The question: Discuss the impact of blogs on society.
My answer:


Blogs have impacted people’s lives in many different ways for many different reasons. Although some people may never have heard of a blog and indeed not knowingly have been affected by them; others have had their lives completely changed or even taken away as a result of participating in the “blogosphere”. The blogosphere is what bloggers (blog authors) call their ever expanding cyber-community. Under this broad umbrella term there are hundreds, possibly thousands of smaller communities or “blogospheres”. Communities generally spawn around special-interest or topical blogs, and members are often highly affected by their blogs. Many of the best examples of blogs impacting on society come from the “Iraqi Blogosphere”, a series of Iraqi and non-Iraqi blogs based around the war in Iraq and its far-reaching effects.

There are now millions of blogs most of which haven’t impacted on society much. Mostly used as pass-times or a way of interacting with and finding friends- from all across the globe. These blogs tend to contain jokes and personal memories or tales, and can be equally as enjoyable and time-consuming to read as the more hard-hitting blogs. My younger sister Cassie is 12yrs old and has her own blog, as does my 20yr old girlfriend and some friends from university. Amongst “Internet veterans” (those with 6 years or more of internet experience) this kind of blogging has is quickly becoming a common pass-time (Pew Internet & American Life Project., 2005a). For these people there are limited impacts, mostly in the way of wisdom learnt from each others experiences, shared memories and the like. Others however have been impacted differently.

The Iraqi Blogosphere began as a group of Iraqi bloggers determined to have their versions of life under invasion and occupation heard (S. Pax., Riverbend., R. Jarrar., 2003), and rapidly evolved into a community of thousands all deeply concerned about the future of Iraq. Every member of the community participates for different reasons and has differing views and opinions about Iraq. Still there seems to be a strong bond even between those with competing opinions, a need to protect each other and a sense of pride and a respect for one another.

This sense of community developed through actions such as blog-based charity; an example of such organized by the Jarrar family in late 2003 had distributed a first batch of basic medical supplies to civilian victims of the “siege of Fallujah” (April 04) by early May 2004. A second batch worth in excess of $14,000 started to be distributed through-out Iraq in June 2005(R. Jarrar, 2005). All money came from bloggers and blog readers, and the whole distribution process did also. Opponents and supporters of the occupation alike agree on one thing in the Iraqi Blogosphere: attempting to make the best of every opportunity in regard to helping the Iraqi people. This common-ground binds the community together so when something goes wrong the whole community responds.

Khalid Jarrar an Iraqi friend of mine and a blogger, was wrongfully detained after a non-English speaking Iraqi Mukhabarat (secret police) man found him reading the comments section (in English) on his brothers’ blog “Raed in the Middle” (K. Jarrar, 2005a). His family did not know what had happened to him, until he managed to sneak an illegal phone call 4 days after being detained. He was released after 13days and found innocent of “terrorist activity” and “participating in terrorist websites”. Undoubtedly this impacted the Jarrar family in a many ways, like moving from Iraq to Jordan for fear of their own lives.

This event impacted on others too; the “Give us our Khalid back” campaign was supported by thousands from all around the world (Liminal et al. 2005), because Khalid was highly respected in the blogosphere. Those like Khalid who had their lives physically affected seem to inspire and unify the rest of their respective communities. Other actions can inspire the community as well and there are many examples of positive developments coming from the blogosphere.

Sunshine a 14 year old female blogger from Mosul is an asthmatic, but is allergic to the propellant used in common Ventolin inhalers. She had been using Pulmicort and Terbutaline (Bricanyl) twist-inhalers, but since they are no longer produced in the Middle-East she could no longer obtain them. Thus she had been increasingly having problems with her lungs as pollution gets worse with the continued war and electricity crisis in Iraq- diesel generators are being used, new cars are not driven and aircraft/helicopters patrolling the skies leave heavy residuals in the air (Sunshine, 2005a.). She posted all this on her blog and it caught my eye, because I knew I could help (L. Skinner, 2005a.).

I am an asthmatic and have access to prescriptions for asthma medication, so I organized to get the correct inhalers; by saying I was allergic to the propellant as well. I then sent them off to her via her aunt in Dubai (L. Skinner, 2005a.). The inhalers recently arrived to her grandparents in Baghdad, from where she will get them soon (Sunshine, 2005b). Not entirely legal, but definitely an important impact of blogging and a positive sign for blogs and their future role in society.

There are some who have had their personal or professional lives truly hurt by blogs and would like to see them censored. This is one of the big challenges facing bloggers currently, with bloggers in countries across the globe being arrested and told to stop writing. Mojtaba Saminejad an Irani has been sentenced to two years in prison for reporting about fellow Irani bloggers who had been arrested (Committee to Protect Bloggers, 2005a.). Another Irani blogger, Omid Sheikhan got one year in prison and 124 lashes for “morals related” charges, after being arrested and tortured last year as a result of his blog (Committee to Protect Bloggers, 2005b.). Despite this some of the worlds most (in)famous pieces of news have spawned from the blogosphere.

The Bill Clinton and Monika Lewinsky affair was first broken by Matt Drudge, on his link-based news blog called “The Drudge Report” (BBC world, 1998.). Some reporting from New Orleans after hurricane Katrina was crude, unprofessional or completely fabricated. Stories about cannibalism, rape and murder committed by poor black people in the Superdome which spread through the main-stream were contested and later proved incorrect by bloggers (M. Fumento, 2005.). The US Food and Drug Agency seized 400,000 supplies of NATO military food rations for donated to Katrina victims and had them incinerated. This was pushed into public light by determined bloggers (L. Skinner, 2005b). Even the US congress has not avoided the influence of demanding and determined bloggers.

Motions in US congress demanding George Bush answer questions about his decision to invade Iraq have come-to pass as result of a blog-based campaign. The campaign centered on the “Downing Street Memo”, the memo of a meeting between a top British intelligence official and Tony Blair months before September 11, in which they clearly discussed Bush’s intention to invade Iraq (Congressman J. Conyers, 2005). Congressman John Conyers (a blogger), after reading the memo posted in its entirety on many blogs began his search for the truth. He found the memo was real and the campaign evolved from there. Despite these obvious and far-reaching effects, blogs have yet to fully impact on the whole of society, and face many obstacles before they can do so.

