BEAUTIFUL: Veterans Fill Iraqi Restaurant in Lowell, MA After Vandal Smashes Its Window

[kpete]

Babylon Restaurant owner Leyla Al-Zubaydi of Lowell, center, takes Lily Faulkner's order. Lily, 10, of Lowell, was eating with her father and Cliff Krieger, left, and Jack Mitchell, right, both of Lowell. The men are veterans but not members of Veterans for Peace. Members of Veterans for Peace and other supporters filled the restaurant for dinner after the Iraqi family-owned restaurant had their window broken in a vandalism incident. SUN photos/Julia Malakie



BEAUTIFUL: Veterans Fill Iraqi Restaurant in Lowell, MA After Vandal Smashes Its Window
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_19718719

An area veterans group pledged to fill every seat in Babylon, a downtown Iraqi restaurant where owners feared hatred drove a man to throw a 20-pound rock through a window last Wednesday.

Instead, those veterans filled every seat twice.

...

Owner Leyla Al-Zubaydi and her father Ahmed Al-Zubaidi said their family was terrified the vandalism was fueled by hate. Ahmed Al-Zubaidi said the incident drove his wife to tears, and prompted her to question whether the family should close the restaurant. The show of support from veterans and the community drove her to tears of joy last night, he said.

"This solidarity gives us the courage to stand," said Al-Zubaidi. "There is no more fear in my heart because there are such nice people behind us."

video & more:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/11/1053940/-BEAUTIFUL:-Veterans-Fill-Iraqi-Restaurant-in-Lowell,-MA-After-Vandal-Smashes-Its-Window?via=siderec

[justiceischeap]

1. Great story.

It's nice to see a positive story about Iraqi/American relations.

[denbot]

2. Bravo Zulu to those vets that showed support.

Patriotism and liberal values at work.

[PassingFair]

3. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Veterans for Peace.

[madokie]

4. Notice how the real America is so different than the pols want us to think it is

How we care about one another

[one_voice]

6. Great story!...

thanks for posting.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Life-affirming

[Odin2005]

8. Very nice! Cool restaurant name, too.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

9. This is what America is all about!

[Festivito]

16. Yes. Our soldiers bringing back our America.

I could not be more proud.

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. K&R!

[jwirr]

11. What a great example of the way we should all be acting toward injustice. Thank you Vets.

[kpete]

12. Maddow

talked about this last night

[lonestarnot]

13. K & R!

[lunatica]

14. I love this story

Thank you to all the veterans who insist on doing the right thing. You guys are wonderful.

[xchrom]

15. Wonderful. Nt

[MsPithy]

17. KUDOS! Kudos for everyone!

THIS is the real America! We are a country of immigrants who unite behind the ideals of freedom to be ourselves and to care about each other. These Veterans make us all so proud, yet again. Thank you for reminding us what America really means.

[beac]

18. K&R! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

19. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[rox63]

20. That's my hometown!

I've been meaning to give that restaurant a try. Guess I'll have to wait in line now. But that's cool with me.

[Wait Wut]

21. Love you guys!

[LanternWaste]

22. Kick... because this is the most uplifting thing I've read this month.

Kick... because this is the most uplifting thing I've read this month.

[Lifelong Protester]

23. K & R because this brought tears to my eyes

and I'm pretty sure this is the America I live in.

[closeupready]

24. I love this.

K&R

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

25. Now that's the America I know and love!

[ScottLand]

26. K&R