Decreasing Violence In Iraq

The Iraqi government has finally put its finger on what it believes to be the leading cause of violence in Iraq. It’s the toy guns. Toy guns and fireworks engender in Iraqi children an increasingly aggressive behavior resulting in criminality. So much so that a parliamentary committee, seriously alarmed about rampant violence in the country and concerned by the widespread circulation of toy guns among children decided to draft a bill to ban the importing of toy guns and fireworks into Iraq.

 

Samira Al-Moussawi, head of the parliament’s committee on children and women, states: “the culture of violence has prevailed in our society and controlled the Iraqi family.” No kidding!

 

The bill proposes that anybody caught with a toy gun will be fined $2,500 or jailed for at least three years. I think if the bill passes, violence in Iraq will drastically decrease.

 

Some Iraqi children already switched to real guns; there are no laws in Iraq prohibiting the possession of real guns and explosives. 

 

The real issue is the increased numbers of Iraqi children suffering from post-traumatic syndrome as a result of the war; the children here are exposed, on a daily basis, to murderous violence perpetrated by adults carrying real guns and setting off real bombs. There is a complete lack of adequate medical cadres and facilities to attend to these children.

 

Toy guns? It’s not the toy guns; it’s the examples these children see in their homes and neighborhoods.  

 

This reminds me of an interview I heard on National Public Radio (NPR) years ago. The NPR female broadcaster was interviewing US Marine Corps General Reinwald who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting Camp Pendleton, the military installation he commands. Here it is:

 

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?
GENERAL REINWALD: We’re going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That’s a bit irresponsible, isn’t it?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don’t see why. They’ll be properly supervised on the rifle range.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don’t you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don’t see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you’re equipping them to become violent killers.
GENERAL REINWALD: Well, Ma’am, you’re equipped to be a prostitute, but you’re not one, are you?
The radio went silent and the interview ended.  

 

Ahmed T. B. Copyright © 2008