Despite calamities of the war and occupation,Iraq children insist on entertaining their life [Archives:2005/876/Last Page]

By Mohammed Khidr
Yemen Times Staff
In wars and other kinds of catastrophes children are the most vulnerable segment of society to being hurt physically and morally. Most of them are defenseless especially the very young ones because they are not able enough to defend themselves or take shelter properly against sudden fierce events, whether natural catastrophes or tragic events of wars.

Children of Iraq have throughout the more than two and a half years since the war of invasion launched on their country by the United States of America and Britain have been suffering a lot in various walks of life. Hundreds of thousands were killed by huge lethal bombs and long-range missiles the invasion forces dropped on the cities of Iraq not sparing residential areas, schools and worshipping places. Thousands of them have been wounded and some of them got permanent handicaps.

In addition, thousands and thousands got orphaned and homeless after losing their parents and families dead under the merciless grinding stone of the all out war the US and British forces ruthlessly launched on Iraq under numerous false allegations. The whole world has seen live pictures of disasters inflicted on the Iraqis especially the children.

After the war has come to an end and military hostilities were less that they were at the beginning of the war, the Iraqi children as the adults, men and women, have shown their determination and insistence to continue their life and to build their country. Schoolchildren insisted even a few months after the war to return to schools and study despite the destruction that was caused to their schools buildings. They challenged the occupation forces spread in the streets wielding their weapons in the face of the people.

They studied hard and scored success and passed to other higher stages of studies. They have been challenging chaos and loss of security, and risked their lives just to prove they are the descendants of live people who enlightened the world with their glorious ancient civilizations.

With the passage of weeks, months and years, the children of Iraq insisted that they must not stop practicing their childhood entertainments and games because they do not want to miss their share of entertainments enjoyed by their counterparts in the world. They urged their parents to take them to parks where there are playgrounds for children recreation, especially in relatively safe areas and during some relatively safe times.

They would enjoy playing a those playgrounds on different games and means of recreation although many times their entertainment is disrupted by sudden explosions of bombs or car bombs or an armed confrontation between occupation forces and some resistance elements.

I visited some of those parks containing playgrounds to see by my own eyes how the Iraqi children defy occupation and difficult life conditions and dangerous security situation. I have seen them play and laugh and enjoy those few hours they squeeze out of the grips of harsh life under foreign occupation. I also attended birthday parties given to children celebrated most of the times in the light of candles because of long hours of electricity outages and cuts.

These children want to show the entire world that under any circumstances they would not forget or abandon their insistence on life, studying, working hard, building their country and enjoy whatever entertainments they could get under any circumstances. They believe life must continue and that ultimately they would score triumph on whatever circumstances and difficulties with their strong will.
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