Letters from Iraqi High School
Students to American Students
October 3, 2002

My Dear Friend,

My name is Omar. I'm 17 years old. I live in Baghdad and I'm a student at high school. It's the last year at the secondary stage. I wish to get good marks that enable me to join the medical college because I wish to be a doctor, to save people's life. Friday is my holiday. I don't go to school, but however, I study for hours and hours, to get what I told you about, the medical college. And, you know that because of the embargo on our country, there's no medicine for diseases, and any vital human requirement. Because of the embargo many new born kids and children are dying because they can't get medicine. We read about the technology and the inventions, but we don't see it in our life because America has prevented it from us. Even I don't have a computer, and I want to tell you a last thing, we love our country. I wish you'll still in communication with me. Best wishes to you.

Yours ever,
Omar

To, I don't know whom will my letter be reach Any way I like to tell you a story. Actually it is not a story but something my father told me about his school in the near past. He said that the management of his school kept giving him and his friends in the same school (and in all Iraqi schools) at the time 2 uniforms, one for the winter season and the second one for summer. And they used to give them everyday at morning a bottle of milk, one apple and one swallow of fish oil (I don't know the name in English of "fish oil"). Any way, since 1991 up to this moment I think that your president, Mr. Bush, had steal from me about 22 uniforms, more than 1500 milk bottles and more than 1500 swallows of fish oil. That all but for me, what about more than 5,000,000 students?

I think it is a shame ant it will disagree your president.

When I watch your movies on our black and white tv, I have many dreams Of them to have color tv, to see your real colors. Do you have the same face that we have? Do you have the same heart?

Your system say your government insist if have not a money to go to the school. They insist to make you something bad to your society. Please think twice before you Judie this message.

Best regards and I wish that you would understand.
Mohamed

Dear Daniel,

My name is Fahad. First I want to thank you about your nice feelings toward our people in Iraq. I'm 17 years old too. Let me tell you about my day. I start school at 8:00 o'clock exactly like you. I go to school every day except Friday, because it is the formal holiday in our country. When I don't go to school I play my favorite sport Football [soccer]. Also, I have a computer. We are not killers, really.

Here in Iraq we love all peoples in the world and we try to help them if we could. All people in the world must not believe everything bad said about us in programs made specially to produce bad facts about Iraq. So we are a people like the peace and work to get it. Because whatever I say I can't describe to you how much Iraqi people suffered after the war.

At the end I really want to tell you that I like you very much because I believe that the person who like music has deep feelings inside. I hope we'll become friends if you send me a letter to know more about each other.

Your Iraqi Friend,
Fahad

27 September, 2002

Dear Friend,

My name is Mohamed Sidigge El-Dubassi. I am 19 years old. I am student in final year in the secondary stage. My school name is Centre Secondary in Baghdad. My father to have plenty of work to do because he work in journalism. My mother is artist and sketcher. I love sports. I love Manchester United. I love David Beckham, Rod Van Netelroy, and Roy Keane.

I love happy life. This is my life on generally.

In the end, I thank you on you read my letter. I expect your letter.

Love Always,
Your friend Mohamed

To My Friend Marcisela,

Dear Friend,

My name is Firas Sabah. I'm very glad while I was reading your beautiful letter with nice words.

Thank you about your letter. And I'd like you to know me. I study in the secondary school. I live with my family in Baghdad, and my country is Iraq. I wish to be an engineer, and my hobby is exchanging in stamps and pictures with my friends. My games is football and swimming.

I was very happy while communicating with you, but give me your address. And finally I thank you for your nice feelings, and I have best wishes for your life.

Your Friend,
Firas

Dear Friends,

My name is Omar Salah Ahmed. I am an Iraqi pupil of 17 years from Baghdad. I'd like to say thank you and ask God to bless you for your ultra-noble feelings toward Iraq. And I do ask Him to give our world peace that it need instead of this unfortunate wars and battles that it suffer from, especially my innocent fellow-citizens who are dying in a groups every day since 1990, because of your unjustice government which represent by the last three presidents who pretended and assure that Iraq is a terrorism country, and they know very well that it is not the truth. Thinking that by this way they will gain the sympathy of the world. But in fact that is just an attempt to kill Iraqi people that refused and still refuse to submit to any strong force of any country.

I realize that you might object to that and that come from your honest and wisdom and highness. I plead to God every day to prevent any obstacle against the cooperation and fraternal spirit between different peoples.

With my respect accompanied by love,
Omar
27/9/2002

Dear My Friend,

My name is Liwa'a. I have 17 years old. I live in Adhamia. I received your letters with other students from your teacher Ms. Leah earnestly because I knew that some students know the truth about Iraq.

I want to tell you that Iraq is the country of peace and our people love peace and nothing will change that. After all above, I want to tell you something about my week. I go every day to school except Friday. I get up at 7am then I go to school, and I return at 2pm. In my holiday I doing the lovely game that is soccer.

Finally, I will be very happy if anyone wrote a letter for me to still in communication with his/her then picture to I know him/her then. Good luck.

Yours Sincerely,
Liwa'a

September 27, 2002

Dear My Friend - Meagan,

My name is Omar Al-Doori. I am 17 years old. I'm student in Al-Markazia Prepatory. Leah visited my school and spoke about peace.

I would like to tell you that all Iraqi people are against the idea of war. We believe in peace and that we have the right to vote our own leader.

I received your letter but I didn't receive your picture with Karla, Katie and Amber. I want to tell you about myself. I live with my family. I'm a Brown belt degree of karate, and I'm trying to get the Black Dan. Please write again soon.

Yours Faithfully,
Omar