What do you say to something like that? Honestly...

I already have you curious as to what I am going to talk about don't I? America. One word meaning freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. A goal actually reached by some of the Iraqi men, women, and children. They leave entire families behind in search of this dream, that under Saddam was unthinkable. I want to share a story I heard today from one of the Iraqi guards I work with, his name will not be mentioned, for reasons you all know.

I came to work today, not looking forward to it, as usual. Guard duty is NEVER a fun task. There is some joy found in the conversations with Iraqi guards while manning the gate, however. Their English is broken and trying to understand what they say sometimes is a more difficult task than you would think. Some get by with the most basic of dialogue, and are understandable. The gentleman I refer to now, usually is quite jovial, uplifting all the guards with song...and sometimes even dance. (dancing behind barracades of course - out of sight)

On this day...a somber look invaded his gaze. Their was no happiness in his demeanor, and it is quite easy to notice that he was not himself. I asked him if there was anything wrong. He tells me this...

A man he knows had been in America for twenty years, and came back to help his family. The militia kidnapped him, and posted a ransom of 25,000 dollars. They told the family that if they did not pay, he would be killed. This guard sold everything he had...car, household furniture, clothes...to try to raise this money to save the man he knew.

He found out today that it was all in vain.

The worst had already happened. The man that was his father.

All I could do was put my hand on his shoulder and tell him I was sorry. What do you say to something like that?