No, Not My Daughters!
While the marionettes were throwing political balls into each other courts and wooing the US ambassador at Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s residence, gangsters broke into my house looking for my daughters.
My wife called me around 2 pm last Wednesday while I was working in my office and said with miff, “Your daughters just called me asking if I have sent some one to the house; three men opened the house door and took two cocking gas cylinders as Um ‘Y’ our next door neighbor said, but I did not send any body.”
We thought that they were no more than normal thieves looking for $40 worth gas cylinder to sell them.
“You better come back home, I do not think that those men were after the cocking gas cylinders, they were in the house and asked Um ‘Y’ about our daughters”, my wife said that bitterly when she called me again from the house after she talked to my neighbor.
My daughters were not at home at that time because their minibus broke down at that day so they had to walk back home and this is why they were late, “They should be home by now”, one of the gangsters told my neighbor with an interjection when she told him that the girls still at school replying for his question about them.
My fear rushed with me to the house, it was striking hard on my head and making me so meager while it was growing and growing, it filled the car that I was driving in the dusk through the useless police checkpoints in a bumpy road that was not paved since Saddam era.
It took me 45 minutes in a 15-minute road to reach my house because of those police checkpoints and the 150-meter distance that we should maintain between our cars and the US military Hummers that were patrolling the street so slow, we can not pass them even if it was an emergency other wise they will shoot us so I was driving slowly following them while I was boiling deep inside trying to get home as fast as possible.
I can not call the police because I do not trust them and I can not ask for help to protect my daughters, what shall I do? I remembered what that guy said in his comment about Iraqis should help themselves and do not expect every thing from the Americans but how can I help myself in this case to protect my daughters.
The house was dark when I reached there because there was no electricity as it comes on for one hour and goes off for 8, and the public generator that supplies our block with electricity broke down two days ago and no one fixed it because its mechanic was killed last week because he was Shiite.
I walked inside the dark house stumbling with things on the floor that I couldn’t see because of the darkness; my wife and my daughters were all sitting in the living room motionless with awe.
I sat by my daughter who was squatting on the sofa and told them, “I am going to take you all outside Iraq, it is not the place that you can stay in any more, let us leave this country for those marionettes and the gangsters.”
My wife said, if they were after the cocking gas cylinders, we had six of them but they took only two; why didn’t they took the generator which was by the cylinders, it is more expensive; I do not think that they were thieves; even my neighbor said that they had a new good clean black car that they used to put the cylinders in; I do not think that whoever has a new car like this need to steel cocking gas cylinders.
My daughters were doing their pre-final exam so they did not want to leave before finishing it, “We will waste a whole school year if we will leave now, can’t we wait one more week?”, my oldest daughter said that with a sad tone.
At the same night, I changed the doors locks and reinforced the main gate; I even changed their driver with another more trusted one who lives just cross the street, and talked to my neighbors to keep eye on the house; more over, we decided to move them around from place to another every day.
I couldn’t sleep that night so does my family, I kept on staring to the roof in the house that was lightened by the dancing flame of the candles with AK47 gun by my head.
“That’s it”, I told my self; I will not be able to sit with them like before, laugh, yell, watching them teasing each other, who will be doing my Argela, to smoke, the way that my youngest daughter use to make for me every night; I will miss them, even though that they will stay alive by leaving the country but I will not be able to see them and live with them like now, “I lost them in any case”, that was the phrase that was tumbling in my head while I was writhing in my bed.
I kept asking my self the whole night, “Why they are after us?”
Most of the Iraqis now do not know why they are dieing or who is after them and I became one of them.
Next morning, I was leaving the house when two men took a picture of me while they were driving by the house and run away.
On the next day, my youngest daughter broke the house arrest rules, which were imposed on them by us, and went to her teacher, who lives one block from my house, for a privet lesson.
Two men in a black car chased her to her teacher house then when she finished the lesson they were still waiting for her there so she told her teacher and called her mother; the teacher kept her in her house until they left then she walked her home.
