January 23, 2007 – 9:28 pm
(This article was first published in Living Well magazine of Jordan in December 2006)
Yet again, I disappoint my ever forbearing editor. Contrary to my promise – and despite her friendly instructions to turn off the serious tone, if only for the merry season – I find myself compulsively tapping the wrong buttons on the keyboard. Despite my solemn pledge to don a white beard and write a joyous Christmas carol, my hands have declared mutiny and are disobeying orders from the central command of my better judgment.
Santa is nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, the alphabets have joined the revolt, pulling my fingertips towards sentences that can’t wait to be written. As I surrender to their gravity, I find myself itching to tell this story, I even feel it’s my responsibility to do so. To tell you the truth, the historic document I’m about to share with you has restored my faith in the basic goodness of the human race, the mere thought of which brings warmth to my heart, more joy than any Father Christmas could muster. Read More »
January 23, 2007 – 9:03 pm
Since Harun died–
was killed, that is–
Warda hadn’t had many visitors.
There was Khadduja,
who lived with her blind mother three houses down–
she sometimes came in for a cup of coffee in the evening
when Warda was getting ready to be on the night shift. Read More »
January 2, 2007 – 9:32 pm
And there you have it. After all those endless speeches about freedom and democracy, and the supposed surge of a new dawn for a new Iraq where the rule of law reigns supreme. After the elections and the crowds fearlessly queuing in line to cast their votes with that legendary blue-inked finger. After all that, Saddam Hussein faced the exact same fate meted out to several of his predecessors in the unforgiving history of twentieth century Iraq.
After all, there he was, surrounded by hooded men, who seemed to have escaped from the set of Godfather IV, chanting biased religious slogans, and being taunted by his executioners. Saddam was delivered to a den of darkness seemingly populated by the foot soldiers of the Mahdi Army. And just like Abdul Karim Qassim, the Iraqi President executed in 1963, his dead body had to be show-cased on television, to prove to the disbelieving masses that the King is indeed dead. And, lest it be forgotten, Abdul Karim Qassim also faced a kangaroo court before being sentenced to death.
Nothing has changed. And nothing can be sadder than that conclusion. Read More »
