Tuesday 7 August 2007

Minor Setback

Iraq's victory over Saudi Arabia was a day I shall never forget. The sheer joy and uncompromising hope we garnered is remarkable to say the least. No history is as blood-stained as ours; no people are as mournful as we are; no nation is single-minded about who it is like we are..
I am not an ardent nationalist who claims that Iraqis are God's chosen people: if anything, we're the boy who gets blamed and punished for other boys' misbehaviour - Iraq is blood-drenched and yet its heart beats endlessly and its bounties are enjoyed by all. Tens of millions of hearts grieve for loved ones, limbs are blown up and souls are stolen in their dozens.. but Iraq survives and lives whilst all else dies..
Soon Iraq will be great, just like it used to be.. all this is a minor setback.

42 comments:

Yasmin (Blanche) said...

Little Penguin,

welcome back.. u have greatly been missed,,
alf salam, pls take care of yrself..
Allah b with u..

Little Penguin said...

thank you very much yasmin.. your words are invaluable to me.. :)

travel girl said...

LP,
you have such an amazingly possitive attitude. You are an inspiration, truly. And I take it from the paragraphs above that, you've successfully gotten into University? If so, that's simply wonderful! What will you study and when will you start?
You are in my thoughts!
TG

3eeraqimedic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Little Penguin said...

hey TG,

thanks for your praise, once again too flattering for my own good. :)

Unfortunately, Im yet to find out whether I've gotten into the university of my choice.. I want to study Religions.. but it all depends on my results.. they come out next week. i'll keep you posted..

thanks once again.. always the thoughtful one, TG.

Little Penguin said...

Dr,

I will definitely take your advice into serious consideration.. though im finding the whole mind over matter concept a tad too difficult to stomach..

thank you

Anonymous said...

You will be just fine! Remember that several people out there consider you as their pride, penguin and tiny 3asfoor. You are way bigger than this illness. Oh Noble 'COC' *wink*

nigger said...

"..if anything, we're the boy who gets blamed and punished for other boys' misbehaviour" I liked that. :)

Whoa Mehduh. I didn't know that it was that serious. But the doctor says that it'll be fine and doctors in the UK aren't stupid. You'll be fiiine. :) You are Mehduh the Great.

Masraya said...

hey, my friend gave me this link a couple of hours ago,so i left it open with out reading it& forgot about it. as i was about 2 switch of the laptop i spent a minute contemplating whether to read ur blog or not,after 1 long minute i decided i will.i did & really dont regret. i myself just this week found out i have a medical condition aswell, not as bad as urs but is mentally eating my life away & i can feel my self slowly & slowly sinking into a deep stage of depression. i can relate alot to what you wrote FROM finding out about ur condition,hospital visits making u greatful,complaining about ur financial state & education when health is the only thing that really counts & matters, even intending to read & write...but u no mashallah u express urself well. & i like the way u seem much stronger den ill ever be, all doh today sum1 told me after i operate all da scars can be removed for good which was what was bothering me i still am finding life diffrent, maybe its becoz im seeing life diffrently. & although i c much more positive in life eg.whats dat bmw dat u wanted so badly worth now?..unfortunately im seeing negative equally as much. i keep asking myself wuld i prefer to have a medical condition an c da gud things in life so clearly or be my old self, no illness & not c life like this atleast for many many years. & what adds to all this i havnt told my parents/family anything,maybe for vein resons but it just doesnt occur to me as an option, so gonna go through this on my own. i guess reading what u wrote & seeing someone worse off then me having much more optimism then me makes me feel very weak & ive never known myself 2 be this weak; so thank you because u'Ve definitely given me alot to think about, ALOT! inshallah ull be ok & every 1 goin through somthing like this. thanx again..oh yeh happy birthday btw!!! my birthday is coming up next week 2 be honest it doesnt even make a diffrence with me i wish i culd luk fwd to it like year but i guess this is something stronger then me... salamz..take care:-)

Masraya said...