It bothered me that no one cared for what happened, no one offered a solution, except ‘J’ who works with me, all the others either gave me some impractical advices or did not care because what happened with me is an every day story in Iraq now.
What has happened to me was not something new, for instance, my neighbor was kidnapped then his father, both were kidnapped by men “wearing” police uniform, and the son of a friend of my wife was kidnapped too by some other group and the same thing happened with another friend of hers and another neighbor, all this kidnapping took place with in four months and in one area, we were the last but not least.
Iraqis are trying to leave the country, before it is too late, but which country will give visas for Iraqis now, and how much it will cost to live there, this is why only the rich families can leave now and the rest must stay and face death.
I just became a new scene in the Iraqi tragic play which the marionettes called it the new Iraq, but we will leave this new Iraq for them.
I don’t think that they will found many Iraqis who will accept to live in their new Iraq..
I know about that because,
I was there..
whowasthere@gmail.com
The picture matched the details. I feel so sad for what you and you family are going through.
Shidda witzool inshallah...
Posted by
Bassam Sebti |
9:29 PM, April 29, 2006
Yarabi Allah protect you. Walla I feel a sharp pain in my chest after reading your post.
As a woman living in Baghdad myself i understand what you're going through. Me and my sister are working from home now and everytime i have to go fill the car with fuel or shop I feel like crazy watching every single man around me. What's this life !!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:58 AM, April 30, 2006
Thanks Miraj and Treasure of Baghdad for what you have said but while you were writting your comments, armed men "Wearing" police uniform with police cars killed my brother in law and took his money; as I always say "In Iraq, today always better than tomorow"
I know that because,
I was there..
Posted by
I was there.. |
9:08 PM, April 30, 2006
I fell so sad for what you and your whole family are going thru, what all ordinary Iraqis are going thru. I wish your family strenght to cope with the death of your brother in law, may he rest in peace.
Miraj that sharp pain in the chest I feel that too.
I wish I had the powers to help you three and your familes, get you out of Iraq and take care of you all.
Damn this war.
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:40 PM, April 30, 2006
Thanks Nadia, wish us luck to stay alive, and if one day you will not see me posting any thing for long time, you will know what happend to me..
And remember always that one day,
I was there..
Posted by
I was there.. |
12:43 AM, May 01, 2006
Allah yisa3d your sister and your family for this loss. I just can't believe it, how come we are left alone like this with no mercy. I know what i'm going to say would be hard and might get you frustrated but please try to get your daughters away from this country. May Allah give you the means to do it and leave.
Believe me brother this country is not ours anymore and it's not our home.
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:59 AM, May 01, 2006
I am struggling for words to express what I feel right now ... why does ANYONE on this planet have to go through SUCH a horror?? GOD I wish I could help you feel safe again and get back to living a normal life!! May ALL who initiated this war, ANY war, go to hell ... and have to pass what you are forced to pass with your family - they would wake up very fast! STAY STRONG - you guys are not alone!! There are SO MANY people supporting you ... I will pray for your and your family's safety!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:45 PM, May 01, 2006
Thanks a lot Karin, but now Iraqis stop dreaming of normal life, they just want to live one more hour with out bad news..
I know that there are no good news here any more because,
I was there..
Posted by
I was there.. |
8:29 PM, May 04, 2006
This is Karin writing (I just opened my own blog) ...
NO - (I wish I knew your name) don't ever stop dreaming ... even though it's your imagination or fantasy, it is a tremendous power and triggers the life-saving feeling of resilience! Rest assured I know what I am saying ...
DO NOT GIVE UP ... I'm sending you and your great family a LOT of love and strength!!! I feel with and pray for you, I'm hugging you ALL as friend ... times MUST and WILL get better and then all of you will say "we made it"!! Just .. HANG IN THERE GUYS!!!
Posted by
Karin |
9:36 AM, May 05, 2006
It's me, Karin, again ...
I was just thinking it was rather impolite of me not to invite you to cordially my blog and I'd be MORE than happy if you'd visit ... but on the other hand I kind of feel guilty as we have a rather "normal" life here and you have struggle and death all around you - that is so TERRIBLY unfair and cruel! Should you feel though like being carried away on a city-tour through Munich, my hometown ... I'd be MORE than welcoming you to join me!
