It’s not going to be over, is it? Keep the flag, change the flag. As if there are no other important issues in the country other than the flag now. Didn’t the Iraqi people say their opinion when the interim government tried to change the flag in 2004?
What is really irritating about it is how the American news outlets changed the facts about the former flag. They attributed the flag to Saddam Hussein by the time the flag was basically chosen before Saddam came to power as a president. The other thing is that all American newspapers and websites insisted that the three stars symbolized the three Baath Party goals: Unity, Freedom, and Sociality, by the time they did not. In 1985, Syria and Egypt announced their United Arab Republic whose flag was like the Iraqi flag but with two stars representing the two countries. In hope of joining the UAR, Iraq added the third star to the UAR flag and considered the Iraqi flag, and that’s how the third star represented Iraq. Unsurprisingly, the US media did not have the guts to mention that fact. Instead, they insisted on misinforming their audience by saying these three flags represented Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party goals.
So the Iraqi people woke up today to find out their flag has been changed! But what a horrible change! The new flag is dull. Just red, white, black and dark green. They should have either changed the whole thing, or kept the original. They removed the stars and left what Saddam has already put! The “Allahu Akbar” inscription. The only thing they did is they changed the handwriting of Saddam into the Kufi calligraphy. The main idea of having “Allahu Akbar” is still there! And who put it? Saddam!! So have they really removed Saddam’s imprint from it?
OK. They changed it! But oh, for one year. So, they’ll have to gather again and change it AGAIN in a year from now. They changed it temporarily to please Kaka Masoud because the Kurds suffered under that flag! All Iraqis suffered under that flag, kaka Masoud. But the flag was our country’s, not our president’s. It was the flag which we fought against our enemies with. The flag which we grew up saluting. The flag that we grew our love to our beloved country.
This is just absurd. Don’t the parliament and the government have more important issues to resolve right now? Go look at the refugees sleeping in tents in this freezing weather which Iraq didn’t experience since the 1960s. Go find a solution to the kerosene and fuel problems to make people stay warm. Try to find a solution to the garbage hills surrounding every neighborhood in Baghdad. Rebuild what the Americans destroyed during the invasion. Protect the schools from the increasing number of infiltrated militiamen and insurgents. Go south and see what is happening in Basra and why it was not safe after the British occupying troops left. Do all these things and then change the flag. There is an Arabic saying “Do the most important things and then do the important.” But in Iraq, nothing seems important for the parliament and the government. Their priorities are to satisfy their parties, not the country and the people.
the old flag is much prettier. the lighter green is a true green, a fresh new green, like fresh spring grass.
ReplyDeletewhats wrong w/stars? they are pretty to look at.
what does Allahu Akbar mean? what do you mean they changed the handwriting of Saddam into the Kufi calligraphy? it just looks like a thicker font.
is it really a duller red, or just the photo? it is a mistake to remove the stars. everyone likes stars. i agree they should have better things to do. and when the country is healed they can choose a great iraqi artist to make a new flag is the people want.
this is like...nuts.
Just one question, now that the flag is changed, what exactly does it feel for the kurds?? Do they feel free now? Or whatever suffering they had during Saddam's regime, is it gone now?!
ReplyDeleteOne of the comments on the latest posts on KK's blog is by a Kurdish guy who I think summarized it all! This flag never did and never will feel like their own! No matter what change happens, they have their's and they are satisfied with it!
It's done now, no use arguing about it... I just hope kaka Masoud is pleased now, maybe he'll give it a rest for a freakin while now, God knows we need it!
This flag never did and never will feel like their own! No matter what change happens, they have their's and they are satisfied with it!
