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Kizzume
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Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 2596
Location: Tacoma, WA USA
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 Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject: Alcohol returning to Baghdad |
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http://www.newsweek.com/id/142639?GT1=43002
| Quote: | Iraqis aren't merely boozing it up. Men are shaving their beards; women are wearing jeans and taking off their headscarves; couples are holding hands in public. Musicians and DJs feel safe to take more gigs at weddings and parties. In the grassy riverside parks alongside Baghdad's Abi Nawas Street, young couples sit close on the new sod. Amin Hussein, 21, flips and spins, showing off some moves from the Brazilian martial arts he was forbidden from teaching in his neighborhood until a few months ago. ("This is an Islamic country," militia enforcers warned him.) Hussein, a fan of rapper Snoop Dogg, says he's hopeful about the future: "Now the liberals are stronger." Other entertainers have their own devotees—"Shakira good!" declares 19-year-old Mohammed Mizo, who says he gets heckled less for his spiky hair.
So far, most of the inhibition shedding is confined to a few urban areas—Iraq hasn't suddenly morphed into Dubai. But to Iraqis old enough to remember, the changed atmosphere brings to mind a way of life that seemed gone forever after five years of war. Baghdad has been a place of wine and song as far back as the "Thousand and One Nights." In the early 1900s the city was celebrated for its eclectic culture and was home to a vibrant mix of Jews, Christians and Muslims. Even under Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, state channels regularly ran Hollywood movies with Arabic subtitles. Hotels throbbed with pop bands and DJs, and Sinatra songs floated above the Tigris from parties on the water's edge. In his last years the beleaguered Saddam tried to co-opt the Islamists, adding the words "God Is Great" to the Iraqi flag in a nod to their rising strength throughout the Middle East. But even then the oppressed Shiites were prohibited from holding religious processions, and Sunni extremists were held in check by the secret police. |
This is really great news. I'm very happy to have read this. Good news can actually come out of a bad situation.
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I'm burned out on the metal scene.
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jq
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 1045
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. Beer is very good. I say, more beer. Maybe the fastest way we can destroy the terrorists and their influence over others is just to show the masses how awesome alcohol is. Seriously, since the Qu'ran is very strict about alcohol consumption, we could really get people to turn away from religious zealism with the help of margaritas and beer!
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Kizzume
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Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Posts: 2596
Location: Tacoma, WA USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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 Now if only weed were next.
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jq
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 1045
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| Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:00 am Post subject: |
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lol, that would have to be legalized here first I think ;p
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