Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project

A commentary piece written by Sami Rasouli, Director of IARP’s partner organization the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, appeared in the Star Tribune on February 22, 2010. In the commentary, Sami writes, “In January, I returned to Iraq. I left Minneapolis with thanks for Americans’ commitment to peace and their generous spirit. I left, also, with a plea: Let us remember the people of my other homeland, Iraq. Let us remember our brothers and sisters.” To read the whole piece, click here.

Below is a story of a volunteer who has connected with an Iraqi Artist, Anwar Qamar.

From Iraq to Minnesota: Connecting through Art

Barb with painting purchased from Anwar Qamar, artist in Iraq

Barb is a Minnesotan who recently heard Sami Rasouli, Director of MPT, speak about life in Iraq and the continuing consequences of war. After Sami’s talk, Barb wrote, “We were all devastated, and called to action, and also inspired by the potential that we people can reach across to each other and simply create peace.” Barb bought a painting by Iraqi artist Anwar Qamar that Sami had brought with him. She emailed Anwar and, with some help in getting the email to Anwar from IARP’s partner in Iraq the Muslim Peacemaker Teams, talked with Anwar via their computers. Anwar showed Barb other pieces of his work and asked her to speak slowly so he could catch the English.

In an earlier email to Anwar, Barb wrote, “After (Sami’s) talk, I had a chance to look through the paintings which Sami brought.  As soon as I saw your painting, “Help!” I burst into tears, grabbed it and bought it.  It is now hanging right in front of me.  Just now when I rolled open your painting and found your contact information on the back, I cried again.  Again the horror of what is happening in Iraq was made real to me.  Thank you for sending your cry for help.  We have heard it and I am answering that call.”

Barb is excited about how art can help personalize Iraqis to Americans. She plans to arrange for art shows in the LaCrosse-Winona area and is starting her outreach with a popular restaurant. She plans to do the front work of talking with the owners and then coordinate with IARP about selecting Iraqi pieces.

Barb told Anwar in another email, “I am so grateful and I look forward to being in touch with you, Anwar, and developing this wonderful connection between ordinary people who care about goodness and beauty, and about justice. Please do write to me, Anwar.  I want you to know many things- mostly that there are millions of people like me here in the US, and all over the world, who are hearing your cry and know what’s happened.  I am working hard to help….

There is no news here about radioactive dust, about cancer and dead babies and poisoned water and destroyed systems.  Everything is kept at a comfortable distance in the media. I want to keep your cry for help fresh and close so that I will mobilize to help you in a powerful way. We are all one family. I am your friend. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you someday….

This is the truth which, together, we can bring out of our hearts and make real on this earth in Iraq: ‘Every object and being in the universe is a jar overflowing with wisdom and beauty,a drop of the Tigris that cannot be contained by any skin. Every jarful spills and makes the earth more shining, as though covered in satin… Make peace with the universe. Take joy in it. It will turn to gold. Resurrection will be now. Every moment, a new beauty‘ (Rumi).

We can do this together:

‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has‘ (Margaret Mead).”

If you would like to get involved with the Iraqi Art Project, please contact Tricia Heuring, Director of the Iraqi Art Project, at tricia (at) reconciliationproject.org. To see a sample of the Iraqi art that IARP shows in the U.S., click here.

The delegation from Najaf to Minneapolis headed home to Iraq on October 2nd after a productive 2 weeks. The delegates met with hundreds of Americans and set a strong foundation for further connections and peace-building activities between the two cities and countries. You can read about their visit here and here. Below are photos from the delegates’ visit.

One of the delegates, Dr. Najim Askouri, writes,”Thank you very much for your hospitality towards us during our visit to Minneapolis. We spent beautiful days to be remembered for a long time. We hope that the sister city relationship will be promoted and fulfilled for the benefits of people and the cause of peace. God bless you all.

For the English version, click here.

2009R-337

قرار مدينة منيابولس

بأصدار من:  هادجس, جوردن, حافستد, رمينجتن, جلدن

قبول دعوة من مدينة النجف الاشرف في العراق للانضمام بإتفاقية التوأمة و دعوة مواطني مدينتي النجف و منيابولس للمشاركة بالنشاطات المذكورة في الاتفاقية ، والموافقة على تطوير الخطط الخاصة بها من قبل منظمة “مشروع المصالحة العراقية-الامريكية”

حيث أن الكثير من مواطني مدينة منيابولس تواقون لاقامة علائق ثقافية وصداقة مع العراق،

وبما أن  المشروع العراقي والأمريكي للمصالحة هي منظمة تتألف من المعلمين المتقاعدين وأعضاء هيئة التدريس بالجامعة، وغيرهم من المهنيين العاملين من أجل تعزيز السلام في العراق،

و حيث أن المشروع العراقي والأمريكي للمصالحة قد تلقى تأكيدات بأن قائممقام  و مجلس محافظة النجف الاشرف سيرحبان بالصداقة مع منيابولس،

وحيث أن علاقة التوأمة بين منيابولس و النجف الاشرف ستكون متوافقة مع أهداف مبادرة الشراكة للعالم الاسلامي-منظمة تآخي المدن العالمية ،

وبما أن , الموقع المهم لمدينة النجف في العالم الاسلامي ووجود مركز للعلماء و الأطباء المتخصصين والجامعات والمؤسسات التعليمية الأخرى، فمن الواضح , سيكون هناك مبادرات عديدة لاقامة نشاطات تجارية بين المدينتين،

و حيث أن المشروع العراقي والأمريكي للمصالحة و في إطار التعاون بين جامعة مينيسوتا وجامعة الكوفة في النجف سيستضيف وفدا من النجف في أيلول من هذا العام،

وبما أن علاقة التوأمة بين منيابولس و النجف تتمتع بدعم كبير في المجتمع المحلي بما في ذلك دعم من رجل الكونغرس كيث إليسون،

و حيث أن مدينة النجف الاشرف ستكون المدينة الشقيقة الأولى من منطقة الشرق الأوسط لمنيابولس.

وبناءً على ماتقدم ، فإن مجلس مدينة منيابولس قد قرر مايلي :

أن مجلس المدينة، نيابة عن شعب منيابولس، قد قرر الموافقة على جهود المشروع العراقي والأمريكي للمصالحة في اطار تطوير برنامج التوأمة بين مدينتي منيابولس و النجف الاشرف في العراق لغرض خلق فرص التفاهم المتبادل بين شعبي المدينتين بضمن الدولتين.

إضافةً لذلك , تقرر ايضاً , أن قائممقام مدينة منيابولس و بموجب هذا القرار قد خول بالتصرف نيابة عن مدينة منيابولس بوضع الصيغة النهائية لهذا الاتفاق.

و كذلك , فقد تقررأيضاً , أن على منظمتنا المحلية للتوأمة مع النجف الاشرف، المشروع العراقي والأمريكي للمصالحة، وبالتعاون مع قائممقام ومجلس المدينة، بمتابعة الخطوات اللازمة لإضفاء الطابع الرسمي على العلاقة بين المدينتين و إشراك الأفراد والجماعات والمؤسسات التجارية المناسبة في تطوير عملية التبادل الثقافي والتعليمي والتقني و التجاري.

EngageMN, an online project aiming to give voice to Minnesota’s Muslim community, recently published an article about the new Sister City relationship between Minneapolis, USA and Najaf, Iraq. The article also highlights the upcoming delegation visit to Minneapolis from Najaf. To read the article, click here.