Trapped

Her father told her who she had to marry. She did under protest, lived with him for several years and had two children. The husband verbally abused her, beat her and berated her in front of her children. She could never do anything right to please him. One day she heard the children talking and one asked the other, "Why doesn't daddy kiss mommy like other husbands do?" The reply from the older child was, "Maybe it's because he doesn't like us." That was the day the woman decided she needed to do something.

She left her home country of Iraq and settled in Jordan where she was able to work. She divorced her husband and settled into a contented life. Her parents paid a visit and tried to persuade her to move back to Iraq. She refused. When it came time for her to renew her visa she couldn't find her passport. As it turned out her father had stolen it and she was deported to Iraq. She was absolutely crushed.

But over time she obtained a new passport, and once again began to plot where she would go. She was hoping to immigrate to Europe or the United States, but she was turned down several times because she is Iraqi. The West doesn't want immigrants from the Middle East after terrorists brought down the New York Trade Center. She wants to flee, but there is no where to go. She wants to go to a place where her family cannot find her, and where they cannot go. She fears that if she leaves Iraq again that her family will try to hunt her down and possibly kidnap her children, or even kill her.

The traditions and customs of Iraq, and other mid-east countries have created a prison for the women who live there. It is a prison with no bars but with borders. But they are borders that are hard to escape for those who desire to be free.

I pieced this story together from several news items that I have read over the past several months for the purpose of showing us how well off we are in this nation where we enjoy the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let us never forget the blood of Americans that has been shed for our freedom. And we must keep in mind that we must have a solid defense system that will turn back any enemy if we expect to remain free.