Victory: Christmas in Baghdad
posted at 3:52 pm on December 22, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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As one might imagine, Christmas doesn’t get a lot of attention in Muslim nations, even those with significant Christian minorities. In the Arab world’s first democracy, however, the holiday has provided an opportunity for ecumenical celebration:
From a distance, it looks like an apparition: a huge multi-colored hot-air balloon floating in the Baghdad sky, bearing a large poster of Jesus Christ. Below it, an Iraqi flag.
Welcome to the first-ever public Christmas celebration in Baghdad, held Saturday and sponsored by the Iraqi Interior Ministry. Once thought to be infiltrated by death squads, the Ministry now is trying to root out sectarian violence — as well as improve its P.R. image.
The event takes place in a public park in eastern Baghdad, ringed with security checkpoints. Interior Ministry forces deployed on surrounding rooftops peer down at the scene: a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and tinsel; a red-costumed Santa Claus waving to the crowd, an Iraqi flag draped over his shoulders; a red-and-black-uniformed military band playing stirring martial music, not Christmas carols. …
Even before I can ask Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul Karim Khalaf a question, he greets me with a big smile. “All Iraqis are Christian today!” he says.
Can anyone imagine this celebration taking place with government support in any other Arab nation — even those normally described as “moderate”? Not only does this celebration include the standard secular imagery of Santa Claus, they actually put a picture of Jesus Christ on a hot-air balloon. That’s a big deal in a Muslim nation, where they object strenuously (and often violently) to iconography. Suggesting that Iraqis are “all Christians” on any day would get a Muslim fired or worse anyplace else in the region.
This is what victory looks like. Iraq has settled into what Condoleezza Rice called a “multi-confessional” society, one that has begun to promote a religious tolerance that is unlike anything seen in that region in decades, if not centuries or ever. Iraq may not match Western nations yet for religious tolerance, but they have progressed rapidly over the last five years, and will provide leadership for ecumenism in a region that desperately needs it.
Two cheers to CNN for this report. Unfortunately, they lose another cheer for not airing the report on their broadcast, at least according to Newsbusters.
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Amazing. Simply amazing.
KelliD on December 22, 2008 at 3:58 PM
What good is a CNN report like this if they don’t show it to people?
Del Dolemonte on December 22, 2008 at 3:59 PM
this is gonna get some people blown up…
Kaptain Amerika on December 22, 2008 at 4:02 PM
And to think that celebration could not happen here in the USA with government support. Isn’t really time to kick out the commie ACLU?
Maxx on December 22, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Jesus Christ
Drunk Report on December 22, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Mission Accomplished.
There.
Cicero43 on December 22, 2008 at 4:04 PM
How much do you guys want to guess that isn’t won’t make Olby’s top 5 stories tonight.
Lance Murdock on December 22, 2008 at 4:05 PM
What do you think might happen if you floated that same baloon over, say London? How about San Diego?
JonPrichard on December 22, 2008 at 4:06 PM
That’s awesome.
BadgerHawk on December 22, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Iraqis won’t truly be free until they have a chance to celebrate Festivus, something I’m sure Obama’s PC crowd will bring them in 2010!
/sarc
Y-not on December 22, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Don’t be naive Ed. Once we leave this sort of thing will never happen again.
dakine on December 22, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Ed,
You can probably see this type of celebration in Lebanon.
Lance Murdock on December 22, 2008 at 4:08 PM
I blame bush, clearly he was a dummy
jp on December 22, 2008 at 4:09 PM
At this rate, we’ll hear about the public display of the Menorah in Iraq within 5 years… just as long as the BO administration doesn’t f*** things up.
SPCOlympics on December 22, 2008 at 4:10 PM
awesome!
trailortrash on December 22, 2008 at 4:10 PM
The left is waiting for them to match the West’s intolerance of religion. That is what they call progress.
Kafir on December 22, 2008 at 4:12 PM
This is like someone finding a small nugget of gold, probably just fools gold too, and thinking that they have stuck the mother load or like thinking because Barack Obama has invited Pastor Warren to give his invocation that Barack Obama will probably appoint Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.
Ah, the comparisons are almost endless.
MB4 on December 22, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Oh my goodness. This is wonderful and so hard to believe. Thank you Iraq for this. I wish all our troops everywhere a blessed Christmas. It would be wonderful just for one day, no human was killed in the name of religion anywhere.
L
letget on December 22, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Pardon my pessimism, but this whole thing just looks like a giant photo op to me. I imagine there was really no people there except those directly involved with the activity; like the parents of the kids. I guess this is progress though, its not like this would happen in Saudi Arabia, so, ok… somewhat of a victory
El_Terrible on December 22, 2008 at 4:15 PM
I can imagine many places in the USA this can not take place, government or not.
