Views of an American Kurd

Cranky Angel

2007-01-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

This has nothing to do with politics.
I just think she's cute when she's sleeping, and funny when she's pissed.

And now, my friends, I must run...

Is Tony Blair Running Away?

2006-11-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

British Prime Minister Tony Blair claims that slow progress in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was creating greater, and continued, violence in Iraq. Is he correct, or is he running from an unpopular political issue by attempting to sound more moderate?

Either way he is basically wrong. Iran, eagerly trying to force an Arab ideology on its people, will continue to saber rattle in Israel's direction. Iraq, while certainly not pro-Israel in any way, has never had an interest in doing so.

Current surges in violent activity around Baghdad are the result of Iranian intervention and bear-baiting, Muslim sect strife that will always be there, and growing pains.

Iran and Iraq have always shared a difficult relationship as Persian cultures with different goals. While Iran's people live in fear and cling to their Persian identities, its government strains to become an Arab nation, something anathema to true Persians. Ahmadinejad, a ratty little terrorist who rigged his own kingletship, will continue to poke a stick into the hornet's nest of Baghdad because it serves his interest.

Americans and other westerners should not expect a quick end to violence between Sunni, Shi'ite, and other tribal enemies. Those conflicts will become quiet periodically, but will never be settled.

Blair, indeed all of British Imperialist history, has never truly understood diplomacy. The UK has practiced carrot-and-stick tactics wherever it went, exploiting and undermining economies the world over. When things become economically difficult, or when tension builds in these areas Great Britain leaves town or passes the buck to Americans after creating a mess. France, too, has long pulled these tactics.

Let us remember at whose hands the colonization and subjection of Persia began.

The Spiderweb of Terrorism

2006-07-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

This week my brother called me to announce that he was in Baghdad, in front of the house where we spent our winters with my grandparents (we spent the rest of the year in Arbil). I find myself wishing with all my heart that my telephone came with a strangling attachment. Our parents had lost Jalil for most of his life, uncertain where he was, or even if he was alive at all. For him to risk his life by strolling into Iraq from Jordan was, I felt, irresponsible and selfish. I plan to travel to England, where he now makes his home, to beat him very severely later this summer. He laughs at me, assuring me he is safe. I point at the 10 dead in the bus ambush.

"I travel all over the world for our family, Ahmed." His voice is patiently condescending. "They could kill me in Paris, my brother."

He is, of course, correct, though I would argue that he is in greater danger in Baghdad. Ironically, the fact that he is a wealthy Kurd works in his favor today, rather than acting as a bulls-eye with a homing device on his back, as it did before we fled so many years ago.

Still, my idiot brother has a point. Many politicians inside my own country want us to believe that terrorism has a single name: bin Ladin. All action not directed at him, specifically, is wasted. They are so wrong. Consider this week alone:

*Russians weep with relief that Shamil Basayev is dead. The mastermind of the Beslan school massacre and other bloodbaths, including the earlier stand-off in a crowded theater. His minions showed no mercy, no humanity.

*In Bombay seven explosions have killed many, at this writing too many to count, in a planned attack that ripped train compartments open and flung victims onto train tracks.

*Last week Shezhad Tawneer's suicide video was released, promising more from those who aided in, and executed the London bombing attacks.

*In Bali, Indonesian authorities have discovered instructions for suicide bombers on a computer captured by police. They instruct would-be martyrs to "target any white person" and advise them not to worry about escape routes, since they will be dying as heroes.

This just in: terrorism is global, interconnected like a spider web, and not just about bin Ladin.

There are no safe places any more. I would, of course, argue that Jalil's home in Surrey is far safer than Baghdad. And I am still going to beat the hell out of him.

Where Two or More Are Gathered... WORRY

2006-07-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

The BBC is reporting that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will be meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley in Washington to, as Gul said, "further develop a relationship that already has deep roots."

