Heartbreaking story by Riverbend

[ProSense]

Monday, October 22, 2007

Bloggers Without Borders...

Syria is a beautiful country- at least I think it is. I say “I think” because while I perceive it to be beautiful, I sometimes wonder if I mistake safety, security and normalcy for ‘beauty’. In so many ways, Damascus is like Baghdad before the war- bustling streets, occasional traffic jams, markets seemingly always full of shoppers… And in so many ways it’s different. The buildings are higher, the streets are generally narrower and there’s a mountain, Qasiyoun, that looms in the distance.

<...>

It is estimated that there are at least 1.5 million Iraqis in Syria today. I believe it. Walking down the streets of Damascus, you can hear the Iraqi accent everywhere. There are areas like Geramana and Qudsiya that are packed full of Iraqi refugees. Syrians are few and far between in these areas. Even the public schools in the areas are full of Iraqi children. A cousin of mine is now attending a school in Qudsiya and his class is composed of 26 Iraqi children, and 5 Syrian children. It’s beyond belief sometimes. Most of the families have nothing to live on beyond their savings which are quickly being depleted with rent and the costs of living.

<...>

We live in an apartment building where two other Iraqis are renting. The people in the floor above us are a Christian family from northern Iraq who got chased out of their village by Peshmerga and the family on our floor is a Kurdish family who lost their home in Baghdad to militias and were waiting for immigration to Sweden or Switzerland or some such European refugee haven.

The first evening we arrived, exhausted, dragging suitcases behind us, morale a little bit bruised, the Kurdish family sent over their representative – a 9 year old boy missing two front teeth, holding a lopsided cake, “We’re Abu Mohammed’s house- across from you- mama says if you need anything, just ask- this is our number. Abu Dalia’s family live upstairs, this is their number. We’re all Iraqi too... Welcome to the building.”

I cried that night because for the first time in a long time, so far away from home, I felt the unity that had been stolen from us in 2003.

Bush is a monster!

:cry:

[madokie]

1. bush* is an Evil Monster if there has ever been one

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. They're lucky they left when they did.

Syria Shuts Main Exit From War for Iraqis

DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 20 — Long the only welcoming country in the region for Iraqi refugees, Syria has closed its borders to all but a small group of Iraqis and imposed new visa rules that will legally require the 1.5 million Iraqis currently in Syria to return to Iraq.

The change quietly went into effect on Oct. 1. Syrian officials have often threatened to stem the flow of refugees over the past eight months, but until now have backed down after pleas from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

For more than a year, 2,000 to 4,000 Iraqis have fled into Syria every day, according to United Nations officials. On the last four days that the border remained open, the officials said, 25,000 Iraqis crossed into Syria.

“The door is now closed to Iraqis in every direction,” said Sybella Wilkes, a spokeswoman here for the United Nations refugee agency.

It is unclear whether Syria will enforce the rules for the Iraqis already in the country. United Nations officials believe Syria is likely to continue its practice of not deporting citizens of other Arab countries whose immigration status is illegal.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/world/middleeast/21syria.html?_r=5&adxnnl=1&oref=login&ref=middleeast&adxnnlx=1193068987-w4zTorXWR52EMST6A8521w

[Hydra]

9. Trapped like rats

expect the insurgency to get even bigger and more vicious as we try to kill everyone in Iraq and they try to get us out.

[rurallib]

3. Amazing how those who have nothing will share what little they have

and those who have soooooooo much will not.
'blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'

[CrispyQ]

13. We've lost track of a fundamental:

To those who much has been given, much will be asked.

It's always surprising to read the stats that show that those less well off generally give a bigger percentage of their income to charity than those who have lots. And before anyone pounces, I do not stereotype all rich people as miserly. I happen to work for a very rich man who gives lots to charity & is leaving a good portion of his estate to charity, not his family. We are a small R&D software company & he pays everyone very well & provides us with excellent benefits, covering 80% of employee & family premiums. Not all rich people are bastards.

[maxsolomon]

4. the next democratic president will have to open our borders to iraqi refugees

it is the only ethically acceptable course.

although i can foresee the objections from the fascists: we can't trust them, the terrorists are following us home.

may riverbend know peace.

[aquart]

5. WE did this.

Saying it's Bush...it is OUR name that is stained with their blood. OUR reputation that is ruined. OUR citizens carrying guns in their homeland. OUR congressmen visiting and lying. OUR mercenaries shooting everywhere protecting OUR "dignitaries." OUR money paying for their murders.

[Cleita]

7. WE are still allowing this to happen.

Not us specifically. God knows we went to the polls to elect representatives whom we thought would impeach and try the perpetrators of this disaster for war crimes. But they haven't and WE are sitting around whining about it on a message board.

I don't know how to get the young people inflamed like they were in the sixties to bring the same activism to bring justice to the Bush/Cheney regime and to take the same chances of being arrested, beaten and maybe even shot. But if WE don't do this, not only will our wrongs not be righted but we too will become victims of this regime as much as any Iraqi.

Actually, I do know how to get young people involved and that is to bring back the draft, but I hope against hope that they will see what they have to do before this happens.

[Hydra]

10. Many of us are waiting for the tipping point

I can't risk doing anything overt about this administration until it's clear that enough people will do so with me. Going to Gitmo as an enemy combatant will not help get these people out.

In the mean time, I have to go to work and try to spend my free time educating people about what's going on, and attempting to survive the recession/depression.

There are boots on the ground, but we have to be sure that we won't be opposed by the people we are trying to save.

[Cleita]

11. That's good to know.

Yes, you have to be smart about what you do, kind of like the French resistance in WWII.

[annabanana]

6. Riverbend's story is the story of so many.

It is so important that she write, and that we read.

[Karenina]

12. Her English linguistic skills are stellar.

Yes, she's good. She LEARNED it.

[Grandrose]

8. Speechless and sad! (K&R)

The payback to all who supported this misbegotten occupation of Iraq...burn in hell!:mad: :kick:

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

14. Ouch!!!

:cry: