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Sunday's celebration of the victory
in Iraq drew about 1,000 North Texas Kurds
to Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie.
Posted on 04/28/2003 1:04:02 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Kurds rejoice in a new era for homeland
'Hope has replaced the fear, thanks to America'
04/28/2003
GRAND PRAIRIE – Kurdish revelers used a sunny afternoon at Joe Pool Lake to celebrate the toppling of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and sunnier days for Kurds living in that country's northern region.
"Today, every child in Iraq can have a better life and bright future. People of Iraq will enjoy peace, democracy and freedom," said Ilham Ahmad, 18.
On Sunday, Ms. Ahmad was one of a cadre of speakers that addressed a crowd of close to 1,000 at Lynn Creek Park on the north shore of the lake.
Bakhtiar Dargali of Plano, an event organizer, said there are an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 Kurds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He said the Iraqi war was essential, calling it a victory for the country and the region.
"Americans are angels," Mr. Dargali said. "With the defeat of the Iraqi dictator, the world is safer, America is more secure, and the Iraqi people, Kurds and Arabs are experiencing God's gift to humanity – freedom – for the first time in decades," he added.
But there is much more to be done, he said. The celebration was also an appeal for America to finish the job it set out to do.
"We want America to be patient," Mr. Dargali said.
An enormous feast was prepared for the lakeside celebration.
But before the food, there was a moment of silence to honor lives lost in Kurdish Iraq, singing of the Kurdish national anthem, and repeated praise for President Bush and the American troops' victory in Iraq. Remarks made in English and Kurdish were followed by a traditional circle dance.
Sunday's event also celebrated Newroz, the Kurdish New Year.
The New Year actually fell on March 21, but because of the uncertainty in Iraq, the observance was postponed.
"It was out of respect for the American and Kurdish military forces," said Perwin Tahir, 21, of Arlington.
Ms. Tahir said the food was a major draw for her and nearly 50 family members attending Sunday's celebration.
Her mother and aunt had prepared most of their group's feast. Brightly colored Kurdish curried dishes of rice, chicken and lamb were set out on blankets laid end-to-end on the ground. There were vegetables and soup, dolmas (stuffed cabbage leaves) and fruit. Extended family members sat cross-legged around the food.
The abundance of food was quite a contrast to 29-year-old Sekvan Tovi's memory of fleeing northern Iraq when he was 13. His family left everything behind and had just a single day's supply of food, he said.
"I'm very happy. I'm very thrilled," he said about the prospects for peace and prosperity in his homeland. He said he hopes his 2-year-old son, Kevan, will grow up to be a lawyer and return to Iraq to help Kurds build better lives.
"Hope has replaced the fear, thanks to America," Mr. Dargali said.
E-mail lapplebome@dallasnews.com
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I hear the West Indiana Sunnis are planning retrobution!
Sorry, I found that humorous.
So are we...sorry you found that humorous.
Doesn't mean we should criticise our press. Hold their feet to the fire.
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