First, I must wonder how many noticed the subtlety in the title. Show of hands…anyone? Well, for those who are now completely perplexed by their recognition of this song title while being quizzed on what they may have missed…the song title had “wonder land” as one word, i.e., Wonderland.
I can just hear the plaintiff wails as people automatically assume that they’ve been duped by such a trivial detail. I can also hear the footsteps tromping down the hall toward the exit, those of the folks who have already given up on the main course. True, there are times when the appetizer is a forewarning of the general cuisine, but sometimes the chef is a true specialist, and does well on only the meal.
Ah well, sometimes the diner, not the paid critic, is the best judge. So let’s eat.
Today, snow fell in Baghdad for the first time in recent memory for most Iraqis. Many had no words to even describe it, but some had a most poignant, even poetic colloquialism; peaceful. For an Iraqi employee of the New York Times, it was indeed a wonder in his life. As Ahmad Fadam reported:
“To see snow falling in Baghdad, the scene was very joyful and I felt peace coming. I think it is a first in Baghdad … .”
Fadam said people on Baghdad streets were amazed at what they saw and offered up a variety of explanations. January traditionally is the coldest month in Iraq, but temperatures range from the low 40s to low 60s.
“But in the end they all agreed that it was beautiful and full of peace,” Fadam said. “Maybe it is a sign of God, maybe it will heal the wounds of the Iraqis and make them live peacefully again.”
Noted on Fox News tonight, albeit coincidentally, there were no reports of death around the capitol of Iraq on this day. Miracle? If so, certainly not by the will of Allah. Can there be little doubt that the exact opposite would have been more fitting of “his” will? Feel free to correct me.
Some other incidents of note on the same day, something which caught my eye and made me wonder. This next may be an exercise in figuratively walking naked amongst my critics on both sides, but one I feel necessary. Because while I am very far from embracing our radical islamic enemies, I do believe, especially after recent and frequent events, that there may be hope for peace, despite the wishes of a relatively small band of wacko-islamic naysayers.
President Bush is in Israel, and he met with Mahmoud Abbas. I have read little of these meetings, but I still believe the axiom that a picture is worth a thousand words. Bush and Abbas managed to have a genuine “guffaw” moment, which led me to think at once of my own (and I’m sure many of our) dealings and personal interactions with the “7-11″ guys, who at least in my area are nearly 100% Pakistani and generally muslim. Radically so, I seriously doubt, but one never knows, do they?
I have no choice but to wonder how we may have affected these legions of mostly young men as we stop in for our morning coffee and engage them in anything from cordial daily greetings to locker room banter regarding everything from our own NFL playoff games to the soccer or cricket matches that they often watch when it’s slow. Is it really possible for them to be immune from our exuberent friendliness on a daily basis? Is it really possible for them to be blind to what we ourselves see every morning, that being that some we like and some we loathe? Our own, I mean. I like the Paki guy more than some of the schmucks I see getting coffee in the morning, and I know for sure that I am not alone in that assessment.
Do the clerks in these stores see our eye-rolls at the more cantankerous American patrons as a sign of our weakness as a people, or as I perceive, that being a general sign of fairness and genuineness?
The jury is still out, and perhaps we may have some nasty surprises in store for us, but for the time being, I prefer to maintain my relationships with the “7-11″ guys. I do like them, and they seem to like me, and they know my kids. They interact with them and joke with them, and I can say with great conviction that it would break my heart if I ever had to kill them for any betrayal.
I wonder how they feel about American workers in their countries in the same circumstances? Nevertheless, we have been blessed so far in this season with a sign of hope for all people; A Winter Wonder Land, and a mere three weeks past the most miraculous season of all. Let there be hope, and let the good will among men continue, whatever the sign or whatever the reason. All I ask is that the righteous rage be directed collectively toward those who would ruin it. Let natural allies equally recognize the destructive force that would tear asunder such a beautiful serenity, and sacrifice such temporarily for the brutal defeat thereof.
In short, I pray that a simple distinction between Winter Wonder Land and Winter Wonderland is not indicative of that which separates the peoples with whom we deal, i.e. a triviality. I saw a common thread today in the Bush/Abbas video that made me write this. It was a commonality that I think we all share, and one which the rare snow has brought out in Iraqis. It was nothing short of a sign of hope, and one I sincerely pray will catch hold.
-Woody
