This blog is...MOVING!

Blogger has been generously hosting 'my occupied territory' for more than 19 months, but like many other bloggers, it's time for me to move up into the world of WordPress. That's not to say that I had ANY idea how to even begin doing that.

When I started this blog in September '05, I barely knew a thing about html. I was proud to be able to change some links on the sidebar after much Googling and much agony. When I stumbled upon the blogosphere, I knew that it would be something I would enjoy, being the kind of person who likes to talk a lot and rant a lot. I won't say that my life has been changed because of blogging, but it has definitely had an impact on me. I'm glad to have been able to maintain my blogging over the past year and a half and hope to continue learning more through blogging.

One of the most important things that blogging has introduced me to is the technical aspect of maintaining a blog. I'm no where near being an expert on anything beyond basic html (still trying to figure out what CSS is), but I know so much more than I would have if I hadn't started blogging.

So I knew I wanted to change the look of my blog, and get my own domain, but didn't really have much of a clue on how to start. I really could not have made this "big" move without the immense help I received from a fellow blogger, Sayed. It would have taken me years to find out how to get a domain, download WordPress, upload plugins, and all that junk. Some of the advantages of being a part of this great blogosphere are the connections you make with bloggers that allow you to become friends with people you've never met and may never even meet. They are always willing to help out and share their experience with others. I hope that I'll be able to help some budding bloggers as well with my limited knowledge and experience. Again, thank you Sayed for all your help and for being patient with all my annoying questions :)

I hope you all will like the new domain, even though it's a tad long, but I think it's easy to remember. I also hope you will enjoy the new look. I'll be personalizing it and tweaking it over the next few weeks, and your suggestions are always welcome.

Thank you for putting up with this blog despite the dreary colors and unattractive layout, and I apologize for the light blogging over the past month or so as I was getting ready to pack my posts and move out.

I guess it's just impossible for me to write a concise post. Enough blabbing.

http://myoccupiedterritory.net

Don't forget to adjust your bookmarks and your RSS feed:
http://myoccupiedterritory.net/?feed=rss

-moi

Four Years Later, Regret

I don't want to write another post about the ill-advised invasion, or the miserable state of the occupation. I did a little of that a few weeks back, on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Today, on the anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, the day I literally felt my heart sink, I leave you with the reality of "liberation".

One way I have felt closer and more hurt by this war is because one of my closest friends is Iraqi. When her great aunt and uncle were brutally murdered in their home a few years back, I felt the reality of the numbers I heard everyday. When her recently wed cousin was also killed in Iraq, I did not know what to tell her. Today, she spoke to one of her cousins on the phone... a young girl who is too mature for her age, one of many that have become adults as a result of living through this war. Today, the 14-year old told my friend...

"I hated Saddam, I really did. He hurt Jido* a lot. But the day his statue came down in Baghdad 4 years ago, that's the day Iraq died. And thats the day we all died."

Another powerful account is that of a man who helped in the oft televised image of the Saddam statue being brought down by Iraqis and American soldiers. The Post profiles his story...

"We got rid of a tyrant and tyranny. But we were surprised that after one thief had left, another 40 replaced him," said Jubouri, who is a Shiite Muslim. "Now, we regret that Saddam Hussein is gone, no matter how much we hated him."

(*Jido: grandpa)