By Cathy Breen
Amman, Jordan
Tuesday, March 15, 2005

I just read Sheila Provencher’s March 9th account from Baghdad “It Happens to Iraqis All the Time.” In it she relates how an Iraqi friend told her “You are very brave to be with us through all this. I feel that you are family.”

In the early morning hours as I try to become still and gather my thoughts, I too think that this is what it is all about. We are family.

About two weeks ago I had occasion to visit here in Amman with Maxine, who works full-time with CPT (Christian Peacemaker Team) and was just returning from Baghdad after several months there. And later with Michele upon her return from Iraq as part of a CPT delegation that went for a two-week period. They both told me the same thing, that they could no longer look into people’s eyes as they walked through the streets. “We have to keep our eyes down, and do not even have eye contact anymore” said Michele. “So many people have lost trust.” Upon hearing their words, I felt that I had been dealt a severe blow. We dare not allow the bonds of human friendship to break!, I thought. How fragile they have become.