I believe everyone read the story of Alice in Wonderland but no one could ever travel in his imagination to reach this wonderland or even tried hard to know where this wonderland is but today I think I found the real answer. I’m like 80% sure that Alice came to Iraq and when she couldn’t find reasonable answers for her questions, she called Iraq the Wonderland. You know she has the right to call it so because this is really the wonderland. Today I m going to write a different story. Im going to call it Laith in the Wonder Ministry.
My assignment today was to join our American colleague Raviya to the ministry of education to finish her story about education in Iraq. Its still dangerous to go out with an American reporter. Anyway, we reached the ministry after more than one hour trip. We were searched three times in less than 30 meters. I was asked the same question three times (where are you going) and I was always saying shortly (the third floor to meet the spokesman of the ministry) and at last I’m in the room. The spokesman looked like a young man in his forties. He was talking to someone when I entered his room. I kept silent until he finished his phone call and then I started talking. I introduced myself and Raviya and gave him a very short brief about the story. I expected to hear anything but not the answer my ears got. The spokesman said “Im not in the mood to talk”. I was about to say (WHAT? Not in the mode to talk Your job is to talk to me and any other journalist) but I was so calm. To be honest, his answer made me boiling but I had to control myself because I wanted to do the interview. I was so patient but the man simply ignored me and my colleagues. He kept receiving the phone calls and he was complaining “if only I don’t get any phone calls, I would be fine” I told him simply you can switch your phone off for a while” and I kept talking with the man to convince him t do the interview but the man insisted on neglecting me and he suggested to meet some officials in the other side of Baghdad. He called the guy but he couldn’t find him. Again, I told him that I want to talk with him for ten minutes only because he is the spokesman and he is the one who has the answers but he changed the subject and again he ignored me. After twenty minutes, I told Raviya that we have to leave because it’s useless to talk to the guy because he doesn’t want to.
When we left the ministry, Raviya asked me about the conversation between me and the spokesman. I told her about all the details and I even told her about the details of the phone calls. Raviya was completely shocked with the details. This is one story of the wonderland, Iraq.
Bye till the next story.
While I wait for your next story from Wonderland, Laith, I will try to believe ten impossible things before breakfast each day. But one thing I do believe already, and that I know is not impossible, is that people can change. And I believe--and know, and trust--that, over time, the Iraqi people will prevail. And they will find a way to organize and care for their country, together.
What you and your colleagues do every day helps bring that time nearer.
I hope that efforts we make stateside, to make peace happen, and hold the U.S. responsible for reparations to your country and accountable for its crimes--will succeed and also help Iraq to flourish. Insha'Allah
Posted by: Laura | May 26, 2008 at 12:20 AM