Ali Ismaeel Abbas

When I saw the video clip of Ali Ismaeel Abbas who was critically wounded after a missile struck his home in Baghdad, I wept. This twelve year Iraqi old boy lost both his arms and suffered severe burns on his body. He was such a sorry sight.

Now there are stumps where his arms were and his torso is gory spectacle of burnt flesh and skin. He also lost his parents, brother and two sisters in the attack three weeks ago.

Ali did not do anything to deserve such injuries. He will be scarred for life, physically and psychologically. The recovery will be painful and slow. I am certain they are more children, and adults, who have suffered similar fate during the weeks of bombardment of Iraqi cities.

This war may have liberated the Iraqis, according to the USA, but it surely did not do any good to Ali and the thousands of civilians who were killed or are maimed for life. Perpetrators of this war should be punished for crimes against humanity. It is not worth it when even one innocent life is lost. Life is precious. Say NO to war!

Note: Ali’s photo have been removed.

Happy Fourth Anniversary

The Internet is a treasure chest of serendipity. At the most unanticipated moment, we may come across a gem that we never thought existed. It is like stumbling upon a curio shop hidden in an obscure alley and finding a trinket that you have been looking for all your life. On the Internet, Wuan and I chanced on each other in a chatroom. We were not looking for love but we unwittingly found it there.

Today marks the fourth anniversary Wuan and I met up in real life. We had been chatting for four months in the IRC before that fateful day. These four years must be one of my happiest times. Every moment with Wuan is a bundle of laughter and contentment. She is intelligent, witty, meticulous, patient and thoughtful ? traits that I wished I had more of. She is all I can ever wish for in a woman.

She taught me to look beyond my disabilities and exploit to the utmost what I still possess. She constantly motivates me. She continually inspires me. She is the last piece that completes my jigsaw puzzle of life; that final bit of a 10,000-piece set that gives such satisfaction as soon as it snaps into place. She completes me.