I Am One

I’m aware I haven’t been posting about my day to day. I’m sorry for that. My life has involved school for the most part. It takes up a lot of time, understandably. Otherwise I’ve been reading, listening to music and keeping my mind sharp with knowledge.

I woke up today to a nice mild day. It’s starting to look and feel like spring at last. *knock on wood* I hope it stays this nice all week, especially for tonight at 5. You’ll read of that later.

I’ve been listening to some good old defiant music lately. Some Sparta, At The Drive In, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, and currently The Smashing Pumpkins.

Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, gimmie, NOTHING.

I had my peanut butter sandwich breakfast, showered, dressed and went off to catch the bus. At the library I met with Alexa and Rami to work on our project for our business communications class. Two group members didn’t show up, but we were able to do some planning and work together.

While we were working some of Rami’s friends came over. Rami is originally from Iraq and so was one of his friends. They were coming together to offer each other support right now, and it’s great to see not only them, but Canadians of all backgrounds and ages coming together like this to support the people hurting from this tragedy. I try to write of something other than war, but it’s in every part of our lives. I’m sorry.

After we talked to his friends and affirmed our commitment to joining them at the rally at 5, we talked some of Iraq with Rami.

Rami was wounded in the first Gulf War and had to flee his home in order to seek medical help in Jordan. His family is from the Muslem group that opposed Saddam’s government. During the last war he was quite young, and now has a bit of a phobia of the sirens that sound when the Americans attack Iraq. With good reason, for his life was in danger every moment from falling bombs. He has family in Iraq who will likely be killed because of the American government’s agression on the Iraqi people. He is trying to remain positive, but you can hear and see the fear and pain in his voice. Rami is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Having talked to him as much as I have(which I admit is less than I would like), I have a great respect for him.

He has experienced Iraq first hand and let us know that no Iraqis want this war. Even those who oppose Saddam are not willing to accept Bush’s invasion. I trust his word. Unlike all of us he has lived through war, and he has seen what it does to people. Talking to him I have had it reaffirmed that the Iraqi people are wonderful men, women and mostly children who do not deserve this injustice. I will stand with them against tyranny.

Tonight at 5 there will be an anti-war rally at the the Spring Garden Public Library. I intend to go to it and stand by Rami, his friends and all those opposed to this unjust war.