Who has not been impacted by blogs? Though in one way or another almost everyone has, the majority of the world is still unaware of their existence. Blogs have grown exponentially in size since the last in-depth survey of how many and who they are, but blogs are still largely undiscovered among the common internet user. Internet “veterans”- those who have been connected for 6 years or more accounted for more than 80% of bloggers and blog readers in January 2005(Pew Internet & American Life Project., 2005b). Blog censorship has recently become an issue, though I can find no credible sources to suggest any new censorship laws are being drawn up specifically to encompass blogs.

Internet literacy and availability of reliable internet services have limited many bloggers in the past, and totally prevent whole impoverished populations from participating in the blogosphere (Pew Internet & American Life Project., 2005b). Participating in any blogosphere is very much a time consuming activity, and some just do not have the time to do so. For those with eye-sight problems, or who just can’t stare at a computer screen for long periods of time, blogging is also impractical. Blogs also face other problems.

While the Iraq War still rages, Iraqi bloggers will always be outnumbered drastically by their readers, but what about in 10 years- will the interest remain high? “Trolls”, or groups who post derogatory comments on other peoples blogs, can sometimes totally annihilate a blog; simply by damaging the author’s enthusiasm to write. This could be one reason bloggers feel the need to protect each other. Still the future looks positive for the development of the blogosphere as a whole.

Business and advertising companies only began to awaken to the possibilities of using blogs in the last year- their future looks like it could go anywhere (Blog Business World, 2004.). The world’s major media companies also began paying attention to bloggers on a much more regular basis this year, with bloggers like Khalid Jarrar being interviewed for their stories. Another blogger Salam Pax the “Baghdad Blogger” received a fort-nightly column with “The Guardian” in the UK (Salam Pax, 2004.).

Blogs have in many direct and indirect ways had an impact on society. It’s true to say that many in society are totally unaware of blogs and the majority is still yet to (knowingly) be affected by the blogosphere, though this looks to change. Some in society have definitely been affected more than others; such is the case for Iraqi Bloggers and their non-Iraqi counterparts in the Iraqi Blogosphere. Some individual bloggers have even had their lives taken from them or physically endangered as a result of participating in the blogosphere. Others like Moslawi girl Sunshine have had their lives changed for the positive. Myself, I feel I can finally be heard and can help people in Iraq- whatever the challenges may be.



--- Bibliography

n.a. (1998, January 25). The Clinton Scandal. BBC World, Retrieved October 18 2005 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/clinton_scandal/50031.stm


Blog Business World. (2004, February 1). Blog entry posted to http://blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com/ 2004_02_01_blogbusinessworld_archive.html


Committee to Protect Bloggers. (2005a, January 17). Blog entry posted to http://committeetoprotectbloggers.civiblog.org/blog/_archives/2005/1/16/977352.html

Committee to Protect Bloggers. (2005b, October 22). Blog entry posted to http://committeetoprotectbloggers.civiblog.org/blog/_archives/2005/10/22/1316438.html


Conyers, J. Congressman. (2005, January) Blog entry posted to http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000177.htm


Fumento, M. (2005, September 30). Blog entry posted to http://backwoodznews.blogspot.com/2005/10/ fw-new-on-tcs-september-30-2005.html


Jarrar, K. (2005, July 30). Blog entry posted to http://secretsinbaghdad.blogspot.com/2005/07/i-found-myself.html


Jarrar, R. (2005, March 14). Blog entry posted to http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/2005_04_14_raedinthemiddle_archive.html


Liminal et al. (2005, July 17). Blog entries posted to http://giveusourkhalidback.blogspot.com/


Jarrar, R., Riverbend., Salam Pax. (2003) blog entries posted to http://dear_raed.blogspot.com/







Pew Internet & American Life Project., (2004, February 29). Internet Journal article retrieved October 15, 2005 from http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/113/report_display.asp


Pew Internet & American Life Project., (2005a, February 1). Internet Journal retrieved October 15, 2005 from http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/144/report_display.asp


Salam Pax. (2004). The Baghdad Blogger. The Guardian. Retrieved on October 15, 2005 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/blogger/0,13814,1018987,00.html


Skinner, L. (2005a, August 21). Blog entry posted to http://olivebranchoptimism.blogspot.com/2005/08/blogs-effecting-society-ongoing.html


Skinner, L. (2005b, September 20) Blog entry posted to http://olivebranchoptimism.blogspot.com/2005/09/millions-of-dollars-worth-of-aid-for.html


Sunshine (2005a, August 19). Blog entry posted to http://livesstrong.blogspot.com/2005/08/my-asthma-pollution.html


(Sunshine, 2005b). Personal correspondence.


----------------


Hope you enjoyed the read,
hope the argument made sense.

Hope you have something to say-
and I hope you say it in the discussion forum!

My new Discussion Forum can be found at http://troutish.proboards58.com/. The topic of conversation will be my Iraq Blogosphere Research Questions, and anything Past, Present or Future in Iraq.

There is also a section to ask me questions about me, or questions about Iraq- which I will attempt to answer both on the message board and publicly on the blog.

I will add a section about Australia soon, when I have time to, this way we can exchange cultural information across the globe, which is important and definately enjoyable.

Must go, PLEASE DO NOT FORGET ABOUT MY RESEARCH QUESTIONS. IF YOU ARE A BLOGGER, PARTICULARLY ONE IN THE IRAQI BLOGOSPHERE, PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

[olivebranch]'s Blog Research Questions:
please e-mail answers to: lukey@iinet.net.au

Blog name:
Blog Address:
Blog Alias:
E-mail Address:

Q1)
What drives you to post on your blog, and what do you feel afterwards?


Q2)
Have you become more knowledgeable as a result of participating in the blogosphere?
- in what ways?


Q3)
What has changed in your life as a result of participating in the blogosphere?


Q4)
What emotions do you associate with reading blogs?


Q5)
What emotions do you associate with writing blogs?


Q6)
What emotions do you associate with other bloggers?


