Chronicles of A Returnee

I arrived in Baghdad about 10 days ago. I landed at my cousin's house in the Shiite district of Kazimiyah.

Before my arrival, i actually had a bad day leaving Sulaimaniya. You see, the Costums dept. have "suddenly" decided not to allow wires on handbags, even if they were cell phone chargers or short data cables. Nothing was written, however, in this regard anywhere in the Sulaimaniya Airport.

The Iraqi Airways booth at that airport had a couple of Arab Iraqi staff as well as the Kurdish majority of staff. One of the Arab staff members asked me about my "original" area in Baghdad. i was too stupid to answer "Amiriya". One of the Arab Iraqi staff members was standing by minding her own business until she heard me say this. She must have been Shiite and was pissed off when she heard that i came from a Sunni area like Amiriya, and assumed that i was a Sunni. She gave me the worst time, and made sure i get the worst time! She started yelling amidst surprise from myself and people who were around, then she called the security. I maintained extreme calm, and was smiling, cooperative and even obedient!

I was taken by a member of the Kurdish security to a desk along with my bags, and the Kurdish security personnel was very helpful and understanding, and even instructed me how to pack the wires properly, and the problem was solved in no time. I thanked him a lot and was soon on my way to the plane, but still on the look out from that nasty mean Shiite Iraqi Airways staff member. I wonder whether she would have done the same if she knew that i was (supposedly) a Shiite as well?!

I arrived at Baghdad late morning. I arrived to my hometown, which has changed in my eyes forever.
For the first time, i return to my hometown, but not to my home (directly as i used to).
For the first time, my mother was not there to welcome me back, or even throw some candies at me, as a traditional sign of happiness for my safe (and successful) return.

I was picked up by my cousin at a "neutral" area of western Baghdad, and then we went to Kazimiyah, where i finally met my father.

And there, a new page of our history began.

Going to Baghdad...

This is just a short note that i will go to Baghdad later today.
I may not be able to update the blog while i am there, but i wish i could be able to do so.
Wish me luck!

Unconditional Love...

Have you ever thought one day, who in the world would love you unconditionally?

No, it is not your wife and children, for they would expect things from you. Same thing applies for your friends and siblings.

Did you get any close to the answer?

They are your parents!

And to be exact, and as the Prophet Mohammed once said, answering the question of who should one respect in this life the most: “Your mother, your mother, your mother, and your father.”

Since my mother passed away on 29 July, the world has changed in my eyes. As I look back to the 29 years when our two lives have met, I realize how she loved me unconditionally, and how she gave and gave with a happy, satisfied heart, not demanding a payback; and how she cared for me, even when I am away from home, asking about my life details, and whether if I ate well, or felt well; and advising me to do this or that, which would make things better; and wishing that I was at her side to do those things in person for me.

Right now, nobody will. Nobody in this world would give you an unconditional love like your mother ever did or does.

Gibran was one of the greatest writers that were ever born in this part of the world. He once said that you would never realize how great the love you had until you are deprived of it, and he also said that we remain as boys and girls inside if our mothers are alive; once they pass away, we become men and women in one day: the sad day we lose them.

Some people would never understand one’s grief, for many of them have not lived through the daily life and details I lived through with the dear dear person I have lost; my mother.

Mother,
O, dearest…
How I miss saying and hearing “good morning” to and from you.
How I miss your smile, as pure and as innocent as that of an angel, or a child.
How I miss kissing your cheeks and forehead, and how I wish I could have kissed your hand one last time.
How I miss your voice, how I miss your voice, how I miss your voice…
How I miss your sitting there, reading the Quran, or watching nature and wildlife programs you used to like.
How I miss your midnight snack of “Marie biscuits”, and how I miss how you used to mix them with tea to make “biscuits and tea” for me, when I was a child.
How I miss the most delicious Pyrex pot chicken from your hands every Friday.
How I miss even the way you organized the laundry.
How I miss how you described my first kicks as a fetus, my first smile, my first words and my first steps.
How sadness kills me when I see that I was not there for your last words, your last breath, and your last moments.
How sadness kills me when I haven’t been there for you, that one last time, to bid you farewell.

