Action movies in my street
Thursday, December 16, 2004
I started writing this yesterday evening, but then my cousin started chatting with me and I couldn't complete it.. So, here it is.
An American stryker parked next to my school, I don't know what they did, but it sure took them a lot of time.. The driver who drives us home said that they're paying the expenses of the new school (I hope no one will bomb it after knowing this)..
Our neighbor got back home safely, after his family paid 30,.000 US dollars.. He lives next to the house in the back of ours! I know it's too far, but Islam has ordered us to be good to neighbors till the 4oth door! That was part of my homework today in the religion lesson (Note: Only Muslims take this lesson, but Christians still can attend it)..
At about 5PM today, a car-bomb exploded near the bridge, I don't think anybody got hurt.. Then, two strykers or more blocked the road to our street, they shoot in the sky everytime a car gets near them.. BUT, the purpose was good; I was studying in my room when my everything started shaking, a big explosion occurred somewhere near, the Americans were trying to disable an explosive something, and it exploded (I guess disabling explosives is not possible here).. At this time, mom was waiting eagerly for dad to come back from the clinic, communicating with him by the mobile and telling him where to go. Finally, dad decided to leave the car at our neighbors house (In the back of ours) and he jumped from their house to ours!! Well, thank God he is safe.
***
Today (Thursday) I was informing my friends about my neighbor's coming home, a classmate asked me about his name, but I didn't know it. Then, the BIG surprise, that man was her GRANDFATHER!!!!!! More !!! Okay, he's back and safe but not too healthy, he's a little sick from the cold weather but he's safe now.
The Chemistry teacher, who's so angry at me now, and who told all the classes about my dumb mistake (A single number changed the whole question), told me today that I got 85%, it's a little BAD but with another two 100%, I'll have 95!! So, it won't be a problem.
------------------------------------------------
A little about neighboring in Islam:
Among the duties you owe your neighbor are:
1- To greet him/her when you meet him/her.
2- To ask about him/her.
3- To visit him/her when sick.
4- To console him/her when he/she is afflicted with calamity.
5- To condole him/her when any of his/her relatives passes away.
6- To congratulate him/her on happy occasions.
7- To share him/her his/her joys and pains.
8- To forgive him/her when he/she does wrong to you.
9- To keep away from infringing on his/her privacy.
10- To guide him/her to what he/she is ignorant about.
11- To lower your gaze from his/her female household.
12- Not to bother him/her in any way; for example by putting dirty stuff in front of his/her home.
Source.
An American stryker parked next to my school, I don't know what they did, but it sure took them a lot of time.. The driver who drives us home said that they're paying the expenses of the new school (I hope no one will bomb it after knowing this)..
Our neighbor got back home safely, after his family paid 30,.000 US dollars.. He lives next to the house in the back of ours! I know it's too far, but Islam has ordered us to be good to neighbors till the 4oth door! That was part of my homework today in the religion lesson (Note: Only Muslims take this lesson, but Christians still can attend it)..
At about 5PM today, a car-bomb exploded near the bridge, I don't think anybody got hurt.. Then, two strykers or more blocked the road to our street, they shoot in the sky everytime a car gets near them.. BUT, the purpose was good; I was studying in my room when my everything started shaking, a big explosion occurred somewhere near, the Americans were trying to disable an explosive something, and it exploded (I guess disabling explosives is not possible here).. At this time, mom was waiting eagerly for dad to come back from the clinic, communicating with him by the mobile and telling him where to go. Finally, dad decided to leave the car at our neighbors house (In the back of ours) and he jumped from their house to ours!! Well, thank God he is safe.
***
Today (Thursday) I was informing my friends about my neighbor's coming home, a classmate asked me about his name, but I didn't know it. Then, the BIG surprise, that man was her GRANDFATHER!!!!!! More !!! Okay, he's back and safe but not too healthy, he's a little sick from the cold weather but he's safe now.
The Chemistry teacher, who's so angry at me now, and who told all the classes about my dumb mistake (A single number changed the whole question), told me today that I got 85%, it's a little BAD but with another two 100%, I'll have 95!! So, it won't be a problem.
------------------------------------------------
A little about neighboring in Islam:
Among the duties you owe your neighbor are:
1- To greet him/her when you meet him/her.
2- To ask about him/her.
3- To visit him/her when sick.
4- To console him/her when he/she is afflicted with calamity.
5- To condole him/her when any of his/her relatives passes away.
6- To congratulate him/her on happy occasions.
7- To share him/her his/her joys and pains.
8- To forgive him/her when he/she does wrong to you.
9- To keep away from infringing on his/her privacy.
10- To guide him/her to what he/she is ignorant about.
11- To lower your gaze from his/her female household.
12- Not to bother him/her in any way; for example by putting dirty stuff in front of his/her home.
Source.
posted by Najma at 1:44 PM, | 
17 Comments:
It's a very risky business disabling explosives.
Stay safe.
Stay safe.
Wow, that's a lot of news. I'm glad to hear your neighbor got back and you are doing well. Thank you for your kind words about my nominating you for the web log awards. I'm sorry you didn't win, but 5th is still very good.
I tried to thank you a bit more approriately in my blog today, since I missed your post on Tuesday. (Sorry.)
Be well.
Jazz
I tried to thank you a bit more approriately in my blog today, since I missed your post on Tuesday. (Sorry.)
Be well.
Jazz
Najma:
As so often happens, I am impressed. The conversation with "13" is exciting because it is an opportunity to watch you thinking about something. Most people just come up with a simple position and then defend it with all their might--like many of your commenters who try to "claim" you for their "side".
You are actually interested in learning and in truth and you always try to be fair to both sides. Or to all sides if there are more than two.
Seeing the good in people and in positions, rather than just roundly condemning; and reconsidering and continuing to LOOK even after you think you know the answer--this is the way peace ultimately comes and good is achieved.
How few people on both sides are interested in doing this--it's a tough job. I know because it's tough for me, too! But reading you and getting to know you makes me a better person. This is one of the secrets to your blog and part of what makes Jazz right, you are the real Number One!
Jeff
As so often happens, I am impressed. The conversation with "13" is exciting because it is an opportunity to watch you thinking about something. Most people just come up with a simple position and then defend it with all their might--like many of your commenters who try to "claim" you for their "side".
You are actually interested in learning and in truth and you always try to be fair to both sides. Or to all sides if there are more than two.
Seeing the good in people and in positions, rather than just roundly condemning; and reconsidering and continuing to LOOK even after you think you know the answer--this is the way peace ultimately comes and good is achieved.
How few people on both sides are interested in doing this--it's a tough job. I know because it's tough for me, too! But reading you and getting to know you makes me a better person. This is one of the secrets to your blog and part of what makes Jazz right, you are the real Number One!
Jeff
Topics like religion, perhaps like no other, are very difficult for me to comment upon. I desperately want not to be misunderstood nor to have motives assigned to my comments that are not the true motives behind my comments. As a result, I usually take the safer course and avoid the minefield that is always present in discussions regarding religion. My motive here is to communicate and to share, nothing more nothing less. Here goes.
I find the treatment of “neighboring in Islam” to be strikingly similar to that in Christianity. In fact, the New Testament suggests that the entire law and the prophets depend or derive from two fundamental commandments. The “first and greatest commandment” is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This second is “like it” and it is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” See Matthew 22:36-40It strikes me that all of the duties owed to neighbors are duties which we would naturally assume and enjoy assuming if we truly loved our neighbor. It also occurs to me that when one looks at the list of duties, which I recognize is not all inclusive, can not one conclude from this list that we are supposed to love our neighbor. In other words, can one truly, honestly and genuinely greet a person, inquire about him, visit him when sick, console when he needs consoling, condole him on the passage of his relatives, congratulate and share in happy or joyous occasions, forgive him when he wrongs you, etc. when you do not truly love this neighbor? To my way of thinking, they are identical, but that’s just my opinion.
I am wondering whether Islam defines who one’s neighbor is. The New Testament, at least to my reading of it, suggests that one’s neighbor is everyone with whom one comes into contact, and instructs everyone to act as good neighbors. See Luke 10:29-37 I bet that Islam does so and in equally broad fashion, but again that’s just my opinion which is really nothing more than a hunch.
I find the treatment of “neighboring in Islam” to be strikingly similar to that in Christianity. In fact, the New Testament suggests that the entire law and the prophets depend or derive from two fundamental commandments. The “first and greatest commandment” is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This second is “like it” and it is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” See Matthew 22:36-40It strikes me that all of the duties owed to neighbors are duties which we would naturally assume and enjoy assuming if we truly loved our neighbor. It also occurs to me that when one looks at the list of duties, which I recognize is not all inclusive, can not one conclude from this list that we are supposed to love our neighbor. In other words, can one truly, honestly and genuinely greet a person, inquire about him, visit him when sick, console when he needs consoling, condole him on the passage of his relatives, congratulate and share in happy or joyous occasions, forgive him when he wrongs you, etc. when you do not truly love this neighbor? To my way of thinking, they are identical, but that’s just my opinion.
