An in depth look at the lives of the people, specifically the women…

Iraq is currently under reconstruction, in which everything that once was, is now being changed and altered into a new way of living for the Iraqi people.

The United States’ goal in Iraq is to create a democratic society for the people of Iraq, and to specifically help the people escape the brutality of their former dictatorial leader, Saddam Hussein.

Do you support how America is fighting the war on terrorism? Why, or why not?

“We think that America chose to fight with terrorism, but in reality they support terrorism and provide them with what they want.”

“People in our country are not an enemy and foe of the American people. These are just political ideas.” Zahra Ansari, Behpooyan High School, Tehran, Iran

Do you support how America is fighting the war on terrorism? Why, or why not?

“Yes, because if they don’t go to Iraq and fight them, they will come to United States. If they attack the large cities again, a lot of people are going to die. That will make it worse.”

“No, because if Americans attack Iraq, they kill people who don’t agree with terrorists. Also, other countries’ armies go to Iraq to help them. Some of them are already dead, and some of them already left Iraq, because the citizens in their country don’t like war.” The Northwest School, Seattle, Washington, USA

Should the U.S. have invaded Iraq?

“Yes, we think that the US can invade Iraq. But we advised both countries that they should show their white flags to each other.” Zahra Ansari, Behpooyan High School, Tehran, Iran

“Our opinions are, America can attack terrorists, but America shouldn’t attack Iraq. America is important for other countries, and America should be a good example but when America attacks the other country, then the other countries will learn bad things and they will also attack other countries.”

“America doesn’t have obvious clues to attack Iraq. If they have obvious clues to attack Iraq, then it is okay. For example, if another country attacks Iraq, then we think America can attack Iraq to escape them.”

“I don’t think America has to fight with Iraq. I think the other country has to help Iraq. The military has to go back to America. They shouldn’t get oil from them. If America really wants to stop the terrorism, they have to stop the war first.”

“America is the most powerful and strong country, so America has to be an example of peace for other countries. Now Korea is helping America, but I think Korea has to request to America to stop the war. I think America has to stop the war.” The Northwest School, Seattle, Washington, USA

“About the terrorism we think that this is another way of making nations slaves. Especially in the case of United States. You didn’t have any proof that Saddam had nuclear weapons and even if they had, the U.S. A. does too, and these weapons are more powerful than the weapons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We are not safe anywhere especially in the streets.” Brazil

“Our opinion of the war is not very good. We think that war against terror is necessary, but not the way your country is doing it. The war in the Iraq is also not acceptable because the reasons for it were just the petroleum…where are the weapons of mass destruction? And what did Saddam Hussein have to do with Al Qaeda?” Alexander von Bullion and Moritz Drangmeister, Germany

Iraqi women once enjoyed basic rights, that many other women in Islamic societies did not get, and Iraqi women were once looked up to by many surrounding Muslim societies.

How many rights did the people, especially the women really have under the rule of a brutal dictator who in history has abused and tortured his own people?

In your country, do men and women have equal rights, or are there differences between how men and women are treated and what they can and can not do?

“Korea has almost equal rights, but we are not perfectly equal. Sometimes when a company engages an employee, and if they are a man, then they get the scholarship, but if they are a woman, the company needs to see the face of the woman. If there are two women and one is ugly, but went to a good school, and the other is pretty and went to a poor school, the company hires the pretty woman.”

“If a woman has a baby, they cannot join any company, and when a woman becomes an employee of a company, they have to bring coffee and other non-important things to the men. In Taiwan we are the same!” The Northwest School, Seattle, Washington, USA

“In our Country men and women have got equal rights. Of course there are jobs which are dominated by men or women but woman are not “oppressed” or disadvantaged.” Alexander von Bullion and Moritz Drangmeister, Germany

“In our country we don't have equal right between men and women, because women have many maternity rights after their babies are born. So the companies don't want to hire women workers and they want to hire almost only men.” Brazil

The future for Iraqi women right now is unknown, only time will tell if the Iraqi women gain and retain their rights throughout Iraq.

The possibilities are endless for Iraqi women, and the Iraqi people and it will take many months, to years to create a strong, well-developed Iraq that respects all of its people, and is successful and a joyous place once again.

Bibliography –Images: Iraqi People Iraqi Women Iraq –Student responses Projects Learning Circles