Like the deserts miss the rain.
I walk out the door
Past the newspaper stand again
Iraq in the news
I don’t live there anymore
It's years since I’ve been there
But now I’ve disappeared somewhere like Canada
I have found some better place
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
I have become a success
I live in a big house with beautiful lawn
For kicks I correct English grammar of the natives.
I could be so westernized, eh?
I look up at the pictures
I can almost hear the screams of profanity at me
Things are exactly the way they used to be
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
On with my walk
I ask why did I remember again?
Can I confess I've been reading the news every day?
The years have proved to offer nothing since I have moved
I have been long gone
Why I can't move on
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
I swore that I would put this behind me
Will the mention of your name always be a pain?
I don’t live there anymore
It's years since I’ve been there
But now I’ve disappeared somewhere like Canada
I've found some better place
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
Past the newspaper stand again
Iraq in the news
I don’t live there anymore
It's years since I’ve been there
But now I’ve disappeared somewhere like Canada
I have found some better place
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
I have become a success
I live in a big house with beautiful lawn
For kicks I correct English grammar of the natives.
I could be so westernized, eh?
I look up at the pictures
I can almost hear the screams of profanity at me
Things are exactly the way they used to be
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
On with my walk
I ask why did I remember again?
Can I confess I've been reading the news every day?
The years have proved to offer nothing since I have moved
I have been long gone
Why I can't move on
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
I swore that I would put this behind me
Will the mention of your name always be a pain?
I don’t live there anymore
It's years since I’ve been there
But now I’ve disappeared somewhere like Canada
I've found some better place
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you - like the deserts miss the rain
There is a way between voice and presence where information flows.
In disciplined silence it opens.
With wandering talk it closes. .... Rumi
10:13 PM*sigh*
4:05 AM
what i find curious is that you hate america with every bone in your heartless muslim body, yet you post an american song. trying to brainwash people into your terrorist views by using american culture against us, huh? nice tactic satan.
8:57 AM
Dear Ihath,
I would like some help with these lines:
"I look up at the pictures. I can almost hear the screams of profanity at me. Things are exactly the way they used to be."
Would you or a reader please assist?
"For kicks I correct English grammar of the natives."
That's for sure. My Chinese wife knows English grammar much better than I do.
Later...
2:13 PM
I'm not sure how in using a internationally popular song construes 'brain washing' but even so, the band "Everything But the Girl" is from the UK, not 'America'.
If you are going to lay accusations, do a tiny amount of research first.
9:25 PM
Ihath:
Today I went cruising for some interesting words on Iraq. I found you. Thanks.
I ask myself why you can be so reflective and lacking in bitterness, while those who leave comments are so filled with anger?
Dave
10:51 PM
anon, you would be the type of person to listen to that faggot music. it doesnt really matter if its from the US or UK, the comment has the same meaning. ihath shouldn't be hating the US, UK, or whatever other country while enjoying their music, looking at their websites and watching their movies, while burning their flags. she's a hypocritical whore.
8:12 AM
A remarkable style indeed. Simple but sincere..that is your magic.
You were among the very first people who encouraged me to start my own blog.
It is in Arabic, please have a look on it as I am a fresh blogger:
http://yasser-best.blogspot.com/
If it does not bother you, would you kindly add it to the Arab bloggers list?
regards
10:24 AM
David,
What surprises me is not the hate comments, but their source. The vast majority (about 99.9%) of people that leave hate comments on my blog are posting from the US. Here is the strongest nation on earth, its people grew up with free media and good education. You would think that reasoned dialog would be the norm to members of such a society. You would think that they would have enough self confidence to accept even the mildest of critisizims. What are people living under dictatorships supposed to do?
4:08 PM
The hate comment source is less surprising when you consider that most hate comments on Iraq blogs are posted by the same poster using American proxies because American proxies are the most abundant. Probably less a reflection on America's web population and more a reflection on psychotic netizenry in general. If you want to discourage him, just delete it (I would, your style is better without his muck and you'd probably find your pleasure in storytelling re-emerge).