Wade on December 22, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Ed, might want to do some more research in the future. Lebanon has been a democracy for a while. Even if it has issues now, it certainly was a democracy in the past, so the “first democracy” is nonsense.
TTheoLogan on December 22, 2008 at 4:19 PM
It’s a victory because the people involved, and the spectators, were not afraid to show their faces, to have their names quoted by the press.
Considering that just a couple of years ago Iraqis were being hunted down just for talking to Americans, this is an incredible advancement.
SPCOlympics on December 22, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I’ve been staring at this since this morning wondering “What’s the catch?”
Count to 10 on December 22, 2008 at 4:24 PM
The murder rate in Baghdad is now far below most US cities.
I say we finish the job in Iraq and give up on Southeast DC.
Or at least get rid of the incompetent/corrupt, overwhelmingly Democrat mayors and city councils who preside over unacceptably high levels of crime in US inner cities.
NoDonkey on December 22, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Santa is NOT secular.
Xolom on December 22, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. Merry Christmas and my condolences in advance to those that find themselves disappointed down the road. I though the cackle out of the official who said “we are all Christians” was a tad sarcastic. And the priest they interviewed, they didn’t show the part where he said he will believe it when he see’s it in the future. And were there any other Christians there? Iraq has killed or driven most out. But then there was never a decent number to pay Jizya and be profitable to Iraq.
So no Democracy in Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Pakistan? Oh, you mean real democracy! Well, I’ll go with the Priest and say I will believe it when I see it in the future.
BL@KBIRD on December 22, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Yep! I’ll take this little victory and bet that G.W. had a big smile when he heard about this. We need to stick with this country and it’s brave citizens.
Vince on December 22, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Bunch of pessimists!
Vince on December 22, 2008 at 4:41 PM
*yawn*
When Christmas comes and goes without the Jesus balloon requiring a ring of security checkpoints around the park, I’ll be impressed. Otherwise, this is meaningless.
grdred944 on December 22, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Meaningless. Once US troops leave, the country will devolve into a sectarian civil war, and the winner will be the most radical of the groups. Look at Afghanistan. After the US put in a so-called democratic government, their new constitution called for the execution of the muslim that converted to Christianity. It was the taliban all over again. Only by tremendous international pressure, was the man saved, and only because he managed to escape to Italy.
Naivete does not fit a conservative well. Never believe in the affinity for other cultures to be like ours.
keep the change on December 22, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Thank you President Bush.
Come on pessimists. Even if it only happens once it is as significant as the Christmas Truce in 1914. There is peace and respect for another religion in a muslim culture. I would have never believed it.
If your measure of peace is that there will never be fighting in the region, then the entire world will never be at peace.
Enjoy it, America done good, be proud.
redshirt on December 22, 2008 at 5:21 PM
The Best Christmas Pagent Ever.
RobCon on December 22, 2008 at 5:34 PM
It’s a step, not the end of the road. As many folks have said, our work in Iraq is not a quick job. It’ll take a lifetime for that nation to climb out of the morass that Saddam left it in.
But they’re making amazing progress, just the same. Every step should be celebrated, because a step forward is better than a step back. God Bless the Iraqis for even thinking of this, no matter the reason. Even a year ago this might have sparked a citywide flurry of bombings and mortar attacks. But Iraq is safer and more tolerant than it was a year ago. They try to solve disputes with words before reaching for their RPGs. And American soldiers helped make that possible.
hawksruleva on December 22, 2008 at 5:34 PM
It’s a nice story but its a load of BS that this is the ‘first Arab democracy’ and the only place in the Arab world where Christmas is celebrated openly with official state sanction. I spent Christmas in Dubai few years back, had a great time, and the Islamic affairs minister came and attended midnight mass. Similar fun in Alexandria another year when I got stuck for the holidays.
lexhamfox on December 22, 2008 at 5:35 PM
To bad all the Christians have to leave Iraq or be killed. Maybe the Christmas spirit will prevail
Bullhead on December 22, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Yea, they obviously hate us because we’re free.
angelat0763 on December 22, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Incredible.
It may well be that the “quagmire” of Iraq may end up being the most substantially positive development in the history of the modern Middle East.
God bless GWB. Like so many other before him, he stumbled his way to victory, but it is victory.
Bush’s 2004 victory was huge. HUGE.
mylegsareswollen on December 22, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Thats it I’m moving to Bagdad! On a side note the stoopid reporter should stfd anf stfu.
sonnyspats1 on December 22, 2008 at 7:08 PM
This just in - The low this morming in Hell was 33 deg.F. Not quite frozen over, but gettng there.
