memories of my sisters and my mom in Baghdad

Submitted by DR SAAD RAMZI ISMAIL ( STEVE RAMSEY ) (Canada), Feb 3, 2013 at 21:08

I oppologize for the poor english as I wrote very fast and the tears was in my eyes I couldnt see the letters

I was lucky to leave Iraq in 1978 as I knew it is not the place to live how I wish my family had listen to me then but they told me to stay in Iraq ......one of my brothers was driving his taxi when some Iraqi stopped him kill him and stole his car!!! my father suffered great deal before that too he was prisoned and tortured back in 1962 until 1968 for politics!!!! he was lucky too as many of his friends were hungged and killed. my older brother run away from Iraq as he was in the army so he got sentensed to death by absentee and later he died in USA free man.when my dad was in prison in that evil country called Iraq the government didnt help the people or give food or any form of social and welfare assistant like we do in the free world they use to kick my mom when she used to go ask for my dad salary or retirment...we all used to work so my mom can make ends meet....she used to feed the boys and give little to my sisters as she want us to be good at school many time my little sister cryies from hungger and i used to share the food with her my mom told me to eat as i go to school and she give them only bread and tea...but i used to give half of my food to them and some time all with out let my mom sees me and sleep hungry ..some times i used to go to the strret trees and find grren apple and some barries to eat...I remember one day my sister ahlam was young and hungry so she eat the breat and tea but she was still hungry and my mom told them she will bring food next day as she will sale her wedding ring....but my sister didnt care of tomorrow so i waited until my mom sleep and told my sister go ask GOD ((ALLAH) for help and he will give you food i dont know why i did that cause i was afraid to give her and then she tell my mom so my sister went upstairs and i could hear her asking God ((( OH God this is Ahlam my brother Saad TOLD ME TO PRAY FOR YOU and ask you for food please give me some food i am so hungry )) while she was praying i went and put half of my rice and beans with small peace of meet in the pot that was empty in the kitchen....then my sister run down stairs and told me now what I did pray. i said go and see if you are good then God will put some food...to her surprise she came running to me with big eyes and told me come come GOD REALY LISTEN THERE IS food and she was jumping from happiness i asked her to be queit and dont tell any one so god can keep providing she took the food and started to eat and then she said i will wake up my other sister and share with her since i saw them so many time praying alone togather to god and ask him for so many funny things. i started working and making more money while go to night school so i can help my mom my other brothers did the same and we support our mother until my dad was out of prison and life changed to better.

years go by with many long stories i managed to come to canada and did my best to study graduate and work and help them since 1984 untill now non stop i dont have children as until now i think they are my children and my responsibility they all growing older and half their children.......i cry when i remeber this and i think we all are having GOD inside each of us to do good deeds to help others and GOD watching and listening but we are his hands to act......one day my mom took me all the way to the prison to see my dad as they allowed to visit once every 2 months or so...it was hot summer and we have to walk allot so my mom have enough money to catch the bus back. i was hungry we asked so many muslims they never helped us for some reason my mom only asked for glass of water and peace of bread for me and they told her to get away!!!

one jewsih lady was close by as many jewish used to live in baghdad she heard my mom and called her and she gave us so nice food i still feel the taste in my mouth when i think of it i was so happy and she gave us back full with fruits and sandwich. we came home and we eat with my sister I asked my mom who is this nice old lady. she told me this her name salima and she is a jewish lady. .my god mom a jew ?? i said to her...is the food halal to eat is it kosher food.she said ya son jewish food is halal dont worry and i said how come the jewish lady help us and the muslims dont?? she pause for few seconds and then said because they know the meaning of the suffering

I didnt know what she meant back then i pray to her so many time until this day i am sure she passed away as she was waiting to leave iraq to Israel , many of her family left a head of her.God bless her soul and if god dont send her to heaven i will have a big argument with him. but i am sure he will. PLEASE IF YOU READ THIS LETTER DONT JUST SAY wow it is nice memory do something HELP THE HUNGRY AND THE FOOD BANK it is so hard to feel hungry and it is even harder to ask people for food so hard and even worse when some one kick you and tell you to leave.

sincerely

DR SAAD RAMZI ISMAIL ( STEVE RAMSEY)- CALGARY- ALBERTA , CANADA

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