Life Goes On: ITW Blog of One’s Own

http://gabcast.com/index.php?a=episodes&query=&b=play&id=8538&cast=72262&castPage=2&autoplay=true

Riverbend’s blog, Baghdad Burning addresses many Iraqi traditions. One of these traditions is the role of gold within the Iraqi family. Riverbend’s account of gold was spurred from the raids on their neighborhood. The precious, ancestral gold had to be hidden or else stolen by soldiers. Riverbend’s family had the intelligent idea of wearing all their jewelry.

She clearly explains the role of gold simply as, “Iraqi people do not own gold because either they are spectacularly wealthy, or they have recently been on a looting spree… Gold is a part of our culture, and the roll it plays in “family savings” has increased since 1990 when the Iraqi Dinar (which was $3) began fluctuating crazily” (Riverbend, 100).

The worth of gold has never changed throughout the years for Iraqis, so converting jewelry and money into gold was a solid investment, especially before the war (Riverbend, 100).

During the war, however, Soldiers had raiding houses at random, and Riverbend’s family had swapped stories for good hiding places for less valuable goods. No one would be able to take jewelry that was on them. Guns were also a precious artifact. They were legally allowed a rifle and pistol for protection. Of course, they were only seen as terrorists if these gun were in plain sight (Riverbend, 101).

Another ritual in Iraq would have to be the custom of evening tea. Most American’s connotation with tea refers to English tea parties. Evening tea in Iraq is far less formal, although it is a lengthier process. Nevertheless, the family all gathers around in the evening to drink tea and recoup after the day.

Riverbend retorts, “…a teabag is an insult to tea connoisseurs.” (Riverbend, 108). And she is right. In Iraq the process of tea is three step. A kettle full of water is boiled, The boiling water and a certain amount of tealeaves are combined in a separate pot and boiled lightly until the leaves rise. Finally, the pot is set on top of the kettle on a low burner and allowed to settle (Riverbend 109).

These are just a couple of differences between cultures, and it is wise to familiarize ourselves with traditions and rituals of other countries to increase tolerance and decrease our ignorance.

Alive in Baghdad is a video podcast run and written by Iraqi journalists then edited in the United States. It is a sort of documentary series to express the different difficulties going o in Iraq. The episode I watched was called, “SYRIA: Child Artist Dreams of Return to Baghdad.” and was published on August 20th, 2007 (http://aliveinbaghdad.org/2007/08/20/syria-child-artist-dreams-of-return-to-iraq/).

The podcast covered the special talents of a young eighth grader Iraqi who is an amazing artist. It traces his childhood and how he became to like art. The boy looks up to his dad, and oil painter and the boy usually sketches his own and practices his skills with his dad. The only two men who appear in the video are the young boy and his father, a professional artist who is clearly proud of his son. His son started painting and drawing when he was four years old. He continues in the shadow of his father but soon learned by himself when the father became too busy. He is at such an astounding level of art that he holds exhibitions of his work sponsored by other schools and will continue submitting pieces. The video took place inside the family’s household and the camera not only focused on the family but also the pictures and paintings in the background, we can assume were drawn by both father and son. Many drawings were shown, such as portraits, a horse sketch, and a beautiful landscape of Iraq set in an ancient setting.

Watching this video, the obvious is learned: that the war is effecting everyone and that nt all Iraqis are harmful creatures, but regular people. I learned that talents and skills are worldwide and he is n amazing individual with the capacity to go far. A war should not hold him back. The video is much different than what is played on the news everyday. No bombing or car traffic, but an innocent young man and his work. It is actually interesting and humanitarian. Other videos of Iraq, even in other podcasts, were more focused on how the war has affected certain individuals or how scared they are to leave their homes. These topics were only lightly addressed and the focus was clearly spotlightd on actual talent.

What I find most memorable about this podcast are the paintings shown, especially the sunset lighting in his water color painting of the ancient Iraq is previous years.

