Writers in Iraq - georgelarkin.com

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Writers in Iraq

For the past five years, I’ve been getting in touch with writers and artists in Baghdad and getting their stories about what's going on now. We’ve heard from our media, government, pundits, and even soldiers, but we’ve heard almost nothing from the Iraqis themselves. I’ve gotten amazing stories of life there, both fiction and non-fiction, of kidnapping, robbery, murder, and forbidden love. They’ve also written to me what it was and what it is now like to be an artist there, and how dangerous that was and still is.

These are their words. I’ve adapted their writings and short stories into a play called “The Baghdad Prom” -- it’s called that because I spoke with one 18 year old Iraqi the night of his Prom there. I’ve had a series of readings as I’ve developed the project. The theatres include Theatricum Botanicum, the Unknown Theatre, EST, the Actors Studio of Newburyport in Massachusetts, and the work was selected to be part of this year’s EDGE FEST, a collection of “some of LA’s most talented, award winning and provocative artists.”

In addition, I wanted to try and get their stories published. As a result on my contacting them, the Grasslands Review, Indiana State’s international literary journal of creative writing, poetry, and non-fiction, will be publishing some of their stories in their 2008 annual.

I’ve also cut together a promo from their material. You can see it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FilKabn1LQg.

Read Articles on Baghdad Prom

*NEW* -- View photos from the reading of Baghdad prom

*NEW* -- Baghdad Prom is getting blogged! See:

BRIEF EXCERPTS FROM THEIR WRITINGS ON LIFE THERE –

“It is not home it is HELL.” Safa Saad

“Freedom without principles, without rules, without law. It is disorder. It is jumble. Iraq today is like the jungle. We are suffering from freedom which was forbidden in the past during Saddam’s regime. People were under injustice in the old regime. You can’t change their life immediately. It is impossible to change like that! The freedom needs people who understand it.” Safa Saad

“As for being dark in writing, that is what I can’t deny, but I’m trying to give a picture of an existing truth and it is not my fault to feel pessimistic when I see my world collapse before my eyes.” Saad Saeed

“Why don’t I just join my other schoolmates who dropped out the school and joined the armed resistance? “ 18 year old Majid

“Didn’t these soldiers say that this is kinda pay back to what happened in 9/11? Were those civilians who died involved with what happened in 9/11? Actually, many of them haven’t even heard of that tragedy.” Majid

On a recent bombing: “This family are from a JORDANIAN tribe. He came from Jordan to Iraq to make this crime. Our eyes cry. They drop blood! I got sick when I saw this scene. What can we do? The countries beside Iraq make these crimes. All of us pray to God to save our home. Only God can save us. Iraq today is like a hell and we are suffering. But we can’t do anything. I will send to you more things but later -- I am in bad condition now. Thank you.” Safa Saad

ON A RECENT READING

"Sometimes, I hate my self for not being able to write English very well as I really want! That was what happened after reading your last message. I have so much to say, and you are the man who deserves to talk to. God bless you, and may helps you to make your dream true, that is what I want to say for your sincere efforts to let your own people know about our isolated points of view! When I remember those days when I was working hard to provide you with the most realistic and effective stories, I feel now it deserves all that fatiguing, and the thanks are for you of course. I’m honored to deal with you, and believe me when I say it means very much to me, that you are an American, because this truth prevents me from misjudging other people because of the misunderstanding and prejudgment. Thank you very much." Saad Saeed

PASSAGES FROM THEIR STORIES –

“Damn you America, must blood be the price of joining you?!” From a story by Saad Saeed

“The sound of a helicopter increased as if very near his closed window. Apache! How ridiculous!! They kill people then immortalize them. Apache and Cherokee along with the other names of those poor savage tribes they eradicated. Will they give the name Iraq to one of their modern planes?” From a story by Saad Saeed

On terrorism: “Why cannot great America stop it? If she cannot do it with all her power, can we do it with all our disability?” From a story by Saad Saeed

“How amazing! Then you can spread your justice among us, as you pretend, as you don’t understand us?” From a story by Saad Saeed

ON THE FUTURE --

“If one want to lead this country, he must be strong, wise, patient, clever. It needs one as a super man, one who has ability to be strong like tiger, and wise like prophet, and patient like camel, clever like fox. Is there one has these properties? It is important question. America must do that. If she succeeds in this job, she will control the world.” Safa Saad

“It was not just election day. It was party. It was festival. Iraq was the groom and his bride was democracy. Freedom.” Safa Saad

“Thank you very much for freedom. We will never forget the American people who let us be free.” Aamal, Ministry of Culture in Iraq

“There is a wise saying, which says if you not be my brother in religion, you be my brother in humanity. According to this saying, all the people in the world are brothers. If Man be white or black or red or yellow, we are created by God. Therefore all of us must be one unit under the tent of humanity.” Safa Saad

“Please, pray to God that to save all people to make efforts for Iraq. I am praying to God to save my home and to be in peace. I hope to invite you here to Iraq to show you how the Iraqi people are friendly and kindly. How Iraq is nice in his earth, in his people, in his weather. You must believe me. Iraq opens his arms with hugs to all the friendly people.” Safa Saad

ON GETTING THEIR STORIES OUT --

“I am eager to be with you and all those Artists there. Now we have new hope. There is no work without hope. All the successful works started by dream then hope then getting the fruit. You planted optimism in my soul. It is good news. Now, we have new hope. There is no work without hope. All the successful works started by a dream, then hope, then getting the fruit. You planted optimism in my soul. If they can reach America, I will write all these stories, and I will never be tired. I hope to see you, man who is friend to Iraqis, in a country without crimes with joy and happy justice. Where no one can trouble me. Maybe this country is the paradise where God is the ruler. I am your injured Friend in Baghdad. Which is swimming in blood. “ Safa Saad

“I hope to be one of the people who will give an important message to the American people about what is happening now and what previously happened.” Basim Al-Hajar

“My stories are all that I have left. They are killing us all the time here with no mercy. I want you to know that if anything happen to me, the stories will be yours. Just try to make the aim true. I think that I’ve already won by talking with you. I want you know that I think you are a friend of mine and I trust you very much and was honored to contact you. We are going to try and escape Iraq. I do not know if we will make it.” Saad Saeed

“I want you to get my stories to Steven Spielberg.” Ali

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