Mother,
How I miss your smile and big hug whenever I used to return from my ever-getting-longer travels.
How I miss the happiness in your eyes, whenever you met me as I came home.
How I miss your words of prayer to God, that He would give me happiness, good health and success.
How I miss, in every moment, your kindness.
How I miss when you used to walk me, being a 2nd grader to and from school.
How I miss your care and concern about me whenever I fell sick.
How I miss the happiness you felt when you gave to the poor.
How I miss the way you even cared for the birds and cats, not forgetting to feed them everyday.
How I miss how you enjoyed watching the colored fish on TV.
How I miss the way you used to arrange flowers. O, how you loved flowers, and how you saw the garden as your paradise. May God give you a more beautiful garden, and a larger paradise.

What am I going to tell the daffodils when they come back next spring, and see that you are not there? How would I answer their shy looks and wordless questions?

Mother,
I miss you, and I love you. I will forever miss you and love you, for you are irreplaceable.
I would have given years and years of my life for just one chance to bid you farewell properly.

Mother,
You will live in my heart, forever...

29 July 2007...

"To God we belong, and to Him shall we return..."

You Gotta Be Kidding!!!

MEMRI, or Middle East Media Research Institute, have published a study recently that could tell something very interesting, if you read between the lines!

http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=ia&ID=IA37407

Just read, check out the ISP's, and think deeply!

BBC Sports Article: Morale-boosting final awaits Iraq

Iraq's players know the weight of expectation they carry into Sunday's Asian Cup final in Jakarta.

Four-times Asian champions Saudi Arabia stand between Iraq and a win that would lift the country's war-weary people.

Striker Younis Mahmoud said: "We are shouldering our responsibility to bring hope to the Iraqi people.

"We know that by winning we can make the Iraqi people happy. Reaching the final is not enough, our ambition is to win the title."

Iraq's passage to its first Asian Cup final has triggered wild celebrations back home, with many people seeing the team as a symbol of national unity.

However, the team's success has come against a background of violence, with bombers killing at least 50 people in Baghdad as crowds celebrated the semi-final win over South Korea.

Iraq's Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira conceded the bombings had affected the squad but said: "Life must go on.
We have to play on Sunday to be the champions.
My boys deserve to be in the final, they have worked very hard.
When I signed my contract I promised to give more happiness and put more smiles on the faces of the Iraqi people. I think I have accomplished that."

Saudi Arabia's Brazilian coach Helio Cesar dos Anjos accepts the sympathy will be with Iraq.
He said: "Iraq will be very motivated and they have a lot of quality.
"There is no favourite in this match, we have an opportunity but so does Iraq."

What's Worse Than A Lousy Gov't? Lousy Opposition!

Well, as you know, the Iraqi Gov't is dominated by Shiites, and Kurds as well. There are some Sunnis as well, but they play the role of "archenemy friend" to the Gov't.

Recently, the Sunni bloc decided to boycott/withdraw from the Gov't. Of course, they have the Vice-President seat, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, in addition to about half-a-dozen Ministries, and 44 Parliament Seats.

As someone who is not convinced with what the Gov't have been doing for the past year (or let's say 2 years if we add the Jaafari Gov't era), I would hope, or let's say persuade myself that there must be a better alternative than what we currently have; however, with the Sunni bloc's "gimme gimme" attitude and their everlasting whining, i don't think that they are worthy of being a considerable opposition bloc.

Now there is also the Allawi bloc, but it is getting smaller in size and effect day by day, although the man was the choice of many Iraqi youth because of his secular attitude, which is still thought of as the best solution to Iraq's ongoing secular problems, or that is at least what his supporters say.

