Riverbend

Wow. I am uncharacteristically speechless. I just finished reading some (more than 5!) of Riverbend's blog posts. I am filled with so many emotions. Anger, sadness, surprise...I have to sit here a minute to mull it all over.
I feel completely ignorant. I am so embarrassed to admit this, but I had no idea Iraq was such a developed country...at least before the war. Riverbend is such an articulate, smart woman. She had a good career in the computer field. She is educated and has spent time abroad. She was able to wear pretty much what she wanted to like jeans and t-shirts...just like my daughter and her friends wear here in the U.S. I guess I just thought all Iraqi women were subservient to the men. I only know of the images I see on television where the women are wearing the clothing completely covering their bodies. But, women there were just like we are here in the United States. I say were because it seems like that may not be the case for them in the future...an uncertain future at best. Riverbend said she made pay equal to that of the men she worked with. That is definitely not always the case in America! And, women made up 50% of the workforce in Iraq. Just like here, they held jobs such as nurses, teachers, doctors, engineers, computer programmers, etc. Iraqi women enjoyed movies, shopping, and other activities that women here in the States enjoy.
I always pictured Iraqi men as goat or sheep farmers who rode camels. I guess I never took the time to think about how they had jobs in occupations much like those in the United States. Riverbend is right. I never even pictured Iraqis as being economically stable.
After reading her posts, I came to the conclusion that families in Western countries and non-Western countries are basically the same. Men and women work to support their families. Children go to school. Families attend church together. Family members love, support and worry about each other. They also argue and fight with one another. Family dynamics are family dynamics regardless of the geographical location of the family.
Unfortunately, the war in Iraq has forced families there to face situations that they would not normally have to face. Riverbend says that women are in danger of being attacked, raped, or abducted when they leave their homes. She will not leave her house wearing pants anymore...only dresses and skirts. Many women who did not wear the hijab (head and neck scarf) before now wear it to protect themselves. The majority of the country is unemployed. People are not able to take care of their families. There is the fear that anyone of her family members or friends could be killed at any moment for no apparent reason. I cannot even imagine living in that kind of fear and not knowing if it is ever going to end.
After reading Riverbend's blog, I feel like the war has crushed an entire culture. It saddens me greatly. I feel confused. I know I am going to be thinking about this for days and days to come. Like Riverbend says, the bottom line is that we all have "mixed feelings in a messed up world."