Voices of Baghdad Etched on Its Walls (Baghdad graffiti, most pro-Bush, MUST READ)

[...snip...] Thousands of slogans in the Arabic script snake across acres of gray walls that line city squares, apartments and office buildings, a perfect canvas for the outpourings of a population intoxicated by new freedoms.

Hussein loyalists shout their yearning for the deposed dictator - "Saddam will come again" - followed by the coda on the same line from a detractor: "Through my behind!" [...snip...]

"I walk around reading these writings, and some of them move me so much I don't know whether to laugh or to cry," said Amir Nayef Toma, 52, a retired radar operator in the Iraqi army. "You want to know what Iraqis are thinking? Read these walls." [...snip...]

"Some are ironic, some are funny, some are artistic," said Muhir Edan, a bookseller in the Old Baghdad section of the city [...snip...]. "Even now, some are afraid to say something in the newspapers. I am still afraid," he said. "But at night, in the cover of darkness, you can write what you want."

Edan's favorites are the back-and-forth graffiti repartee: "The masses are stronger than tyrants," one slogan declared. Next to it a skeptic asked: "When? Before or after liberation by the Americans?"

[...snip...] but mostly President George W. Bush is hailed as a liberator [...snip...]

Samplings of the Arabic slogans include: "Down Saddam the infidel and long live Bush the believer!" "A thousand Americans but not one Tikriti," referring to residents of Hussein's hometown.

Many taunt the deposed dictator: "Saddam the dirty, the son of the dirty, in which septic tank are you hiding now?" [...snip...]

"I like what I read," said Karal Nadji, a Shia street vendor who sells shoes. "We appreciate Mr. Bush. We're all waiting for the fruits of change." [...snip...]

Toma, the former radar operator, predicted the writing would stop in another six months. "We Iraqis are so full of suffering and bitterness, these feelings are just pouring out of us," said Toma, who has carefully transcribed more than 100 slogans in a small notebook. "Soon we will realize we can speak out freely. We don't have to write on the walls."

Well, the good news keeps on coming.

I can't wait to watch Dan Rather tonight. I bet he leads with this story and has some Iraqi teenager talk about his liberator and hero Goerge W. Bush, thanking all Americans for the chance at freedom.

Then Dan will probably do a piece on the President's speech, emphasizing that the big protest was a big bust.

Then I bet he has a story on the Judiciary memos and says, "Some Americans are concerned that the Democrats have come under the control of far left wing extremest interest groups, and these memos prove that point."

Follow that up with a profile of filibustered Judge Brown, who speaks of being a conservative African American Woman trying to bring balance to the 9th Circuit. He'll probably try to get her to make some cutting witty remark about Jesse Jackson. (You know, just for a lighter touch.)

Dan will probably close the broadcast with a piece on Thanksgiving, and how many Americans intend to give Thanks for a more hopeful future and a brighter America than anytime in the last 10 years.

I can't wait!

Thank you, Stultis, concerned about politics!

Samplings of the Arabic slogans include: "Down Saddam the infidel and long live Bush the believer!"

~~~~~~~
They could have been killed for writing these words less than a year ago.

“For Mr. [Hayder] Mounthir, the fall of Mr. Hussein was like ‘taking the gag out of my mouth,’ and he was now free to put on his play again, without the threat of censorship.”
--Yochi Dreazen, reporting on a new play in Baghdad portraying Saddam’s atrocities, The Wall Street Journal, November 10, 2003

“We have formed a first Cabinet, we have set up committees toward writing a constitution, and neighboring countries and allies recognize us. We had to gain recognition as an Iraqi body with an Iraqi will, independent of the coalition. The Arab League, the United Nations and the Islamic Congress have recognized us. That's quite an achievement.”
--Samir Shakir Mahmoud Sumaidy, Iraqi Governing Council, Knight Ridder Newspapers, November 9, 2003

“Security in the city's neighborhoods is perfectly all right. We hope Japanese businesses will also come here and reduce unemployment.”
-- Ali Dafaai, head of the Samawah city council in Iraq discussing plans for the refurbishing of a hospital, Asahi News Service, November 7, 2003

“Now there's freedom in riding. In the past, there were times when we were forced to lose or to let someone else win. Today, we ride freely.”
--Kasim Daoud, a jockey in Baghdad, Channel News Asia, November 6, 2003

“Despite everything, it's better than before. Of course we're optimistic. We have a saying: ‘If you are optimistic, you'll find good things.’”
--Haidar Ghazy, Iraqi clothing store owner in Karada, The New York Times, November 4, 2003

“We don't have to bribe the custom officers anymore, there are no tariffs.”
--Iraqi used car salesman, ABC News, November 4, 2003

“It is what we heard often, the fear of the old regime is something that people here will never miss.”
--Jim Sciutto, ABC News reporter, ABC News, November 4, 2003

“You ask them about the future of Iraq, the majority of them, after complaining about all sorts of little things like the price of goods going up, you ask them ‘Is your life better after Saddam?’ and they say of course it’s much better.”
--Terry McCarthy, Time Magazine Reporter, ABC News, November 2, 2003

“Before people were afraid to come to Najaf, now they are coming and our earnings have doubled.”
--Iraqi business owner, ABC News, November 3, 2003

“I can teach what I want and I am earning $180 a month instead of $13.”
--Iraqi teacher, ABC News, November 3, 2003

“The best thing about life now is freedom. You can say anything, go anywhere.”
--Haider Kadhim, internet-café consultant from Basra, Time, November 10, 2003

“We made sacrifices for this freedom. [Freedom will last] forever, I think. And it’ll be better after a month, and after a year, much better. I think so.”
--Ayad Abdul Kareem Muhssin, who lost his newborn daughter after his wife went into premature labor during the bombing of Baghdad, Time, November 10, 2003

VOICES OF FREEDOM
Quotes from the grateful Iraqi people. Y

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