This little story has been sitting on my computer now for several months, as I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. It was relayed to me - with some emotion - by a friend who was there. I've spent a good deal of time at the police station and hospital in question, and am very familiar with the area. However, the events occurred approximately a year before our tour began. I share it here only to shine a small light on the human drama and tragedy behind the all too prosaic crawl across the bottom of the television screen that passes for news.
Haidar was a stocky, rotund fellow. The kind of guy that is immediately likable; a jovial, warm man whose honesty and humor instantly created intimate friendships. He was also a popular police chief, who took his job as a civil servant of the people very seriously.
The police station is located immediately adjacent to the hospital, so the police were regularly checking security and socializing with the hospital staff. On this day, Haidar happened to be talking with staff near the entrance to the hospital's emergency room.
The American soldiers were at the police station when they heard shouting and a commotion coming from the hospital. One of their interpreters turned wide-eyed and said, "It's Haidar. There's a suicide bomber." At that moment, Haidar staggered into the street, towards a protective concrete barrier, clutching a struggling man in a ferocious bear-hug. Before anybody could react, an explosion ripped through the streets.
Haidar knew he was a dead man, but he sacrificed his life to save dozens of patients and staff in that hospital emergency room. He left behind a wife suffering from cancer, and two children. The American soldiers took up a collection amongst themselves in support of his family.
There happened to be a CNN reporter embedded with the American unit, who was a witness to the events. So, the heroics of this lovable, dedicated patriot who sacrificed himself so that others may live were relayed to a global audience as: "Suicide Bomber Kills One."
Haidar was a stocky, rotund fellow. The kind of guy that is immediately likable; a jovial, warm man whose honesty and humor instantly created intimate friendships. He was also a popular police chief, who took his job as a civil servant of the people very seriously.
The police station is located immediately adjacent to the hospital, so the police were regularly checking security and socializing with the hospital staff. On this day, Haidar happened to be talking with staff near the entrance to the hospital's emergency room.
The American soldiers were at the police station when they heard shouting and a commotion coming from the hospital. One of their interpreters turned wide-eyed and said, "It's Haidar. There's a suicide bomber." At that moment, Haidar staggered into the street, towards a protective concrete barrier, clutching a struggling man in a ferocious bear-hug. Before anybody could react, an explosion ripped through the streets.
Haidar knew he was a dead man, but he sacrificed his life to save dozens of patients and staff in that hospital emergency room. He left behind a wife suffering from cancer, and two children. The American soldiers took up a collection amongst themselves in support of his family.
There happened to be a CNN reporter embedded with the American unit, who was a witness to the events. So, the heroics of this lovable, dedicated patriot who sacrificed himself so that others may live were relayed to a global audience as: "Suicide Bomber Kills One."
1 comment:
Wow. Faith in humanity jumps up a rung. Hey I visited a church yesterday where they mentioned/prayed for a guy in the army in Afghanistan who has a blog. It's interesting! http://flyingshepherd.com/
Happy belated Thanksgiving by the way, I hope you had as good a one as possible =-)
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