Posted by
Karin |
9:54 AM, May 05, 2006
It's me, Karin, again ... (corrected version - sorry!)
I was just thinking it was rather impolite of me not to cordially invite you to my blog and I'd be MORE than happy if you'd visit ... but on the other hand I kind of feel guilty as we have a rather "normal" life here and you have struggle and death all around you - that is so TERRIBLY unfair and cruel! Should you feel though like being carried away on a city-tour through Munich, my hometown ... I'd be MORE than welcoming you to join me!
Posted by
Karin |
9:56 AM, May 05, 2006
My heart goes out to you and your family. The pain and fear you are going through has got to be horrific. This damn war is something I really don't understand. I am an american who prays that this war will soon be over with and that we all can live in peace and understanding.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:00 AM, May 06, 2006
While listening to the terrible news of yesterday, I was thinking of you and your family ... are you alright? I worry about you all ...
Posted by
Karin |
9:49 AM, May 08, 2006
I have sent you an e-mail , please read it. God with you all.
Resonance
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:21 PM, May 09, 2006
Dear 'I Was There',
since it's about two weeks from your last comment and twenty days from your last (tragic) post, do please tell us if you and your family are OK.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:12 AM, May 19, 2006
Please try to post anything just to make sure you're fine!!!
Posted by
Anonymous |
9:15 PM, May 26, 2006
I hope all is well with you and your family. You are all in my thoughts.
Peace/ Nadia
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:18 PM, May 28, 2006
Where are you?? I'm hell of worried about you and your family!!
Posted by
Karin |
11:21 PM, May 28, 2006
I hope you and your family are okay. I pray for you, your family, and the future of Iraq...
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:34 PM, June 01, 2006
Still nothing.
Please if someone knows I was there just post anything to make sure he and his family are fine!
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:38 PM, June 02, 2006
hey everyone. I've been speaking with still alive and neither of us had realised people were worrying. He said to say he is ok and his daughters will be leaving soon. His family is ok and will be leaving but he will be staying in Iraq.
ahh- I am in contact with a lot of Iraqi bloggers so if you ever want to ask me questions just email me: lukey@iinet.net.au
or leave a comment at either the olivebranch network (http://olivebranchoptimism.net)
or my own blog http://olivebranchoptimism.blogspot.com
----- lets all pray things look up for all iraqi's in baghdad very quickly. My heart and my time is always with you.
Posted by
olivebranch |
2:46 PM, June 02, 2006
oh and he will be back to writing once his family are safe and have left the country!
Posted by
olivebranch |
2:48 PM, June 02, 2006
Thanks so much olivebranch for this updat. I was so worried. May all go well.
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:18 PM, June 02, 2006
I am more than happy his family will get out and thus to safety ... but with him to stay there - it'll be so hard on poth parties!
I was so worried about them all ... thanks so much for updating!!
Posted by
Karin |
10:57 AM, June 05, 2006
TO ALL!!! I just received an e-mail from "I was there" and this is what he wants all to know:
"Things are going bad so fast in here, just yesterday, armed men Kidnapped my brother's 16-year old son, and they are asking to realise 4 Sunnis were kidnapped by Shiite group to realise him, they kidnapped him when they could not kidnap my daughters and they said that..
We still talking to the kidnappers to release him ..
This is the up date and if you please can put a comment in my blog to tell my friends the up date so they will know why I am away from posting .."
I pray his nephew will be free FAST and SAFELY ... and they will find the strength to hang on!!! GOD, what a nightmare ...
Posted by
Karin |
4:53 PM, June 05, 2006
owch... i pray for his safety.
Posted by
olivebranch |
11:37 AM, June 06, 2006
Dear I Was There,
I linked to your post (makesomenoise-zazou.blogspot.com) about your daughters so that more people may read about how the chaos and horror that is daily Baghdad affects Iraqis living there.
