The Chance to be Heard

Iraq’s not an easy place. We had a long and dangerous journey. I never saw another American the entire trip, not even a soldier. Every checkpoint, every glance, was a negotiation; usually a smile was enough to change the energy from deadly to welcoming, but the suspicion was palpable every minute. We had to talk our way out of house arrest and into recovering our camera and were always being watched. I don’t think Kevin slept the entire time from the burden of keeping us safe. It was 117 degrees average everyday.

But as soon as we entered the tiny cement classroom made available to the children from Baghdad, we had no way to complain and no room to show our fear. These kids whose fathers and uncles and grandfathers had been killed, whose houses had been bombed, had the hugest smiles. They were so excited to learn and thrilled to sing and make music. They took every opportunity like a precious gift. When their teachers spoke they hung on their words and their hands shot up to give answers. They will be so key to world peace by being given the chance to be heard.

Special thanks to: Sandra Hakim, Ibtisam Esmael Qader, Majed Abdul Razaq, Osama Dada and Arez Esmail Qadir.