Q7)
Has participating in the blogosphere improved your quality of life?


Q8)
Have you found true friends in the blogosphere?


Q9)
How did these people become your friends, and why is their friendship important to you?


Q10)
What other questions should have been included in this survey, or would you like to add any other relevant or unrelevant comments?

--- If you haven't seen the story about the inhalers I sent to Sunshine go

HERE
then
HERE
then HERE

then you will be very very happy to know that a couple of weeks ago they arrived to her grandparents in Baghdad. I think I have said it in a post before- though I cant find the post.

I have been tagged to do an assignment by Hassan from "An Average Iraqi". I have give answers to the below things, then I get to tag 7 people =-)

Seven things I plan to do:
1- Finish my university studies
2- Visit Iraq
3- Love Gee 4 eva :)
4- Learn Arabic
5- Learn Spanish
6- Eat lunch
7- Change the world

Seven things I can do:
1- Sit for hours on the Internet without actually having something to do. (thanks Najma, it applies for me & Gee too)
2- Get to work at 1am in the morning on a Saturday.
3- Grow a wicked veggie garden.
4- Make friends in Iraq.
5- Put up with Gee-oh in a bad mood-- love you bub!.
6- Put up with CaZzA when she is whinging!
7- Do today's work the day after tomorrow (Thanks again Najma, this applies to me & CaZzA too!)

Seven things I can't do:
1- Let rascist comments pass undebated.
2- Please everyone, all the time.
3- Earn enough money to the things I want, and have still have enough life left to do them:P
4- Go more than a few days without seeing Gee .
5- Write with people reading over my shoulder.
6- Eat take-away without feeling sick.
7- Continue this post without eating.
[mmm food]

Seven things I say most often:
1- But Gee
2- Iraq.
3- Blog.
4- Hungryyyyyyy.
5- Billy?
6- Uni.
7- Sunshine, Mama, Najma- blog blog blog blog blog blog bloggedy blog blog.

Seven people I want to pass this tag to:
1- Gee
2- CaZzA
3- Khalid
4- Omar
5- Emigre
6- Sanyora
7- You!

---------- SEE BELOW THIS POST FOR UPDATE ----------

- This blog will take a turn I think, from now.

I have begun my research into the effects of blogging on society in general, which is to be used for many university assignments in the future. I do not know where it will lead me, but I know it will probably take much of the time and space devoted to this blog from my life.

This does not mean the blog will be any less active, or deal any less with the issues that concern me, rather it means I will delve deeper into the blogosphere, particularly the Iraqi blogosphere to find out who the bloggers really are, and why we really write.

I intend to start with a few simple questions, from which my research will begin.

The first questions will be:


[olivebranch]'s Blog Research Questions:
please e-mail answers to: lukey@iinet.net.au

Blog name:
Blog Address:
Blog Alias:
E-mail Address:

Q1)
What drives you to post on your blog, and what do you feel afterwards?


Q2)
Have you become more knowledgeable as a result of participating in the blogosphere?
- in what ways?


Q3)
What has changed in your life as a result of participating in the blogosphere?


Q4)
What emotions do you associate with reading blogs?


Q5)
What emotions do you associate with writing blogs?


Q6)
What emotions do you associate with other bloggers?


Q7)
Has participating in the blogosphere improved your quality of life?


Q8)
Have you found true friends in the blogosphere?


Q9)
How did these people become your friends, and why is their friendship important to you?


Q10)
What other questions should have been included in this survey, or would you like to add any other relevant or unrelevant comments?



[UPDATEd BELOW THIS LINE- 1:20pm Thursday October 20]

People had some questions to ask when I posted these questions, so here are my answers to emigre, hopefully they will answer some of your questions too

I am studying a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Information. Major in Print Journalism(I want to be a freelance some day when I am old =-)), Minor in creative writing.

and I have an assignment for a "research methods" class,
and I wanted to do research into the Iraqi Blogosphere, so I sat down and asked myself a few questions.


I said-

How can I relate this question to the Iraqi blogosphere? - the question says - pick a technological development in field of media,comm,information, discuss its impact on society.

my brain instantly chose blogs as my choice, and I have since found lots of ways to do the assignment. But that assignment is due tommorow, and I do not have to do any new research for it- because I already know why and how and who it has impacted, and why and how and who it hasn't.

but writing that assignment inspired me. Speaking with Khalid and Sunshine and Najma on a regular basis did too.
I find the Iraqi women and people to be of great wisdom and often great intellect- and it captivates me.

I will do a run down of roughly how I remember each question being formed, or why they were important questions to me anyway...

Q1)What drives you to post on your blog, and what do you feel afterwards?
- I think blogging is done for many different reasons, but I think some common factors will arise, the desire to make a difference, the desire to be heard, the drive for the truth and the search for friendship
[These are almost my answers to the questions aswell- they were what I knew before I formed the questions]

Q2)Have you become more knowledgeable as a result of participating in the blogosphere?
- in what ways?

My opinions on the Iraq invasion changed greatly by reading blogs like Iraq The Model, Sunshine's & Mama's blogs. Originally I did not think it possible that Iraqi's would want USA to invade, but many did. I was against the whole thing- but mostly because I know how crooked the US, AUS and BRITISH gov'ts are, being an Aussie. I now think that the invasion could have had positive outcomes, and still can- but the likelihood of it happening changed day by day. - sometimes I don't know what I believe anymore.

Q3)What has changed in your life as a result of participating in the blogosphere?

This one is aimed at people like Sunshine, The Jarrar Family and others who have had charitable acts or things they physically required - like the Asthma inhalers I sent to Sunshine, or the 2 lots of Medical Aid the Jarrar's organized through their blogs.

This is a practical application of blogs, that in the past was never even possible. A stranger could not pop-up and say "I can get those inhalers, they are perscription, but I am an asthmatic and used to be on them!" - then send them across the globe from Perth to Mosul, in the past.

These are the things I am searching for...

Q4) What emotions do you associate with reading blogs?

Just want to see if others are similar to me------ Anger, Frustration, Sadness, Depression, Optimism, Happiness and Hope.

