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Relief Organization &
Politics Water Shortage in post-war Iraq by Cherrie Lynn Lipsett Here's the forwarded message posted in our chat site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QuietPolyJuryFury/message/788 by Sophia Barkat Refusing Water - a Muslim Perspective Cherrie's forwarded message left me wondering what God means to Christian Clergy. Strangely enough Iraq is the home of Karbala, the place where Mohammed's two grandsons were martyred for refusing to give up their religion. Hassan and Hussein, two children, captured by the Prophet's enemies and dying of thirst, were given one option by the enemies. They could renounce the Prophet and his religion and get a drink of water or have their heads sliced off. Of course, being family, and Mohammed's favorites, they did not know how to renounce their faiths. It's interesting that any human being let alone one that claims to be God's servant can refuse any man in a desert a drink of water. It's considered, in Islam, a real sign of evil if you refuse water to anyone, ever since the tragedy of Karbala. Every month of Muharram, Shiites in particular - followers of Ali, the father of Hassan aand Hussein - will walk the streets in black, flogging themselves for their sins and distributing water to spectators. by Trevor Batten Re: Sophia's post - Refusing Water - a Muslim Perspective "Sophia Barkat" <quietpoly@yahoo.com> wrote: "It's considered a real sign of evil if you refuse water to anyone in Islam ever since the tragedy of Karbala. Every month of Muharram, Shiites in particular - followers of Ali, the father of Hassan and Hussein - will walk the streets in black flogging themselves for their sins and distributing water to spectators." Is this why it is still such a mess in Iraq -with no water and no electricity (to operate pumps)? Are American planners really so incompetent? Is it a deliberate insult to Islam? Is it a deliberate strategy to let the country disintegrate -so the Americans can step in once again and save the nation from the chaos? Is the American government stupid -or evil? Bush supporters like to compare the "liberation" of Iraq with the liberation of Europe in WWII. However, I have the feeling that in WWII the military authorities were much more efficient in restoring civil order directly after (local) military victory. So is the destruction of civil society in Iraq simply a consequence of the Rumsfeld "light" strategy -which doesn't have enough troops on the ground to do anything but destroy the enemy in large numbers with high-tech weaponry? If the comparison with WWII fails -there is perhaps a parallel with the situation in eastern Europe directly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Just as in Iraq, it seems that America was more interested in opening up a shattered society for American corporations than it was interested in helping a crippled society to rebuild itself. The American attitude to post-communist Europe has caused great suffering in the countries that were previously under Soviet control. The collapse of local industries unable to compete with their western counterparts (unless they were bought over by western companies) and the collapse of the Soviet Social Security systems pushed many people into worse poverty than under communism. For many people, freedom of speech means nothing -- if nobody will listen to ones cries of desperation. The social anarchy brought not only poverty to many, it also allowed organized crime to increase its grip on civil society in many of the new countries. On the one hand, police forces were often hampered by lack of money and probably the remnants of the old way of thinking which had infiltrated all levels of life under the old system -and, on the other hand, less scrupulous members of the previous regime were able to use their financial advantage and their knowledge of the local situation to slip invisibly from communist oppressor to capitalist saviour -or new style politician (who could support corruption from within the political system). However, the fall of communism has also resulted in the most ugly face of capitalism (disguised by a smiling consumerist mask) to rule triumphant throughout the world. There is probably a direct link between the fall of the iron curtain and the now visible rise of the iron fist from its hiding place within the American velvet glove. Now that several ex-communist countries (with governments sympathetic to the US) have joined the EU, it will be interesting to see if the more socially orientated EU will magnify the voices of those who have suffered under the new capitalist system -or if the new pro US governments will cause the EU to loose much of its social nature. Rumour has it that much of Schroeder's political success comes from support for him in eastern Germany -it is possible that the tension between popular opinion and governmental policy is highest in the countries of "New" Europe -exactly the countries that America is counting on for support. It is possible that, whatever the reason for it, America's lasse faire attitude may well be past its sell by date. Suspicious minds have suspected America of wanting to set up a client state as an ally for Israel in the area. Indeed, from one perspective -Iraq is in a strategic position at the center of a volatile area. However, from another point of view, Iraq is surrounded by angry Muslim states (including some supposed allies of America), who have agreed that the international community and not America