Thursday, November 15, 2007

HW34: Responding To Riverbend 2 Questions

According to Riverbend in Baghdad Burning……..
Question 1: What is the role of gold in family savings in Iraq? Riverbend says, “Iraqi people don’t own gold because they are either spectacularly wealthy, or they have recently been on a looting spree… Gold is a part of our culture and the role it plays in “family savings” has increased since 1990 when the Iraqi Dinar (which was $3) began fluctuating crazily.” (Riverbend 100) Riverbend continues to describe how when an Iraqi couple gets married the male usually gives the female a “mahar,” which is a dowry made up of gold jewelry. When a couple has a child the child usually receives small gold jewelry. Before the raids occurred parents could keep or sell their child’s jewelry in order to help bills and such, but since American invaded they no longer can sell their gold.

Question 2: Why are date palms important to Iraqi people? Dates are so important to Iraqi people because they provide food and different types of uses for the people in Iraq. “There are over 300 different types of dates-each with its own name, texture, and flavor.” (Riverbend 104) She continues to explain how the palm dates also are made to make date syrup, “khal” or vinegar, “areg” a very high alcohol content drink and they are also used to trade with neighbors so they can sample the fruit you are growing. It can also be used as oil for cooking, and some of the pits are cleaned and sanded and made into necklace pieces.

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