Q5) What emotions do you associate with writing blogs?


kinds of like the above, only more often I write when I am : Angry, Frustrated, Happy, Hopeful, Optimistic, Inspired, Relieved and Thankfull.

<>Q6)What emotions do you associate with other bloggers?

- I associate love, fear, regret and despair with other bloggers- and I think this question is important to see just how deep the connections between bloggers are. I truely do feel fear for many of my friends, and indeed love for a few. Despair is not uncommon as you would know in the Iraqi Blogosphere- and the regret is something I feel when I am unable to help...
<>Q7)Has participating in the blogosphere improved your quality of life?

Well, it has myn, and it certainly has for Sunshine & Mama. Both now have friends to turn to in an otherwise extremely isolated situation... My life- I no longer feel like I can't make a difference. I make a difference everyday on a small scale, and I have potentially saved Sunshine's life.


Q8)Have you found true friends in the blogosphere?

Important questions. Can we find true friends in the blogosphere? Can it be used as a way to unite people around the world? How strong can these friendships truely be? Can we all overcome social boundries and ethnic/cultural difference?

I hope we can. It could change the world.

Q9)How did these people become your friends, and why is their friendship important to you?

Sunshine is my friend, and thats kind of obvious. Najma I just enjoyed reading, Khalid I spoke to on msn for a long time.

They are all important to me, because they provide me inspiration, wisdom and joy. They allow me to think I can make a difference, and give me a lot of self-satisfaction. In effect they are important to me, because they let me be important to them.

Q10) What other questions should have been included in this survey, or would you like to add any other relevant or unrelevant comments?

- I don't know where I am headed with this research, and I am hoping you will all show me with your answers and questions....

The research is almost purely for advancing my own knowledge and my own ability to make decisions about what I believe in, what I can say in arguments and know I am correct... I do not like to speculate anymore, especially when trying to change the world for the better.

I get people argue with me about things often, and sometimes I can not make up my own mind.

This is my search for answers which will allow me to form my own opinions, and question others better.

--- hope this helps you understand me :)
[olivebranch]

Luke(y)

3rd place Winner of the Lettre Ulysses Award for the Art of Reportage 2005

The third prize of 20,000 Euro went to:

* Riverbend (Iraq): Baghdad Burning. Girl Blog from Iraq, The Feminist Press at the City University of New York, New York, 2005 & Marion Boyars Publishers, London, 2005. Riverbend, a young Iraqi woman, writes an Internet diary, using a pseudonym. Her commanding gift for observation, her intelligence and her extraordinary language skills make her account of the life of a normal Iraqi family, which has also been published in book form as Baghdad Burning, one of the most uniquely critical documents of life in this abused country under the conditions of the war and the US military occupation.


I have said it once, and I will say it again. This girl is brilliant.

Go check her blog out. It is called "Baghdad Burning".

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

Lets assume the constitution has passed. (if it hadn't we would know by now, trust me- the democratic process is not so democratic and the vote counts never take more than 2 days to know the turnout).

As I said before though, the fact that it passed does not mean that those who voted Yes would keep this as their permanent constitution. Rather it means they still have hope and will not give up- will not leave things how they are now, because in the future when times are safer, then they can challenge the laws. Right now it would just get them shot.

Well, Iraq's majority Sunni provinces, that is those with Sunni majorities- have a big opportunity.

They need to take to the street, each person, each household- with to declare their intention to govern and care for themselves now and in the future.

Massive actions.

Start small, get together a group of men, women, children and grandparents. Take to the street and start cleaning up the mess. Find the local market or hospital or doctors surgery that has been damaged or looted, and fix it.

Re-start your lives, and do it in the street. Do it in the face of those who would kill you. Make them the ones who are scared.

Get together and grow your different foods, exchange them across the road to your neighbours so you are not all missing out on quality food. Get together and build the facilities you require, with or without the govenments help and permission.

Use your mosques to plan activities for positive actions towards reconstruction. Start with the little things, maybe it is fixing wholes in water pipelines. Maybe it is getting all the towns electricians to go around voluntarily fixing power-lines. Maybe it is baking food for the poverty striken, or re-building small houses that have been destroyed over the years.

Or maybe you just need to sweep your street, or clean up the local school and patch up the holes in roofs, repaint the insides and put in some new swing sets or white-boards and computers for the children.

Then get the community volunteers to protect these places of importance.

Look after the children, rebuild their schools, keep them clean and keep them safe! There must be many women in Mosul who know how to use a gun, but are still un able to work or to leave their homes and would rather protect their children.

Set up your own womans armed security group to defend the schools. Everyone knows that nothing is more dangerous than being between a mother and her child.


---- Not only do these communities have an opportunity to rebuild and recreate their personalities credibly, they have also cast off the "Baath" label.

The Sunni are no longer the Baath even in the eyes of the world media! (they never really were, its just because the Tikriti were mostly sunni.. )

which means they can now be accepted by the rest of the world as a legitimate people. They are now the minority group being picked on that everyone wants to save. It is no longer "PUNISH THE BAATHSTED'S" - heh, a silly pun :) now its "save the sunni!"

the sunni have been given a blessed period of time to get themselves geared up to win the next election despite them being a minority group. Let's face it, in Iraq- any group that is not committed to Violent Resistance, or Islamic Revolution, or supporting the US troops, and who is not a Kurd- can win the next election.

Not many really want to vote for Iran, err I mean SCIRI or Da'wa.

And the Shia certainly aren't going to vote an ex-Baath Party leader, or a Kurdish Independance activist, or a Green-Zone backed leader in, and that only really would leave them with Al-Sadr's group.

And we all know that there are plenty who support him.

The problem is, that those who don't support him, or who have had to suffer the lovely priveledge of meeting one of his thugs, can only vote for SCIRI & Da'wa.

So what we need, is a Sunni who is opposed to Al-Sadr's henchmen, but willing to deal with him , willing to talk to SCIRI & Da'wa, against the formation of an "Islamic Theocracy", but Pro-Islamic religion, Pro Kurdish Autonomy, with limited consessions to them, (not including governance over Nineveh or Kirkuk, who should decide via participation how their provinces should be governed.) and who demands the US provide a clear-cut list of "STEPS REQUIRED TO BE FINISHED BEFORE PULLOUT" that can be debated over and moved towards, to allow the Iraqi's to gain control over when foreign forces will leave their country- without needing to go up in arms.

