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November 12, 2012
Revisiting Dust-Covered Dreams
By Cathy Breen
What is there left to say about Iraq? Maybe we should ask Cheney, Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, Tony Blair- clearly, it would be a waste of time asking Bush.
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November 11, 2012
Najaf--I returned from
A few minutes ago a fierce wind rose, blowing the trees and dust and everything in its path. We hurried to close the windows, but there was no way to prevent the fine powdery dirt from entering. It covers everything. The weather seems to fit my mood somehow. There are forces beyond our control.
Yesterday in
Image: Cathy Breen
I wanted to give them a package from the states, and they were hesitant to have me come to their neighborhood, an area which has seen much violence and conflict over the last years.
It was an emotional moment as the mother and I exited our respective car and taxi and embraced. She wept. I hope I will be able to see their seven children before I leave
My first task this morning is to review and resize some of the photos taken yesterday, so that I can send them off with an account to the sons and daughters in the
This is what war does, no? It separates families; it destroys the fiber and lifeblood of a society. I remember as a young adult, and not so young adult, being separated by oceans for years at a time from my own family. There were moments when I would become so choked up to hear their voices over the phone that I was unable to speak.
My visit was anticipated, and as is the beautiful custom here each family welcomed me warmly and served me. We were able to visit unhurriedly, and I had brought a few photos of their loved ones to show them. After assuring them that their family members were working hard but doing alright in the
"The children all want to be cops, and to carry guns." The teacher spoke of the many orphans in her class and of the widowed teachers. "Everyone is exhausted from the situation. We don't know what will happen tomorrow. Sometimes there are 10-15 explosions, other days there are none. With the situation in
In the other family I visited, the grandmother has bad asthma. There is an increase in asthma due to pollution, to lack of factory and vehicle emission controls, to the frequent use of generators for electricity. Even the benzene still has lead. One family member, a doctor, commented, "Nine years and no electrical system. Where is the big investment money? It is all about political decisions. The
What is there left to say?