March 18, 2003

Road Dispatch & My Time With An Iraqi Ex-Pat:

This is a bit rushed, and I hope it comes across as at least semi-lucid. I write this from Detroit, Michigan – home of the largest Arab-American community in the United States. Things here are, for the most part, distinctly more orange than they were yesterday.

Security at the office building where I spent most of the day was certainly tighter than normal … the guards made a closer inspection of my ID, and for the first time in 10 years of running in and out of office buildings, actually asked that I return my temporary badge as I left the building. Outside, as I waited for my cab, I noticed another guard – this time checking the credentials of vehicles (vans, mostly) idling out front.

As I watched, it occurred to me in a sort of detached way that I was standing in a place where people were looking for car bombs. A first for me.

More interesting was the cab ride to the airport. I usually try to strike up a conversation with cabbies … my father taught me it was the best way to predict local elections … and as I started talking to this gent it was clear he was an immigrant from the Middle East.

I asked him what he thought of the war. In broken English, he first said he felt sorry for the Iraqi people, and for the American soldiers. He hated to see harm come to them. ”I love humans,” he said, ”but this is the only way. I do not want this war, but he is a madman. A criminal.”

I asked him where he immigrated from. He answered Iraq.

We talked about his views for the next 20 minutes. For me, it was a very important conversation. Through the course of those twenty minutes, the cab driver told me that he moved to the States after the Gulf War. He told me of his quick acceptance into his local community, and of his view on America: ”I love America, and the people … they have shown me great hospitality. This is a great land … in Iraq, if I mention anything, they would kill my family.”

He still has a brother and sister in Baghdad. He would return to Iraq, though … if he could. If Saddam was gone. ”I love it here, but it is not easy … I must learn the culture, and the climate, and the law system, which is important … but this country has given me legitimacy.”

He also very much disagrees with fundamentalists … ”they are not religious, they are politicians and criminals,” he said. ”they are the worst people in the world … people who kill innocents are not religious.” And he’s not concerned with constructing a legitimate post-war government in Iraq, even with the different views of Shias and Kurds … ”there are good people,” he said.

Finally, he told me that 99% of the people in his community support the President. And he is grateful for our resolve: ”America does not deserve this war, and I hope for the American soldiers.”

It was time to pay my fare. As we pulled up to the terminal, I asked if Saddam would ever accept exile. His answer: ”No … I don’t think so. He is a madman … a criminal. He kills his own people, his own family … he would not do what you or I would do. I think this (war) is the only way.”

It was a fascinating 20 minutes. I was good to hear the perspective of at least one Iraqi ex-pat in person. And on the whole, we agreed ... but on this last count, I hope he’s dead wrong.

Posted by Avocare at March 18, 2003 04:24 PM
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