Khadimiyah Blanket Drop
posted at 9:16 am on January 23, 2007 by Bryan
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How does one explain a culture that complains about the quality of their freebies? Selfishness breeds a ton of other interesting qualities, does it not?
BNCurtis on January 23, 2007 at 9:33 AM
This reminds me of the Katrina thing – the initial critical support for those in dire need turned into a “gimme, gimme, gimme.” interesing Vent.
pullingmyhairout on January 23, 2007 at 9:57 AM
“How does one explain a culture that complains about the quality of their freebies?”
Happens all the time in America as well :(. We call them ‘entitlements’ though.
Kevin M on January 23, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Free pork soup!
Getcher piping hot free pork soup…..
Anyone?
Anyone?
seejanemom on January 23, 2007 at 10:31 AM
I believe that event is a result of the poor economic conditions. Don’t get me wrong, their are thieves in every culture (look at the Brits stealing motorcycles), but if they had a thriving economy, this incidents would reduce dramatically. IMHO, this is another reason why this surge to establish security IS the right direction to go.
csdeven on January 23, 2007 at 10:50 AM
I’ve been thinking a lot about the Mid East of late, using both my experience of being there, and what I’ve been recently reading…
I’ve come to the conclusion that the problem is that they are culturaly not READY for Democracy.
A Democracy can only work if there is an over riding identity shift to the larger entity… ie… I’m an Iraqi, not a Sunni, insert tribe, insert city, Moslem…. They have to vote freely, for the good of the country, not just how their Tribal/religious leader tells them to vote….
It also only works once the people understand the Rule of law. Following the law must be the norm, not the exception, and there must be some fear of legal consequence or the breakdown of society happens…. just as we just saw in the video…
Sad part is the America herself is starting to fail in these two respects… we are not enforcing our own laws (borders, Secret leaks…), and we are becoming fragmented into “tribal” sects (moonbats, neocons, Mexican american…) and are listening to our “tribal” leaders…
Iraq is not ready for Democracy, and we are sliding down the slippery slope of not being able to rationaly sustain ours….
Romeo13 on January 23, 2007 at 11:29 AM
OH, and keep up the GREAT work MM…
We need MUCH more reporting like this so the American people can understand whats going on over there.
Romeo13 on January 23, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Great Vent Michelle!
This simple story of giving blankets away in a humanitarian gesture is a microcosim of Iraq.
I believe that graft is widespread in Iraq not only as a function of human behavior but of their culture. It has been this way for a long time, why should it change now?
omegaram on January 23, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Blankets are small pox free
Kini on January 23, 2007 at 2:09 PM
Thank you Michelle, Its good to see this, even if it turned to a slight debacle, it shows the extra efforts being made to help with every aspect of the Iraqis lives.
Viper1 on January 23, 2007 at 2:30 PM
Romeo13 – Well said.
A society or culture can only be free to the extent that the individuals govern themselves according to the golden rule.
I am glad we are trying to help the Iraqi people – and fighting the terrorists over there.
This excellent vent shows an example of why the people of that culture can never have the freedom we had.
And we have increasingly more of the same problems and less freedom.
roydee43 on January 23, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Romeo, they may not be ready for democracy yet but you must begin somewhere. I hear a lot about giving them more jobs and economic opportunity and that’s great but it sounds like they have the concept of capitalism down pat.
So, let’s not forget that in order for democracy and love of country to sustain itself in Iraq we’ve got to make sure the young people are educated and immersed in it. Do the kids say an Iraqi “pledge” of allegiance or sing patriotic songs? Do they understand their country’s history, warts and all? Are they studying their new Constitution? Are they being taught about notable Iraqis who have made contributions to science or who have otherwise worked to make mankind better? They should be doing all of these things.
Michelle, great sign off. “God Bless the troops”, indeed!
CliffHanger on January 23, 2007 at 2:52 PM
How VERY French! *snicker*
It is almost frustrating but remember folks, they really DONT know any better. They dont understand simple concepts like equality. They WILL get it..but it is going to take TIME. That is the scariest thing..not that we cant get these things through to the Iraqis, but that the American people will lose patience. Birth is never easy..ask any Mother, but raising the baby is infinitely more difficult. And that is where we are..raising the baby named “Democratic Iraq”.
labwrs on January 23, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Good point, labwrs.
I should’ve added the concept of “equality” and “fairness” to the kid’s curriculum. “We’re all equals in the eyes of our government and in the eyes of Allah.”
Wow, this’ll really piss off the clerics. Heh…
CliffHanger on January 23, 2007 at 3:08 PM
Isaiah Berlin reference. Nice.
But where is the difference in “crooked” timber, and “rotten”?
see-dubya on January 23, 2007 at 3:23 PM
And people wonder why peace takes so long. This is a process. We’ve got to let them try here.
Esthier on January 23, 2007 at 3:30 PM
Can the concept of “all men are created equal” be that foreign to these folks? Or is this strictly a tribal thing?
Great Vent. Seeing the little day to day efforts of our troops is great.
Zorro on January 23, 2007 at 6:02 PM
Can the concept of “all men are created equal” be that foreign to these folks? Or is this strictly a tribal thing?
Zorro on January 23, 2007 at 6:02 PM
You’re spot on… It’s strictly a tribal thing, unless you have a bigger gun, and money also helps.
PinkyBigglesworth on January 24, 2007 at 3:31 AM
Ahem.. I worked for many years for a department of a municipal government right here in the good ol’ USA, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve witnessed this same blanket drop scenario not only among the citizens of this 4th largest metropolitian city everytime we went out to implement an event that provided “free stuff” but had to safe guard the “free stuff” from staff persons (other employees) not under my supervision before we even got to the event!!!
Yeah it might be a tribal thing, but it ain’t specific to Iraq!
Texas Gal on January 24, 2007 at 1:35 PM
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