Pelayo on December 22, 2008 at 7:13 PM
“All Iraqis are Christian today!”
Well,thats HOPE and CHANGE I can believe in!
Just,think,if Saddam was still alive,his goons
would be takeing care of the Christmas tree,
goon style!
And again,Thank-You America,for FREEDOM and
for LIBERATING IRAQ!:)
canopfor on December 22, 2008 at 7:15 PM
Loved the artwork……….
Seven Percent Solution on December 22, 2008 at 7:19 PM
“VICTORY!!!”
GOD BLESS GEORGE W. BUSH!!!!
grtflmark on December 22, 2008 at 7:21 PM
OMG,did I love that GI.Joe style display of
taking down the terrorists,and the final display
of the Iraqi wedding!
There is HOPE after all,because the Iraqi children
get it!
canopfor on December 22, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Ah, they celebrate Christmas in Iraq…
Perhaps, one day, this will happen in America, too.
ajacksonian on December 22, 2008 at 7:31 PM
It’s a tiny step in the right direction but the fact remains that Christians are continually persecuted in Iraq and all Muslim majority nations.
Having said that, I never thought I’d be jealous of a Christmas celebration, Iraqi-style. How I wish my town would actually use the word “Christmas” in the various holiday activities, never mind having an image of Jesus Christ displayed. That was pretty amazing.
CarolynM on December 22, 2008 at 7:45 PM
are you kidding me, Ed? imagine the outrage if you tried to fly a hot air balloon with a picture of Jesus over Manhattan! i never thought i’d see the day when Iraq was more accepting than the US. i don’t think that’s hyperbole on this one issue.
cpr on December 22, 2008 at 7:52 PM
How far would balloon have to float to reach Mecca?
Hening on December 22, 2008 at 8:52 PM
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED INDEED!!!
GOD HAS BLESSED THIS NATION AND IRAQ!!
Satan and his insurgents have failed, as usual.
GOD loves the U.S. SOLDIER!!! The ones that keep going back know this, that’s why they keep doing it. Spreading FREEDOM is contagious. My Son-in Law is on his 2nd tour, first in Northern Afganistan and now in Baghdad. Army’s 10th Mountain Division. God has Blessed them many times in their work there.
The Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are a very tough team with an undefeated record.
Our Founding Fathers knew this too!! The true History of this wonderfull nation proves it!! Ever read the Preambles of the Fifty United States of America?? The ACLU hasn’t, Liberals can’t, and Atheists won’t. There on the wrong team!
This is a Victory!! It’s GOD’s Victory!! Merry Christmas!!
relpayme on December 22, 2008 at 8:57 PM
This is good news. Really. However, I will be more impressed when Chanukah is as publicly celebrated.
hadsil on December 22, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Turkey and Pakistan aren’t Arab countries. You’re thinking about Muslim countries.
baldilocks on December 22, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Iran isn’t either.
baldilocks on December 22, 2008 at 9:22 PM
May it be.
davidk on December 22, 2008 at 9:29 PM
Wow. What a warm fuzzy. It would be a blessing if Iraq abandoned intolerance of diverse faiths. A balloon amuse a child for an hour; how long can an intolerant city deal with it? Does this speak to the many non-Muslims who suffered over the years in hiding or died torturous deaths clinging to their non-Muslim faith? (And for good measure, does it speak to those who are persecuted because they have no religious position?) I guess the real question is if it speaks to, or takes a step toward tolerance turning its back to intolerance. I’ll save you the research time – not on your life – intolerance is the core belief.
ericdijon on December 22, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Yes, you are right. In more ways that one.
Neocon Peg on December 22, 2008 at 10:09 PM
God Bless your son-in-law! God bless all our military men and women who serve. There can be no higher calling. They are all heros, no matter what they do.
Neocon Peg on December 22, 2008 at 10:13 PM
God Bless your son-in-law! God bless all our military men and women who serve. There can be no higher calling. They are all heros, no matter what they do.
Neocon Peg on December 22, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I Second that! God Bless you too Neocon! This is fantastic!
sheebe on December 22, 2008 at 11:19 PM
God bless all those serving in the finest military force ever fielded. Merry Christmas America!
dmann on December 22, 2008 at 11:43 PM
God bless you, too, Sheebe, and keep you safe!
Neocon Peg on December 23, 2008 at 5:57 AM
Outstanding!
Viper1 on December 23, 2008 at 6:34 AM
Good news, but in Iraq the victory is not complete.
Robert Spencer on December 23, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Thanks NP & sheebe, I’ll pass the blessings along.
Pray for them to get this done, it’s not over but a VICTORY all the same!!
Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!
relpayme on December 23, 2008 at 1:15 PM