While visiting Deir ez Zur, we met the children of our friend Raed. Like all Syrian children, they start English education quite young. Tamer was eager to practice his English with us and was quite curious since we were the first Americans that he ever met. Abdullah, the younger boy, was extremely quiet the entire day we spent with him. He would recoil a bit when we would try to play with him. Raed would joke that Abdullah missed his mama and that is why he doesn’t want to play.
Later, we heard the story of what happened the night after they met us. Tamer was excitedly telling his mother how he met two Americans and was happy about it. Abdullah snapped “Hey, what are you so happy about? These are the guys killing kids in Iraq”. The mother was shocked and told Raed as soon as he got home. The children were already in bed so he woke them to talk. He asked Abdullah,
“Do you like Assad?” (Syrian President)
“Yes, very much”
“Well, would you like him if he was killing people?”
“NO!”
“What about our neighbors, would you hate all of them if Assad did this?”
“no…”
“Well, they don’t like Bush for what he is doing and they aren’t a part of the army either. You shouldn’t hate them because of their president.”
Apparently, his chat had an effect because the next morning Tamer and Abdullah were practicing English together. At first, the story upset me. I thought back to Abdullah’s behavior and the way that he pulled away from us when we got near now knowing that he thought we were child killers. We are Americans and Americans are killing women and children in Iraq, therefore we must have killed women and children. I’m glad that at least his perception has changed since having met us.
The effect of this war on children is troubling. Most of the adults have very positive perceptions of the US. They hate the Bush administration but have fond memories of the years before. The Syrian children today have grown up hearing about American bombs and invasions for as long as they can remember. They don’t share the positive memories of the older generations, they have never known a time when the Americans weren’t the aggressor. This resentment and memories will stay with them for a long time to come. I just hope we can restore a positive image soon so that there isn’t just the perception of America as the great destroyer.
I really admire the travels you and Rob are making, and the first hand insights you so elequently share. I am concerned about global Jihad, and appreciate that your travels give us a little window into its causes. As Americans we are brash young entrants into the world scene. Most of us can’t comprehend that everyone doesn’t like us, let alone the reason why some don’t. Clearly our President has not helped in this department. Interesting how some see all of us an extension of our President but rarely see themselves as an extention of theirs. Sounds like you have helped at least one to understand.