Just come up with a party like that, and a clever, attractive and respectable leader- and you will win more power in this election than any other individual party.

More to be added later, so don't forget to come back for updates

(currently reading more iraqi blogs on said referendum & the future)




[olivebranch] out

OK. so possibly the biggest political development since the fall of the Berlin Wall passes almost un-noticed in the eyes of most of Australia.

I have been watching for news coverage, for the 1/2 hour updates on who is winning the race Yes or No. This is nothing like the coverage they get for the American Election, when one dickhead compete's with another dickhead to see who can lead all the other dickheads in screwing over the American people for the next 3 years- they tell us every 15 minutes what the vote count is.

When Iraq draws up the constitution which will pave the way for electing a new bunch of dickheads to represent them, and to make more dumbass decisions until the people get sick of it and rise-up to take power with a strong leader and a strong idea- nothing is said.

Well, thats a lie. There is 1 picture and a small column buried in the depths of the Sunday Times on page 40, along side the story of some idiot calling "saddam's trial illegal".

Could they make Iraq seem any less worthy of our attention?

Could they make Iraqi's appear any stupider?

This is a race of highly educated, able and opinionated people. Iraq has academics, and it has strong womens movements and the desire to decide its own future.

Not only do they neglect to show the true nature of the importance of this event, or the true nature of Iraqi's and what this means to them, but they out-right-lie.

Here is a quote from the article "Voters brave attacks", By Mariam Karouny and Hiba Moussa page 40 of the 16 October edition of the "Sunday Times"
"in Mosul, Iraq's third largest city an an area of strong insurgent activity, attendance was scarce and threatening leaflets were distributed urging people to keep away."

hmm, wasn't Mosul listed as one of the places with "HIGH" attendance (over 66%?)

I believe so.

also, didn't my friends Najma, Hnk, Sunshine, Mama and their respective family members all see HUGE lines at voting centre's, despite their being two closed down through-out the day?

Did I also not hear them say there were busses crammed with 3 people on every 2 seats that shuttled people to and from the voting centres?

Maybe these actual Moslawi's don't know what they are talking about, or were confusing the Moslawi voters with the Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi National Guard forces. Because civilian clothes and families look so much like men with big threatening guns.

Or maybe they didn't vote at all and are making it all up?

Or maybe, just maybe the Sunday Times is a BIASED piece of SHIT that I wouldn't feed to my worm farm, for risk of turning my vegetables into racist, god-fearing white supremacists.

*enough of my rant about the evil newspapers of Australia, back to the actual important discussion about the Constitution, well - about the referendum anyway... And what is the next step.

wait, one last time "THE SUNDAY TIMES IS A PIECE OF SHIT NEWSPAPER THAT PRODUCES BIASED AND INCORRECT NEWS ITEMS, AND HIDES THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS STORIES OF THE DAY SOMEWHERE AROUND PAGE 40, WHILE PUTTING THE STORY OF A WOMAN HAVING A CHILD ON THE FRONT PAGE."

There, take that and start your defamation law suite, you won't get sh*t out of me- because I have no money to give you.

You can take my posessions, but you will never take my pride!

P.S, the sunday times is a pile of extremely poor quality though effective propaganda, and should be burnt on sight. If you see someone reading the sunday times, SET IT ON FIRE!!!!!

There is too much to say on this, so expect a long and possibly repetitive post,

but I am sure you will enjoy it.



Firstly- enjoy this.



Iraq's Decision

A fire burns in my belly,
with a whole lot of tales to tell.

This was a day to remember,
too never forget.

This was a turning point,
that we wont regret.

By [olivebranch] 16/10/05 in hope for Iraqi's after their referendum.
- what ever the turn out, the inspirational affect of voting and coming together shown today, will change Iraq in a permanent way. After millions come out today, do you think the terrorists could not be scared tommorow?

I tell you right now, they will be.

I am.

Iraqi's have decided their fate is in their hands, one way or another.
A yes vote is the same as a no vote in one way----

It is still a vote.

And any vote placed, is a vote that says I WILL BE HEARD.
I WILL NOT LAY DOWN AND LET YOU MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS FOR ME.

though some may not vote for the same reason, everyone who votes has decided that Iraq must be for Iraqi's.

Iraq's future must be decided by those Iraqi's who wish to make a difference.

This means that people like Sunshine(who voted in spirit), Najma(who voted in spirit), HNK(who voted in spirit), Mama(who voted), Riverbend (who probably voted), Faiza (who voted in spirit), Khalid (who voted in spirit), Raed (who voted in spirit), Hassan (who voted), Omar (who voted), aNaRki13 (who voted in spirit), Truth Teller (who voted), Free Writer(who probably voted), Salam Pax (who may not have voted?), and - EVERY OTHER IRAQI BLOGGER

will be heard in Iraqs' future.

Today they have come out to say that, to let the world know that it is not just me and those like me who will fight for Iraq's future no-matter-what they too are in this struggle. They have had enough oppression, they have enough intelligence, enough resources and strength. They have enough experience to win a war of self-defence, they have enough strength to rebuild their own country. They have their own opinions, their own beliefs and their own way of doing things.

Iraqi's today turned out in HUGE amounts to vote. - Omar posts on his blog this for a general idea.

High= more than 66%
Moderate= 33% - 66%
Low= less than 33%

Duhok: moderate.
Erbil: moderate.
Sulaymania: high.
Mosul: high.
Kirkuk: high.
Diyala: high.
Anbar: unknown.
Baghdad: high.
Babil: high.
Kerbala: high.
Wasit: moderate.
Salahiddin: high.
Al-Muthana: moderate.
Al-Qadisiya: low.
Najaf: high.
Thi Qar: moderate.
Maysan: moderate.
Basra: moderate.


- In short,

Voting turn out in Iraq, is much higher than in the USA.
Iraqi's care more about making their own future than American's or Australians do.

