[R-G] Reflection from CPT Iraq delegation #3

[DavidMcR at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/6/03 3:29:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, cpt3 at igc.org 
writes:

<< 
 New Year's at the UN
 by Charlie Jackson
 January 1, 2003
 
 [The author, of San Antonio, TX is a member of CPT's December 26-January 9 
 delegation to Iraq.  Others in the group are: Anne Albright (McPherson, 
 KS), Pat Basler (Webster, WI), Le Anne Clausen (Mason City, IA ),  Bill 
 Durland and Genie Durland (Cokedale, CO), Thomas Finger (Evanston, 
 IL),  Peggy Gish (Athens, OH), Sue Gray (Carbondale, CO), Larry Kehler 
 (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Cliff Kindy (North Manchester, IN), Robert Leonetti 
 (Trinidad, CO), Jim Loney (Priceville, Ontario), Mary Ellen McDonagh 
 (Chicago, IL), Anne Montgomery (New York, NY), Michele Naar-Obed (Duluth, 
 MN) and George Weber (Chesley, Ontario.)]
 
 The new year has dawned this January 1, 2003, as I begin my third morning 
 in Baghdad. The sun is rising over the Tigris River and birds are taking 
 flight as I step into the chilly air. At the corner near our hotel, a local 
 vendor is already setting up shop for the day. He greets me with a pleasant 
 SabaaH ilkheer, to which I reply SabaaH innuur--the typical greeting that 
 literally means "morning of light."
 
 We travel by taxi to the United Nations headquarters where the weapons 
 inspectors are based to vigil with prayers that the UN will not bow to U.S. 
 pressure for it to sanction continuing war against Iraq. In the cold wind 
 on the side of a six lane highway, we sing and pray under our banner of 
 peace. In Arabic and English it reads, "New Year's Resolution: No Attack 
 Against Iraq." Passing trucks and cars honk their horns when they see us 
 demonstrating for peace in their own city.
 Twenty-four-year-old Micah Keller Shristi of Harrisburg, VA holds a 
 frightened dove in his hand. "We release this dove with our prayers for 
 peace for Iraq and for all people of the world." He reaches up to the sky, 
 the dove takes flight and circles around the UN complex. Camera crews from 
 around the world record our cry for peace.
 
 As the UN inspectors drive past us on their way to work, we are pleasantly 
 surprised to see their smiles and waves. So hard and thankless must their 
 jobs be, going throughout Iraq each day to look for weapons that don't 
 exist, carrying the weight of an impending war on their shoulders. For 
 these inspectors we also raise our prayers.
 
 
 
 
 Claire Evans
 Personnel and Delegation Coordinator
 Christian Peacemaker Teams
 PO Box 6508
 Chicago, IL 60680
 Tel: 773-277-0253; Fax: 773-277-0291
  >>