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LOCAL News :: Peace : War in Iraq
ELLEN BARFIELD SENDS NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS FROM IRAQ
Ellen Barfield, Voices in the Wilderness volunteer, writes a New Year's message from Iraq about her daily experiences with Iraqi civilians. Posted January 1, 2003.
Hello everyone. Here we stand on the threshold of another year. Another year of war and mayhem, I fear, given the nature of lo these many centuries. When will we learn to resolve our differences nonviolently, and get rid of our monstrous weapons?
My first weeks here in Baghdad were whirlwinds of events and travel to sites both north and south. Now I have settled into a quieter daily routine and am able to really get to know employees and neighbors of the hotel which is the Iraq Peace Team's headquarters-the Al Fanar Towers on Abi Nuwas St along the river.
Faiz who runs the hotel giftshop, and has a monkey with which I am slowly trying to make friends. Another Peace
Team member asked Faiz how he made friends with the monkey, and he said "After many bites!"
Tall, lithe Kamil, who was a dancer in an Iraqi folk group, but whose leg was injured in 1991, so now he makes
traditional Numi Basra dried lemon tea in the hotel restaurant.
Siham and her four beautiful sons, her sick husband, her mother and two sisters, who all live in two dingy rooms a couple of blocks and around a corner from the hotel.
University Drama professor Dr Saad, whose teenaged son's stammer is returning, which developed in 1991 when, as a small boy, he endured nights in a corner where his parents shielded him from bombs with their bodies.
Tonight and tomorrow morning we go to the UN Headquarters here, to vigil and celebrate New Years, and the strong worldwide opposition to war on Iraq, and to implore the UN to resist US and British pressure for war. Perhaps you'll see us on the tv rundown of New Years events.
Getting to know these dear, generous, innocent people better makes my heart ache with fear for what may soon
happen to them. I have no idea if our presence here is helping, but it feels right just to share the apprehension.
It was good two days ago to welcome a Christian Peacemaker Team delegation, including friends Anne Montgomery and Michelle Naar-Obed. A delegation from 9-11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows will arrive in about a week, and
some celebrities are due in soon too.
Much love to you all. Thanks so much for your support. Peace, Ellen
My first weeks here in Baghdad were whirlwinds of events and travel to sites both north and south. Now I have settled into a quieter daily routine and am able to really get to know employees and neighbors of the hotel which is the Iraq Peace Team's headquarters-the Al Fanar Towers on Abi Nuwas St along the river.
Faiz who runs the hotel giftshop, and has a monkey with which I am slowly trying to make friends. Another Peace
Team member asked Faiz how he made friends with the monkey, and he said "After many bites!"
Tall, lithe Kamil, who was a dancer in an Iraqi folk group, but whose leg was injured in 1991, so now he makes
traditional Numi Basra dried lemon tea in the hotel restaurant.
Siham and her four beautiful sons, her sick husband, her mother and two sisters, who all live in two dingy rooms a couple of blocks and around a corner from the hotel.
University Drama professor Dr Saad, whose teenaged son's stammer is returning, which developed in 1991 when, as a small boy, he endured nights in a corner where his parents shielded him from bombs with their bodies.
Tonight and tomorrow morning we go to the UN Headquarters here, to vigil and celebrate New Years, and the strong worldwide opposition to war on Iraq, and to implore the UN to resist US and British pressure for war. Perhaps you'll see us on the tv rundown of New Years events.
Getting to know these dear, generous, innocent people better makes my heart ache with fear for what may soon
happen to them. I have no idea if our presence here is helping, but it feels right just to share the apprehension.
It was good two days ago to welcome a Christian Peacemaker Team delegation, including friends Anne Montgomery and Michelle Naar-Obed. A delegation from 9-11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows will arrive in about a week, and
some celebrities are due in soon too.
Much love to you all. Thanks so much for your support. Peace, Ellen
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