Indeed, many people I know for no-reason at all did not vote in the last election.

why? not because they had a political stance against voting, or any other reason other than too them, it makes no difference, they do not care as long as they can continue to 'cruise along'.

Well Iraqi's have said today,

to the terrorists, to the USA, to me & you and to each other

WE WILL DECIDE OUR OWN FUTURE. WE ARE AND WILL BE IRAQI'S.

- go read the stories of each blogger I mentioned above. If they have not yet posted about the election, they probably haven't had enough electricity and you should return once a day until they have.

Actually posted after the above post, but I don't want it read first, since it may be provoking and some of it fuelled by anger (so sometimes not 100% rational- since I am only human)

To Be Added soon (so come back and read it tonight/tommorow!)

(remember to post comments on my previous posts etc, because I get sad when no one comments on my post - it means it was a crap/boring/not inciting/not exciting post!

Sorry to confuse anyone, Khalid has not been detained again-

the story posted yetsterday was just a new edition of the story I wrote for a university assignment about what happened to Khalid.

My granddad's health is much better than before, though he keeps having to struggle through new difficulties- he had his lung collapse on him last week.

thank you for your prayers Janine- and I am very glad that you care.
It means so much to have friends I don't even know- who care enough about other humans to feel real compassion and want to help.

Compassion is too few and too far between in this world, and it is our job as writers to bring it back. It is our jobs as compassionate human beings who care enough to read the stories of Iraqi's as they evolve.

It is our job to wake up the complacents, who don't really care because it didn't hurt them, and remind them that one day they may need help. How would they feel if in their times of need all they could find were answers of "Well just give up then"
or "there is nothing we can do" or "it's your fault anyway" so on and so forth like some people write on Iraqi blogs and this one at times.

No we need to keep our compassion as a weapon and our anger as a fuel.

Respect each other, pray(to whomever you wish), care and never ever give up..

One Week & Four Days
(By [olivebranch])
Edited Version Number 1

Lucas James is 19 years old and lives in a mountainous region south of Perth. Lucas is 'different' from his peers and is neither popular nor unpopular. His friends hold him close and he does the same. Recently he has formed friendships with people in Iraq, friends dear to his heart. These friends are in constant danger, though he needs them as much as they need him.

Lucas finds out from his mother that his Grandfather will become the third person in Western Australia to receive a lung transplant tomorrow (Monday, 10th July).

Lucas hasn’t seen Granddad for 10 years so the news means little.

Still, he can’t prevent thoughts.

Will he die mid-operation?
Could this re-unite my estranged family?
What if he dies after, wouldn’t it be a waste?

The moral dilemma hits.
Doesn’t someone else deserve this lung more?

Lucas believes in making the most of opportunities, and a lung is an opportunity.
Surely, someone can use this lung better.


Granddad only has a few years left at best!

Lucas is right; Granddad has traveled and enjoyed his life. Someone on the list can use this lung better. Still some good must come out of it all.

The days pass quickly; Lucas is busy enrolling for University. Thursday evening, shortly before 5pm Lucas’s mother arrives home.

He rushes out to greet her, knowing Granddad has had an infected lung. Lucas notes the distress and embraces her, trying to comfort her with his whole heart.

Shit. Fuck.

It’s not granddad, it’s mum. She won’t have closure if granddad dies, there is too many issues and she had just started to get to know him again…

Do you understand?

She manages a few words "He looks awful, tubes are everywhere.." and buries her head into his chest. Lucas knows how to help. With a strong coffee, dinner, and the family dog Lucas tucks his mum into bed.

Time to blog about this I think.

But before he can Lucas notices an e-mail from Najma, his closest friend in Iraq.

'Khalid Jarrar =(=(=(=(‘

Lucas opens it anxiously. Khalid's brother Raed says “Khalid detained in Mukhabarat jails, (Iraqi Secret Police) since Monday, July 10th.”

Lucas opens Raed's blog to read the story.

Ok. Before you read this, you have to understand. I envy Khalid’s faith. His is gentle, and cool despite the unspeakable situations evolving around him. He believes everything will work itself out- because god wills it to.

Khalid is no fanatic. He respects me, and he knows I am not a Muslim, nor religious.

Lucas screams.

“How can they FUCKING abduct KHALID?”
“ARE THEY FUCKING STUPID? Khalid is no threat!” he screams to no one at all.

Lucas at first held back the tears- but could hold on no longer.

Damn it, how dumb can they be!

What can he have done? Why was his house broken into 2 nights ago? Why did they take a hard-drive from the computer? Was it related? Is it because he blogs?

What the fuck? Who is responsible? What do I do?

Who can I call?

Lucas and Khalid have been friends for months, and he fears deeply for his Iraqi friend.

The glee he felt when his Iraqi friends say “Thank you, you made me smile”…
“You have made a difference, believe me.” –all that gave way and meant nothing to Lucas right now.

You can’t understand, unless you’ve tried it yourself. Go on. Try help someone in a place like Iraq without having to go through some dodgy corporation.

Try swimming against the stream and not giving in. Try be an optimist when others see doom and gloom. Try accepting gloom- then searching for the right way out.

Try knowing the US is doomed to fail in Iraq- but knowing they can’t pull out now even if you are still against them being there at all.


Will I ever hear from Khalid again? I wonder…

Scared, Lucas writes a series of emails assuring Khalid is an innocent victim, was wrongfully detained, probably for something ridiculous. A phone call mentioned on Raed’s website came illegally today, Thursday 14th of July... Four days Khalid had been held without outside contact.

Things are really looking up this week
Granddad nearly dies three times, and Khalid's chances aren’t looking good
What can I do? How do I help?

Lucas knows he can’t do anything for Granddad. There are people around him, at least doctors and family will keep Granddad alive.

Khalid must not be lost or forgotten!

Lucas is confused by his desire to help Khalid, and can’t imagine how to help a friend many thousands of kilometers away.

Only one notion stirs in his mind…

God.

Why God? Why Allah?

Why can’t it be me? Why can’t I help? Oh god, just help Khalid.
I don’t care who you are, just help Khalid...

Lucas has no religion, though he believes in some things unexplained in this world. His respect for friends’ religious beliefs had at a few good and bad times influenced him to pray.