For those who have forgotton, the Turkish parliament denied the US access for deployment from Turkey during the invasion of Iraq. Why? Well, in spite of the fact that the United States had built some very pricey bases in their country, Turks wanted promises that would have been impossible to keep. How could the US possibly liberate Iraq while allowing Turkey to continue its inhumane and hostile policies toward Kurdistan?

They could not, and would not make promises they had no intention of keeping. It would be wise for Secretary Rice and Adviser Hadley to remember earlier lessons in recognizing cowards and manipulators.

Once a rat...

Violence and Hate Spread

2005-11-09T09:39:00.000-08:00

A Kurdish youth was beaten severely in Plymouth, England on Tuesday, October 25.

He was walking through the Bretonside bus station when he attempted to enter a men's room and was pounced upon by four young men who had with them a staffordshire terrier.

Many believe this young man was the victim of misdirected rage against those of middle eastern and Arab descent in the wake of the bus bombings and other terrorist activities in Europe.

Unfortunately, having dark skin and an accent or manner that labels one "foreign" is, these days, grounds for suspicion. To some extent this is understandable. Fear is a terrible thing.

Unfortunately, this poor boy had more in common with his abusers than with any terrorist. Kurds have never exported hate.

Steel Curtain

2005-11-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

Operation Steel Curtain may seem to be slow moving, but it represents one of the most important fazes of the liberation of Iraq.

Syria has long been a bastion of tyranny. Kurds have been slaughtered and oppressed there for many years, but beyond this, the country has been host to renegade terrorists (including Saddam himself) on numerous occasions.

While Syria continues to smuggle dangerous weaponry and chemicals across its borders, it also plays host to some of the most wanted men in the region.

The United States has long been squeamish about directing its wrath at Syria. That time has come to an end. American citizens need to understand and support this important push in the final sprint toward independence.

KNCNA Conference on Kurdish Independence

2005-10-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last minute changes hoping to guarantee the Iraqi Constitution are creating yet another uproar between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq. Big surprise. Meanwhile The Kurdish National Congress of North America is holding a two day conference on the question of Kurdish Independence in November.

A unified Kurdish state is, and will remain, a wonderful dream. But while chaos reigns in Iraq, and the US and other allies refuse to stand against the oppression of Turkey and Syria, the dream is nothing more than fantasy.

Kurdistan can not survive on her own... yet. The KNCNA provides valuable, vital forums for discussion of the Kurdish question. I will be watching, reading, listening, and attending many of these, but I will do so with a cautious heart.

Freedom's Song

2005-09-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

My mother lives in England. We speak on the telephone frequently, and she has recently discovered the wonders of the internet as both a means of communicating from afar and a way to stay up to date on events in her homeland.

Recently she called me at my office very excited and emotional. It took me several moments to get her calm enough to tell me what had her so tense. She explained that she read of President Talabani's trip to the US and that he had answered a reporter in Kurdish.

Why would such a thing bring her to tears?

In Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and other parts of the world heavily populated by Kurds, speaking our language or singing our traditional songs publicly often results in death. Turkey and Syria routinely jail any Kurd using his or her language.

Turkey, so long considered an ally of my adopted homeland, is among the harshest abusers of Kurdish citizens. Laws barring the use of Kurdish publicly have been repealed, but using the language in "official settings" is still illegal, and punishments are severe. No Kurdish associations are allowed, and it is illegal to teach the language, even privately. Tapes or CDs of Kurdish music are confiscated by the police. It is not uncommon for weddings, where music often plays a prominent role, to be raided. In recent years more than one Kurdish wedding resulted in a mass slaughter, and many Kurds have been detained and/or arrested for singing our traditional songs at wedding ceremonies in Izmir, Adana and Gaziantep.

England imposed a similar ban on Gaelic in Ireland many years ago. It has since been lifted; in fact there is a strong movement now within Ireland to rescue the "Old Irish" language (a particular form of Gaelic) from obscurity and possible extinction.

And so, when my Kurdish mama-- who fled Iraq with three children, forced to leave one behind because he was, at 13, considered old enough to stay if he so chose-- wept to read that Jalal Talabani answered a reporter from Voice of America in his native language. She wept to read that her language, which has been silenced in so many places, was spoken freely and without fear in the land that has become her son's home.

My American friends could not understand it. I rejoice at their ignorance. Loving them as I do it gives me great peace to know they can't imagine a world in which their music, poetry, or just simple words spoken in the tongue that comes naturally to them, could bring death.

Three days after President Talabani spoke his Kurdish words on American television, Marziyeh Feriqi died. She was a wonderful singer who was born in eastern Kurdistan, and the wife of Nassir Feriqi. I like to think that in her hospital bed in Sweden perhaps she, too, got word of the wonder taking place across the ocean. A Kurdish leader stood beside the most powerful man in the world and answered a reporter in his native tongue. I think she, like my mother, would have found impossible joy in that moment, great music in its freedom.

Retaliate to Hate Speak

2005-09-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

In our effort to always respond to, and fight, bigotry we are all joining in condemning the hate-speak and intolerance of the IRC channel on ICQ #witches. Ironically, it has been anti-witch for a steady few weeks of monitoring and has a terrible homophobia and racism problem, as well.

Speak out at the website. Details on Angui's page:

Anguisette's Knot

There is a link there to their home page.

Hurricane Relief

2005-09-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

My Bascha is selling lovely jewelry on ebay with her jewelry collective to benefit victims of the hurricane. For every dollar she makes I will donate another to the effort.

Visit their site:

Mystic Beadwork

Far from Afar

2005-08-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

This week I am back in England to spend time with my family. Interestingly, the British view of the Iraqi situation is not dissimilar from the American, except in areas where Iraqi expatriots have settled.

My parents live in one such area.

Talk of early withdrawal of coalition troops is considered, among these people, utter madness.

My father was saying to a chap just the other day "I would love to introduce you to friends who were businessmen in Iraq during the Baath regime. You would like them. You would not be able to shake their hands, however, since Sadaam cut them off."

While my stay in the UK is personal, I am hoping to have many discussions political.

Meanwhile, I miss my Baszha.

Iraqi Constitution Full Text Available

2005-08-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

I have the most recent update of the Iraqi Constitution available in full text, print friendly version on my website. You may view it here:

Iraqi Constitution | Full Text/Print Friendly

I had noticed many newspapers had extremely awkwardly translated or poorly edited versions. This one is correct and does not omit anything.

Cheers.

There Can Be No Unity In An Arab Iraq

2005-08-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

Exerpts from the current draft of the Iraqi constitution (which can be viewed at the Kurdistan Observer's website) are confusing and contradictory. The draft calls for the new nation to be an "Arab State" while insisting it will not tolerate marginalization of any of its ethnic groups.

Oxymoronic at best, and frighteningly ignorant at worst, the very language employed is marginalist. It specifies in several places that "Kurds" may use "both languages" (meaning both Kurdish and Arab), while elsewhere indicating that Arabic would be the state language for Iraq as a whole. It makes bold statements condemning Baathist and Saddamist Iraq, but weakly caters to Sunnis who would reinstate many Baath party members.

Jalal Talabani has indicated that Iraq must be a Muslim country. This may well be true, for it is clearly impossible for any constitution to be ratified without Islam's endorsement. Catering to fringe groups, however, and caving to Arab pressure is in itself the destruction of the free state so long labored for.

Kurds can not and will not be Arab. We are a Persian people. We do not speak Arabic, do not worship nor socialize as Arabs do, and many of our people died at the hands of Baathists who wanted Iraq to be an Arab-only nation. That this new constitution, with its marginalist language and circular thinking, is so contradictory is a warning sign. Iraq can not create a government for all of its people with frequent insertions of "and the Kurds, too, can do it their way."

Kurdistan is not ready for independence, but represents a third of Iraq. The very nature of the new government marginalizes Kurds and their state by constantly identifying the Kurdish people and their government as "other."

For Iraq to survive as a whole nation it must be neither Arab nor Persian, but a unified people embracing both while wearing neither label. Anything less will be counterproductive and hopelessly backward.