“It’s like a lover has returned”
“It’s like a lover has returned”
“It’s like a lover has returned”
Gesturing toward the sea of people and the thousands of fluttering black, red and white Iraqi flags, Mr. Shamki said: “You don’t know who is Sunni or Shia or Christian. They are just chanting for Iraq.” The fans also cheered for something more, at one point breaking into the chant, “Sunnis and Shiites, we are all brothers!”
In the midst of ongoing turmoil, Iraq experienced a few hours of calm this past weekend, meeting Syria in only the second match played in Baghdad since the outbreak of war in 2003. For a few hours, there were no divisions, no sides, no turmoil; Iraqis were just that, Iraqis. In this piece recently published by the New York Times, Tim Arango wrote of the emotional impact of the game on a population that has faced a constant struggle. Welcome back, Iraq. [Posted by Maxi]