Ps. i only made this account so i could comment!

Little Penguin said...

Anon, I'm lost for words.. but thank you :)

Lana, thank you for your compliments.. though I'm no-where near great.. yet. lol

A&Eiraqi said...

Happy Birthday

Hope you'll be fine and everything will be sorted.

Regards

travel girl said...

You simply must keep me posted! Believe me I know how hard of a wait this can be!
Can I ask, what form of MS do you have? Is it relapsing-remitting?

And is it really your birthday? Hope it's wonderful! I'd love to hear all about what you do!

And you really do deserve the praise...:)
Hope you're well, thinking of ya!
tg

Anonymous said...

How come you comment on everyone comments but mine?? wah? why? is it coz im short? is it coz im fat? Ohhh i get it its coz i dont have some fancy blog with some fancy words. so typical of the COC to ignore a minor tiny entity like me..**sniffing**

Little Penguin said...

Masraya,
I'm chuffed to know that my words moved you.. I hope I was a bit helpful.. I also hope I can actually do what I said.. to actually cast a blind eye to the daunting, morbid side of being diagnosed with some serious illness.. but honestly, there's nothing more eye-opening than a slap from the heavens..

how can you wish for a BMW anyways? you need some taste configuration. :)

I'm glad you didn't regret your decision to read, let's hope I can sustain your enthusiasm!

Little Penguin said...

A&E,

thank you o inshallah in a few years time we'll celeberate your birthday under a palm-tree in Basra, listening to Nathum Ghazali. :)

Many thanks for dropping by.

Little Penguin said...

TG,

I dont know exactly.. I'm seeing the Dr soon so maybe I'll ask him..

My birthday was great.. we didn't have a bash, I didn't receive a thousand presents.. nor did I get a thousand phone-calls.. it was great because I slept in comfort last night knowing that those who I love and value above all else are safe, and that I still have the chance to speak to them and tell them how much I love them.. that's what matters, right?

but I would've liked a cake like the one on your blog.. ;)

Little Penguin said...

anon,

dont you dare accuse me of shortism or fattism.. not even fancy-wordism.. I'm nothing like that.. :)

do you mind explaining what the whole 'COC' thing is? it may be understood inappropriately..

Glory Rose! said...

I am really sorry to hear about your "setback", you will be fine inshallah!

Meanwhile, your attitude is simply inspiring, when many others would have stepped aside to whine about what may happen and why it did when they are young and so, you choosing to face it with this bravery is something I salute you for. I am proud to know a person like you are :)!


And now, since I won't get to attend your party or get you a present "or eat a piece of the cake" I'll just sing you something here :P

e7m....

Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday! Happy birthday to yoooooooooouuuuuuuuu!!! :D:D:D:D

Little Penguin said...

you blew me away!! thank you ya hanim.. :)

travel girl said...

LP,
certainly I think that may be something to ask the Dr...

You are right about those things being the most important. I know for myself, I sometimes forget to tell those I care about the most how I feel...(I know, I should really get better at it...)

I'm so glad you liked the cake, and I'd make one for you as well, if ya lived closer...;)

And your comment on my blog was one of the sweetest I've ever gotten. I sincerely hope I'm given the opportunity to find out what kind of mum I'd be...

tg

Glory Rose! said...

hahaha You are welcome ya basha :P !!

P.S If you decide to visit Egypt, don't call any girl hanim :P They only do that in old Arabic movies :D!

Little Penguin said...

will do :)

Masraya said...

Trust me it's a big step saying/intending to be above this...ask me some ppl havn't even come near that stage yet!!!!

Actually i never wanted a BM but a modest VW beetle!!i juz said dat becoz i didnt care 2 get specific!!!

Good Luck with everything!

Ps. Leave the beetle alone!!

Little Penguin said...

Let's hope both of us and anyone with an illness finds a way of over-coming his/her inner time-bomb that's waiting to go off..

