As the world acknowledged the anniversary of the Iraq War today, President Bush asked for patience as he spoke in a televised statement from the White House. Pleading, he said, "The new strategy will need more time to take effect."
But time is running out for many Iraqi’s struggling with daily life in that war ravished country; people who are trying desperately to live peaceful and productive lives. Remarkably, these individuals carry on with the tasks of work, school, shopping and daily living. Their challenges and small victories are not what we see on the news, but a new media resource shows us how some are surviving.
"Hometown Baghdad" is a chilling, yet down-to-earth web documentary series which captures the lives of a handful of Iraqi’s in their 20′s. The series which premiered today on SALON.COM and will soon launch on a variety of digital platforms including YOUTUBE.com, was shot entirely by Iraqi’s who wanted to share their stories with Americans.
Chat The Planet, a global youth dialog company produced 35 "webisodes" that range from one to three minutes long. You’ll hear from a young man named Saif, who at 23 years old had dreams of becoming a dentist, and Ausama, a 20 year old medical student whose family is repeatedly threatened by insurgent and American forces. These are two of the many stories to come.
The stories are disturbing at times, set against the backdrop of war and the simplicity of daily living. This series breaks down cultural barriers as we see how truly alike all human beings are at their core.
Whether here in the United States or overseas, we all have the basic needs of food and shelter, and the basic desire for a peaceful existence. How difficult that becomes in the face of war. Perhaps the greatest lesson we can learn from those who have survived the war is not to take anything for granted. Life can be taken in an instant, as many of these twenty-somethings learn. How rare to see, hear and ultimately feel what it’s like to live in Baghdad, even for a minute.
