Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Unexpected Friends, Cool Story

I just thought that this is a Christmas story that needs sharing!


I have been deployed to Iraq 3 times now. My first 2 deployments I had the mindset of Iraqi people are my enemy and that they are trying to kill me. I know that this is a very prejudiced outlook, but after being bombed numerous times (one almost killing me) and being shot 3 times, it is hard not to have some reservations.

I say all of that because this deployment has been different to say the least. I work directly with the Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army. We see each other multiple times a week and have gotten to know each other well. We play games, laugh and talk, and work together. My view on the people of Iraqi has completley changed.

One of the guys I work with a lot is named Jabar. He is a "rotund" jolly guy that loves to joke and play around, but he knows what he is doing when it comes to work. Jabar and I love to share a good cigar every now and then. I usually supply him with all of the cigars that he wants. We have a pretty good working relationship and I am honored to call him a friend.

Now, keeping in mind that he is Muslim and does not celebrate Christmas, Jabar came to me this past weekend and informed me that he had a Christmas gift for me. I was a bit suprised! He gave me a big red wooden box that folds up from the middle. When I opened it I saw a silk "man dress" (traditional Iraqi mens wear). It is a very nice piece. Of course I wouldnt be caught dead wearing it, but this was a very nice gesture.

It was only today that another Iraqi told me what it is worth. Jabar had given presents to a couple of others in my office, but nothing like this! The gift he gave me commonly sells for over 100 US dollars!


I just wanted to share this because I thought that it is a very neat Christmas Story! Please feel free to share a cool Christmas story with us all!


-Sarge

That is a terrific story Shawn... thanks for sharing....

Shawn that is awesome....can't wait to see the pics...

Great story. There are nice people all over.

cool!

Nice story.

Sort of a modern twist on the famous WWI "Christmas in the Trenches" story (which some say is just a work of fiction)

Awesome, so now that you know what he spent on you, you are going to wear it at least once, right? Can't be any worse than a Kilt, or Lava Lava.

Great story!

Great story to hear! Just another example of "don't judge a book by it's cover", however hard that may be sometimes.

Very cool story! Maybe return the gesture with a American gift! Maybe a cool sports card! It might be late getting there, but im sure he would be happy ether way!

You've learned a lesson that a great deal
of your fellow citizens will never have the
opportunity to experience. The fact that you
recognize that distinction speaks well of your
own maturity and ability to view a bigger
picture.

Obviously, you've earned a friendship. Tell
Jabar that a friend said he has "great instincts."

Take him and his family out for a nice meal.

It works everywhere (you know this as well
as I do).

Collect Hard!,
RGBII

There is an Indian family that owns a corner store by my parents. My mom shops there frequently and every year, even though they are not Christian, they give her a Christmas gift, which is usually something from their native country. Really awesome stuff.

You don't have to believe in something yourself to be kind to someone else who does. Great story, Shawn.

Take him and his family out for a nice meal.

It works everywhere (you know this as well
as I do).

Collect Hard!,
RGBII

You got that right. I was in Bali for two weeks and ate a simple lunch with our driver/guide one day for about $7 for the three of us. He said he never took his family there to eat because it was too expensive. When he dropped us off at the airport, I gave him a decent amount of cash to say thanks for all his hard work. He misunderstood me and kept telling me to take it inside to pay the departure taxes. Once he realised it was for him personally, he cried. To quote Bill Cowher on the NFL network commercial, "It was a special moment."

I have a story, its not about me.

But I knew a couple that was in a business I was doing for home. They were sponsoring a girl somewhere in the world in some tiny little village (they had been her sponsor for a few years). And around Christmas time they saved up and sent like $500 to girl and her family. And in their money they were able to build a house for the girl and her family they bought land to farm on and animals to breed for food and clothing. It also paid to build a school for the village paid for a teacher, the village also was able to have access to good clean water for the whole village and several other things because they are so poor there. $500 is not a lot of money here, but to there it made a world of difference there. They got pics of all the stuff it did. And year or so later they went and visited the village as a vacation and seen all the new stuff that there money bought, they had been the once before and they said it mind blowing how much $500 did for that place.

It was a great story to hear and kinda tickles you in a funny way. But just goes to show, something we could easily blow on junk, could easily change someones or in this case a whole villages life's!

Awsome Story! Thanks for Sharing

-Sarge

Shawn...cool story that NEEDS a picture of the "man dress" to go along with it PLUS it would make Jabar feel much better than he got you something "right"!!!!!