The following is an introduction of Riverbend by Buzzflash:

Riverbend Is a Blogger, “Embedded” in the Real Baghdad, Telling It Like It Is, Helping Us See With New Eyes

A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW

Democracy has to come from within and it has to be a request of the people — not of expatriates who have alliances with the CIA and British intelligence. People have to want something enough to rise up and change it. They have to be ready for democracy and willing to accept its responsibility. The US could have promoted democracy in Iraq peacefully, but then they wouldn’t have permanent bases in the country, would they?

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“Riverbend” is a storyteller. Her “Baghdad Burning” blog is one part Anne Frank, another part Scheherazade and “A Thousand and One Arabian Nights” — from cyberspace. As she wrote in her first weblog entry, dated August 17, 2003: “So this is the beginning for me, I guess … expect a lot of complaining and ranting. … A little bit about myself: I’m female, Iraqi and 24. I survived the war. That’s all you need to know. It’s all that matters these days anyway.”

Riverbend’s experience of war, her political commentary and nuanced slice-of-life descriptions, have won her worldwide respect and appreciation. Now her weblog writings have been published in paperback and are available as a BuzzFlash premium. BuzzFlash is grateful to Riverbend for all she has shared in “Baghdad Burning,” as well as for her e-mailed comments to us (below) on why she writes, how she experiences American propaganda, Iraqis’ hopes, fears and disappointments, and the elusiveness of “normal” life in Baghdad.

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Baghdad Burning

… I’ll meet you ’round the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend…

Monday, April 18, 2005

Good News and Bad News…
Bad news first: Brave, young Marla Ruzicka was killed in Baghdad while travelling along the Baghdad Airport road. Read more about her work and the lives she touched here: CIVIC Worldwide. Read more about her personally on Justin Alexander’s site and Raed’s “Raed in the Middle”.

The good news: Another shipment of emergency aid for Iraqi civilians has been sent out. Raed’s family started and are organizing the whole thing. He has listed all the people who donated money and has taken endless pictures and scanned receipts- it’s well documented on his blog.

Some of the amazing people behind this effort:
– Raed and Niki
– Khalid
– Majid
– Faiza

– posted by river @ 1:17 PM  

Here, I’m afraid, you will not see a laughing “Adele” so often.

Yahoo News Search on Marla Ruzicka

       
        Franz Ruzicka – artist

Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité

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