Wedding bells do ring
My last trip here one of our Iraqi colleagues was arrested from his home in the middle of the night. He was a Sunni, living in the wrong neighborhood, and someone wanted him and his family out.
He was eventually released, moved his family to a "safer" neighborhood and came back to work.
This evening, our local staff finished work a bit early and left to celebrate his wedding. The wedding party came by our bureau and danced and clapped and laughed. They surrounded the bride in her white gown with its billowing skirt and our colleague looking very smart in his dark wedding suit.
Family members stood on the sidelines clapping and shaking hands. The bride's mother adjusted her hair for the cameras. Three little kids popped up out of a car's sunroof and cheered as the wedding party went by.
Pictures were taken and videos were made. Pictures that we would love to post on this website - but the reality here is that by doing that we would endanger everyone at that wedding party.
It's easy to forget over here, that in a city rocked by violence everyday, normal life does go on. People get married and have babies and live their lives.
It's easy to forget that. Until you are lucky enough to witness a few minutes of joy and watch your colleagues dancing in the streets.
Shiite, Sunni? Elsewhere it doesn't matter
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- Life beyond the violence
Suicide attacks and murders due to sectarian conflict continue around Iraq. See how residents live their lives amid the attacks.
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Sarah, what an amazing story!! It is wonderful to hear that somewhere in Iraq, people are doing their best to live a normal life. Congradulations to the newlyweds.
Missy, Slidell, LA (Sent Sep 19, 2006 12:18:30 AM)
I have lived through a war where people on the outside tend to think that life on the inside is stopped.. but really.. isnt this a testament to human nature and the will to survive, persevere and continue? Furthermore, isnt it amazing that humans can make the best of any situation.. I love hope; it is what kept us alive and kicking in beirut for a very long time..
Bahrain (Sent Sep 19, 2006 5:41:43 AM)
Thank you for your hard work in Iraq. Your reports are usually spot on.
My friend Johnny says bravo, and stay cool under the pressure over there.
Paul Nelson (Sent Sep 19, 2006 6:29:12 AM)
To Sarah Ford: From Alan and Diana in Rensselaerville, NY (Official address for Phil and Katherine). We are so glad to read this story. It is frightening to hear the daily news from Iraq; this is a wonderful reminder of some normalcy. Our best luck to you.
Alan Wilson and Diana Dietrich (Sent Sep 19, 2006 8:54:21 AM)
nice writing, insightful. I felt as if I was there.
steve avelleyra, Baltimore, MD (Sent Sep 19, 2006 6:40:31 PM)
It's amazing to hear about things like weddings going on in a place with so much violence and bloodspill. I have never lived through a war and I have never even been in the same city as a bomb when it has been detonated. I am a very lucky person. Thank you for your coverage on Baghdad, It's good to see a side of the story that isn't filled with propoganda,
Ashlea, Nottingham, UK (Sent Sep 20, 2006 4:11:51 AM)
Beautiful story--it shows how even amidst war, life goes on. And when there's life, there's hope... May the newlyweds enjoy a long and happy life together...
Olivia Elizabeth Burdon, Peoria, Ill. (Sent Sep 20, 2006 12:03:05 PM)
robert frost said, when asked what was the greatest lesson he learned from life, "life goes on." where everywhere the ugliness of war stares us cold, these stories of hope tell us that so much humanity still abound in the hearts of people in war torn areas.. celebrate life, no matter what the cricumstances are, because that is the reason we live..
eric voltaire pablo, Quezon City, Phil. (Sent Sep 23, 2006 2:06:26 AM)
Fantastic....life goes on no matter who is in charge...uplifting
Robby Long, Rhinebeck, NY (Sent Sep 24, 2006 8:59:22 AM)
I find it sensless that people cannot get along as those in your article. We are all human beings sharing the same earth. Why do we need to kill each other because we dissagree?
Tim Asheville N.C. (Sent Sep 25, 2006 9:37:44 AM)
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