Photos: Mass celebrated in Christian church newly reopened in Baghdad
posted at 10:05 am on November 16, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Michael Yon follows up on his widely publicized chronicle of the reopening of St. John’s, venturing inside for the first Mass and relaying a message from the local Muslims to their Christian former neighbors to come home. That raises a key logistical question touched on yesterday in WaPo’s front-pager on the Iraqi government’s paralysis:
Officials identified other potential problems flowing from reductions in violence. Military planners already worry that if security continues to improve, many of the 2 million Iraqis who fled the country will return. Those who left are overwhelmingly Sunni, and many of their old houses are occupied by Shiites. How would the Shiite-dominated Iraqi army and police handle the likely friction? “Displaced people is a major flashpoint” to worry about in 2008, said Fetter.
Indeed, although if the people Yon spoke to are representative, it won’t be in the Dora neighborhood. The takeaway line: “Real Muslims here are quick to say that al Qaeda members are not true Muslims.”
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I’m sure this good news will be widely reported in the msm.
Merry Christmas to the people of Baghdad.
locomotivebreath1901 on November 16, 2007 at 10:13 AM
I bet the newsies at MSLSD and CNN are planning the coverage of the “massive failure of the Bush administration” to integrate the returning refugees home.
AlexB on November 16, 2007 at 10:15 AM
That’s Amazing!!! God bless them all as they celebrate Mass and Christmas!
Thanks for the pics.
mjk on November 16, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Michael Yon is a true national treasure. He is the very best at conveying the real sense of what is happening. Folks compare him to Ernie Pyle but that does a disservice to Mr Yon. They both represent the best of their generation. While the “Greatest Generation” is fading the “Next Greatest Generation” is proving itself, in spite of all of the obstacles in their path, to be fully capable of filling those shoes and displaying what it is that makes America the greatest nation on the planet. I don’t know what awards or accolades could be bestowed upon Michael that would adequately recognize what he is doing and has done. Nothing seems worthy to truly symbolize what he has done other then his body of work.
LakeRuins on November 16, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Michael Yon deserves a Pulitzer, plain and simple.
Mindcrime on November 16, 2007 at 10:24 AM
There are a million Iraqi Christians, mostly Catholic. Has anyone ever heard that in the MSM?
Cinematicfilm on November 16, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Short Answer – No. Long answer – Until I went to Egypt, I had no idea how many Catholics/Christians there were there. The media doesn’t exactly report the truth about a lot of facts in the ME, now do they? (winky emoticon)
mjk on November 16, 2007 at 10:33 AM
More at Captain’s Quarters
bnelson44 on November 16, 2007 at 10:49 AM
This is great news and I hope that it does make it to the MSM although I’m not holding my breath. Thanks for the Cpt. Qtrs. link.
Catie96706 on November 16, 2007 at 10:50 AM
That’s beautiful. May God protect the Christians of Iraq.
CP on November 16, 2007 at 10:54 AM
OT (kinda): THE ASY THANKS CAMPAIGN
This holiday season, America Supports You is giving you a new way to send your thanks to the troops – by text message! When you send your message of thanks to 89279 (TXASY) between November 17th and 22nd, you’ll receive a special thanks in return. Also, we’ll be displaying those messages on our ASY Thanks widget far and wide across the internet. Just another way that you can support our brave military men and women around the world.
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/thanks/index.aspx
bnelson44 on November 16, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Shelly Winters once told me the “F bomb” was the most effective word in the English language if used strategically.
So….
“Fuck Thomas E. Ricks.”
ganeshpuri89 on November 16, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Ja, Der Popen sagst:
Der folk oft U-Ez-A, tzu mach sure tzu voten fer Iraq mit no U-Ez-A zoldaten blitz mit dem zhock und awecccchhh.
Update from the Papal Palace:
Der Folk oft U-Ez-A, like Schultz sez’, “I know nusing, nusing”!!!!!!
(He means to say that the war on terror is Justum Bellum)
Hening on November 16, 2007 at 1:02 PM
I know that Rosie O’Donnell would be shocked and appalled by this open expression of Christian fanaticism, but my heart is warmed.
Blaise on November 16, 2007 at 1:44 PM
The Season of Miracles. No doubt.
Absolutely.
Zorro on November 16, 2007 at 8:11 PM
All well and good, but still “Jews need not apply”.
hadsil on November 16, 2007 at 11:45 PM
Don’t forget to donate to Michael Yon if you can.
Instead of phrasing it like that, why not seize on the hope and joy this story provides? You could acknowledge the story of progress and use the opportunity to express hope that one day soon things will improve for the Jews too. Maybe give a little historical background to inform readers, instead of just sounding resentful and curmudgeonly?
Here’s a google link on the status of Jews in Iraq.
Buy Danish on November 17, 2007 at 9:16 AM
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