Friday Prayer in November, 2007

One Friday, I had my interpreter listen to the Mosque message to see if the local Sheikh (Imam) was still doing a Pro-Iraq message, instead of the anti-American, anti-Iraq message that used to come out every mosque, every Friday. I took notes as the terp translated and was most pleased with the message. One could easily find the same in any Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish message, and feel quite at home.

Iraq is like our mother, but we don't steal from our mother, or disrespect her. Why do we do these things to Iraq? ( Here, he was talking to the politicians, as well as the people of the neighborhood. For the politicians, he was referring specifically to government appointed officials - and the elected officials - to stop stealing money and hiding it in Jordanian accounts. Instead, they should be using that money to make life better for the Iraqis who had very few jobs and hard lives. For the neighborhood, he went on to talk about how they were throwing garbage on their own streets and that was why their homes looked so poorly. Also, he kind of addressed the neighborhood men to stay away from insurgency and instead help to make Iraq a better place. )

Keep your sons off the street. On the street, they learn rudeness. Islam is a polite religion. When your children are rude, it is your fault. Keep them in your house and raise them right. ( Here, he was talking about gangs that had popped up as insurgent groups. )