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LTC Clarkston Wraps Up His Trip to Kurdish Iraq
Blackanthem Military News,
BAGHDAD, Iraq, February 13, 2006 13:16
Impressions - #35 (Third of a series of three)
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The third day of our trek to
Kurdistan dawned bright and clear but cool and damp from the chilly,
overnight rain. Early on, after wadding clothes into an assortment of
travel bags and chucking them into the rear of our vehicle, we loaded up
and headed out.
Our morning visits were similar to those of the preceding two days - to
small project sites making a big difference in the lives of Kurds!
Perhaps the most impactful of these stops was the one made with the Syrian
Kurds - refugees from their own country. Makeshift, tented structures
comprised the community yet outside many stood a satellite dish connecting
them with a world far from their muddy, stark and beleaguered, exile
existence. Yet their broad smiles were obviously genuine. One woman,
holding a child of perhaps one, repeated to me, "I’m so happy. I’m so
happy!"
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Emotionally drained, close to
noon we headed to the LZ to await our return home - Home?
As we rotary-winged over the millennia aged, tired and worn terrain we
noted war scars of villages destroyed, berms built for artillery or tank
security and even siege trench dugouts on hilltops. This is a locale where
war has long been a way of life - be it tribal or armies of state.
One struggles not to scream, "Give it a rest! Let peace have a chance!
Stop with the stupid fighting already! Can we not accept that, in fact, we
are all equal! Enough!" But, sadly such would be for naught. It is not
that simplistic. The human race, as a whole, is not yet that mature.
Tragically, virtually every culture maintains bias against others and
prejudice against those different from themselves.
But for we travelers, again and again throughout this visit, the obvious
presented itself. Before us would flock floods of children with smiling
faces, appreciative of our attention; enthusiastic to communicate with us;
ecstatic to receive our troves of candy. So trite yet so true - They are
the future.
If only those of the Western World could experience a few moments
interacting in and with their lives. Should any have a wish to make even
the smallest of a difference, this is a great place to begin.
Adopt a school. Support a refugee camp. Take time to positively effect
lives beyond that of your immediate safe, secure and sanitized community.
Make a difference!
Related Stories :
"Adopt A
School" project
LTC
Clarkston's Visit with the People of Dahuk
By Tom Clarkson
LTC, Army (Ret)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Gulf Region Division
Public Affairs Office
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