one of the first things we were taught while being briefed about the arab culture and religion was, “don't talk about it.”  religion is a very fragile subject, especially because most of the insurgents believe that our motives, as westerners, are based on religion and our want to spread christianity.  i had the opportunity a couple of days ago to meet two iraqi christians. the topic of religion came up by accident when i appologized for eating in front of one of our interpreters.  during the islamic holiday, rhamadan, muslims must fast, and refrain from tobacco and all conjugal activities, during the daylight hours.  i thought i might have offended him and appologized.  he quickly told me that he was not muslim, but instead christian.  i talked a while with both of them and touched a little on thier beliefs, as well as mine.  you could definitely tell a difference in some of the beliefs, but i am southern baptist, and lord knows we agree with no one.  one of the men, the elder, explained how sadam had affected christianity in iraq.  he said that before sadam came to power in 1979, there were approx. 4 million christians in iraq.  now he said there are about 500 thousand.  while i hesitate to accept this for fact, i imagine he is close in his figures. i mean, who would now more of the topic and of christian persecution than him.  he explain he had been a p.o.w., prisoner of war, in iran for a little over eight years.  he was captured during one of the many conflicts between iraq and iran in 1982 and was released in early 1990.  i asked why he was held, and why so long.  he told me it was because he was iraqi, of course, and that he also, was a christian.  while i am not sure that denouncing his faith would have led to his release, i am sure, because he explained, it would have saved him from some “special treatment.”  don't think i need to go into detail on special treament for p.o.w.s.  i thought this story was well worth sharing and could be a testimony to other christians.  i would love to think that i would react in the same manner and keep my allegiance to god, but hope the situation never arrises where i must prove it.  never thought an iraqi interpreter would be such a witness to me.  love and miss all.

bc