that civilian deaths are within 'permissible limits' when launching airborne missile strikes at suspected terrorist targets?

And in regards to your constant defence that the Iraqi people are much happier now that Saddam's gone : if Mohammed were dead thanks to one fo these several civilian tragedies, would he be so positive about the American presence? Could he be trying ot avoid being beaten or punished, or even worse, being suspected as a terrorist? I suspect that many of them are trying to avoid pain and death by smiling to the white cameraman and saying "I love Americans! Please stay"

[Diana]

Do you also hold "high standards" of al-Queda and Osama Bin Laden? I never hear you say anything when al-Queda kill 35 Iraqis or even when they killed hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims during their religious ceremony. Do you admire al-Queda's higher standards?

According to the US, they struck that house in Falluja because they have reason to believe that militants were hiding there. So far, those on the other side in Falluja are saying that 16 innocent people were killed. Well, if there are innocent people in that house, it seem that these innocents were storing weapons and ammunition there because after the house was targetted, a series of secondary explosions took place. According to the news report:

Kimmitt said the attack set off ammunition and weapons stored in the safehouse, triggering "multiple secondary explosions" that could have caused some of the casualties and damage.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20040619-1221-iraq.html

Part of the agreement that the US had with Falluja when they withdrew from the area was for the residents to turn in the guilty people who were responsible for killing and mutiliating the 4 Americans. So far, they haven't lived up to that agreement despite that the Americans withdrew and allowed an Iraqi to take over security there.

Now, the US is demanding Falluja to turn over all foreigners including Zawarqui in addition to the men who burned and mutiliated 4 Americans.

[Diglossia]

You know Diana, the fact that you'd justify innocent deaths says a lot about you. Agreements or not, civilian casualities are just that. So I wonder what their opinions would be if they were interviewed about whether things are better now that the Americans are there?

You don't have to justify all actions by the US military, Diana. To do so makes you look like a fanatic of death and blood and pain. You justify every single miserable side effect of this war as if your going to lose your pride if you don't argue with everybody that everything done so far if perfect. Why?

More and more people are telling you their opinions, and now Michael Moore's new film is out in theatres....

I'd love to hear what you have to say then about the 4 Canadian friendly fire deaths caused by those two pilotes.

[Diana]

AWWWW~~~~ What's wrong, Diglossia? Were you upset to find out that the house the US targeted had weapons and ammunition? Would you feel a lot better if those terrorists had used those weapons and ammunition to kill more Americans like you wanted them to?

Your silence on al-Queda's actions says more about yourself. Did you ever ask yourself why al-Queda is so opposed to having soverignty being handed over to the Iraqi people in a peaceful manner? I guess not, huh?

Your criticism of America attacking the terrorists only show whose side you support. Al-Queda is now attacking Iraqi civilians, Iraqi police, and the Iraqi army.....where is your condemnation of these actions? I don't hear you!

As for the 4 Canadians who were tragically killed, I guess you didn't hear the apology of President Bush and U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Michael P. Delong. I guess you ignored those condolences expressed by the American people.

Now, about your Canadian Prime Minister blaming the attitude of American people for causing the 911 attacks-----what's up with that? Why doesn't he blame al-Queda and Osama Bin Laden? Almost 3000 innocent people were killed in the World Trade Center, and all your Prime Minister had to imply was that America should change their attitude and policy. Rather than blame al-Queda and Bin Laden for the atrocity, the finger of blame was pointed at America?

[Diglossia]

No I knew what they were targeting, and I knew these casualities were the result of most likely legit assumptions that there were weapons, but it's still sad.

As for the apologies, of course I've heard them. What makes you think that I should think they're good enough? Do you really think an agressive person like you would be satisfied with those apologies? You would wish death on those who kill or potentially could kill anybody. Well, I think this pilot deserves something more than a slap on the wrist.

I guess the actions of my (former) Prime Minister make you so upset that those soldiers deserve what they got? My god.

Let me ask you a question, Diana: what are you doing on a forum reserved for students of ESL/EFL? I'm on here because I teach it at the university level, how about you? I guess you have nothing else to do. I've asked you questions you've avoided, copped out of, and I asked them sincerely. I only came on here to tell you how much of ass you look like. Keep bullying ESL students , Diana, that seemes to be your forte. Without me to counter-argue your violent point of view, you'll run out of people to talk to.

I, for one, won't bother. Neither should any ESL student.

Good luck

[Diana]

[obelix]

Every time some daft Iraqi with an AK 47 gets blown up by the USA there's a great chorus of whining from the usual suspects around the world.
Every one of the terrorists in Iraq is "a civilian" and therefore there can only be "civilian" casualties.
This forum is not reserved for students, it is open to anyone. I would guess that most of the people on here who are helping students are not ESL teachers.

[Diana]

They expect the US to politely ask the terrorists to turn in their weapons. What they forgot is that the Americans DID ASK them politely to turn in their weapons, but that didn't work! And then they complain when the US destroys the terrorists' storage full of weapons.

By the way, I always tell MY students that it is their constitutional right to express their opinions in public.