BuelahBaby Says “Hey”

What Do Iraqi People Dream About?

B’Man: My daughter (3.5) awoke this morning and told us, “I had a dream and in my dream I was going to “Big School” and they taught me all sorts of things. Then my boyfriend, Justin, said that we were going to get married.”

Now, I have no idea where the boyfriend crap comes from, but there is a 4 yo boy at her preschool named Justin (I’m gonna have to have a little man to man with “little man”… LOL). Nor do I understand where she gets the big school stuff from, except probably the older kids at her preschool.

My point is that she dreams this funny, happy-go-lucky stuff. Even with some allergies, she is probably one of the happiest kids I ever knew. She, her Mom and I are blessed in many ways, when I consider what Iraqi people are thinking and living through.

Do the little Iraqi girls dream of such things? Iraqis in general? I know in my heart that most of them don’t dream such wonderful things, even though I wish they all did. Then, this afternoon, I read about some of their dreams in this article at Alternet and I believe that all rednecks should understand that their dreams are nothing to Americans, simple everyday conveniences, for we have all these things in abundance and are spoiled by it.

We have spent Billions, millions dead, millions fled to other countries to survive what we unleashed. Murder on every corner. Threats, intimidation. FEAR!

We have no real understanding of what they don’t have, because it is all stuff that we take for granted.

And many rednecks want more of this horror for them. Unbelievably cruel. Heartless, unfeeling and embarrassing to this redneck. No decent human being would ever want this to go on.

Five Years After Mission Accomplished, Iraqis “Dream of the End of the Occupation”

By Dahr Jamail and Ahmed Ali, IPS News. Posted May 28, 2008.

BAQUBA — After more than five years of U.S. occupation, the very dreams of the people of Baquba have changed. For a start, they are no longer about the future.

Today, a shower is a dream. Or that the electricity supply continues just that little bit longer.

“These needs are very trivial for people of other countries,” 43-year-old political leader Saad Tahir told IPS. “But in Iraq, people dream more of these things than of some ambition or success.”

Abdullah Mahdi, a retired 51-year-old trader, says he dreams only of electricity.

“Like millions here, I hope supply gets better to help us to sleep in this hot summer,” Mahdi told IPS. “We have been suffering from this problem since the 1991 Kuwait war, and this current occupation only made things worse.”

Others dream of freedom of movement. “I dream of traveling among the Iraqi provinces freely and safely,” a local resident said. “For more than two years now, I have not traveled to any province of my country.” Lack of security means Iraqis can rarely travel even to a neighboring area.

Children also seem to have begun to dream differently.

“I dream of a playground in which I and my friends can play freely and at any time,” 11-year-old Luay Amjad told IPS. Children are not allowed to play just anywhere for fear of unexploded bombs, haphazard firing, and a general fear of the Iraqi military. Many children in Baquba and other districts of Diyala province have been kidnapped.

“All families wish to see their children safe, and then enjoying their time,” said a young father. “We know that they currently live in a very closed world. But we put pressure on our children for their own safety. Streets are dangerous, and even gardens may sometimes be dangerous.”

Others dream of a functioning economy. According to the ministry of trade, unemployment has been vacillating between 40-70 percent over the last two years.

“I hope that the trade and economic process will improve,” said an unemployed trader. “I wish Iraq could be an industrial country with a flourishing and luxurious status of living. I want to get back to my shop and have my own customers.”

Teachers dream of an Iraq that can be a center for education again. “Iraq was one of the countries that paid great attention to education,” a university professor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IPS. “Now, breaking the rules of schools is very common, and fake certificates are spread widely all over the country. We dream of a rigorous and successful educational process.”

Farmers simply dream of water, and the security necessary to work in their fields. “I hope I can work on my farm again, and have water to irrigate all the land,” said a local vegetable farmer.

A cleric spoke of bigger dreams. “I dream that all Iraqis will love each other again, as we used to in the past days. We miss hope, a smile, and true love. We hope that cooperation prevails again among people. We hope for killing and displacement to end forever in this once peaceful country. We hope that the sectarian discrimination disappears.”

A political analyst said he dreams of an end to the occupation. “The occupation is the source of all the problems of our people. I do dream of the end of the occupation — no more arrests, no more prison for simple and poor people, and no more suffering.”

(*Ahmed, our correspondent in Iraq’s Diyala province, works in close collaboration with Dahr Jamail, our U.S.-based specialist writer on Iraq who has reported extensively from Iraq and the Middle East).

B’Man: So, what DO you rednecks dream about?

BuelahBaby and Big Meds

UPDATE 1/25/08

BuelahBaby had minor complications that made it necessary to spend another night in the hospital. Nothing serious. She is doing very well now.

Been too busy to update the blog. Thanks for those who care.

BuelahBaby

BuelahBaby has been fighting infection for 6 months. She has had serious ear problems and tonsilitis6 or 7 times in the last 6 months. Last November we were told that she needed surgery to put in ear tubes and take out adenoids.

Within 2 weeks she was sick again, back in her tonsils.

We finally went to another ENT who could not believe the first didn’t take out the tonsils the first time.

Of course I will do whatever, sell whatever, or STEAL whatever to take care of my daughter, if it came down to it. But isn’t it amazing how they can fuck you no matter how hard you try.

The fact that I am in to the new year means I now have to meet all the deductibles and out-of-pockets. I will have another feaking $20-30,000 annual expense in health insurance (which may be the year that ruins us financially).

People, we are screwed. So are you.

BTW: whatever you thoughts are on prayer and well-wishes, we could use them tomorrow morning for this surgery.

Thanks,

BuelahMan