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| Iraq |
| Iraq: Forbidden love between GI and Iraqi woman |
| 2003-09-05 |
| Edited for brevity. When her fiance left Iraq for Germany, Nayzak al Jassm gave him a Koran for luck. Rafael Velez asked her to remember him with a tiny cross that dangles on a gold chain around her neck. Faith, they said, is the only force strong enough to protect them from the disapproving whispers of people who do not believe in love between a Muslim Iraqi woman and a Roman Catholic U.S. Army sergeant. Their relationship - they plan to wed in December - is forbidden by local custom and military orders. They met at a checkpoint outside a Baghdad bank in May, a month after U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein. Jassm, 26, was hired as an Arabic translator for soldiers at the site and brought them home-cooked breakfasts of flat bread stuffed with meat and cheese. On long shifts, Velez, 38, comforted Jassm when passing residents threatened her life for working with the Americans. By June, they realized that their relationship was raising suspicions. They were careful not to stand too close together or laugh too loudly. A tug on the ear substituted for "I love you" when other soldiers or Iraqis were around. Velez gave Jassm a sealed letter to take to her parents, who opened it to read his apologies that security concerns prevented him from asking for their daughter’s hand in person. The engagement was sealed when Velez sneaked a visit to Jassm’s parents, who served him and another uniformed soldier Turkish coffee in a sitting room decorated with Islamic art. Although Jassm’s father still has reservations, her mother said, they agreed to the marriage as an opportunity for their daughter to live outside a place ravaged by decades of conflict. "I don’t ask for assurances - it’s her life," said Samira Amees, Jassm’s mother. "There is only one God, one judge. You can see good people from the Muslims, from the Christians, from the Jews. And you can see bad people from all of those groups. My daughter doesn’t have a future here. These are the best years of her life and she has seen nothing but war. I am happy for her." If only more Muslims (and other religions) were as tolerant and open-minded! |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #8 My dad had a friend from WWII - the two had served together in the US invasion of North Africa until Dad got pneumonia and was evacuated to England. His friend 'won' a Moroccan woman in a poker game in 1943. They visited us in 1963, with their five kids. You never know... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-9-5 10:10:06 PM |
| #7 I think it's fine. The biggest issue will be what religion the kids are raised with. I wish them all of the best. I was actually shocked that her parents agreed to it AND the soldier's body wasn't found in pieces the next morning. Yes, it would be nice if people were more tolerant. |
| Posted by: Paul 2003-9-5 5:55:21 PM |
| #6 Excellent ! My plan is all coming together, we're gonna f**k our way to world peace. I am not worried about their chances making it outside of Iraq; it's at least 50-50, which puts them on a par with the average American marriage. Ptah, as the groom of a Japanese wife, now living in N.H., you are right on the money... Love that home-cooked Japanese food; beef currey, shogayaki, omuretsu, gyoza, etc etc.... |
| Posted by: Carl in NH 2003-9-5 5:20:55 PM |
| #5 Ptah, true enough many GIs and wives doing ok in the U.S. and abroad. FYI it's usually the groom that adopts the culture of the spouse. This is especially true when it comes to Asian culture. Some adapt other can't. Love is blind at first and then you open your eyes. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-9-5 4:39:57 PM |
| #4 BH, only if they choose to stay there will there be trouble. I've met several veterans who have Korean wives from their tours of duty during the Korean war, and they're doing just fine. The culture clash will need some managing: they'll need a lot of preventative counseling before and after the marriage. The attitude of the parents is enlightening: These are the moderate Muslims we're banking Iraq's, and Islam's, future on. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-9-5 4:09:20 PM |
| #3 it’s her life," said Samira Amees, Jassm’s mother. "There is only one God, one judge. You can see good people from the Muslims, from the Christians, from the Jews. And you can see bad people from all of those groups. Wow! Someone gets it! |
| Posted by: GregJ 2003-9-5 3:08:58 PM |
| #2 Bad idea, man. Bad f*ing idea. |
| Posted by: BH 2003-9-5 2:51:16 PM |
| #1 Forgot to add: Hat tip Drudge. |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-9-5 1:47:38 PM |