RE: Barbershop Politics in Baghdad by Steven Lee Myers
To the Editor:
What struck me most about this article by Steven Lee Myers was not what his subjects had to say about politics, their topic of conversation, but rather the fact that in this barbershop, there sat men from different walks of life, different faiths, different beliefs, having a civil conversation about politics. “'We are brothers in this barbershop,' Sadiq al-Jaff, a barber [said.]" Myers found a small little barbershop in Baghdad where Kurds and Shiites live and work together, serving Kurds, Sunnis, Shiites, and Americans alike, with no prejudice for any, but equal respect for all. Myers refers to this place as " a little ecumenical oasis in the bustling heart of Baghdad." From what I have come to understand of Islam, this little barbershop is the perfect example of what Islam is supposed to be: peaceful, gentle, and calm. Not only this, but a faith that welcomes and accepts all people. Myers comments on the "postcard of a Christian altar and another of Imam Hussein, the revered Shiite martyr and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad"hanging on the walls, clearly showing this invitation to all people, theologies, and beliefs. It's funny how and where people can come together. After reading Knight's book, I feel like he would be an advocate for a small barbershop like this, a place where people could meet, discuss tough issues, and part friends, despite clashing ideologies or difference of opinions.
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