Yep

I know by now we've all seen it, but I still had to post it. This pretty much sums up all that is wrong with the U.S. Nice one Mr. President.

"He who writes a story looks for glory. . ."

It's important that you understand this- this space is not for you. It's for me. A completely self-indulgant excirses in mental masturbation. And yes, I know, mental masturbation is pointless. But that's why it's important for you to understand this space is not for you, or about you. It's all about the things I see and the things I think about the things I see.

This morning as I walked into work I decided to grab a coffee and as I was waiting in line I saw this picture on the cover of the New York Times. The tag line read as follows: Iraqi National Police man checkpoint as seen from a bullet-riddled armored carrier window in Baghdad's Saydiya neighborhood. As I stood in line waiting I thought for a very quick second-and I have to say it was a very brief and passing thought-I thought; Wow, I couldn't be further away from the lives of those in that picture.

Normally a thought like will pass through my mind and I completely forget about it. That is unless I'm remind of it later. Which was what happened later today. A friend of my had recommend a book to me. The name of the book is Baghdad Burning by an anonyms Iraqi author. It's actually a compilation of excerpts from a blog that the author started during the end of the Second Gulf War (which some might say never ended). This is the very fist entry of the blog:

The Beginning...
So this is the beginning for me, I guess. I never thought I'd start my own weblog... All I could think, every time I wanted to start one was "but who will read it?" I guess I've got nothing to lose... but I'm warning you- expect a lot of complaining and ranting. I looked for a 'rantlog' but this is the best Google came up with.

A little bit about myself: I'm female, Iraqi and 24. I survived the war. That's all you need to know. It's all that matters these days anyway.

Riverbend

My friend explained that the blog is perhaps one of the most insightful looks at "post-war," or reconstruction Iraq because it is candid and honest. She admitted that some of the stories might be made up, but she couldn't see why anyone would make up the things this woman was writing about. She handed me the book and as I began to read some of the entries I thought; wow, I couldn't be further away from the story this woman is telling. And that's when I was reminded of the image from earlier in the day.

It's true, anyone who writes a story looks for glory. But some write with sharper pens and with shaper eyes. And some write because it's the only way for them to process and understand the things around them. And still, some write stories because they want their stories to be heard. . .and their story should be heard.