BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Ali Jawhar streaked across the pavement on his yellow motorcycle and popped a wheelie. Hundreds of onlookers whistled wildly and shouted in glee at the yellow blur before them. He was followed by other motorcycle enthusiasts who performed similar stunts before the testosterone-filled crowd in Iraq.
Jawhar and other bikers are taking part in newfound freedom in a central Baghdad parking lot, thanks to an improved security situation in the Iraqi capital.
And so spectators flock to this makeshift race track every Friday, lining up hours before the 3 p.m. start time for an afternoon of entertainment and relief from the war. They crowd around the only entrance into the parking lot. Most of the participants are motorcyclists, but some bring their cars to burn rubber.
It costs nothing to attend. The racers don’t win anything either — other than the hearts and minds of those watching.
Sarmad Sadiq, 22, said he couldn’t bear sitting at home any longer. When he heard about the Friday motorcycle festivities, he was excited. “I was bored of staying home,” he said. “I needed some change.”
Raad Kamal, another spectator, echoed that sentiment. “I expect anything, car bombs or suicide bombers. But if I decided to stay in the house all the time, then it means I am a dead man, and I do not want to be a dead man. I decided to go outside and live my life.”
Ali Imad, a 24-year-old motorcycle mechanic who takes part in the races, said he has an “odd love” for motorcycles and simply enjoys the recreation, especially popping wheelies for the crowd.
“Life is difficult and hard and suffering. We had sectarianism. Thanks be to God, we overcame that,” he said. In the parking lot amid the whirl of engines, he said, “People are happy and comfortable.”
–via Tim Blair
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Update: In comments at Tim Blair’s, Dave S remarks
………………….In the parking lot amid the whirl of engines, he said, “People are happy and comfortable.”
…………. Is there any part of that sentence that doesn’t make a lefty cringe?
January 12, 2008, 10:04 pm at 10:04 pm
“I expect anything, car bombs or suicide bombers. But if I decided to stay in the house all the time, then it means I am a dead man, and I do not want to be a dead man. I decided to go outside and live my life.”
From the CNN link at Tim’s Place:
Raad Kamal, another spectator, echoed that sentiment. “I expect anything, car bombs or suicide bombers. But if I decided to stay in the house all the time, then it means I am a dead man, and I do not want to be a dead man. I decided to go outside and live my life.”
Raad…WE have a State here in the U.S. who’s MOTTO IS: Live Free or Die.
New Hampshire
The motto comes from a statement written by the Revolutionary General John Stark, hero of the Battle of Bennington.
Tim Blair
January 12, 2008, 10:22 pm at 10:22 pm
“Live Free or Die.” That’s really something, isn’t it, El Cid? Those of us comfortably ensconced in our modern Western democracies rarely think about that phrase in the literal sense, do we?
Also reminds me of a Vet’s sticker that says, “For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavour the protected will never know”
January 12, 2008, 10:48 pm at 10:48 pm
Spot
Those of us comfortably ensconced in our modern Western democracies rarely think about that phrase in the literal sense, do we?
Short answer…No!
That is why Blogs such as OURS (and others) MUST stick it in those that are comfortably ensconced, faces.
January 12, 2008, 11:00 pm at 11:00 pm
Speaking of others’ blogs, this one is often pretty good value too: Infidels Are Cool
(As is Jon Ham’s at the John Locke Foundation, but then I’m biased…)
January 12, 2008, 11:35 pm at 11:35 pm
These people didn’t have the freedom to do this before we went into Iraq, and the left call our actions a bad thing?
More freedom is good. Shame the left don’t think so.
January 15, 2008, 8:29 am at 8:29 am
[...] hundreds, and I included a picture of young Ali Jawhar popping a wheelie on his yellow motorcycle: Iraq Changes Gears. I wonder if they’ll try to gloomify the photos which originally accompanied that media [...]
January 18, 2008, 3:38 am at 3:38 am
I LOVE IT! Especially that last comment:
“In the parking lot amid the whirl of engines, he said, ‘People are happy and comfortable.’”
and then
“Is there any part of that sentence that doesn’t make a lefty cringe?”
Oh no no no, they’re killing Gaia and they’re happy and comfortable!
January 18, 2008, 3:52 am at 3:52 am
Yes, MRJ, that’s one of those things I wish I had said!