1:09 PM
Ihath,
When I read what you write it makes me sad on many levels. I am an American citizen born and raised. I am also a Christian. I'm stating this only for the sake of the readers, so everyone has some perspective on where this is coming from. While I'm not surprised that the hateful responses to your postings come from the U.S. primarily, I must also point out that the U.S. owns a large portion of the world's wealth, and being that you must obtain a computer to compete in this game of emotional diatribe, it stands to reason that more people in the U.S. have access to this form of communication. This is not really the "open debate" we would like to think it is. You aren't getting the perspective of the “U.S”., or of “Muslims”, or “Christians”, or “Israelis”. What you are getting is more of the same….the views of the wealthy (by global standards), and the privileged. I’m not a Palestinian, Iraqi, or a Muslim, so I can’t truly stand in your shoes. But I understand the animosity the world has towards the U.S. I would like to point out that ignorance is truly the enemy in politics, and social issues. This is no great mystery of course, but it may be something that should be brought to light in every debate. The U.S. is full of Muslims, Palestinians, Iraqis, and Jewish people. So saying that the U.S. is hateful is no more than saying the world is. In fact, one could argue that because there are more people in the U.S. than in most middle eastern countries that there are more victims of U.S. policies right here in the U.S. than anywhere in the middle east. If you don’t believe me ask the 1.4 million homeless children in the U.S., or the 3 million men in the federal prison system. The U.S. isn’t inherently evil, power, wealth, and corruption are the evils. That’s true of all countries. I think what is being projected (but not stated) is that the U.S. has a large amount of ignorance to world affairs. This is not by chance, but rather by design. But do you blame children for the believing in Santa Claus ? From one ideology to the next, a lack of understanding, and compassion are the faults that divide ALL of us. May I suggest that you focus on the positive aspects of the world to show examples of how things should be, rather than stating the obvious horror of how things “really” are? People don’t need an education in the corruption of politics, they need an education in being peaceful, and compassionate. From what I can tell, you are an incredibly intelligent, compassionate, person with a true talent for writing. I wish you well in all you do.
Here’s some movies I’ve made.
http://odm.temp.powweb.com/youth.htm
http://odm.temp.powweb.com/love.htm
Peace….no really….PEACE!
David
6:12 PM
the feeling of missing someone, or something, it makes you yearn for something better...whether its from your past, or from an image in your mind.
5:09 AM
Dear Bethany,
Thank you for your help.
I still don't get the 'screams of profanity at me.' In the case of my wife, her father calls her a 'whore' who is 'not worth a penny' because she married an American. All of her relatives continue to call her a 'traitor', although they have become US citizens also. Maybe the singer means something like this?
Dear Ihath and her beloved readers,
A 'troll' will knowingly post statements designed to provoke others to a fight, then sit back and enjoy the foolishness that follows. We've met these kinds of folks in grade/middle/high school, and we learned not to get involved with them. Some of these folks now have computers with Internet access. Any online forum/blog/newsgroup that allows anonymous posts will have posts from 'trolls.' I prefer to try to ignore them and try to stay focused on the topic of the article that I'm commenting on. It would be best if Maxine would automatically delete 'troll' posts, but I suspect she has been too busy of late.
Later...
6:12 AM
I'm sorry, but I disagree completely with the idea of deleting these posts, or calling people with different opinions "trolls". If you wanted to delete it for the profanity, or if someone is clearly just taking up space I would understand. This person posting is stating their opinions with what limited level of literacy, and ability they have.....just because you find it offensive, or contrary doesn't mean they can't voice their opinions. Besides, it exposes ignorance, and hate for what it is. This isn't FOX, CBS, or CNN here folks, we should be able to hear people's opinions. I would recommend stating that posts containing profanity will be deleted. If you block people who have different views, or opinions, than this is just a club.
8:17 PM
It's hardly surprising that you disagree completely David R (5:09 and 6:12). Afterall, if Ihath started deleting trash you wouldn't be able to brainwash her, would you, and you'd have to post somewhere else, wouldn't you.
7:03 AM
Stop hate-male,
I'm not sure what the name implies, but it seems as though you are very defensive, and angry. I don't know your dear friend Ihath, and have no interest in brainwashing her or anyone else. Maybe I'm experencing a little bit of the animosity mentioned earlier in 5:09. All the same, I will opt out of this discussion so that the floor is yours. I wouldn't want to steal anyone's thunder. I was just hoping to share some thoughts in an open discussion. I guess this is less a blog, and more a broadcast of a private conversation. Forgive my impetuousness. I'm sorry if my views offended anyone, and please feel free to remove my postings.
Peace
P.S. A few thoughts to leave you with.
If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies. -Moshe Dayan
If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think,they'll hate you. -Don Marquis
The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion. -G. K. Chesterton
I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it. -Dwight D. Eisenhower
Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them? -Rose Kennedy
10:15 AM
I knew an American once. He was my childhood friend. For him, choosing between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, our first vote, was a difficult choice. It wasn't for me, though I did vote for Bush in the primary. Following college, he moved to Oregon. I remained in the Midwest. Both of us entered a professional, graduate school. Though capable, he didn't complete his studies.
