There is no doubt that the war has left America with a bad image, especially among Iraqis who were the most affected by the atrocities of war. Forgetting about the horror of war and those who caused it is not an easy task. Forgiving is even harder. Yet, living in the U.S. has showed me and many other Iraqis that Americans are not as barbarians as we imagined them to be. They don’t fly in warplanes and throw bombs. Instead they are very normal and hospitable, and when asked for help they are always ready.
In 2005, CNN featured one of the victims of the war. Mohammed, then 10-years-old, lost one of his legs when an explosion took place in the street where he was playing along with his friends and little cousin. The 6-year-old cousin couldn’t make it to survive. She died immediately after Mohammed saw her bleeding, screaming, and dying in front of him.
After he was featured on CNN, Elissa Montani, the founder of the Global Medical Relief fund, got in touch with the network to help Mohammed have a new leg that makes him walk again, and change his life. GMRF is an American New York-based non-profit organization is committed to bring hope and help to children who are missing or have lost use of their limbs, have been severely burned, or are otherwise damaged due to the atrocities of war, natural disaster or illness.
When Mohammed and his mother landed in Philadelphia, they were very impressed. “[Americans] are not our enemies,” Mohammed’s mother said in the video posted below. Americans helped them instead of their fellow Arabs, she mentions.
Today, Mohammed is very happy. Finally and after two years of becoming a disabled child, hope found its way to his saddened little heart. He is not only happy, but also grateful.
Thank you GMRF and thanks to CNN that helped both be in touch.
