Chapter 14: All Things Light, and All Things Dark

Brief Background: Atwar Bhajat (Every Man in This Village is a Liar), a journalist in Iraq, ‘Atwar had loyalty and love of country. She had great expectations. She was just another senseless victim, a sacrifice like so many others.’ The description of her life is also the description of Iraq itself. After Atwar’s death, therefore, her death was symbolic of the failure of her country to achieve this. “Atwar looked sick, and so did Iraq. Atwar died, but Iraq just kept bleeding.” – Atwar is symbolic of their hope and that people needed body guards, as life had become very dangerous. What's the Difference Between Shia and Sunni Muslims? Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. Shia Islam are called Shias, which believes that the prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali, is Muhammad’s replacement in the Caliphate. The Caliphate is an Islamic state with a single political and religious leader (Caliph) who is regarded as the replacement to all the Prophets of Islam. The Sunni are the majority in most Islamic countries outside of Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Bahrain. The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet.“

Important Quotes and Examples: “My country is collapsing, and it’s my job to watch this collapse.” “I have seen death now.” But she said it lightly, by way of explanation. “I have been touched by it.” – become used to conflict – not a big deal/anything different for her “Whether you are Sunni or Shia, Arab or Kurd, there is no difference between Iraqis… [We are] united in fear for this nation.” “Atwar looked sick, and so did Iraq. Atwar died, but Iraq just kept bleeding.” – Atwar is symbolic of their hope

Connections to conflict: Dimensions, Types, and Levels: Reactions - “I have seen death now.” But she said it lightly, by way of explanation. “I have been touched by it.” Conflict is such a common occurrence that Atwar has become used to it, it does not phase her or strike her as something Internal conflict - “The Iraqi people are waiting for their dream and now they find it’s only a nightmare.” pg. 196 The Iraqi people’s expectations of the future of their country is diminishing as they are gradually losing hope. The acceptance of this is an internal conflict that many of them are going through.

Key Ideas and Discussion Questions: Are the sectarian problems the real cause of the problems in Iraq? How significant is it that Atwar, an independent feminist begins wearing the hijab? “Glimpses of death had given her a new reverence before god, she said, and had inspired her to adopt the Muslim head scarf”. P.194 “Her country kept on breaking down, and Atwar kept refusing to knowledge it”. (p. 197) Sometimes in times of conflict, people will continue to cling to hope no matter how hopeless the situation seems. Resolution was to “calm things down, no stroke the anger”. “Whether you are Sunni or Shia, Arab or Kurd, there is no difference between Iraqis” pg. 197 It can be difficult to stay a neutral party in times of such widespread conflict. Often in large scale conflicts like war, one is expected to pick a side.

Chapter 15: There Would Be Consequences

Brief Background: Stack returns to Baghdad in the summer of 2006 to find a young Shiite to interview, to “serve as an emblem for a tortured land”. At Baghdad University she meets Ahmed, a 23 year old Shiite living in Baghdad’s Hay al-Amal neighbourhood, who constantly runs all day. Stack continues to interview this man, meeting in secret with him and his girlfriend at the Babylon Hotel despite how it may endanger their lives. One day during an interview they are recognised and told that if they were meeting with an American there “would be consequences”, they leave and Stack never hears from Ahmed again, and never finds out what happened to him.

Important Quotes and Examples: “In Iraq, it was dying and more dying, death getting stuck in the glue of itself.” “But the war was tangled up in everything, not wholly responsible for his woes but tainting them, seeping into them, colouring everything.” “I do this to forget the problems, the situation outside. I can’t stay in this house all day.” pg. 204 “When you fight someone, you’re the good one and he’s the bad one. And if you defeat him, I can’t describe it when you live this moment. They say you’re the best.” “There is no emotion now”

Connections to conflict: Dimensions, Types, and Levels: Reactions- Ahmed runs to forget – sometimes you need to separate yourself from/forget about conflict – sometimes the only way people can cope in times of conflict “ Iraqis say anything…” – again trying to minimise the severity of the conflict – denying to himself  internal conflict

Key Ideas and Discussion Questions: When a foreigner tries to get involved in a conflict – attempts to be purely a witness – can be difficult to fully separate oneself from said conflict