Cowled_Wolfe
New member
Well, this doesn't happen every day. Today at school, we had a group of Iraqi school administrators come and tour to view how American schools function. I never got to personally talk with them, but they got to meet with a couple groups of students in the library -- I didn't have class, so I was sitting nearby reading.
I know it was a little rude of me, but I couldn't help listening in on the discussion. It was mostly a back-and-forth dialogue between the students and Iraqi administrators, discussing what schools are like in Iraq and over here (duh). They've got a much more formal system, and like most Mid-Eastern countries, their schools are all-boys or all-girls. Students are held to much stricter disciplinary standards, etc... But I digress...
There were two groups, one near me, and one too far to hear. I couldn't help taking a few notes when the conversation strayed into politics, the war, and life in Iraq in general. I just thought I'd post about it.
The visitors were all soft-spoken, deep thinking types. They seemed to hold a common liking of what they were seeing (genuine, not the 'don't wanna offend anyone' sort of liking). Life's pretty hard in Iraq, but they're happier now than when Saddam was in power. They're glad that America's liberated them from his regime, but it feels like it was Saddam yesterday and terrorists today. The "insurgency" is frustrating, because so few Iraqis are in it -- it's mostly foreigners, but they feel international media ignores that.
The war's growing tiresome, but they feel it's still an important phase in Iraq's history as a country. One of them compared it to America's Civil War -- a turning point in society, bringing about major changes.
The same man also said (and I'll quote) "Our constitution gives us freedom we never had before".
On the other hand, he also said he's like things to move faster. America's presence in Iraq is appreciated, but they hope a peaceful time will come soon so America isn't necessary in Iraq anymore.
Afterward, I approached a friend who'd participated in the group too far to hear. He said that the men he spoke to were glad to see Saddam gone, and that they could believe what they want to believe freely and openly now.
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Btw, I'm not saying ALL Iraqi citizens feel this way. I'm just going for the few men I heard. They could likely have been biased by being surrounded by Americans, or any other number of things. Who knows? Who's to say?
I'm just going off what I heard.
Oh... And when I said "they" alot, I meant the men who came to visit. Not all the people of Iraq.
Wolfe... (Who thinks them there Iraqi fellows were pretty cool people.)
EDIT: By the way folks, let's not turn this into an arguement? We've had enough heated discussions about Iraq, America, and everything between them. Thanks.'
I know it was a little rude of me, but I couldn't help listening in on the discussion. It was mostly a back-and-forth dialogue between the students and Iraqi administrators, discussing what schools are like in Iraq and over here (duh). They've got a much more formal system, and like most Mid-Eastern countries, their schools are all-boys or all-girls. Students are held to much stricter disciplinary standards, etc... But I digress...
There were two groups, one near me, and one too far to hear. I couldn't help taking a few notes when the conversation strayed into politics, the war, and life in Iraq in general. I just thought I'd post about it.
The visitors were all soft-spoken, deep thinking types. They seemed to hold a common liking of what they were seeing (genuine, not the 'don't wanna offend anyone' sort of liking). Life's pretty hard in Iraq, but they're happier now than when Saddam was in power. They're glad that America's liberated them from his regime, but it feels like it was Saddam yesterday and terrorists today. The "insurgency" is frustrating, because so few Iraqis are in it -- it's mostly foreigners, but they feel international media ignores that.
The war's growing tiresome, but they feel it's still an important phase in Iraq's history as a country. One of them compared it to America's Civil War -- a turning point in society, bringing about major changes.
The same man also said (and I'll quote) "Our constitution gives us freedom we never had before".
On the other hand, he also said he's like things to move faster. America's presence in Iraq is appreciated, but they hope a peaceful time will come soon so America isn't necessary in Iraq anymore.
Afterward, I approached a friend who'd participated in the group too far to hear. He said that the men he spoke to were glad to see Saddam gone, and that they could believe what they want to believe freely and openly now.
---
Btw, I'm not saying ALL Iraqi citizens feel this way. I'm just going for the few men I heard. They could likely have been biased by being surrounded by Americans, or any other number of things. Who knows? Who's to say?
I'm just going off what I heard.
Oh... And when I said "they" alot, I meant the men who came to visit. Not all the people of Iraq.
Wolfe... (Who thinks them there Iraqi fellows were pretty cool people.)
EDIT: By the way folks, let's not turn this into an arguement? We've had enough heated discussions about Iraq, America, and everything between them. Thanks.'