It was five AM when I stepped out onto the street in front of my apartment in Atlanta. I was
awaiting a cab I requested by phone to take me to the airport, where I would depart once
again and begin the process of working internationally. When my cab arrived I was greeted
by a radiant gentleman who originally hailed from Somalia. Recent brushes with Africans
have rendered me infinitely curious about the culture of various nationalities within Africa.
Assuredly, I have had mainly positive experiences in the past, and this encounter would
prove no different.
En route to the airport, the conversation with my driver started not unlike most conversations
with complete strangers. He disclosed that he is from Somalia, and then went into detail
about Somalian life, including the ever-present violence that comes with trying to
establish some semblance of a proper government upon a people who previously
weren't accustomed to such an initiative. He went on to describe the tribal conflicts and
bloodshed which still occur in Somalia, to this day.
Knowing most northern African countries are comprised of Muslims, I asked if
most of Somalia practiced Islam, and my cab driver confirmed that they do. Beyond
that, he went on to explain the black eye that September 11th created for Muslims
worldwide, and how distressed he was at that perception. At this point he was relating
what I already knew: Muslims, by majority, want to live a peaceful and good life.
Truly, they have the same hopes and fears as anyone else in the world. The true
shame occurs when the radical minority becomes globally sensationalized.
What you're left with is a religion now unjustifiably rooted in stigma. If I had to
guess, I would suspect that this stigma will persist for quite some time. Some
wounds simply take decades to heal, and even then it will never be forgotten.
So we arrive at a very familiar place: Iraq. The Iraq you think you know and the Iraq
that exists in reality are really quite disparate. While the violence is ever-present, and
the country has seen more bloodshed this year than in five years prior, there is something
that must be known: these people, by and large, aren't unlike you and I. They are kind,
giving, and they work hard. They are not entitled to the same stipends found in Qatar, Kuwait,
or UAE. Iraq is a struggle perpetually.
For an idea of the reality of Iraq, please read this link which chronicles the violence
in Iraq, year to date. It's not pretty. It's gruesome, and it's unfathomable. In any one
incident, scores of people are killed, many more injured. Typically the setting is a
public place of high density, such as markets or mosques.
It should be understood that while the government is making efforts toward democracy
(at least on paper - again, if you read the article you will quickly find that corruption
and sectarian government are causing ongoing issues), certain inexorable differences
are still in place, much as they have been for centuries.
Prior to the death of the Prophet Muhammed in year 632, there was no stark divergence of
Muslim faith. Upon his passing, the Muslim faith bifurcated. The Sunnis believed that
the new torch-bearer should be Abu Bakr, who was Muhammed's adviser prior to his
death. Contrarily, Shiites aligned with Ali, Muhammed's cousin and son-in-law.
The inner turmoil truly manifest in year 656, when the third caliph, exalted by the Sunnis,
was killed. Shortly after, in response, the Sunnis killed Ali's son Husain. This
is an incredibly abridged synopsis that brings us to present day. A fundamental rift between
Sunnis and Shiites as to the proper way to carry on their faith. Yet even before this
divergence, violence has existed in Iraq, essentially since civilization was established. It is
worth mentioning that there have been prolonged periods of empire and prosperity, but
with upheavals and wars always creating a paradigm shift.
Though there is violence, I feel that the worldwide ire (especially from the West) is undue.
It would suffice to regard present day Iraq as a tragedy, but enmity doesn't do anything to
further matters. I'm without answers when I ponder what it will take to finally seals these
old wounds, of course, and I can only naively offer that it's going to take time - a lot of time.
As I mentioned in a blog post last year, Iraqis are genuinely very nice. Quite literally,
they would offer the shirt off their back to you if they saw you needed it. Ingrained in
the five pillars of Islam is zakat - and inherent belief in charity and giving. The belief
underscores a mentality that wealth is a waste unless shared.
If anything, and if you're still reading, I would implore you to exercise due diligence
and research the Muslim faith for what it really is. I'm not a huge fan of religion in
general, but disillusionment about all Muslims being radical and violent would go
a long way to make things better for all of the peaceful Muslims who simply wish to
live well, and to collectively progress.
And just remember: where you're born and what you believe are a matter of chance.
That I was born American was a roll of the dice. Something to consider if you
ever feel compelled to condemn others.
And now for an array of music:
Gramatik - Through The Galaxy
Very chill soundtrack. He just eases you along.
Arctic Monkeys - Arabella
Some nice blues licks near the end.
The Kooks - Tick of Time [+ Bonus Track]
I love the Kooks.
Until next time.
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