A topic that jumped out at me and said, “wow I actually need to write about this,” comes from Riverbend’s post “Have You Forgotten?” about September 11th and Iraq’s own horrible day back on February 13th, 1991. In brief, the post was about her memories of the day where bombs, so sophisticated, broke through and exploded a shelter for women and children under 15. She remembered all the lost family members from over 400 families crying and screaming from corpse to corpse. It was a devastating day for her. 

Upon further research from BBC-news, I gathered more basic information to help wrap my mind around the comparisons, if any, of September 11th and Iraq’s February 13th. Two bombs had hit a civilian center and were dropped by American soldiers. The Iraqi Foreign Minister was quoted in saying that it was a premeditated and planned. In Riverbend’s account, she reported that the Pentagon had later called it a “mistake”. America was probably covering up or really made a careless blunder. Although the article did say the bombs were  laser-guided. I hope to god it was a miscalculation.  

Before the civilian bombings the Gulf War was primarily in Kuwait but soon American troops were placed in Iraq and were told to launch a ground attack. It seems like a tragic event needs to occur for more war to break out. In both incidents, lives were lost and devastation, mostly war devastation was caused. Still, America continued air ammunition on a school, mosque, and bunker. More lives were lost, but America justified itself with simple words, that the bunker was a well known military target and they did not know how civilians would be around. 

These things, in all honesty and respect, are events that people take to heart to try to compare stories of which was worst. Both September 11th  and February 13th caused irreplaceable damage and lost lives. Idiots from Afghanistan caused this problem and idiots from America caused a few fifteen years ago. Reading all this is very depressing and leaves me with less hope for the world, especially since the war is a current event and quite frankly leaves me hollow feelings for the world affairs. Everything sucked then, and everything sucks now. 

Riverbend. Baghdad Burning. New York: Feminist Press. 2005

BBC.co.uk “1991: US Bombers strike civilians in Baghdad” <http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/13/newsid_2541000/2541107.stm> 9 April 2008   

Riverbend, 

Your posts, so thoughtful, insightful, informative and yet a little snarky are captivating. The thoughts and tories you share are those that you feel passionately about, and yet I feel when reading your work you don’t even feel like you need to make a point. Like each daily encounter is to just share these things as if you were not under occupation. While you are living through a war, you make it clear that you can be agitated with certain aspects of the war, and maybe not America as a whole. 

On your stories about culture and women, I find it interesting. I once believed that the Islamic culture still restricted women’s clothing and jobs while in Iraq it seems the complete opposite, what with women making up half the work force . It surprises me but enlightens me at the same time. I wish I could be more educated and I frequently remind myself that I will be when reading on into your life. Fundamentalists also play a factor into your new living arrangements, and I find it very interesting the parallel of fundamentalism and theocracy. Iraq, in it’s time of struggle has been pushed into a new fundamentalist society reverting ways back into the old days. I think it’s unfair and scary for you, as a woman.  

Your life has been greatly changed. I wish somehow, after reading these entries and feeling depressed, that I could do something for you, or that finally Bush, the monkey he is, will see error in his ways. Fortunately the new election is upon us.  The things you have seen and learned, be it the sounds of the different guns, or the perverted nine man presidency, difficulty may still be among you. 

I wish you, your brother E. and the rest of your family well and am intrigued with your level of maturity and sense of level headedness for us all.

Thank you.
Jen  

Riverbend. Baghdad Burning. New York: Feminist Press. 2005Riverbend is a female author who lives in the Occupated Iraq. She is in her mid twenties and speaks perfect english, as she is well educated and had a steady job before the war even started. Her life has been led askew by the war and her experiences, she decides, should be written about more so as a means to rant. The book constitutes as a weblog, or blog. In her first entry Riverbend even states that she needed a ‘rantlog’ but opted for the next best thing in Google. Each entry has a date and a title which preludes what sort of topic she will be talking about in her entry. Her entries span from everyday activities or her opinions on polices, infastructure, or just humanity in general. When reading this book, a reader should come to terms with certain ways things are dealt with in Iraq. For examples, the reader will get insightful information on everyday life for Riverbend but also an opinion on the state of the country itself. Learning a new perspective is educational for anyone interested in the war. The book will be challenging in terms of literacy. Although Riverbend types in perfect english, her thoughts and ideas are expressed with more difficult language. Some terms and names are quite different than those Americans are used to. I believe it is beneficial for all Americans to divulge themselves in this new, cultural experience that is Baghdad Burning. (Read on …)

