Love In the Time of the War on Terror

In the last four years despite everything the second war in Iraq has not stopped the innate need by the people there to seek love and Romance. Marriages are still conducted there regularly unlike here where marriage and Romance in some quarters have basically died. At the present time, the slaughter has slowed down perhaps because of the surge or maybe the desire for and enjoyment of killing has wound down somewhat. Let's hope that things continue to simmer down, and Iraq can right itself.

During the bloodiest phase of the war, I marvelled at stories of Iraqis trying to conduct their lives with as much normalcy as possible. Back in the spring, CNN presented a news story one afternoon about young Iraqi students at the University of Baghdad who spoke of their dreams of becoming professors, diplomats, or doctors even though the bombs were falling in the background, even though some of their professors, friends, and family had perished in the charnal house that Iraq had become. These young people who dressed so well and looked so cute and scrubbed, went to class each day unsure if they might be killed on their way to school or coming back. Some of them said they felt extreme worry for their homes and family whenever they heard bombs and mortars in the distance. What might they find when they arrived home?

I was aspired to become a blogger because of an Iraqi blogger whose pseudonym is Riverbend and whose blog Baghdad Burning has won awards and been published in two volumes which can be purchased on Amazon. This year Riverbend joined the mass of over 2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled to Syria and Jordan. She and her family now live in Syria. I have silently wept for the Iraqi people since the war began, and for the terrible injustice done to them. On my fourth excursion to Turkey, I was befriended by a young Iraqi woman and her family who were taking Turkish classes along with me. Their mother was Turkish and lived with them in Istanbul, but their Iraqi father was still in Baghdad. I have prayed for the innocents over there to be vindicated some how and that someday Riverbend and many others can come back to the country they love and miss so much.

Last summer I found a touching article on Time.com about an Iraqi couple who met and fell in love. Their love story is unusual in the tragedy of Iraq, a once great and proud country that over the centuries has repeatedly been eyed and invaded because of its' location and resources. This year, Iraqis have faced cholera, so for those looking for love or already in love, it has become love in the time of cholera too. But love is a very strong emotion. Where ever there is Romance, lets hope that the old adage can still apply that love conquers all. Read Romance, Baghdad Style .