US Soldiers attend cultural sensitivity classes/learn Iraqi taboos

[doni_georgia]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/iraq/2179757

"We're making sure our forces clearly understand what the traditions are, and what the sensitivities are to make sure that we're being respectful of the Iraqi people."

These soldiers know full well the implications of their actions in those torture pictures.

Check out some of the cultural taboos from the Military Intelligence Lifelong Learning Center Web Site:

http://128.196.21.241/cultural/iraq/culture_gestures.asp

Some specific taboos:

Thumbs up sign same as shooting a bird in western culture

Dogs are unclean

Nudity is forbidden

Exposing soles of feet is supreme insult

Pointing means you are calling person an animal

Heads may only touch floor during prayer - anyt other time this is forbidden

Men may not be touched by women (except their wife) and women may not be touched by men (except husband)

[Skittles]

1. dogs are unclean? we love them anyway.

:o

[achtung_circus]

2. I had huge questions during the invasion

What I was looking for, and didn't see, was a small laminated card attached to soldiers' vests. The card should have had a list of useful English expressions and the Arabic translations. Some would be polite, i.e. please, thank you, etc, and some would be commands, i.e. stop, sit, stay. This would have prevented American soldiers yelling incomprehensible commands at Iraqis and probably have prevented deaths due to their not understanding what they were being told to do.

But if a ferriner doesn't speak English, just yell louder. Volume is the perfect translation method.

[Trinity]

3. isn't this a dollar late a dime short type of thing?

:shrug:


Peace? :hippie: :smoke: :freak: