Farewell to My
Friends in Iraq: Day 12 by Steve Clemens
We deliberately left the last day fairly unscheduled so we
could begin the process of packing – especially all the gifts we were given by
the Iraqis we met. We’ve been given pens, keychains, a mirror, a crystalline
sculpture, books, jewelry, prayer beads and holy Karbala mud-stones. I
purchased an Iraqi flag for the student we help support at Augsburg College as
well as a wall map of Iraq – labeled all in Arabic. I’ve gotten a few other
small gifts but I’d rather leave any extra money I have for the work of the
Muslim Peacemaker Team.
I tell my friends before another Iraqi delegation comes to
Minneapolis, I will have to take a convoy driving class and practice lurching
forward, slamming on the brakes, blowing the car horn, nosing out other
vehicles and totally ignoring all traffic lanes – all to make our Iraqi
visitors feel at home once they are in the Twin Cities. This trip has been very
instructive to those of us on the IARP Board to realize how over-structured
we’ve scheduled our guests when they are in Minnesota. After feeling we had
little time to catch our breath here, we now have a much better understanding
of the rigors we’ve put others through, especially after the recovery period
from jet-lag.
It will take me some time to reflect and collect my thoughts
about this experience. We’ve witnessed both some of the challenges our friends
encounter as well as the myriad harbingers of hope. Najaf is both very
conservative and relatively safe so it is difficult to see it as the same as
the entire country. Certainly listening to Cathy Breen’s stories of visiting
friends she made before the war or as refugees who have now returned has been
quite sobering. Yet despite those obstacles, she still has been overwhelmed by
her gracious acceptance into many homes and workplaces. The fact that she has
been able to travel alone (with the help of MPT) is testament to both her
fortitude, courage, and determination. Her Catholic Worker experience in New
York City has helped her cope in a multitude of situations.
We’ve benefited by being an eclectic delegation for this
trial run. Fletcher and Joan Hinds from Duluth brought both their experience
with Kurdish delegations but also Fletcher’s high energy and ability to connect
with others, especially some of the young male drivers we’ve had these 12 days.
David Smith’s encyclopedic knowledge of world religions as well as Biblical
history has helped all of us get a better picture from the times of
Nebuchadnezzar and Ezekiel, the Tower of
Babel and early Jewish and Christian history here to couple what we are
learning of Islamic and Arabic history. Joan Haan has been a godsend in
connecting with new people and Deborah Kalin’s passion for the empowerment of
women and her determination to help document this delegation’s experience on
video are valuable additions. And Kathy McKay, the organizer, spokesperson, and
leader of our group has been freeing for all of us. But none of this could have
happened without the planning and commitment of Sami Rasouli and his colleagues
from MPT.
We will all bring back our unique perspectives and
interpretations of what we experienced here. An obvious next step is to help
nurture the budding partnerships with educational intuitions both here and
there as well as new business ventures and potential NGO collaborations. People
in Najaf are ready to move on from the Saddam era as well as the disastrous
wars and sanctions. Highway intersections are under construction, new hotels,
restaurants, housing, and other developments are evident all over - yet there
still is the deficit of reliable electricity, potable water, trash pick-up and
disposal, … Questions about corruption in the government linger as many fear a
culture of favoritism continues – only with new faces replacing Saddam or
tribal sheiks. At least from our perspective, the challenges for women in the
culture are significant if not monumental.
But what sticks out most for me are the broad, genuine
smiles, the hugs, the kissing on the cheeks (although strictly along same
gender lines!) when we connect with those who had the courage to visit us
first. We have been welcomed, honored, and appreciated –so, whatever the
challenges, the human spirit is rising to the occasion. I hope it will not be
another 10 years before I am able to return to further experience this land and
her people. If we are “sisters” as cities, we need to continue to deepen the
relationship. Maybe next Spring, another delegation will come?
