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Posted on November 23, 2011 by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), (1) Comments

Thanksgiving at GlobalJax

Last week we had the opportunity to host a group of Iraqi government power officials as a part of a larger Electricity Sector Reform project hosted by the Department of State. During their time in Jacksonville, Carrie McNamara invited me to join her Home Hospitality gathering to help show what a real American home is like. As we talked about all they had experienced in the U.S. over the course of two weeks they admitted that the U.S. was nothing like they had expected. Unlike the intimidating U.S. Embassy in Bagdad (which has over 15,000 employees, fortified walls, and air-tight security) and the movies they had seen (they mentioned Rambo specifically) the Americans they met on their travels were friendly and welcoming. The visitor from Kirkuk even expressed his sincere desire that all Iraqis get a chance to experience what he had experienced in America. “It would go a long way toward building bridges between our two nations," he said.

As the evening continued, they shared with us many of the things for which they are thankful: loving families, growing children, increasing security at home, and the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with an American family in Houston! But according to our guest from Kirkuk, violence continues in his home town. In fact, they each expressed concern for their families as there still are some there who would take this trip to the U.S. as an excuse to harm their children. To make things worse, according to our visitors, most places have just 12 to 14 hours of electricity a day – a problem their trip to the U.S. could help alleviate.

Couple their story with continued reports of instability in the Middle East, the debt crisis in Europe, famine in Africa, and high unemployment in our own nation and the situation of the world seems pretty grim.

But not all the news this Thanksgiving is bad! According to an article on Foreign Policy’s website – Counting Our Blessings: 10 Things to Celebrate this Thanksgiving – the world is increasingly healthier, richer, smarter, democratic, connected and peaceful. And when I meet people from Iraq and the rest of the world who are willing to sacrifice so much for a better future, I can’t help but expect that by next Thanksgiving the world will be an even better place. In my opinion, that’s a lot to be thankful for.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU: What are you thankful for this Holiday Season? Post your response below in the comments section or send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)!

Comments

Commented on February 16, 2012 by Joe
Beautiful as awlays. I really look forward to your posts. God bless you and yours.

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