HALF A MILLIONAIRE

For many, rain is boring and depressing, but I always enjoy it. When I was a kid, I liked to come outside in the morning after a long rainy night because I loved to be the first person to smell the fresh air. I listened to birds chirping in the trees. I looked for dedicated ants starting their day under fallen leaves on the ground. I felt at peace. I felt as though my garden was all that I needed because it was life. It was a world. Or, at least, it was my world.

On December 12, 2009, from Baghdad, according to Reuters, Statoil, a Norwegian company, in partnership with Lukoil, a Russian oil giant, won the bid for Iraq’s supergiant West Qurna Phase II oilfield (www.reuters.com). These nations did not support the war. Also, Chinese and French oil companies are working very hard to snap up their shares of the cake. They, too, opposed the war. Exxon Mobil, an American company, won a deal for the supergiant West Qurna Phase I. It shows that the U.S. is not the only nation benefiting from the Iraq war in terms of oil. It is a “free” market competition. What about the deaths of thousands innocent Iraqis? I just want to make it clear that I am not mentioning the deaths of soldiers in this article because they are considered combatants. However, just for one sentence, I respect all the soldiers because they are the ones who have the courage and honor (soldiers’ courage and honor, not defined by you and me, Monday quarterbacks) to do what they are told, knowing that there are people around the world who will mock them for being “stupid”.

Let us get back to the deaths of innocent Iraqis. I am saddened by their deaths, but I do not know what to do. I know that I cannot bring them back. I know that their blood will be in the gas tank of my car, but I do not know what to do. Russia, China, France and Norway will bring home some cash from Iraq which will be used hopefully to create jobs for Russian, Chinese, French and Norwegian peoples. So, when a Russian (Chinese, French, or Norwegian) worker brings home a paycheck after a hardworking day, he or she should be aware that there is some blood on it, too.

On the positive side, I know that the Iraqi people will have ”a new chance” to rebuild their lives, and I hope that their leaders will make the right decisions for them. For me, I will continue to enjoy my morning after a rainy night because I know that life is more fun after the rain. And, I choose to accept both death and life. And, I will dream for eternal peace. However, I will not hastily condemn a war.