HW 28: Dear Riverbend

Dear Riverbend,
As my reading of your book "Baghdad Burning" has progressed, I have developed many feelings and emotions that contribute to your experiences in Iraq. Your accounts of the 2003 war have informed me of more information and understanding of the war than would ever be shown through a US news channel or Internet site. Living in the opposing country that has conflicted with Iraq, I now have a more direct understanding of the other side of the war. Hearing your personal side of these unnecessary events saddens me. I feel sorrow and distress for the loved ones you and your country have lost. I know it must be hard, but you and every fellow citizen are brave for the grief put upon you. I sit back and think of how the war has effected me and the ones that I have lost in the events of 9/11, but then I think of the tremendous pain that your country must feel everyday while you sit in fear and anticipation that you will make it to the end of the day alive. I found it interesting and informative when you explained that the war began as a war on weapons of mass destruction, yet none were found, so the war then transformed into a "War against Terrorism", yet no links were made to Al-Queda or Osama Bin Laden, so the war is now just a "Liberation". You continued to state that "Call it whatever you want- to me it's an occupation" (Riverbend 15). Both my troops and your troops are out there everyday, fighting for our country, and in a very large way, it now is there occupation, it is their job to invade each others country and life to the fullest, a horrible but true statement. While reading your book I think how almost every citizen in our country has continued to live each day to its fullest, laughing, joking, and vaguely stopping to think about what is really going on right now; your book has informed me of this. It is mind-boggling to think that the women of your country cannot step foot out of the house without a male escort, and how the women to men ratio with occupations were 50:50, yet woman have now been deprived of this opportunity. The Iraqi population now has 65% of you unemployed, which to me seems like a serious problem. I am sorry that you cannot wake up each day and attend your job that you once loved, leaving you to sit and worry each day about the safety of you and your family. Lastly, I would like to speak of your government problems you have discussed, in other words the "Nine Puppets" that run the Iraqi world. Though I have disagreed with much of what Bush has said and his decisions, I am confused at the way your government is run. A country that is governed by a different president each month seems like some kind of big mess if you ask me. Despite the complications of the government, you are one brave citizen to jot your experiences and feelings down of your day to day living. I want to thank you for informing me of your anguish and distress that this war has compelled against you. Keep being strong Riverbend!
Sincerely, Alicia