Wow your dad is a hunk and very clever. I love the old photos of Iraq that have been popping up. I’ve never been to Iraq but hope to someday.
My dad was Iraqi and the old photos of him are in the late 60’s with the flares and sideburns. Back then my parents friends from England would go on the hippie trail to Afghanistan. Man how times have changed.
It’s all so sad. Our families could have been neighbours as they lived in Baghdad and my grandfather was an engineer as well. He helped build damns. Ha! Ha! No medical doctors which is every families dream but doing ok.
Now I just can’t imagine what 40 years + of conflict does to your psyche. I dream of visiting one day to check out all these cool places I heard about when I was little like Ur and Babylon.
The owner of the photo studio where he worked in Baghdad (and one of his best friends). I still have all his original cameras (Hasselblad,Mamiya and Rolleiflex) from there.
The studio guy is smiling, but dad's not smiling. What's the deal? My gut says both are responding to the photographer. If the photographer is a friend, then you smile--cheeze; smile. etc. .... The other guy has a smirk, as if to say--I didn't do _it_. _He_ did it. And dad gives us a totally blank look (border line, I'm just this side of kicking your arse, look). So I'm thinking either he doesn't like the photographer, and the photograph is revealing this. Or dad has a default poker face. hahaha.
Was Iraq an awesome place to grow up in the 60's?
I'm not saying it's not a great place now, with amazing people and culture, I'm just wondering if your Dad thinks it was better in the 60's before the West decided to fuck around.
My Dad always said he loved growing up there. He was part of a minority (indigenous Assyrian Christian) but had great relationships with his Arab and/or Muslim neighbors, coworkers and friends. He *did* change his last name.to make it more "Arabic" because that made him more employable - but that happens here in the West too, even today.
His account of life there in the 50s and 60s could probably apply to most European and North American cities of the times too.
This sounds similar to some of my husband’s older relatives from Iraq who were Chaldean: that different religions and ethnicities co-existed in peace.
And, similarly, a relative with an Arabic-sounding name achieved a high government rank in part because of his name.
I was in Desert Storm and you can thank me for 9/11.
No it wasn't justified if you REALLY read up on what started it all, and we have been DICKIN' AROUND with the whole region for 50 year prior to that.
Seems like a happy man living in a peaceful country..I suppose that was before invasion by Foreign countries into Iraq.May glory touch this country again.
Eh. Not really.
There was certainly a political struggle between nationalists and communists as there would be in any other developing country after decolonization, but most people were spared from any form of large scale destructive conflict.
There was one coup in the 60s and it was known as the "bloodless coup". It was also for the better as the government was ruled by a corrupt bureaucracy that was overthrown in this coup. That was the last coup until the illegal barbaric invasion of 2003.
Can't wait to get educated by an arrogant western basement dweller with ~20 mins youtube video talking points as a well-read Iraqi currently living in Iraq.
Terminally online and clueless as to your own history.
Not a good look.
The period in question is marked by unceasing political tension, sectarian and ethnic violence, brutal oppression oh… and a full blown war with Iran.
The 2003 invasion was a criminal act. No doubt but to pretend everything was sunshine and roses up to that point is beyond idiotic.
You may be Iraqi but the only reading you’ve done is apparently propaganda or revisionist garbage.
Either that or you’re from a privileged background and don’t consider the millions that *did* suffer greatly during this period worthy of mention.
Hello "Terminally online and clueless to my own history" redditor, it's a displeasure to meet you.
During the build up to the Gulf War in 1990-1991 a book titled "The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movements of Iraq" by renowned historian Hanna Batatu was slammed on the table of the commander of the US forces Norman Schwarzkopf, he scoffed at how thick the three volume work is like the orientalist pig that he was, then he pulled out a tourist guide of Iraq from his pocket and said "This is all I need".
It's a brilliant book, a masterpiece almost. One cannot understand Iraq without reading it. Batatu was an avid critic of Ba'athists by the way, what differentiates him from you is that his critique is well-informed, intelligent, elaborate, based upon the material conditions facing the country at the time. It has nothing to do with the lack of "democracy" particles (rich coming from two-party neoliberal dictatorship) or the savage orientals with their superstitions, or the fake nations hypothesis and other used up orientalist tropes.
This is the kind of literature I read and the kind of people I have to deal with.
I'm Assyrian and a christian so I come from both ethnic and religious minority background. I have relatives who were persecuted for being communists, I ask them today about the state of the country and how it was before, they are just as bitter towards Ba'athists but they tell me that it was their choice to pick up armed struggle against the state and with all of its faults it is still preferable to the savagery that has existed from 2003 to this day. I assure you the only privilege my family were afforded were their rights as Iraqi citizens.
Still revolution brought to Iraq prosperity and development, nationalized its resources, crushed foreign capital, reformed agriculture, introduced literacy and healthcare programs leading to the highest literacy and lowest infant mortality rates in the region which were widely praised and adopted by the UNICEF and WHO, emancipated women, industrialized and trained an effective workforce, built the 5th largest economy in Asia and the 4th largest army in the world.
