UPDATE: Baghdad is Burning

I think I am just totally perplexed right now.

All of the comments on the interview with my friend Ahmed were very nice. I feel for him and his country. I thank everyone who commented and linked to the post.

However, some people who did not leave comments, but instead either sent me emails or phone calls were not so open minded. I have had three phone calls from friends that are conservatives and one email from another conservative friend telling me that they did not feel sorry for Ahmed at all because he obviously doesn't have it that bad if he has the internet, fluency in English and has traveled to America in the last two years.

I'm not sure I understand their reasoning. It would have been nice had they left the comments for others to read instead of calling or sending email. And yeah, I hope they read this too.

Let me explain:

Ahmed does not have a computer (he used to, it was taken during a raid by GI's). He doesn't have the internet, running water or a job either. He walks to a local newspaper office to use their internet when it is functioning. He was selected by the US state department to come to America to study. It did not cost him a dime. Had it, he would not been able to go. His travels to America were financed by America. You know, kinda like how Tom DeLay was financed to travel abroad by lobbyists, except Ahmed's form of travel was not illegal. Ahmed learned English in school, where it was mandatory, and yes he is fluent.

I'm amazed that with all the compassion Ahmed shows for America there are still narrowed minded conservatives who still can't get past the fact that Bush screwed this up, and that Baghdad is really burning.

I also took notice to the fact that none of my conservatives friends said one thing about the over 1,000 dead Iraqi's, or the almost 200 dead Americans since the lauded elections in January.

Come on guys, you are all smart, think for yourselves for once.