Lately I was approached by an editor
of Gilgamesh, an Iraqi magazine about Iraqi culture that is issued in
English. We met in some cultural session in which she learned that I majored in
English literature and thought she can make use of my skills and knowledge of
English and literature. She asked me to write about Iraq's recent production in
art and literature.
At that moment, I realized how
ignorant I was in the culture of my country, and this was something not to be
proud of actually. One of my friends, when I told him of her request, throwing
some funny comments on the request, he reproached me emphasizing the fact that
people abroad do admire Iraqi art and cultural activities and if I don't get
that, then it is my own shame rather than something to be proud of.
At the beginning I was not that
happy with this, for I don't feel any affinity with what is written in Iraq, or
with what I have already read of that literature. However, pondering a little
bit about the matter, it appeared to me that am looking at the whole thing from
a personal point of view, rather than applying my professional knowledge in
literature on what is produced in Iraq.
My detachment or abhorrence of Iraqi
writings comes from two sources or happened for two reasons. The first one has
to do with the historic period in which I grew up. I spent most of my childhood
and adolescence living in a country that fools itself with extreme nationalism,
waging war after another in the name of foolish patriotism only to make its
people suffer all the calamities of poverty and insecurity. Since the beginning
of 1980s till now, and Iraq lives continues insecurity whether on its frontiers
or inside its territories; with this comes the economic crises that led people
to violate all moral laws and turn our world to jungle where only the strongest
live on the expense of the weak.
During all that time, almost thirty
years I have heard the songs, and read the poems and writings of people who
have sold their pens to the regime celebrating in foolish pride war, and the
evil heroism of that regime, making the Iraqis the selected ones, god-send
people (of course under the leadership of their president) to redeem the
suffering of marginalized people!! Since I never believed in any cause that our
politicians tried to advance on our minds, I never liked whatever produced to
serve their propaganda, and that was the beginning of pushing aside Iraqi
writings.
The second reason comes from my
stubborn spirit that tried to rebel against all traditions that restricted our
imaginations and our potentials. Most of what is produced in Iraq doesn't come
to my taste, which is, I think, a subconscious resistance to have myself
attached to anything related to my culture. Of course every culture has its
pitfalls, negative sides and definitely no there is no culture perfect enough
for all, because it is the product of mankind who is already not perfect! But
my own resistance and rebellion made me blind against everything that has Iraq
label on it.
However, when I was approached by
that editor, when she expressed confidence in my own abilities as instructor
and scholar of literature, I realized that even if I don't like what is written
personally, I still need to know about it as a part of my profession; after all
this is what I do when it comes to English and American literature.
With this realization, I started
recently my journey back to Iraqi writings. I am already familiar with some
names which I never had the urge before to read what they write, but now I feel
the need to know more about them and to reconnect with my culture through their
writings.
Nadia F. Mohammed