I am wondering whether Islam defines who one’s neighbor is. The New Testament, at least to my reading of it, suggests that one’s neighbor is everyone with whom one comes into contact, and instructs everyone to act as good neighbors. See Luke 10:29-37 I bet that Islam does so and in equally broad fashion, but again that’s just my opinion which is really nothing more than a hunch.
I wonder how much better the world would be if that list was a formal agreement between countries.
In viewing it I find most items are true for the coalition troops in Iraq if you consider Sadam and his sons the intruder into our Iraq neighbor.
In viewing it I find most items are true for the coalition troops in Iraq if you consider Sadam and his sons the intruder into our Iraq neighbor.
Why did the people kidnap your neighbor? Is that the first one you've heard about? Who kidnapped him, do you know?
Must be terrible to live in a place so full of violence and evil.
Must be terrible to live in a place so full of violence and evil.
Hi, on the Al Jazeera english site there is an ineresting commentary on your 4th group. They suggest the "vandals" are stooges of the Mukhabarat (Saddam's secret Police). I thought this was a rather enlightening artical. you can read it at:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9FA18AFB-F2C9-4678-8E6A-3595D91B83A1.htm
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9FA18AFB-F2C9-4678-8E6A-3595D91B83A1.htm
Najma, I am glad that your neighbor is safe. I hope that the criminals who kidnapped him are caught. Don't worry about your Chemistry test score. I am sure that you will do better next time. :) Your list of duties that one neighbor owes another is a very good list. I wish that neighbors in America were so kind. Here, neighbors often don't even know each other. Of course, it makes a difference if a person lives on a small town or a big city. In small towns, most people know each other, but that doesn't always mean that they will be kind to each other! For myself, I have always tried to be a good neighbor. If my neighbor asks me for help, I have always been willing to lend a hand.
Greetings,
The courage of one little Iraqi girl, is now known by the world. The soldiers that were there will testify to that.
They were only trying to change things one toy, one child at a time. change them they did.
This is my post
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
The courage of one little Iraqi girl, is now known by the world. The soldiers that were there will testify to that.
They were only trying to change things one toy, one child at a time. change them they did.
This is my post
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Najma,
I'm glad your neighbor has returned home safely.
You made me laugh loud with your father's story. That's what neighbors are for :-)
I'm glad your neighbor has returned home safely.
You made me laugh loud with your father's story. That's what neighbors are for :-)
Beware!
I think you can expect a major offensive in Mosul soon--because of the continued violence in your city. I hope it does not become another Falluja, but the terrorists seem bent on making that happen.
Be careful.
I think you can expect a major offensive in Mosul soon--because of the continued violence in your city. I hope it does not become another Falluja, but the terrorists seem bent on making that happen.
Be careful.
Najma, I am so proud of you continuing to do well in school with all the unrest in Mosul. I am happy your neighbor is free and that your Dad can jump from house to house-ha. The neighborly rules are good and I agree with the other commenter that this is what Christians also bleieve. We have more in common than we ever knew. I am so glad we can blog and learn of each other. I often think it is fear of the unknown that leads to so many conspiracy theories. May Mosul soon know peace and the entire Iraq as well. May God watch over you and your loved ones.
Najma,
great..... :( I'm the poor shmuck who has to disarm bombs.....
Anyway, stay safe and good to read your blog again after being away from the computer for a few days.
great..... :( I'm the poor shmuck who has to disarm bombs.....
Anyway, stay safe and good to read your blog again after being away from the computer for a few days.
Hi Najma,
Regarding #11, it's interesting the differences in attitude regarding eye-contact in different cultures. Here in New York, you will sometimes find a person averting his/her gaze from a stranger he walks past on the street, but to deliberately avoid looking at or talking to someone you know (male or female) is called "snubbing" and is generally considered quite rude here. And, if you are friends with a man and snub his wife like that, your friend will probably feel offended too.
Shawn.
Regarding #11, it's interesting the differences in attitude regarding eye-contact in different cultures. Here in New York, you will sometimes find a person averting his/her gaze from a stranger he walks past on the street, but to deliberately avoid looking at or talking to someone you know (male or female) is called "snubbing" and is generally considered quite rude here. And, if you are friends with a man and snub his wife like that, your friend will probably feel offended too.
Shawn.
Hello all,
I had heard about this blog, but I dont get a chance at a computer much. I am an American soldier here with the Stryker Brigade in Mosul.
I want to commend you Najma on you accomplishments, and keep up the good work.
As far as seeing the other side of this god-awful mess we have on our hands....
I hope you understand that our intentions here are good, We DONT want to stay here, we want to stabalize security here and go home to our families.
Najma you are young and I'm sorry you have to live in a situation like this, Our goal is to see you Dont.
