Muslims & Christians Raise A Cross In Baghdad – UPDATED

Thanks to Michael Yon for permission to disseminate this awesome photograph, which he describes thusly:

A Muslim man had invited the American soldiers from “Chosen” Company 2-12 Cavalry to the church, where I videotaped as Muslims and Christians worked and rejoiced at the reopening of St John’s, an occasion all viewed as a sign of hope.

The Iraqis asked me to convey a message of thanks to the American people. ” Thank you, thank you,” the people were saying. One man said, “Thank you for peace.” Another man, a Muslim, said “All the people, all the people in Iraq, Muslim and Christian, is brother.” The men and women were holding bells, and for the first time in memory freedom rang over the ravaged land between two rivers. (Videotape to follow.) [all emphases mine – admin]

It’s one of those photographs that takes the breath – there is a feeling of cognitive dissonance. Some of us on one side – who perhaps have never understood why we went to Iraq in the first place – may look at this picture and say, “but…but…Iraq is a hell-hole, an unmanageable, unwinnable, place of civil strife, death and occupied people who hate us!”

Some of us on the other side, who – overwhelmed with images of burned flags and screaming mobs – may have forgotten the humanity of the Iraqi people (people we let down once before, and who had reason to distrust us and our commitment) may see these Muslims and Christians raising a cross together, in a language of brotherhood and gratitude, and say, “but…but…all those people are bad people…”

Some of us will discover that we have said or thought both things at one time or another. It’s not important which one of those people you are. It’s important, though, to get a sense of what is going on over there, where our people are serving, living and dying. It’s important to realize that where there is danger and tragedy, there is also progress and hope. In the major media outlets, we get big servings of the first two and very niggardly helpings of the latter. We need a more balanced diet of information.

In truth, we know so little. So much of the information we get from Iraq is filtered and delivered from “safe” locations. So little of it is unfiltered and delivered from the Iraqi streets.

Yon is delivering Iraq to us from the streets, and he’s doing it on donated dimes.

Wretchard compares this photo, in spirit, to the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. Rand Simberg calls it Pulitzer-worthy. I don’t know; I’m no judge of such things.

What I see in this picture is something more than a historic moment – I don’t even know if that’s what we should call it – I see the sort of thing people do when they are neighbors, when they are working together for their neighborhood, for the good of all who live there, and that makes it seem less “historic” than calmly, wonderfully normal, ordinary, wholesome and sane. I see tolerance, which so many are so certain cannot exist in Iraq – or anywhere in the Middle East. Tolerance in the best sense of the word – converting no one, insisting on nothing beyond ordinary acceptance; tolerance that gives people room to live their lives.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a stirring speech I urge you to read in its entirety, just said to Congress:

America did not tell the millions of men and women who came from every country in the world and who—with their hands, their intelligence and their heart—built the greatest nation in the world: “Come, and everything will be given to you.” She said: “Come, and the only limits to what you’ll be able to achieve will be your own courage and your own talent.” America embodies this extraordinary ability to grant each and every person a second chance. [Emphasis mine – admin]

Sarkozy is right; America is the land of second chances, and to me that is what we see in this photograph. A second chance for the Iraqi people, to take their lives and fortunes into their own hands after decades of oppression and tyranny. A second chance for trust to be built – between Iraq and America – where it was once squandered. A second chance for America, itself, which went into Iraq with noble intentions but unreal expectations, and which has managed to adapt and learn. This photograph is a defiant positive in a story of relentless negatives.

Will the photo help bring about a “moment,” of national coalescence on the war? Doubtful. But it should be seen and discussed. I do think the photo might become iconic, if it disseminated through the mainstream press.

Sarkozy also declared:

What made America great was her ability to transform her own dream into hope for all mankind.

This picture says that. Profoundly.

UPDATED: In my comments section, Dansker supplies a link explaining why and when the cross went down, some 7 months ago. To my way of thinking, the fact that it only came down 7 months ago takes nothing away from the good news that Muslims and Christians have re-raised it. It tells me that the tyrants are losing their hold, and illustrates that things are not what they were 7 months ago. Second chances, after all. The NY Times reports (on page A-19) that Al Qaeda has been routed in Baghdad.

Also writing:
Iraqpundit has an O/T but related post at his place.
Blue Crab Boulevard has a great round-up.
Rick at Brutally Honest says pass this around and help disseminate it, even to your local press.
Bookworm calls it Ecumenism where it counts.
Jimmie Bise calls it what Iraq can be and wants to be.
Bob Owens calls it powerfully symbolic.
Kim Priestap calls it photo of the year.
Bill Faith came out of “hiatus” to post it
Radio Patriot