We kept in touch, at least frequently enough for me to witness, to my utter amazement, his transformation. He became antiestablishment, to put it mildly. Both Republicans and Democrats, he confidently told me, were evil corrupt parties in league with every corrupt element throughout the world. He told me of happenings, of secret deals reported in underground papers, of conspiracy theories, rivaled but not exceeded by those in the Middle East, which he wholeheartedly believed. Seriously, I am not kidding, and his reports were so non-sensical and ill founded that I cannot even remember the details beyond that common theme. He told stories of rallies which he organized or participated in. He boasted of raising money to help the poor, sums less than I paid as taxes to federal, state and local government. I never had the heart to tell him that if he just applied himself, he could cut out the middleman, get a real job, and contribute more to worthy causes using his own funds. As self evident as that truth should have been, he chose not to see it, and created a world where he and his crowd of underground journalists, 60's hold-overs and wannabees, complained about everything, did nothing to address what they complained about other than to assign responsibility and motive to those in power.
My conclusion, thinking about those circumstances, is that he and his fellow revolutionary misfits contrived a world view where they were good, they understood what justice really meant, and those in power, those who had in fact accomplished something, were either corrupt thieves who built their lives on the backs of others, or persons upon whom good luck had smiled, and their fortune, whether financial or otherwise, had come like manna from heaven which they scooped up, greedily refusing to share what had been given to them.
The "beautiful" attraction of this world view is its holders avoid responsibility for their own lives. They take pride in their superior understanding of "justice", of "fairness", of what it should really mean to be human, a good human. The problems with society, which they so readily identify as truly significant, happen also to be the responsibility of others, both in terms of cause and in terms of the solution. They take pride in their honorable views, as their role, given their impotence to actually solve the problems they see as caused by those "in power," is limited to pointing out the problems and assigning to others the responsibility for fixing them. That is the role which they have assigned for themselves: to point out the faults in society, to assign blame, and to get others to implement and pay for the cure they proscribe. In my friend’s view, legalization of marijuana would have gone a long way in effecting suitable change and remedying the ills and evils of the world.
I wrote this post on another blog, and what I presented above is but an excerpt from the entire post which was made for a very different purpose. That other blog seemed to me to be rather right wing, and it was my hope that they could relate to the story and to the point which I was making there.
I place this portion here as illustrative of what I believe to be the obstacle to understanding. It is not for lack of reasoning, for lack of education, for lack debate, that we lack “peace” as David R uses that term. In my opinion, and yes, its only my opinion, we lack peace because of a lack of desire. We choose incomprehension over comprehension when it preserves our pride. The fear of being found out fuels our pretenses. The smarter we are, the more capable are our rationalizations, the more intricate are our conspiracies, and the better we are at self deception. One of the most peaceful, loving and warm individuals I ever met was afflicted with Down’s Syndrome. Everyone was his friend, and because he thought that, it was true.
4:30 AM
thank you anglo-american for ANOTHER of your long-winded, boring, and pointless posts. after i started reading it i kind of tricked myself into believing that there must be a purpose, a reason, for writing this. after i read it all i was embarrassed. i should have known better. what i find strange is that you're from the midwest, which is where i go to school now. midwestern people are pretty straight shooters, but you write like some liberal philosophy professor from oxford with a tweed suit and pipe. and no, that wasnt a compliment. do people ever look at you confused and just ask what the hell you are talking about? i can't be the only one.
11:44 AM
Anon (4:30), in a nutshell, I am saying that we choose whether we will embrace others. Education, ignorance, mental capacity, are all irrelevent, except to the extent that they inform our choices, but even then, the choice is made as a result of desire. It comes from the heart, not the head. BTW, I agree with your assessment, too long winded and boring.
8:55 AM
Dear Ihath,
found this today, (relevant to a previous post of yours) but maybe you are already following this story. I haven't seen the movie yet. (I don't have much stomach for psychologically or visually traumatic movies.)
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1718128,00.html
by the way, your current post, I really like that song and the feelings evoked.
and I like the thoughtful, considered comments posted by other readers, whether they are on topic or not.
Hana
4:27 PM
I could be so westernized
westernized with a "zee"
I could be American
makes no diff to me
I could be your enemy
or I could be your foe
although we disagree
you mean a lot to me you know
you drive me up the wall
I love you like a sister
we will never meet
I will never seig heil Hitler
Stay safe and sooth your soul
the war will end one day
stay safe and reach your goal
I'm only a word away
9:31 AM
Truer Truth,
Thank you for your kind words.
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