I know you dont like seeing the Bulky Strykers driving in your streets cutting off traffic and us shooting in the air...But for our own security we have to. too many "Jihadis" driving car-bombs into us latley.
The situation here is pretty complex, from many of your references to the Kurds...you seem to not be to fond of them...to this extent the jihadis are succeding in causing strife between you, the kurd, christians and so on.
A big mistake our unit made here was the lack of understanding of the cultural breakdown, the tribal system is in full swing. We questioned a man the other day and asked him if he knew of any insurgent activity...he told us the man on the corner was a bad guy...well he was not, he was kurdish, and his accuser Arab...and it works the other way too.
As you well know about the many bodies that have been turning up lately..all Iraqis..killed in public by other Iraqis...Nobody does or says anything about it!
How can this be? we arent staying here for ever, sooner or later your people will have to assume its own future.
I understand you dont like the americans..but we ARE trying to help you.
Your breakdown of the Insurgency is a little ethnically Bias, the "resistance" is more complex from we have seen, its what we dont know that frustrates us.
Keep going to School and getting good grades.
Maybe I'll post again someday,
PS we dont disable bombs..we find them and blow them in place..Alot of the IED's are rigged and its too dangerous.
I had heard about this blog, but I dont get a chance at a computer much. I am an American soldier here with the Stryker Brigade in Mosul.
I want to commend you Najma on you accomplishments, and keep up the good work.
As far as seeing the other side of this god-awful mess we have on our hands....
I hope you understand that our intentions here are good, We DONT want to stay here, we want to stabalize security here and go home to our families.
Najma you are young and I'm sorry you have to live in a situation like this, Our goal is to see you Dont.
I know you dont like seeing the Bulky Strykers driving in your streets cutting off traffic and us shooting in the air...But for our own security we have to. too many "Jihadis" driving car-bombs into us latley.
The situation here is pretty complex, from many of your references to the Kurds...you seem to not be to fond of them...to this extent the jihadis are succeding in causing strife between you, the kurd, christians and so on.
A big mistake our unit made here was the lack of understanding of the cultural breakdown, the tribal system is in full swing. We questioned a man the other day and asked him if he knew of any insurgent activity...he told us the man on the corner was a bad guy...well he was not, he was kurdish, and his accuser Arab...and it works the other way too.
As you well know about the many bodies that have been turning up lately..all Iraqis..killed in public by other Iraqis...Nobody does or says anything about it!
How can this be? we arent staying here for ever, sooner or later your people will have to assume its own future.
I understand you dont like the americans..but we ARE trying to help you.
Your breakdown of the Insurgency is a little ethnically Bias, the "resistance" is more complex from we have seen, its what we dont know that frustrates us.
Keep going to School and getting good grades.
Maybe I'll post again someday,
PS we dont disable bombs..we find them and blow them in place..Alot of the IED's are rigged and its too dangerous.
I am a Christian so I would like to better understand how you define "neighbor". In the Bible, Jesus was asked "And who is my neighbor?" and as an answer, Jesus told the story about the good Samaritan. An unconscious man who had been robbed was lying beside a road. People had passed by without stopping before a Samaritan rendered aid and took the man to an inn, cared for him and paid for his stay there. Jesus said the Samaritan was a good neighbor to the one who had been robbed. (Luke 10:25-37, http://www.biblegateway.com) Samaritans were considered ritually unclean by religious Jews in Jesus' day.
So, who do you think about as being your neighbor? For instance, are Kurds, Americans and the Shia your neighbors also?
So, who do you think about as being your neighbor? For instance, are Kurds, Americans and the Shia your neighbors also?
In my school in my youth, many, many years ago, our lab was blown up almost on a weekly basis. I think a few times that it was on purpose. Kids back then had a different sense of humor, I think.
I am in awe of your efforts at school and the results. It is a difficult time for you and your country and you seem to be putting the effort and time to good use (considering the circumstances).
Considering what you were talking about as "neighboring". I had a thought about how some of the items you listed, seem to "conflict with" or "Oppose" some of the other ones that are listed.
I know in my state of Texas, we value our neighbors but we also value our privacy more.
We value our independence of thought and actions as long as they harm no one. We would not like a neighbor " guiding us to what we were ignorant about", except possibly on things that were not of a personal or family matter.
The part about "lowering your gaze", I assume has to do with your religion. Which brings me to this interview that I read this morning, by a reporter who with his own money and no connections, spent a few months in your country. You can read the interview:
Blog interview: Steven Vincent - "Women’s rights is the Achilles heel of Islamofascism" You will have to scroll down a little to find the interview.
Stay safe and continue to listen to your parents and to place much value in them.
This is my post
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA