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It is expected for one
to not have a sense of belonging to a home, when the
home denies one’s freedom, security, and identity. I
had not felt the importance of identity and
belonging until I had the joy of seeing Kurdistan
Airline’s logo on my airplane ticket. Although the
flight form Frankfurt to Arbil was operated by
Hamburg International, speaking in Kurdish with the
travel agent at the counter of Frankfurt airport was
enough to give me a sense that I was heading home.
The joy of my sense of belonging peaked right after
arrival, when I had an urge to show my respect for
the achievements in Southern Kurdistan by kissing
the ground of the airport in Arbil [Erbil].
Despite having few computers at the entry of the
small airport, security procedures had to be
documented manually, causing about a two hour
waiting period to pass through customs. The
organizers of the trip, had been aware of our
spoiled lifestyle and had arranged accommodations at
Sheraton in Arbil, a very secure and modern hotel,
much different that the ruins of the historical
Castle of Hawler, which had become a residential
slum for the disadvantaged. A half a day taxi tour
was sufficient to go around the cities such as Arbil
or Slemany to a get a sense what these cities had to
offer to a new comer: not only the people on the
street, bazaar, and offices were speaking, reading,
and writing in Kurdish, but the graffiti and signs
of the businesses were in the language of the
inhabitants, something that is only a dream in other
countries where Kurds reside. Despite the ruins,
unclean streets, and heavy traffic, evidence of
freedom and tolerance was obvious not only by
presence of veiled and emancipated women in public
life but also by offices of left and right political
organizations living peacefully side by side.
Nothing was more refreshing than seeing
schoolchildren participating in cleaning up the
street during their environment classes. In contrary
to some of the western parliaments, a visit to the
Kurdish parliament was only possible after a heavy
security and background check. Calm and gentle
welcomes as well as thoughtful and considerate talks
of the head of parliament and some of the
representatives and ministers about various views on
current and future developments during our visit,
was indicative of complexity of challenges that
politicians face there.
While in the west we might criticize politicians for
ignoring people’s secondary needs such as clean air,
upgraded recreational facilities, and low interest
rates and gas prices, the challenges of politicians
in Kurdistan include the primary needs of the people
such as housing, health, and education, as well as
overcoming the fear of what their aggressive
neighbors would do to them, if the West leaves them
alone again. Another group of people who have a
challenging dilemma are some dedicated university
professors and students, who are limited by
financial resources as well as by pressures form
main stream political organizations, who expect them
to be party loyalists in order to make any progress.
Recovery and prosperity is still another challenge
in Kurdistan. Considering the traumas that cities
like Halabja have experienced during the reign of
dictators, one would expect that such cities be
given special attention. Although there is a
beautiful monument dedicated to the lost lives and
sacrifices of the remaining inhabitants in the
chemically bombed city, much needs to be done, in
order for her to be called recovered.
Despite the challenges the authorities and common
people face, our delegate felt welcomed, at home,
and appreciated for our visit and for the points
that we raised during our conferences at Saladin
University and University of Sulaimani. It seemed
that they hope we contribute to the realization of
their ultimate dreams, which they still can not
verbalize themselves. It is easy for us, in the
security of our home in the west, to criticize them
for not moving ahead with declaring independence.
The counter argument is: what other developed
countries have achieved in decades if not in
centuries of freedom needs still many months if not
years to be achieved in Southern Kurdistan
[Kurdistan Region]. Prosperity, justice, and
progress are only possible when people are free to
make choices.
Even if we might not agree with some of the
political moves, the Southern Kurdistani people
[Kurdistan Region's people] deserve appreciation for
creating a democratic home where all Kurds and even
other free minded Middle Easterners, feel a sense of
belonging. For now let’s wish them the best and
allow them to be free and make choices in the
context of what is available to them, elections and
referendums. With this in mind, I am not aware of
any better option for December 15, 2005 but voting
730.
Dr. Artin is a member of Kurdish American
Education Society
www.kaes.us ; however, his views are not
reflective of the views of all members.
www.krg.org
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