By Maxine Nash Christian Peacemaker Teams December 27, 2005
It’s now been a month since my friends were taken in Baghdad. We have no news, but we aren’t taking that as a bad sign. In fact, sometimes that’s a good sign. It means that those who have my friends may be thinking carefully about what to do. I’d rather they think carefully and make the right decision than rush into a bad one.
As a month has gone by, I think about what Tom, Norman, Jim and Harmeet might be feeling or thinking at this point. What comes to me is that if I were in their shoes I’d be feeling the loss of freedom acutely at this stage. Even if they are being held in a palace with all the comforts of home, if there isn’t the freedom to make your own choices it’s still a prison.
I think about my friends in the Green Zone who work for the UN or embassies. My friends call it the “green prison.” They are surrounded by concrete blast barriers and concertina wire, as well as U.S. and Iraqi Armies. They have very definite limits on their movements. They aren’t allowed to leave without security escorts which usually include armed guards and armored cars or Humvees. They are required to wear flak jackets and helmets sometimes just moving about within the Green Zone. I joke with them about their choice of fashion to go with flak jackets to try to cheer them up. They often need cheering up.
I, too, feel the loss of choice even living in the “Red Zone” of Baghdad. I’ve always had to be boldly careful with my movements, but even more so in the current situation. Yesterday I was feeling very confined, so when a friend with a new motorcycle came by to visit and asked if I wanted a ride I jumped at the chance (with the blessing of my teammates).
In Baghdad, to see a woman on a motorcycle would like be like seeing spaceships landing in the middle of Waukon, Iowa. So to prevent too much disturbance I put on a disguise to look like a boy and off I went. It was an experience beyond words—the sun on my face, the wind on my body and just the feeling of freedom was worth every minute of risk I took to do it.
Today I’m praying for that kind of freedom for Tom, Jim, Norman, Harmeet, all my friends in the Green Zone and all Iraqis. It’s my hope that it will come s_oon for all.
