Baghdad community center is spot of hope ( 2003-09-19 14:45) (Agencies)
In a city caught in a cycle of violence and
crushed expectations, the al-Maghrib Community Center is a bright spot, evidence
of how a vanquished and occupied Baghdad is trying to get back on its feet.
Until the April 9 ouster of Saddam Hussein, the center was a sleazy night
spot frequented mainly by men. In May, the 3rd Battalion, 124th Regiment of the
Florida National Guard heeded the call of local residents and began transforming
the place into a community center.
After spending $5,000, the National Guardsmen, whose unit is based in Panama
City, invited the United Nations Childrens' Fund, or UNICEF, and the Norwegian
Church Service to chip in to complete the project. The soldiers continued to
guard the facility while the work was going on.
On Thursday, after months of hard work, the head of the U.S.-backed
al-Maghrib District Council, retired diplomat Amer Nagi, officially opened the
center.
Some two dozen men from the 3rd Battalion, 124th Regiment took part in the
celebrations, mingling with residents, posing for photographs and shaking hands
with youngsters.
Such public interactions between Iraqis and U.S. soldiers have become rare in
Baghdad, where U.S. forces come under almost daily attacks and many Iraqis fear
for their lives if seen by Saddam loyalists to be friendly with the Americans.
Many also are angered by the perceived failure of the Americans to full restore
public services and security.
In the days and weeks immediately after U.S. forces captured Baghdad, many in
the capital showed good will toward the American soldiers. In turn, many of the
soldiers seemed comfortable in their role as liberators, waving back to
children, chatting with men and women who approached and frequently stopping for
an ice cream or a soft drink.
The soldiers now hardly patrol the streets on foot and stay inside armored
vehicles or close to them when they take positions at major intersections.
Jinan al-Firawi, manager of the al-Maghrib community center and a member of
the district's council, said she was not worried about retaliation from Saddam
loyalists, who have vowed to punish people who collaborate with Americans.
"I am not doing anything wrong," the mother of two said. She came to
Thursday's ceremony in a blue business suit and a blue-and-yellow head scarf. "I
only fear God."
Al-Maghrib, a mostly middle class area, is located in northern Baghdad. Like
the city's 5 million people, it has a mix of Shiite and Sunni Muslims, Kurds and
Christians.
"We are trying to be friends with them," said National Guard Maj. Mike
Ganzoneri. "All my soldiers join the military one weekend every month. They are
plumbers, bankers and painters, just like the people in this neighborhood."
UNICEF and the Norwegian Church Agency will fund the center for the next six
months. After that, according to Nagi, the facility will be supervised and
funded by Iraq's Youth Ministry.
At the center, boys aged between 10 and 12 wrestled on a yellow mattress,
shadow boxed or played a game of basketball on a dirt court. Others practiced
karate chops.
"There are only a few girls playing," said Ganzoneri, a father of three
teenage girls. "I guess it's the local culture."
Firawi disagreed.
"Starting Saturday, I'll be gathering all the kids, boys and girls, and
register them for the sport they would like to play," she said.
