Christmas Eve

What surprises I have living here. Never in the states would I have had a Muslim Iraqi over for Christmas Eve! It was a treat, and quite facinating! I picked his brain with all kinds of questions I have about Iraq.

Rawan has been coming to our church for the last 6 months or so. He said he hasn't been to a mosque since he came to Germany (to work on a Masters degree at the University in engineering). He said he has a wonderful feeling when he reads the Koran and won't join our church, but is interested in learning more about Christianity. Of course to join a Christian church is punishable by death, and the Koran says they will go to hell as well. So not many risk that. However, his paternal grandmother is Christian. HIs family is very happy that he came to Germany before the war. They live in a suburb of Baghdad and his father is a sports teacher and mother an elementary teacher. He has 3 other brothers.

I asked him the obvious questions about how the Iraqi's really feel about the Americans and what we have done in his country (I often wonder if what the press tells us is accurate). He said there is about 30% that hate Americans but the rest are glad Sadam is gone (the others--that want him back were the ones that benefitted financially with good jobs from his regiem). He said that Sadam would turn off the electricity for 1/2 of the day to make more profit.

I asked him what and how long does he think it would take to get the American troops out of there. He said that it is very complicated. If the Americans (and allied troops) leave now there would be utter chaos. He said there needs to be security before the country can stablize, which could be 5 or 10 or even 50 years! The main problem is that there isn't adequate military and police forces since the insurgents will terrorize those (and their families) that try to join.

When talking about religion he said numerous times that "they are not Muslin" meaning that those that are about violence and such are taking one scripture (out of context) in the Koran that said that they must "fight their enemies" which many priests (equivalent in the Muslim religion and are held in high esteem in the community) preach against the western culture. So they are getting indoctrinated that way and teaching their children, which is how complicated this is becoming. He said that Americans seem to represent the Western Culture but they are against even those that aren't supporting the American's (like the French and Germans).

Günter made an interesting point and said after WWII Germany was in chaos but they didn't fight the Americans, English, French and Russians and in about 10 years things were stable again. But if the Iraqis persist with resistance it will take much longer, if it can work at all.

Anyhow, it was a delight having him over and learning so much about a culture and religion that I knew very little about.

Posted by Krista at December 26, 2006 10:25 AM