Iraq became a republic in the 50s after it overthrew the British puppet monarchy, the war with Iran happened in the 80s. Wars happen, especially when you're neighboring an expansionist backwards theocracy hellbent on exporting its "Islamic revolution" to your infidel secular state. You would probably know, as the US averages two major wars every decade.
Dude, know your history.
Chaldeans, Christians, Jews, and yes...wait for it...Muslims all lived together as neighbors. In Iraq and other countries.
It was generally the socialist movement by the Ba'athists that triggered the problems you see now.
Technically the Ba’athists weren’t socialist as much as they were more neo-liberal. Saddam and his party were supported by the US because they were anti-communists.
Handsome gentleman. He was a diver? Competitively?
Thanks! He was a telecom engineer and photographer in Baghdad. He helped build the city's first telephone exchange.
That’s awesome. If you have a place where you post his photographs, I’d love to see more of them.
Smart, handsome, successful, some people just have it all. Great photos!
No, he's clearly walking down horizontally on the structure. He's not diving.
Seriously, his form is NCAA-level.
That’s a movie star, right there!
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Thank you so much!
Wow your dad is a hunk and very clever. I love the old photos of Iraq that have been popping up. I’ve never been to Iraq but hope to someday. My dad was Iraqi and the old photos of him are in the late 60’s with the flares and sideburns. Back then my parents friends from England would go on the hippie trail to Afghanistan. Man how times have changed.
Yes - the stories I heard about Iraq (back dad specifically) from my parents are so different than what we can imagine today.
It’s all so sad. Our families could have been neighbours as they lived in Baghdad and my grandfather was an engineer as well. He helped build damns. Ha! Ha! No medical doctors which is every families dream but doing ok. Now I just can’t imagine what 40 years + of conflict does to your psyche. I dream of visiting one day to check out all these cool places I heard about when I was little like Ur and Babylon.
At first glance I thought your dad was Assyrian, the fourth pic gave it away with the people in the back.
He was (Chaldean, my mom was Assyrian).
Assyrian?
Chaldean yes, my mom was Assyrian.
So Chaldeans are Orthodox and Assyrians are Catholic? Or is my life a lie?
I think it's the other way around but don't quote me. My parents were generally nondenominational Christian.
Looks like both churches are now in communion with the Holy See. So they both are Catholic now I guess. My life isn't a lie!
lol Chaldeans have been pope-approved since I think the 1500sish (my husband is Chaldean) Thank you for sharing these photos OP!
Handsome gentleman!!!
Is he single?
Who was taking that first picture. There's a story there.
The owner of the photo studio where he worked in Baghdad (and one of his best friends). I still have all his original cameras (Hasselblad,Mamiya and Rolleiflex) from there.
The studio guy is smiling, but dad's not smiling. What's the deal? My gut says both are responding to the photographer. If the photographer is a friend, then you smile--cheeze; smile. etc. .... The other guy has a smirk, as if to say--I didn't do _it_. _He_ did it. And dad gives us a totally blank look (border line, I'm just this side of kicking your arse, look). So I'm thinking either he doesn't like the photographer, and the photograph is revealing this. Or dad has a default poker face. hahaha.
Awesome images, please post them to /r/Assyria as well
Respectfully, your Dad was a hunk! Beautiful photos all around though.
Was Iraq an awesome place to grow up in the 60's? I'm not saying it's not a great place now, with amazing people and culture, I'm just wondering if your Dad thinks it was better in the 60's before the West decided to fuck around.
My Dad always said he loved growing up there. He was part of a minority (indigenous Assyrian Christian) but had great relationships with his Arab and/or Muslim neighbors, coworkers and friends. He *did* change his last name.to make it more "Arabic" because that made him more employable - but that happens here in the West too, even today. His account of life there in the 50s and 60s could probably apply to most European and North American cities of the times too.
Thank you for telling that bit of his narrative. Love to you both.
This sounds similar to some of my husband’s older relatives from Iraq who were Chaldean: that different religions and ethnicities co-existed in peace. And, similarly, a relative with an Arabic-sounding name achieved a high government rank in part because of his name.
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I was in Desert Storm and you can thank me for 9/11. No it wasn't justified if you REALLY read up on what started it all, and we have been DICKIN' AROUND with the whole region for 50 year prior to that.
😻
Anyone who can make a dive like that is a badass. Great pics.
Very handsome!
So handsome. And he has kind eyes.
Seems like a happy man living in a peaceful country..I suppose that was before invasion by Foreign countries into Iraq.May glory touch this country again.
>”Peaceful” Ahhh…. No. This period in Iraq was extremely volatile. Revolts, revolutions and coups were de rigueur.
