Posted on 08/01/2004 6:02:12 PM PDT by SEA
Christians Flee "Liberated" Iraq
Understandably concerned over the fact that the new Iraqi constitution designates Islam the "official religion of the state," Iraqi Christians are "voting with their feet" by preparing to leave their native country, reported Insight on May 28. Tragically, this validates a prediction made in these pages more than a year ago (see "What Did We Win?" in our May 19, 2003 issue).
"Most of the Christians in Iraq are Assyrians — people who claim to be the original inhabitants of Iraq," reported Insight. "Because they are Christians and seen as allies of the West, the Assyrians have long been subject to persecution." During the waning years of the Ottoman Empire, nearly two-thirds of the Assyrians were slaughtered. At present, there are an estimated six million surviving Assyrians worldwide — less than half of whom remain in Iraq.
"We thought the Americans were going to bring us freedom and democracy," stated a 31-year-old Iraqi identified as Robert. "Instead, they are promoting Islam. We do not understand it.... We do not want their effort to be a failure [which it would be] if the dictatorship of Saddam is replaced by the dictatorship of Islam. The American-funded TV station, Al Iraqia, broadcasts Muslim programs four times every day and for two hours each Friday but nothing for other religions." Additionally, not a single member of the UN-approved Executive Council is a Christian.
One priest told Insight: "We are having to take care of daily cases of harassment of Assyrians by Muslims.... Our women are accosted on the street and intimidated to start dressing according to Islamic tradition, our businesses are being burned...." "We want to stay," insisted the priest. "This is our homeland. But if we do not have a place where we can go, if we will be persecuted daily by Muslims again we cannot stay."
"BUT FREEDOM isn't free.......they all must step up to the plate and WANT their new found freedom.......WE CAN'T MAKE THEM!"
Want their newfound freedom especially when you got pyschos all over willing to blow themselves up for anything or nothing-very easy to say for folks like us when we sit safely thousands of miles away-imagine the fear that is going on in the minds of these people.It was obvious that once Saddam got kicked out, old religious wounds would be opened all over again-it's just a sign of that(like the precise attacks on Shiite shrines in Karbala)-
Let's face the facts,Iraq may be better off-but the law & order machinery is HARDLY functional especially so if you belong to a minority.Now with people who were once persecuted in positions of power(army,policy etc),you can expect plenty of political vendetta & bloodletting.
Bout comparing to how people get their rights in the US(or any other democracy,they are so far apart,u cannot compare them
1.Iraq is not yet a democracy
2.citizens need to feel safe before they go out to register complaints or file petitions.
3.a degree of civilisation would help-you don't have people blowing up policemen(& stations) in NJ or CA every few days,do you
Democracy is a left-wing pipe-dream, not mentioned in the Constitution and despised by the Foundng Fathers. Iraq has three warring tribes, which is why dictatorship is the only thing that will work there. The people in the US adminstration are utter fools. They've set the stage for a fundamentalist Islamic theocracy who will push all the Christians out of Iraq.
Paul was the first apostle to the Gentiles and the pastor to Rome. Peter expressed faith, which is the rock foundation of the Church.
as an Iraqi I believe that we shall always be grateful to the US for our liberation. I say it as an Iraqi, as a Kurd, as a Catholic bishop. Our people were saved and can now hope in a better future." - Rabban Al Qas, Chaldaean bishop of Amadiyah (northern Iraq)-
The slight problem about this man's optimism is that he is a Kurd & since 92,the Kurds have been protected by the west & virtually have run a defacto state.Since the war ended,their people have lived in relative safety & can rightly hope for a bright future,but the blunt fact for the rest of Iraq is that life as now is not rosy.
PS-note the fact that he is proclaiming his Kurdish identity in his statement-that itself shows how strong ethnico-religious identities are & this makes national integration extremely difficult especially if its a democracy you want.
This is typical Bircher hyperbolic pap. The islmofascists are getting desperate and with each bombing turn peaceful normal Iraqis against them, IMO.
Since the handover last month, there has been a marked increase of Iraqi citizens ratting out the bad guys to our military and it has thwarted a lot of attacks. In the vicinity of my base alone, a couple of the bad guys are hanging out with their 72 virgins now because of being ratted out by the citizens. It's working. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will democratic Iraq be. But it's taking hold.
bttfl
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