The Forward in Riverbend’s Burning Baghdad by Ahdaf Soueif is a simple look into the life of Riverbend and her reasons for developing her blog. He starts by summarizing Riverbend’s daily life before the Occupation, a close family and a steady job. Soon the war begins and she is scared to even come out of her home without escorts. He goes on to explain the knowledge of culture everyone can learn from reading her entries. It is a scope into the Iraq world. It focuses less on the politics and more on the humanity of one single Iraqi woman.  

What follows in Baghdad Burning is the Introduction written by the well informed James Ridgeway. The Introduction consists of a massive summarization of the timeline of the Iraq war, including the earlier British Empire occupation in the Middle East, the Gulf War and the events leading to the 2003 occupation. The reading was partially intricate but included enough background information, in it’s simplicity to introduce the reader an educated view of the Middle East and the Bush’s Administration’s plan of War. 

Being only a twelve year old when September 11th occurred, I had not a clue about politics, economy, or the Middle East. I was young. In March 2003 I had only second hand accounts and opinions on President Bush more so than the actual war itself. I was righteous and claimed to be above the War and cultural matters because they didn’t effect me personally. I know now how much they do. I was not well informed and still am to a certain extent, as the Middle East situation still confuses me because I jumped into it too late. The history is more clear to me because of books I have read and the Introduction by Ridgeway. I want to keep tabs on key timelines because of the importance for future generations. 

I feel as if there is a large difference between the two rooms I could legitimately call my own. My dorm room is a litter box filled with distractions and not to mention a mess. My room at home is much more peaceful. It is my sanctuary and allows myself to write freely and intelligently. I use my room at home, decorated with pink walls and Precious Moments memorabilia, to write and be a creative outlet. Woolf opened a new door of ideas for me. She spoke of writing not as an outlet of personal experience, but of mind numbing integrity. An intelligence that can only be achieved with a silent room without distractions. I had always thought it impossible to create without using prior experience. I am intrigued with this method and plan on incorporating it when I can. Maybe some useful inspiration will evolve. 

Woolf has been particularly harsh on men’s role in literature, proclaiming their riches and advantages in the world where women have been less fortunate. Yet, Woolf, especially at the end of chapter six lays a hard couple of phrases upon the woman conscience.

“Young women I would say, and please attend, for the peroration is the beginning, you are, in my opinion, disgracefully ignorant” (Woolf, 112). 

She goes on to list the great things in which women have not accomplished. She further states that we have no excuse anymore. She couldn’t be more right. We have, as women, plenty of opportunities amidst our feet. Woolf wants us to stand up and write not necessarily what we know, but focus, based on the rooms in which we reside, which could be either peaceful or a boisterous multitude, on creativity. Men have written about women without quite understanding them. Women have done the same. Men have focused on relationships with women instead of the lives on women. The bodies of women instead of the minds of women. Woolf expects us, given a room of our own and five hundred dollars to buy supplies, to finally pursue something equivalent to men. Basically, it’s our time to be the next Shakespeare or other miraculous author.

With the room I am given with at college, it would be impossible to achieve what she wants. Distractions are as common as pieces of grass in an English park. I am also most certainly not taking advantage of the modern age. I feel stagnant here, almost reaching an attainable thought but just missing it, dismissing it completely for another day, that will eventually just never come. I feel Woolf would just be disappointed with the lack of ambition after all the hard work women went through trying to attain it.  

So afterall, do I have a room of my own? No, not here. I actually wince at the thought of stunting my writing, I feel that is what happening here. Inspiration is hard to come by with noise and people around every corner. I agree with Woolf. I do need a room of my own. 

A little money here and there wouldn’t be that bad either.  