Praying is a way of reaching out to what/whoever is willing to listen as he sees it.

Khalid can feel these prayers. I know.
I can sense it. He still has hope and so do I.

Lucas knows Khalid's hopes and thoughts would be with Allah, Khalid's god.
Lucas prays for Khalid.

“Please God, Allah, people of the world; help Khalid through this dark moment.”

Lucas emails thoughts and prayers to Khalid’s family and friends. He knows they pray for Khalid too; it is what Khalid would do.

To the omniscient eye, the response is incredible. Thousands sign petitions for Khalid’s immediate trial. Men and women cry out for Khalid. Phone calls, blogs, emails and articles bounce around the globe.

A week passes, and come Thursday morning Granddad is no better. Lucas’s optimism begins to drift.

Granddad spent the last 7 days on life-support, needing machines to breathe for him.
Someone else really should have got this lung, I doubt granddad will ever leave the house again.

Sadness fills his entire house and the entire family.

Fear for his friend has got Lucas on the edge. All this negativity and feelings of uselessness have begun to overcome him, and all he wants to do is hide.

When will Khalid be on trial or freed? Surely we should know by now?

Though in his depression Lucas knows, he must not give up. Khalid would not allow it, he will never leave Lucas's mind.

He is alive.
But he is so sad…
Those poor people…

If only Lucas knew how right he really was.

Khalid was detained 10 days ago- the same day as Granddad’s operation …That’s nearly two weeks, and still no good news on either!

Lucas's mother arrives home from visiting Granddad. This time no tremor is in her lip, she looks proud. Lucas feels happy knowing there is light in the dark.

"Granddad walked 150m today, WITHOUT OXYGEN!" his mum exclaimed happily.
“You know, Granddad has been on oxygen for 3 years and hadn’t walked once without it the whole time?”

It is barely light outside the next morning as Lucas awakens to his mother and aunts rushing about the house.

Something’s wrong. What’s happened?

Listening intently, Lucas learns Granddad's infection is in resurgence, and taking over his body. His weight is 14kg below what it should be, and he is unable to consume solids.

For the first time Lucas genuinely cares about the potential loss of his Grandfather's life, letting Khalid slip his mind.

What if my Granddad dies? I should have gone to see him...


Loosing his nerve, his thoughts betray his friend.

Why did I waste my time on Khalid, how can I help him, HE’S IN BLOODY IRAQ!

His mother and aunts leave and Lucas tries to go back to sleep; he was defeated.

I don’t want to see Granddad, I can’t. Things aren’t right.
He better not die.
Ahh fuck.
Help me?

Granddad shouldn’t have that lung, he wouldn't be dying, and someone younger, fitter person could be healthy!

Lucas betrays his morals; he doesn’t put family first.

That evening, sad and tired his mother walks in "Granddad is stable, he is surviving," the words say just enough.

"Have you heard from Khalid?" the words bring Lucas a rush of hope. He senses change.

Rushing to check his email, Lucas forgets Granddad.

I wonder…

Najma, A --Khalid is free!—

Lucas runs to re-assure his mother, words already dancing from his mouth "Granddad will be okay, because Khalid has been released! The tides are changing again!"

It makes sense to them.

Khalid will tell his story later, and Lucas will follow it up. Optimism is in the air as he Lucas writes poetry for his Grandfather.

He knows that faith, prayers and the will of Khalid's family and friends has been answered. Lucas feels in a way religious, for the first time in this life.

One thing left to do

His Iraqi friends are close to God, Allah as they call him. Lucas will ask them for help. He sends an e-mail and posts on his blog:

“I am praying for my Granddad, he is nearing his death tonight,
Thank you all for helping, in Khalid's Fight.
I ask you please, please pray that my Granddad survives the night.'

And that is that.

Mixed emotions took over my mind when I heard the news.

Kuta hit again.

Jimbaran Bay, the restuarant I had taken Gee-oh for a romantic dinner at only March.... little over 6 months ago.

Not to mention, that a very close family friend had her fiance die in the first bomb, and that my mothers boyfriend had been eating at that very same restaurant only 2 days before.

What ever the people who did this thought- Islamist Extremists like Jemaah Islamiyah-, other Anti-West preachers who may not have any religious background.

They did not get their message across, and unless their aim was to bring great sadness upon other human beings- they failed.

I am angry. I am sad. I want my opinion heard. I want my government to do something about it.

I want the government to stand up to the indonesian government, and demand they declare Jemaah Islamiyah outlawed. They should then make gather information and find what they really are involved in, who they encompasse - and how largely they are supported.

The only way to land a fish, is to make sure no bigger fish follows it to the boat.

here is some poetry I wrote for victims of both Bali Bomb rounds 1 & 2




Help?


I write a message in hope to help.
But there’s little I could say,
to deal with what you were dealt..

I hope the pain does soon subside...
That you again can hold a smile, and feel truly good inside...

Remember the times he made you smile, and the pain may pass.
If only for a little while.

The times together and apart you cried.
Love filled tears of joy, even though he died.

The memory remains and if you hold it true.
Its very greatness will always bring a smile to you.

So I hope this helps, to help you see,
that though life was lost, he still lives through thee.

I'm sorry if, this brings back bad things.
But remember, 'in your heart, its love that rings.

Written For Tammie Linfoot
by Luke(y) Skinner - 11/10/03 - I hope it helps... *hugZ*
(Her Boyfriend was a Bali Bomb round 1 Victim)


Round 2

I couldn't believe the first time,
though a friend of mine was there.

I can't believe a second time...
No friend of mine was there.

Now why don't people understand,
and how the hell is life haram?

Why do people seem not to care,
and why have bombs been over there?

Too many questions, with no time to ask.
Too many deaths, and now fear of the past.

I feel for those victims,
and you should see.
These tears come from inside,
for you- from me.

Dedicated to the victims of Bali Bomb round 2 -
written by Luke(y) Skinner 9/10/05


thanks for reading- please leave comments... I like them and it helps me write more.
If you have a blog- leave me the address, I'm looking for the next Bloggers Blog of Blogs *probably Hassan*, then *probably Truth-About-Iraqi's*

then *probably Omar (Iraq The Model)*

Guess what everyone!

