A Pupil Once Said
I remember once, early in the morning as I was waiting for my students to come to class at my Iraqi Air Force Training School where I taught
English, a lovable chap approached me. At first, I was startled, for I had been deep in thought while gazing out of my classroom window which, temporarily, had an oxymoronic feel to it: on the one hand, it allowed me to be in a trance of wonderment at how my life had taken a twist of fate; on the other hand, though, the window itself was barred and covered with wired mesh – a prison effect. The two essences somehow clashed. Nevertheless, my pupil brought me back from wherever it was that I had gone in thought. He immediate commented to me after observing my look, “Teacher you look sad. Why, teacher?” I really didn’t know what to say to him. I replied with the first thing that came to mind, “My life has changed since coming here to Iraq. I think I’ve lost much.” “Let me show you something,” he responded. He took a piece of paper and pencil out of his pocket and began to write the following: “If the sun forgets the earth; If the moon forgets the night; If feelings forget their emotions; And, if the heart forgets to pump; I’ll surely not forget you – I promise!” Wow. At that point, I really struggled to keep my composure. I felt like crying. But, in the end, it proved something else to me, too – Iraqis are just as human as the rest of us. Why this war?