I hope by now your nephew has been freed and is safe and sound.
As an American, I am horrified and appalled that actions by my govenment (which I didn't vote for, btw), have caused such deep suffering and dispair.
I cannor imagine how the Iraqi people will ever be able to forgive us. And even if they were able to, we don't deserve it.
Posted by
zazou |
7:23 PM, June 16, 2006
I was there,
I just found your blog via a comment someone left on mine. I'm sorry to hear you all will be leaving Iraq. People, like the ones you described who came looking for your daughter, or the others who were wearing "Interior Ministry" uniforms piss me off to no end. Why these people do this, why they think they can get away with it upsets me and angers me in a way words can not describe. I hope the best for you and your family.
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:22 AM, July 11, 2006
I Was There, Are you and your family ok. Am getting worried about you. I pray everything is ok.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:48 PM, July 25, 2006
I'LL PRAY FOR YOU ALL..
MAY PEACE BE UPON YOUR SOULS, HEARTS, MINDS, AND BODIES.. AMEN.
Posted by
sara |
1:18 AM, August 30, 2006
It makes me so sad to see what my country is doing to your country. Our government tries to justify what it's doing, but ultimatly they can't. The majority of Americans are against the US being in your country, but there seems to be no end in sight. War makes me sick and I wish that I could apologize on behalf of my country to Iraq, but I know I can't and this does nothing to take away your pain and suffering. Please continue to write about what is going on. It is important for Americans to know what is going on over there and blogging seems to be the only way to know what is actually going on. Our news is very biased and is always aimed at making the Americans look good, so we never really know what's going on.
Posted by
Lauren |
2:04 AM, October 05, 2006
تبرىء الكلمات في القلوب
ثم همس الرب في قلوبنا...
الكلمات تصل حيث لا يقدر السلاح
سألنا حكيم قريتنا، كيف ينزل الدفء
على النفوس والشيطان
قد ألقى بسمومه المفضلة
خوفاً ويأساً وكراهية
على القلوب البريئة
كما الرماد من محرقة السعادة
كيف تنام عيون الايمان
وسرير الأمل
تفترشه ملاءة القنوط الشاحب
وعيون الحنث الفاسدة
تنتهك حرمة الكلمات المقدسة
وتسعد باغتيال هدايا السماء
وسألنا :كيف يبتسم الخير
ويصفع الكره الفضيلة من وجه الخجل
و أتباعه يشوهون ويحرفون فى نفوس ضحاياهم
حتى يصل الاعتقاد
بأن الإثم فضيلة والقتل عدالة والكره هو الحب
تحدث الحكيم
بصوته الخفيض وقال
أن للشيطان أتباع
يغتسلون في أنهار النبيذ في حادي*
وبعشق السخرية الفارغ
يحصدون نفوساً مغشوشة جنيت بمنجل الانتحار
مستحيل أن يكون الطريق إلى الفردوس مرصوفاً
بجثث الأبرياء - عبر نهرٍ من الدم
اعتنقوا مد الحق وجزره الرائع في قلوبكم
تقبّلوا الشك والعار أينما كانوا
لكي تدركوا أن النفس تسعد بالعطف وليس بالانتقام
سطع صوته كالضوء وقال:
ابحثوا بشجاعة في أعماق قلوبكم
بلا نفاق ولا خداع ولا إجحاف
وحين تلمسوا الايمان هناك
ستنزل الكلمات الالهيه دواءً للقلوب
مثل مطر أبدي يجذبه البحر دائماً
حتى يرتفع ليملأ حرم النفوس
بودٍ عميق هادىء ويغدو سلاماً
على شواطىء العزم الالهي.
[أرض الموتى في الأساطير الاغريقية*
أبريل 2006
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:51 AM, December 04, 2006
I was there...
I saw your comment on Great Baghdad. I'm glad you're still well! Hope everything is ok!
Posted by
Anonymous |
3:57 AM, May 22, 2007
تويتر شعر
انستقرام ضحك
انستقرام شيلات
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:17 PM, August 02, 2016