Sunday, July 04, 2004
Ubiquitous Gunfire
The US was anticipating attacks on June 30th despite the early handover. There were a few bursts outside our FOB that day and after some concern we remembered that Iraqis celebrate by firing their AKs into the air. In Falluja, the Iraqi General in charge drove up to our checkpoint from the city and assured us that the gunfire we heard after a US convoy rolled through was indeed celebratory. He went on to explain that they celebrate just about anything with gunfire and that a man will shoot a gun in the air after he has sex with his wife. I explained to the general’s interpreter that, in the United States we also shoot guns to celebrate holidays such a New Years, but it has been outlawed because the bullets come down and hurt people. He said that they have the same problem here. Later, we heard that five people were injured due to the celebration.
Hajji
This is the nickname given to Iraqi persons. It can be used as a noun, “I bought it from a Hajji” or “Don’t let the Hajjis steal your water.” or as an adjective: “a Hajji shop”; “a Hajji barber”. No one knows who came up with this nickname. We think they are called Hajjis because either:
1. A hajji is one who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
2. Hajji was the name of Johnny Quest’s friend (yes, I know he was Indian).
John Wayne addressing someone “pilgrim” isn’t the same as calling someone a Hajji. Wayne called them pilgrim to their face and meant it more like “buddy”. The way Hajji is used, it’s a bit more derogatory.
The US was anticipating attacks on June 30th despite the early handover. There were a few bursts outside our FOB that day and after some concern we remembered that Iraqis celebrate by firing their AKs into the air. In Falluja, the Iraqi General in charge drove up to our checkpoint from the city and assured us that the gunfire we heard after a US convoy rolled through was indeed celebratory. He went on to explain that they celebrate just about anything with gunfire and that a man will shoot a gun in the air after he has sex with his wife. I explained to the general’s interpreter that, in the United States we also shoot guns to celebrate holidays such a New Years, but it has been outlawed because the bullets come down and hurt people. He said that they have the same problem here. Later, we heard that five people were injured due to the celebration.
Hajji
This is the nickname given to Iraqi persons. It can be used as a noun, “I bought it from a Hajji” or “Don’t let the Hajjis steal your water.” or as an adjective: “a Hajji shop”; “a Hajji barber”. No one knows who came up with this nickname. We think they are called Hajjis because either:
1. A hajji is one who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
2. Hajji was the name of Johnny Quest’s friend (yes, I know he was Indian).
John Wayne addressing someone “pilgrim” isn’t the same as calling someone a Hajji. Wayne called them pilgrim to their face and meant it more like “buddy”. The way Hajji is used, it’s a bit more derogatory.
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