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“Preemptive” Peacemaking: The Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project
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by Kathy McKay, W A M M
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“Preemptive” peacemaking is the characterization by one board member; “being good neighbors,” or “replacing negative stereotypes of one another,” say others: The Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project (IARP) connects Americans with Iraqis in multiple ways. IARP is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization partnered with the Muslim Peacemaker Teams (MPT) based in Najaf, Iraq. Both organizations, made up of individuals committed to nonviolence, work with their respective populations facilitating and encouraging personal connections between groups and individuals from each country.
Many WAMM members are familiar with the paintings from current working artists in Iraq made available to us over the past five years. Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American, carries in suitcases of canvases later to be shown at various venues in the U.S. The IARP arranges shows, provides framing, biographies, and information to curious buyers. Comments such as “I didn’t realize there were artists in Iraq” reflect the narrow view of Iraqis some Americans have.
In 2008 alone, $9,390 was transferred to the artists of the Najaf/Karbala region of Iraq as proceeds from the sale of their art. The artists, who are also committed to nonviolence and actively support the peacemaking efforts of MPT, share these proceeds with the organization on a 50-50 basis.. Twenty pieces of art from our artist friends are on display for the month of March at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral on Oak Grove in Minneapolis.
Although most schools in Iraq are piped for water, because of destruction to the central water treatment plants, the water is now undrinkable. Medical clinics also have problems getting sufficient clean water, and even hospitals are short of clear, drinkable water. Through the efforts and planning of MPT in Iraq, acquisition of needed permissions was completed with the school system and the City of Najaf by MPT. Moreover, they found a local Najaf small-business owner, Ameer Al-Alimiyah, who through his shop Springs-Water of Health now provides efficient, sturdy filtration systems suitable for installation in schools and clinics.
The smallest filtering system we install provides 189 liters per day, adequate for a school of 100 students. The largest provides 1,500 liters per day, adequate for a 200-bed hospital. An MPT member, along with a technician from the filter supplier, installs both a filtration system and a generator (as electric service is erratic.) The filter systems range in price from $250 to $1,000. The generators are $250.
So far in 2009, our filtration systems have been installed in the following: a kindergarten, Al-Schumoo (The Candles), of 80 students; a girls’ grade school, Al-Fadhila (The Virtues), of 183 students; a girls’ high school, Al-Sajidat (Humbly Kneeling Toward the Creator), of 700 students and a boys’ high school, Imam Ali High, of 530 students (a second shift of another 500+ students uses the building at night).
Several members of MPT accompany the installers and interact with students, teachers, and administrators. They explain the cooperative venture between IARP and MPT and the desire for friendship between the peoples of our respective countries. MPT brings photos of the individual, couple, high school service group, veterans for peace group, leaders of a religious order, or whoever provided the funds for their particular water filtration system, explaining that these are Americans reaching out to you.
With the extending of this offering of clean, clear water comes a request for friendship. MPT takes pictures of children, teachers, and administrators and we forward them to the donors so they can receive the appreciative smiles and “thumbs up” from the children and adults. One of the principals was so taken with the idea of sharing between our two cultures that he joined MPT on the spot.
These installations of water filtration systems along with the generators continue on a regular basis. Family groups, teen groups, church groups, veterans groups are all invited to participate in this sharing venture. In addition to providing clean, clear water for students and/or patients, donors also offer a gesture of friendship and a building block toward reconciliation and peace building.
One of our members, Kaia Svien, has developed a set of Power Point presentations that provide teachers with lesson plans at the elementary, middle school, and high school level, leading students to a thoughtful consideration of life for their counterparts in Iraq and a writing project resulting in letters that IARP hands over to MPT for distribution to students in Iraq. These Power Points are available on a CD and also downloadable from our web site at no cost: go to www.mpt-iraq.org and click on “teachers.”
Perhaps our most far-reaching project is working toward a formal Sister City Relationship between the cities of Minneapolis and Najaf, Iraq. A Sister City relationship is a formal agreement signed by the governing bodies of each city, committing to long-term sharing of cultural, educational, and citizen resources. Former President Eisenhower established the Sister City program after his career in the military. His stated goal was to promote peace and understanding through “citizen diplomacy.”
Many Sister City relationships continue for decades through changes of officials and economic ups and downs, and result in many individual friendships that endure for decades. The establishment of a Sister City relationship can be the legacy of our time and our city council in the future, when visits to and from Iraq will be normalized. Students will visit and study in each country, cultural exchanges will become familiar. Friendships will develop between people from the Land of Lakes and those from the ancient land of Babylon and the Tigris and Euphrates river valley.
Minneapolis residents are encouraged to call their city council representatives and ask them to consider this commitment to reconciliation. Betsy Hodges, council member for the 13th Ward and chairperson of the Intergovernmental Standing Committee is the person presently planning to bring this idea to a vote. She will need the support of several council members.
Kathy McKay is Executive Director of the Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project and has a history of involvement in peace work and working cross culturally. She is presently particularly focused on the delegation coming from Iraq to Minnesota in September of 2009 and in solidifying the proposed Sister City designation between Minneapolis and Najaf, Iraq. |
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© 2009 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete April 2009 Index - click here
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