ReplyDeletewell, it will never be (solely) their own, it is for all of iraq and represents all iraqis.
in the US, every state has their own flag.
there is nothing wrong w/having pride in your family, or tribe, or region. however, their is glory in being part of humanity. there is pride in being part of a larger whole, like the middle east. their is beauty on being from iraq. why separate yourself from a larger body that loves you and can offer you protection. their is power in unification, healing and making amends. it doesn't mean you can't be strong in lessor numbers, it just means don't burn your bridges. in relation to their neighbors the kurds are a small group. if they separate, they could find themselves w/some unsavory consequences. one might think twice about not honoring being part of iraq.
Iraq was once the center of a great empire. Why not make a flag to reflect Iraq's great heritage? It could prominently feature a Mesopotamian lion. Maybe it could be a symbol to remind Iraqis of the ancestral ties that bind them together.
ReplyDelete"Why not make a flag to reflect Iraq's great heritage? It could prominently feature a Mesopotamian lion."
ReplyDeleteBecause this will upset the Islamic extremists running the country. You should have said why not put a Shiite or Sunni Islamic icon?! They would be very happy with you.
The antiquities and the remains of Babylon are collapsing because the ancient Babylon area is a military base. Couldn't the parliament discuss how to preserve our heritage and civilization before discussing changing the flag?
I am so ashamed of my country's parliament and government. So ashamed.
don't be ashamed BT. it isn't iraqis fault these people are in power. iraqis never had the opportunity to choose their own candidates. any strong leader opposed to the american way of 'free trade' or 'private' oil companies or a strong central government w/socialist overtones, or any number of things and ideas were likely purged from iraq, killed, or left of their own volition at the risk of ending up dead.
ReplyDeleteiraq , after the sanctions, was in no condition to meet the invader on any kind of equal footing w/the world superpower. not that it is any kind of consolation but by the grace of god iraqis have for the most part staved off religuishing all hope for the future of always having their resources controlled by that superpower. for now anyway. of course everything is on track for a permanent military presence of american foreign troops and bases for this very reason, but it is never over til the fat lady sings.
i'm so sorry, but there is nothing for you to be ashamed about. a huge vacum was formed that allowed fanatics to have so much influence over iraq. ordinary people have little understanding or means to counter this kid of fanaticism.
it is always preferrable to have members of a country break the country down and carry the blame rather than risking one troops and exposing your nefarious nature (special operations etc). frankly if the same amount of illegal mercenary militias like blackwater were unleashed on america, and we are a much bigger country, who knows what kind of blowback would ensue. the amount iraqis have had to endure, it is a marvel really after all these years any of them are still breathing.
don't be ashamed, be proud. many people all over the world are rooting for you. this is just a temporary flag, imposed by temporary lawmakers, condoned by a (hopefully) temporary occupation.
someday iraq will rise from the ashes again and again for as long as it takes. you have a lot to be proud of.
Yeah, I agree with the positive spin of Annie, the glass is at least half full.
ReplyDeleteThe flag issue might be one of the few things the various parties could get a majority to agree on. Change is occurring even if its not as visible as the changes to the flag.
Yeah, we all need our flags. As Annie mentioned we have our state flags, cities have flags, schools have flags, companies have flags. We all love flags. And the changes that occur just make more opportunities for flag collectors. Treasure, I am smiling a.... little. I understand your sentiments. BUT, you know....your real love is for the experiences you have stored in your life long memory, not the pretty little emblems on a flag. I have lived in Japan longer than I lived in California, I have seen the Japanese battle flag and the national (red sun) flag. It doesn't matter that much. As Annie pointed out, we are all generally the same, underneath our "flag-pants".
the new iraqi flag may be an obvious hint to tell the iraqi ppl to forget about freedom and that they will die for a cause that is not their own, the allah of the religious fundi's. (christian ones probs)
ReplyDeleteWell, not surprising, in pakistan it is usual to see martyrs martyred by martyred martyrs, oh the heights of arab culture.
This flag is part of the martyring up strategy of iraqis me thinx.
(then again i dislike flags and hate nationalism)
Great post, shows that politicians are the same in every country.
ReplyDeleteWhich is the official flag for Iraq now?