Cultural+Imperialism+in+Iraq



By Brayden


 * The American Experience**

The American soldiers came to Iraq full of ideas about helping the people and making their country a unified democratic nation. By doing so, the soldiers entered the country with not a very full idea of the culture of Iraq. American society and Iraq's society interpret things very differently. One of the main issues a lot of people have been having with the American soldiers when they came to Iraq, is their interaction with the children. In the picture below, a soldier is giving candy to a group of children who came running to the truck. In our American society we interpret this action as a good deed because the children enjoy candy. [|In Iraq], many of the people were angry about this because they viewed the soldier like he was looking down on the children and feeding them like animals. Many [|soldiers] also do things to help the children such as give them gifts to provide some sort of education as they are stuck in a war torn country which is interpreted as a postivie action no matter where you are from.

[|American Interaction]


 * [[image:Candy_Soldier.jpg align="right"]]

The American Idea Hits Iraq**

Soldeirs were not fully educated of Iraq's culture and their understanding of religious beliefs and different aspects of their society. The rank of women is so low in Iraq, while it is always growing in America. American society has begun to take its toll on Iraq's people though as time has passed. When the United States entered the war in 2003, women in Iraq were to keep their face covered at all times and they were not allowed to do things such as shake the hands of men they are not familiar with. As the American influence has flowed through Iraq, women have become much more free and happy without the strict laws of their government, strongly imposed by their strict government. The idea of having their faces always covered by veils and not coming out very much during the day has obvioulsy diminished. The Iraqi woman below is very happy and is laughing and smiling while interacting with an American soldier. This would not have been the case in 2003 or even 2004 when the United States hadn't really come to grips with the difference between American and Iraqi society. [|Children of Iraq]



America has a history of having a very imposing and dominant culture that seems impossible to adpot and resist as a foreign nation. English has absolutely invaded the world and a majority of young children, teens, and adults from across the globe can speak it. Our style of clothes, music, and economy has boomed from ocean to ocean and helped many countries along the way. Iraq is a country that had been hidden from this massive wave of American Imperialism. Their country has been so broken on its interior that American Culture has never really leaked its way into their lives as dominantly as it has in other nations. As a result, the American soldiers had the same effect. They headed into a country they hardly know anything about and acted in the way that is acceptable in American society. Because of these two polar opposite cultures, there was some conflict with the invading troops and their prescence.

[|Iraq's Women]