August 20, 2003

THE PEN IS MIGHTY

A panel of Iraqi teachers has been removing Saddam Hussein references from school books. As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, it hasn’t been easy:

Fuad Hussein, a returned Iraqi expatriate who chose the panelists, remembers seeing one teacher's hand hesitate the first time she had to cross out a picture of the dictator.

"I told her, 'Don't be afraid. Just bring the pen down here, then across here, and he's finished,' " he said.

That might be one of the prettiest paragraphs I’ve ever read.

(Via Joanne Jacobs.)

Posted by Tim Blair at August 20, 2003 05:55 AM
Comments

That was a moving post Tim.

Posted by: Full Auto at August 20, 2003 at 07:35 AM

I agree Tim. The other outstanding quote for me is:

When asked if the references to Saddam Hussein in English books bothered him, Abdulla laughed.

"You didn't grow up under an authoritarian regime," he said. "You can't understand."


Posted by: Rob at August 20, 2003 at 10:00 AM

The pen is mighty

Especially if it is one of those unexploded ordinance pens.

Posted by: Andjam at August 20, 2003 at 09:25 PM

Those who rewrite their past are doomed to repeat it...

Posted by: Tatterdemalian at August 20, 2003 at 09:28 PM

What is it with this "penis mighty" stuff. Isn't that sexist? Wait a minute. Missed the space. "Never mind." (Emily Litella)

Posted by: JorgXMcKie at August 21, 2003 at 11:31 AM