Nearly seven years ago, the world stood still. Two towers were making their way down, collapsing metal, glass, and most importantly innocent people. Two hijackers made that happen, destroying not only the lives of three thousand people, but also hundreds of thousands across the Atlantic Ocean. Since then, the map of the world changed, not geographically but politically.
The United States launched its “War on Terror,” making Jihadi terrorists’ dream come true: a declared, open war on Muslim lands face-to-face. The war had become even fiercer and bloodier. It cost the world its shape, dignity, and peace.
Bush had called America’s friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security. “We stand together to win the war against terrorism,” he said. But did those whom he called for stood together with him against the enemies of peace? Understandably, they did. They supported the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban repressive and backwards regime, a war I strongly supported for there is nothing in the world is worse than being ruled by religious fanatic regimes. The war then was one of the very first things that changed the world we had lived in. Then came the unexpected Iraq war.
The unprepared Iraq war and the malfunctions that accompanied its poor plans (that’s if there were any plans) had changed the world into even a worse shape than it used to be. Thousands of Jihadis entering Iraq, the start of insurgency, the civil war, the tyrant’s execution… etc. During the five-years of the ongoing war, this small part of the world called Iraq changed. Forever. It broke like a mug. Many people tried to glue it back, but in vain. Even if we glued it again, would it look the same? I don’t think so.
The civil war changed the formerly mixed Baghdad and turned it into a city of segregated neighborhoods manned by concrete walls, worse than that in Palestine. The country as a whole is no longer the same. Each province is now called by its people’s ethnicity, religion or sect. Politics became random. Democracy is achieved, but in a wrong way. Instead of depending on the educated elite, the Americans backed and installed a sectarian electoral system, that is of voting for sects and ethnicities instead of professionals and good leaders. That, of course, changed the Iraqi politics world. It became separated more than united, spoiling the people’s sacrifice when they went to polling centers.
America itself changed. Maybe dramatically! There is a big divide between the country’s divided politicians and people. The war made thousands of Americans go to a war that had nothing to do with the day the world stood still. America’s image in front of the world changed as well. The world realized that what they see in Hollywood movies is not similar to what is happening in reality. American politics now changed as well. Diplomatic relations are no longer the same. Oil prices are soaring high. Food has become so expensive that in some countries like Egypt people died while fighting to get some pieces of bread. (Of course, this news did not make its way to the Americans because Mubarrak is the good ol’ friend of the Americans and Israelis. So to hell with Egyptians) Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran and many other countries have fallen in this huge political earthquake that plagued the world. Earth is spinning, but faster than we realize. Its horrific speedy change is affecting everyone everywhere.
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Despite all disasters, wars, and hatred among the earth’s population, there is still a tunnel that is leading to another different direction. We are driving in it and taking benefit out of it without noticing how fast it has improved our life styles and how easier (in one way or another) it has become to live, work, and even socialize. Technology is that wide and long tunnel. It’s rapid, ongoing development has made it impossible for us to live like our parents and grandparents lived decades ago. I can’t even imagine how my grandfather did not have a computer like the one I’m using now.
The world is moving forward shaping earth flatly, metaphorically speaking. For instance in his international bestseller “The World is Flat,” Thomas Friedman analyzed the progress of globalization. In the book, he suggests the world is "flat" in the sense that globalization has leveled the competitive playing fields between industrial and emerging market countries. In his opinion, this flattening is a product of a convergence of personal computer with fiber-optic micro cable with the rise of work flow software.
This globalization and technology has made it even easier for others to live and even survive. Science and medicine have become even better. It’s even progressing as you are reading this sentence. There are doctors and scientists who are using this rapid development in technology as a main tool in finding many ways to cure patients.
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“Now that we know better, let’s live better” is a sentence I read once and was stuck in my mind. Knowing is living. That’s why I chose to change my blog’s name and direction. In order to better understand the world better, I thought of not only concentrating on issues related to Iraq but also those from different spots on earth of which I come across as well. Sharing opinions respectfully is the best way to make this mission succeed. The world is improving, but it also decaying and collapsing and it’s in our hands to prevent that from happening, or at least try.
Every individual and human being on earth has been affected by the world’s change. Our lives are no longer the same. Mine for instance has been marked with wars, sanctions, blood, displacement, and suffering but it’s been also marked with success. The world I knew in my childhood years was different than that of my teenage years. Now, it is entirely different from those two. My world is a new world. Our world is a new world.
bassamsebti@hotmail.com