I'll have them send you a miniature VW Beetle for your birthday.. rims, double-exhaust, spoiler.. even that silly sun-flower they all seem to have.. ;)

travel girl said...

For me, it's really about how much you choose to make of whatever condition you have (and I take this from my own life). You can choose to make it a huge deal or you can do what you are doing...accepting it for what it is, and learning how to live with it...Kudos, LP!

Masraya said...

LOL..looks like im not the only 1 who wants a beetle, how do u no dey all have a sunflower in dem??!!!! u must have taking a few gud luks!!!! alie?!

inshallah we'll be ok, im kinda better des days it juz tuk time to sink in but now im back 2 my normal self!

going to do an operation in september inshallah so hopfully ill be better den!
Mentally & physically!

adios!

Ihsiin said...

Mehdi, man, I heard about your illness. My heart's with you. The human body's overrated; look after your soul. Surely, Beethoven lost the use of his ears but still immortalized himself in his music.

I was in Syria during that Iraqi victory. The celebratory march through the streets of Barza with my cousins was interesting. That same night I was in Sayida Zaineb, listening to the untopical shouts of "Ya Abu Faz" from many Iranians.

Indecently, I'm currently in an internet cafe in 3azizia, and just yesterday I almost killed that same MZ (if that is who I think he is). Inshallah I'll be coming home on Wednesday, I'll call you up when I get back.

Ihsiin said...

Oh yeah, and your birthday! I was going to phone you but I lost my phone (I'm pretty sure it's been stolen).
I spent most of that day furiously ignoring he who shares a birthday with you.

So, Happy Birthday (just imagine I said it then).

3eeraqimedic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
hasan said...

i hope you really get well

Yasmin (Blanche) said...

Little Penguin,,
u have disappeared once more.. Hope all is fine..
Please take care..and come back soon..

Perkunas said...

There are things in life that attitude can't control so I don't think anybody should blame themselves for physical/medical problems, but a healthy outlook and robust spirit is the best revenge, so to speak, and I'm sure that you will have a wonderful life because you understand the importance of faith and a strong spirit.

Marshmallow26 said...

Lil penguin,

Don't worry dear you will survive and get over this dilemma, you will fall in love and be loved, you will take your lover to Argentina...

Sorry for being so late...I tried many times to post a comment but the power deceives me!!

Hope you get well soon...

Glory Rose! said...

ah, another disappearance!! Is it merely an attempt to escape having to post the celebration pictures??! :P
I am waiting for those, so you'd better post'em soon! :D:D

ahmed said...

i hope you will always be this spirited no matter what.

best wishes from jordan. :P

BOOKISH said...

Ramadan kareem.

travel girl said...

Hey LP,
just wondering how you're doing...

Zoe said...

Dear Iraqi Signor, dear little penguin,

I only hope that what's keeping you from writing is your schools load of work, otherwise, there are no excuses.
I did not wish you a happy birthday on time, so happy birthday : ) I suppose I can say it's better late than never. Or maybe in this case that doesn't apply. I know, I'm typing too much. But this usually happens when there's a mixture of good and bad and everything in between going round in my dizzy self.

Ramadan blessed us with its arrival a few days ago, I'd like to wish you the best of everything, God bless you and keep you on His Beautiful path, always.

A friend of yours wrote "the body is overrated; look after your soul." I second that.
All the best, always.

Glory Rose! said...

So I actually went to al azbakiya, took the pictures and posted them on your honor, just to find that you vanished into thin air!!!

Here is what I think happened, you met someone, the love at first sight kind of things, was totally absorbed into it that you decided to get married!! But at least, you should have put the effort to come and announce it!! Shove it in our faces and call us nredy bloggers with no life of our own, not simply disappear like that!!!

I am disappointed! :(

Ihsiin said...

Serene slivers of serrated sunlight silently slid and slithered away
They danced into darkness, a deplorable dimness, drifting and destroying the day.

bb_aisha said...

I tagged you on my blog:-)