Perspective of Iraqi for Today

Post date: 10-Sep-2009 01:37:02

Propaganda fuels our view of things so often that we fail to really take a close look for ourselves. My perception of Iraq and the Middle East has been updated and reformed during my stay in Baghdad. I really enjoy traveling to new places in various countries.

The decision to come here was a no brainer for me. I like to form an opinion of things myself and often refuse to get sucked in by what others say. So Iraq......on the surface you think most of the people hate the US. To be honest, there are a lot of other countries here that have been a part of the situation in Iraq. But again the big brother, control freakism, cowboylistic position the US takes worldwide gives some people the impression that US citizens are all like that. So we're even I guess. Iraqis are like any other people you may meet. They are friendly, and seem very helpful. Like all people, humanity creeps in and reveals the core which does not always match what we see on the outer shell.

I think the people here are like any group of people that will try to push boundaries and expand their personal opportunity if they can. You can put many different types of individuals in a room and people will act similarily regardless of language, culture, race, economic status. An honest person will be honest regardless of their origin. People that lie, cheat and steal are just that, regardless of the nationality they represent.

You do find a whole other level of extremism here when it comes to religious devotion. It does not mean that everyone follows that path, but some things occur here that you won't see with some other areas. Its very easy to judge what isn't understood. But just because there are differences, it should not mean we stereotype without the proper reasons. But Utopias do not exist.......

The photo was not taken by me but it is a shot from Baghdad.