“With Apologies to Virginia Woolf” It is been in my experience, as well as the experience of most women in the age of men’s grueling fixation of our bodies, that we are being meticulously judged of them in such a matter that drives young women, so underappreciated in their adolesccents, to mimick those of supermodles or as I wold like to call them, superheroes of their time, (only because their power to not indulge in the proper intake of food astounds me) to be the object of affection of the opposite sex. The  mindless reporter of this blog, Jezebel, propses the thesis of anorexia, a demonic plaugue of our young women, to be hereditery, but only backs up this claim with the lineage of mothers being, themselves, anorexic. It’s not a suitable claim, in my opinion, but I am just a fiction writer. The article, http://jezebel.com/371620/intervention-6+year+old-girl-diets-to-emulate-her-eating+disordered-mo suggests a child mimicking the poor choices of her mother. Yes, this is a truely acceptable fact. This is truth that a child emulates those mannerisms of her mother, the one she is around all the time while the male goes and gathers the kill for feast and the money to splurge upon useless needs and desires. Of course the woman slaves over a child and her own appearence so that the husband may even notice her when they lay to rest. Quite a perposterous thought of a mere child eating little to nothing. I wonder what the mother would do to support it: will she trial hypocrisy and help her daughter develop better eating habits? Will she encourage this behavior? I have not to know the answer to these trialing questions, I am, afterall, just a woman who writes about the finer problems we face. My literature thrives on, of course, as a minimal attention goes into the child who decreases the source of her ever waning life, the thoughts of what this child may possess. I do indeed shake my head at the possibility of a world where concern is so greatly given to appearance so that it causes the harm of our offspring who finally have the chance to become ther own superheroic egos, without the power of self injury and hate. 

While reading the second chapter of Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of My Own”, I picked up on a few ironic and sarcastic comments. The chapter in itself was practically a long winded rant complaining about the status of women at the time compared to men. Also, she compared men’s writing about women, to women’s writing about anything but.  

The first ironic statement I stumbled upon  was on page 27 when she introduces her argument about women’s writing. She writes, 
“Women do not write books about men–a fact I could not help welcoming with relief, for if I had first to read all that men have written about women, then all that women have written about men, the aloe that flowers once in a hundred years would flower twice before I could set pen to paper.” (Woolf, 27)

Woolf creatively makes a rude comment about the writing men do of women earlier and later on in this chapter, saying men have all different ideas as to what women are.. In the quote above she writes sarcastically about the slim chance of ever writing about men herself. She dramatizes her sarcasm around the text of the quote as well, as she is feverishly contemplating why men write about their species, and how against she is writing about her opposite, when in fact, the whole chapter was dedicated to the conversation of men. …Hmm somewhat ironic. 

The second statement I found is as follows:
“How is he to go on giving judgments,  civilizing nations, making laws, writing books, dressing up and speechifying at banquets unless he can see himself at breakfast and at dinner at least twice the size he really is?” (Woolf, 36)

Woolf writes about the mirror of superiority versus inferiority because of women. Men have to feel ten times larger and better than women because they do all the “important” things, although no one can measure importance.   This quote she writes is another sarcastic jab at a man’s importance. 

And finally, one last observation I made is one based on my own speculation,
“There was another ten-shilling note in my purse; I noticed it, because it is a fact that still takes m breath away, the power of my purse to breed ten-shilling notes automatically.” (Woolf, 37)

I find this quote ironic. I find that when a reader gets to this point in the book they are being constantly met with an agitated delivery but then Woolf’s mood switches. Her purse has been graced with money because her aunt died and left her legacy to the narrator. I cannot help but look back to the previous chapter when the narrator complains that money can never be handed down to a generation, yet here she gets 500 pounds a year. I also find this ironic because she values money over her right to vote. The narrator being a strong willed feminist, I would have thought her morals would lie with her rights. She again, bashes men so much but seems to be behaving like one would. Rationally, of course. 

This chapter to me, felt like a wall of text but had many good points about the comparisons of men and women back in the early 1900s. True, it is a difficult read but her main points are clear. I did have trouvle actually finding te irony in her writing, it could just be my lack of comprehensive skills as a reader. Still, the book interests me.