I heard great news from Sunshine that the inhalers made it to her grandparents in Baghdad!

Now that means they are just a few hours drive away, rather then thousands of kilometres. Thank you all for saying prayers, thank you all for making them come true- and thank god/allah/whoever too :)

and a big thanks to my darling girlfriend Gee-oh for encouraging and supporting me as I went through the struggles of talking to "centrelink" - to organise a "public health care card" - which allows students like me to go to the doctors for repeat-illness cases (ie asthma) at no cost, and buy perscription medications at a small percentage of the cost.

I am NOT clearly outlining a series of immoral and illegal acts, even though I am not sure what I did is quite legal.

I then organised a doctors appointment and found I needed many excuse for why I didn't want any drug other than Terbutaline and Pulmicort inhalers- since they are an old form of therapy and mostly only used for children.

Since Sunshine is allergic to the others, I thought I better make sure I get the right ones.

So I convinced the doctor I needed those inhalers because I find that the other kinds irritate my throat- a partial truth.

I didn't need the inhalers, but the others did irritate my throat.

anyway, I left the doctors surgery with my perscription, went to the chemist and noticed he had not filled out the Pulmicort perscription properly.

So I waited the weekend with only one of two inhalers, until the monday. I went to see the doctor again monday and picked up the other perscription, then to the dentist and off to the post office :)

the inhalers cost me a total of AU$15 to send, + $9 for the inhalers themselves.

a little bit of dedication, a little bit of work and a little bit of inspiration goes a long way.

thanks Sunshine, you were my inspiration.

Now I have made a difference, and hopefully I can bring you inspiration.

You may have noticed alot of things- but here are just a few


You may have noticed I had stopped blogging for 12 days
You may have noticed the last post was angry about unneccesary/incorrect criticism
You may have noticed that Iraq is still a bloody mess
You may notice the hope displayed in the words of Iraqi writers
You may notice the bias in western media
You may notice the passion re-surfacing in the anti-war movement

You may notice that the US troops can hardly pull out now
You may notice that the US troops can barely survive another year in Iraq

I hope you notice the words and truths of Iraqi blogs
I hope you notice the difference we make
I hope you notice the little changes

I hope one day, you will all see what I see
I hope one day, I will see what you can see

I hope someday- my friends can sleep at night.

I hope you notice what it means to have electricity, food and shelter.
I hope you notice what it means for those who dont.

Some day, you WILL see.

That these hopes will always be,
as long as people continue to suffer-
and as long as there is me

OK craig.

So the main stream media says between 100,000 and 300,000,
so when I say 200,000- thats just a logical guess.

Now, I have photos, that show atleast tens of thousands in one photo, carrying the white ribbon of dead-soldiers-photos.

the rally that had only hundreds of supporters present was a counter-rally organised by Pro-Bush activists.

See, I had known about both of them for some time now. (6 months for the anti-war, 3 months for the counter rally)


Want more sources? Want more proof from others?

OK.

HERE


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/war-s28.shtml

http://www.imagesofresistance.org/images39/images39.html (5 pages of high-quality photography)

http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2005/09/rally.html (more photos)

----

Also, CINDY SHEEHAN WAS ARRESTED ALONG WITH ANOTHER 370 PEOPLE!!!!

REPEAT

CINDY SHEEHAN WAS ARRESTED ALONG WITH ANOTHER 370 PEOPLE!!!!


CINDY SHEEHAN WAS ARRESTED ALONG WITH ANOTHER 370 PEOPLE!!!!


and where is the media?

This happened outside the White House on monday!!!

just look in google.

"CINDY SHEEHAN ARRESTED"

should do the trick.


and for more sources on the more than 100,000 comment- here are some (including one estimate of more than 300,000!)

http://www.newsinsider.org/date/2005/09/

E-mail from troops out now coalition --

On September 24, Washington, DC saw the largest antiwar demonstration since the war beginning of the war against the people of Iraq, with more than 300,000 people flooding the streets of the capital demanding "Troops Out Now!" The massive march on Saturday was followed by civil disobedience in front of the White House on Monday in which 370 people, including Cindy Sheehan, were arrested.

-----

And this on the LOS ANGELES TIMES

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-092405protest_lat,0,7194433.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Spirited Anti-War Rally One of Largest of Iraq Conflict
By the Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- Crowds opposed to the war in Iraq surged past the White House today, shouting "Peace now" in the largest anti-war protest in the nation's capital since the U.S. invasion.

The rally stretched through the day and into the night, a marathon of music, speechmaking and dissent on the National Mall. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey, noting that organizers had hoped to draw 100,000 people, said, "I think they probably hit that."






The Washington Post said Washington police estimated 150,000.

Some organizers say 200,000- some say more than 300,000 (but that is for the whole weekends events).

Organizers may have been so pleased as to count in a few extras, and the police probably know what they are talking about- but also probably want to down-play it so as not to provoke further civil disobedience....

So I would say about 150-160,000 is probably somewhere around the right number.

That is still huge.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092400852.html


Even the HEAD-COUNT OF ONE PARTICULAR LOCATION AT ONE PARTICULAR TIME (In a series of detailed, high-resolution photographs, the aerial survey shows that around 65,000 people were in the area of Market Street and Civic Center Plaza at 1:45 p.m. Sunday http://www.amadorpeace.org/chron03.htm [the Chronicle and SFGate.com])

Now, if I know anything about protests, its that most people who go to them are there either late or early- since lefties are not particularly good @ doing things on time.

So by my estimates, there must have been atleast double what was in the photographs taken from air - at 1:45pm - come and go throughout the day.

So that bring the estimate down to 130,000- DEAD MINIMUM.

I would like to think- being an optimist, that there were another 30,000 people there- and another 300,000,000 people there in spirit like I was.

Either way- a out-of-the-blue rally like this represents the future of the anti-war movement. We are never giving up

- So craig if you are going to pass criticism make it worth while.

Other wise, quite simply- f*ck off.

P.S - if you STILL WANT MORE SOURCES, send me an e-mail - I would be happy to find some for you.

[olivebranch out]