My Second Response to “The Sun” Newspaper
Editor
Mr Tom Dunn’s
response is below mine and clearly he is not a happy man. The entire exchange
can also be seen at:
http://www.cdlr.net/English/cdlrboard/showthread.php?s=&postid=1777#post1777
To Mr. Tom Newton Dunn
Defence Editor
The Sun
Thanks for your response. The
readers will see that you have failed to address the most pertinent points of
this exchange, which
relates to the issue of the pictures of Saddam Hussein and State
Terrorism.
The
only ‘argument’ that you provide is: the one who has traveled to modern day
Iraq is better entitled to represent
them than the one who has not. Then, surely by your criteria, Musab al-Zarqawi
who has been living in Iraq since the beginning or prior to
this conflict is more entitled to represent the Iraqis then both of us, not to
mention that he shares their languages, culture and religion, unlike yourself!
Similarly, does it mean that the
US Marines in Abu-Ghraib also
represent the Iraqis better than me? Should I also assume that any tourist
visiting the Iraq is more entitled to represent
the Iraqis then myself by the fact that he or she has simply traveled to that
land? Do you seriously advocate this sort of argument as an editor of a National
Newspaper?
You
do not need to travel to a country to share the thoughts and values of the
people, particularly in this age with high-tech communication like the Internet,
Satellite TV etc. Nor does it mean by having traveled to a country that you
share the thoughts and values of the masses.
So your argument is irrational and baseless, sounds like an act of desperation
on your part.
However, you go further to
demonstrate your poor judgment and reasoning as you say: “I didn't think you had ever been to
Iraq. Interesting that you profess to
represent its majority's opinion without ever having met any of them.”
Just because I have not
travelled to modern day Iraq it does not mean that I have not
met any Iraqis. To the contrary, I have met many and have many friends from that
part of the world. Yes, Iraqis do exists outside Iraq! Let me
remind you of some basic facts as you are so keen on factual accuracy. Modern
day Iraq was carved out by
the former colonialists (Britain and France) by the
treacherous act of Sykes-Picot. Iraq was part of the Bilad-as-Sham (Fertile
Crescent) which included Syria, Jordan, Palestine
and Lebanon, one country with the same
language, culture and religion. If you speak to a Syrian, Jordanian, Iraqi or a
Lebanese you are speaking to the same nation. Although I have not travelled to modern
day Iraq but I have travelled
and lived (not embedded in a Hotel as a tourist) for a period throughout
Bilad-As-Sham which Iraq is a part of.
Have
you also forgotten
Iraq
is also part of the wider Islamic and Arab world? Hence, as I belong to that
nation through my religion, language and culture, therefore, I am in a far
better position to represent them.
In the same way you are perhaps in
a better position to represent the other war-hungry Anglo-Saxon partner of
Australia, even I have travelled to that country more than yourself.
The
only person who is deluded or detached is you, with your monologues of
travelling to the Palestine Hotel in the comfort zone, embedded in the belly of
the beast. Here is a simple test, if we
both walked
the streets of Baghdad, and you will see who gets better
represented. I guarantee you will not last more than 48 hours while I will be
having Coozee (Roast Lamb and Rice) and Shayee (Mint Tea) with my fellow
brothers and sisters in the house of the hospital Iraqis!
I
suggest you examine my response and consider your response carefully. Any
impartial reader will find your response to be inadequate and poor given that
you are in the position of an Editor of a National Newspaper. If I were to use
your own terminology, your response is very childish and unfounded!
Regards
Yamin Zakaria
London, UK
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Yamin,
I didn't think you had ever been to Iraq. Interesting that you profess to represent its majority's opinion without ever having met any of them.
Dialogues are indeed great. But you have replied with a monologue. I therefore fear someone as deluded and disinterested in one as you is
quite simply a waste of time.
I refer you to my previous e-mail.
Yours,
Tom