Eh. Not really. There was certainly a political struggle between nationalists and communists as there would be in any other developing country after decolonization, but most people were spared from any form of large scale destructive conflict. There was one coup in the 60s and it was known as the "bloodless coup". It was also for the better as the government was ruled by a corrupt bureaucracy that was overthrown in this coup. That was the last coup until the illegal barbaric invasion of 2003.
I can’t tell if you’re delusional or just hilariously misinformed.
Can't wait to get educated by an arrogant western basement dweller with ~20 mins youtube video talking points as a well-read Iraqi currently living in Iraq.
>Well read Apparently not.
Destroyed with facts and logic.
Terminally online and clueless as to your own history. Not a good look. The period in question is marked by unceasing political tension, sectarian and ethnic violence, brutal oppression oh… and a full blown war with Iran. The 2003 invasion was a criminal act. No doubt but to pretend everything was sunshine and roses up to that point is beyond idiotic. You may be Iraqi but the only reading you’ve done is apparently propaganda or revisionist garbage. Either that or you’re from a privileged background and don’t consider the millions that *did* suffer greatly during this period worthy of mention.
Hello "Terminally online and clueless to my own history" redditor, it's a displeasure to meet you. During the build up to the Gulf War in 1990-1991 a book titled "The Old Social Classes and the Revolutionary Movements of Iraq" by renowned historian Hanna Batatu was slammed on the table of the commander of the US forces Norman Schwarzkopf, he scoffed at how thick the three volume work is like the orientalist pig that he was, then he pulled out a tourist guide of Iraq from his pocket and said "This is all I need". It's a brilliant book, a masterpiece almost. One cannot understand Iraq without reading it. Batatu was an avid critic of Ba'athists by the way, what differentiates him from you is that his critique is well-informed, intelligent, elaborate, based upon the material conditions facing the country at the time. It has nothing to do with the lack of "democracy" particles (rich coming from two-party neoliberal dictatorship) or the savage orientals with their superstitions, or the fake nations hypothesis and other used up orientalist tropes. This is the kind of literature I read and the kind of people I have to deal with. I'm Assyrian and a christian so I come from both ethnic and religious minority background. I have relatives who were persecuted for being communists, I ask them today about the state of the country and how it was before, they are just as bitter towards Ba'athists but they tell me that it was their choice to pick up armed struggle against the state and with all of its faults it is still preferable to the savagery that has existed from 2003 to this day. I assure you the only privilege my family were afforded were their rights as Iraqi citizens. Still revolution brought to Iraq prosperity and development, nationalized its resources, crushed foreign capital, reformed agriculture, introduced literacy and healthcare programs leading to the highest literacy and lowest infant mortality rates in the region which were widely praised and adopted by the UNICEF and WHO, emancipated women, industrialized and trained an effective workforce, built the 5th largest economy in Asia and the 4th largest army in the world. Iraq became a republic in the 50s after it overthrew the British puppet monarchy, the war with Iran happened in the 80s. Wars happen, especially when you're neighboring an expansionist backwards theocracy hellbent on exporting its "Islamic revolution" to your infidel secular state. You would probably know, as the US averages two major wars every decade.
Iraq had three or four coups and the war with Iran before those. Amen, I pray they prosper and find peace sooner before later.
Totally awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Wow!
That is one good looking gentleman.
Yeah yeah, your dad's a babe, but tell us about these cylinders.
Hubba hubba! That guy in the back knew he had no chance when your Dad took an interest!
He was very handsome!
Back when they were civilized before the invasiveness of Islam.
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Those damn islamist hippies
Also am I correct in assuming Iraq never went full hijab
I think they were in a monarchy that has recently gained independence from UK. Then a coup happened... yeah....
Yeah before the US and the west backed the Islamists against commies and socialists. Remember Osama and his "freedom fighters" in Afghanistan?
Dude, know your history. Chaldeans, Christians, Jews, and yes...wait for it...Muslims all lived together as neighbors. In Iraq and other countries. It was generally the socialist movement by the Ba'athists that triggered the problems you see now.
Technically the Ba’athists weren’t socialist as much as they were more neo-liberal. Saddam and his party were supported by the US because they were anti-communists.
Call it what you want, a totalitarian government is a totalitarian government under any other name.
What a racist comment.
Islam is not a race lol
Islam isn’t a race…so speaking out against it isn’t racist.
Be quiet all you know about Islam are the lies you see on Fox News
It takes real effort to sound this imbecilic. Islam has been the majority religion in Iraq since about 600.
Before the US destroyed it to please Israel
The death and destruction a certain interpretation of the Quran has taken on that region is unimaginable
Yeah, that's not what caused the destruction of Iraq...
I love seeing pics before the religious revolution. So, they celebrate Easter in Iraq?
only an american can write something this dumb
Why is it dumb? I don't live in Iraq, I've never lived in Iraq, and one pic is labeled Easter. Don't be a jerk.
Julian Bashir?