Well, as you can see, the (Shiite) Gov't goes smoochy with Iran; while the (Sunni) opposition goes smoochy with the Saudis; and all Iraqis are lost in the middle. There is no single face you could trust in today's Iraq.

Isn't it sarcastic that the "opposition's" members of Parliament get US$ 12000 per month from the Gov't, yet they curse it every day?! That is in addition to their army of bodyguards. Yes, those politicians who destroy Iraq have bodyguards, while Iraq's doctors, engineers, intellectuals, and youngsters are left to be killed on the streets, perhaps by the politicians' bodyguards and militias.

Iraqi&Proud Exclusive: Celebrations in Sulaimaniya after Iraqi team win

One of the very few times the Iraqi flag was raised here!

AFP Article: Iraq stun Korea to make Asian Cup final on penalties

by Robert Smith

Iraq stunned South Korea 4-3 on penalties to win their way into the Asian Cup final for the first time after a match of excruciating tension Wednesday.

Tournament surprises Iraq will play either defending champions Japan or Saudi Arabia in Sunday's decider in Jakarta.

The epic match went to a shootout after both sides failed to score in over two hours' of sustained committed football.

It is Iraq's first-ever Asian Cup final after getting as far as the 1976 semi-final against Kuwait, which went to extra time, while South Korea were chasing their third title since 1960.

In emotional scenes at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Iraqi players rushed to their supporters to grab national flags as other players wept with joy when realisation hit that they had won.

The decisive breakthrough came in the shoot-out when goalkeeper Noor Sabri, the man-of-the-match, pushed Yeom Ki-hun's attempt past the post and then Kim Jung-woo's shot hit the post and bounced away.

Iraq are now just one match away from completing their greatest football achievement after they reached the semi-final of the 2004 Athens Olympics and the final of last year's Asian Games in Doha.

It was desolation for the Koreans, who were backing up after their win on penalties over Iran in their quarter-final last Sunday.

Iraq had the better scoring chance in an uninspiring first 45 minutes with midfielder Karrar Jassim just failing to get his head on to a cross from Haidar Abdul Amer after 28 minutes.

Skipper Younis Mahmoud had two chances, hitting the side-netting in the 16th minute and just sending his shot wide of the diving Lee Woon-jae late in the half.

The Koreans had several chances with goalkeeper Noor Sabri having little trouble defusing Yeom Ki-hun's tame downward header and punching clear a Lee Chun-soo free kick a few minutes before half-time.

But South Korea ramped up the pressure in the second half with winger Choi Sung-kuk's pass blocked by Ali Hussein Rehema with two team-mates in a scoring position.

Noor punched away another attack away to safety as the Koreans kept up the pressure on Iraq's goal.

Yeom Ki-hun's left-foot free kick almost caught out the Iraqi goalkeeper minutes later but he scrambled it clear as the Koreans mounted more pressure.

Again the Koreans pressed and defender Kim Jin-kyu's header off a corner just missed the target.

Lee Chun-soo had a glorious chance but sent his first-time volley sailing past the post with Noor beaten.

Choi was stretchered off with five minutes of normal time left to make way for Middlesbrough striker Lee Dong-guk.

The Koreans peppered the Iraqi goal in the final minutes of regulation time but the game went into 30 minutes' extra-time.

Hawar Mohammed had a great chance to put Iraq ahead when Haidar's cross had the Korean defence in a dither and Hawar's shot hit the inside of the post and rolled along the goal-line for Kim Jin-kyu to hack it away.

But it ended in a deadlock that took it to penalties.

35 Years...

Today marks the 35th Anniversary of my parents' marriage. Although they are not that kind of festive people, but one would still stop to take a look at this date and those years, not forgetting that this occasion passes us by at one of the most difficult moments in our family's life, which came after the 16 July 2007 incident.

On this occasion, i just want to say to my family:

Alla la yintteeh kul men rad yihrumni u yuhurmak!

"May God not give any success to those who tried to deprive us from each other!"

Down with the mules gov't; and long live my family, strong and united.