Hope

A hair-splitting presidential election, a continuously spiraling economy, and endless international struggles--yes there are moments when one might indefinitely have a cause to leave the newspaper or magazine with at least a slight case of "the political blues." Indeed, a deeply contagious pessimism has saturated recent public opinions. Polls continue to illustrate the continuing decline in political confidence among the general public, both inside and outside of America.

As the nation nears the end of another presidential administration, many citizens are finding themselves scratching their heads, wondering what our dear president did with the past four years. Some (even a majority of) citizens are apparently convinced that the past eight years have been nothing short of political chaos and disaster. Everything from Bush's financial plan, to the war in Iraq seem to be under the most distrusting scrutiny by Americans at the present.

I must admit that I have in some ways become unwillingly absorbed with this extremely pessimistic political worldview. I didn't realize just how absorbed I had become until I disbelievingly came upon a New York Times headline titled "Iraq's Shocking New Calm," by the Time's Correspondent, Dexter Filkins. Accompanying the headline was the true attention catcher: a stunning little photograph of a jovial Iraqi family, full of smiles sitting around a glowing birthday cake. This scene was one that I never expected to associate with the deemed perilous and chaotic country that seems to exist within most forms of daily media.

The topic of this article is one that many would have deemed simply "too good to be true." In it, Filkins discusses the seemingly impossible changes that have occurred in the city of Baghdad since his previous visit to Iraq two years ago. He notes observing women in jeans--walking alone, newly opened stores and businesses, blossoming commerce, and a renewed and less restrained Iraqi culture. In Filkins own words, "It was an astonishing, beautiful scene--impossible, incomprehensible, only months ago." He also admits in the article that two years ago he was sure that "Evil had triumphed, and that it would be many years before it might be stopped." Yes, he too had been enveloped by this feeling of hopelessness for the nation of Iraq.

In his article, the author makes very real and honest observances that just happen to communicate hope for a war-torn nation. He sheds light on a fact that has become taboo among Americans: Iraq is indeed rebuilding and improving. The article notes that while American forces are still an important presence in Iraq, they are an ever diminishing one. The power to keep peace is currently in the process of being ceded from Americans to the hands of the Iraqis through an initiative that has become known as "The Sunni Awakening." By this new movement, the American forces are winning over previous freedom fighters, motivating them to lay down their weapons and join the peace keeping effort. This Awakening has been nothing short of a success, as many previously violent Sunni tribes have changed their focus from the promotion of aggressive rebellion, to the securing of national security. The resulting national security has resulted in an unanticipated blossoming of a peaceful and thriving Iraqi society, in which people can truly live again.

I am deeply inspired by this article. It has shown a glimmer of hope for the Iraqi future, and inadvertently for the future of the United States. Yes, as Filkins notes, the risks have not disappeared and the improvements made are fragile ones that should be guarded and maintained at all costs. It is a single flame in the cave that we cannot afford to let die out.