should be responsible for the rebuilding of Iraq. Some people are already claiming that the latest invasion of a refugee camp by Israel clearly demonstrates the nature of the new "roadmap" to peace in the area. The BBC is has just reported stand off in Kut between US troops and a local cleric suspected of links with Iran. Plea to end Baghdad chaos: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2961255.stm Iraq's Shiites mark new freedom: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2961899.stm BBC After Saddam: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2002/conflict_with_iraq/default\ .stm Israel storms refugee camp: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2961525.stm by Sophia Barkat Re: Trevor's post From what I understand the story (link) states that a Priest (Baptist)is pursuing this strategy with US Soldiers - so as to convert them. I don't know if it's US Policy. In any case, it's rude behavior and shocking news. by Trevor Batten Re: Sophia's post I believe that my message quoted below was reacting to the treatment regarding the importance of water -and not to the earlier story of the Baptist Reverend. The BBC radio has just announced that for the first time in two weeks the water supply has been connected in some parts of Baghdad. Perhaps the news of the civil chaos in Iraq has not been given the coverage it deserves. it seems that due to the war, some people have received no wages for around two months (presumably because the war breaks out just before payday and then lasts about a month) -not that it matters because the currency is probably worthless -especially after the looting of banks. Ironically, Euronews showed shots of Ukrainian army specialists who had been sent to the area to deal with bio-chemical weapons -which never materialized -so they had nothing to do except practicee, fool around with the decontamination showers and chat up the local female US soldiers with whom they apparently shared mess facilities. The ladies were reported as being delighted with the charming Ukrainians who were more sophisticated than they were used to -but images of the Ukrainians playing with water which the Iraqis desperately needed was perhaps not very tactful. One also has the impression that the US media are still hanging on to Chalabi as a spokesperson for the new Iraq -while British media claimed, several days ago, that his support had faded and even some members of his staff had abandoned him -although there were rumours that by publicly proclaiming his withdrawal from the political race, he was in fact announcing his candidature. Apparently, Gardiner has arrived in Baghdad today -and has been going around asking Iraqis what he can do for them. The BBC did not quote any replies but if recent reports are to be believed -then the only reply he will be getting is the request to leave. Different views from both sides of the mirror - Charity for UK Soldiers by Trevor Batten Charity set up for Gulf troops: A new charitable fund was launched on Wednesday to support British forces serving in Iraq. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2953505.stm Is this not slightly bizarre -when so few British soldiers have been killed or wounded in action (by hostile acts) -while there are so many Iraqi victims (both civilian and military)? Who is to help the Iraqi's? Wasn't there something in Christianity about loving one's enemies? Aren't the US and UK supposed to be Christian countries? Or is the idea behind "secular" society that the state can operate without any concern for moral scruples -and the public don't need to feel guilty,, because the state has relieved them of any moral responsibility? On the other hand -doesn't "democracy" make the public responsible for the actions of their governments? Why is it good for Christian governments to support their fighters but bad for Muslim governments to support their's? What point is democracy (what value can it have?) -when only one viewpoint is acceptable? by Duncan Reilly Re: Trevor's post - Different views from both sides of the mirror It can't be democracy if only one viewpoint is acceptable. Freedom of speech Must be true freedom for democracy to exist. If that freedom doesn't exist then pick just about any other 'cracy/archy but not democracy. by Cherrie Lynn Lipsett Re: Trevor's post - Different views from both sides of the mirror I wonder if the US still has freedom of speech and therefore democracy. The supreme court ruled ( when we tried to put limits on political campaigns - that we couldn't do that because money equaled free speech) but that means that different people have different amounts of free speech depending on how much money they have. So if everyone does not have the same amount of free speech to you still have a democracy? Anyone want to comment on this? by Trevor Batten Re: Cherrie's post If you check out this link (under previous projects, perhaps) you might find something about corporations and free speech. I remember seeing a video tape from them in which they objected to the fact that corporations are considered individuals under US law -so advertising is seen as "free speech". RTmark http://www.rtmark.com/ I believe I also sent a short text to QuietPoly or Juryfury before it went on line -about how commercial structures undermine democracy. I'm afraid I can't help believing that the American society/culture is mutating into something truly horrific -and that most Americans are not aware of what they are becoming. |
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