This letter came to us Wednesday December 12, 2007 from our friend Omar in Iraq.

How to know that you are Iraqi

When you can't wear your pajamas at home fear the sudden, unexpected armed group raid

When the electricity visits your place from two to six hours in every 24 hours

When you can't fix a house essential broken instrument for more than one reason

When you and your wife lose the interest in sentiment

When you mess-up the relation between you and your children because of the daily stress

When you leave your house without knowing whether you are going to be back or not

When you find yourself forced to swallow an insult without able to stand for your self

When you can't buy more than you can carry fearing the armed day light theft

When you find your self unable to be truthful in order to save your neck

When you keep thinking of yesterday and how it was better then today

When you don't know how will tomorrow be

When you realize that you are too weak to protect your family or your self

When you can't go to your place of worship

When you can't whistle a love song in the street

When you can't say No for what you believe deep inside it is no

When you find out that your appealing for a visa (round the world) is rejected

When you find yourself unable to cry and full of fear that the whole world has forgotten you

If you have all these (when and more inside you), this will mean that (You are Iraqi)

Merry Christmas everybody and happy new year

And for Muslims happy feast

And may God bless us all

Learn more about the Iraqi Refugee Crisis here