Baghdad's loss is Kurds' gain: Nightclubs head north as alcohol is banned in Iraq's capital

[sabra]

Source: LA Times/AP

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (AP) — Dozens of men gathered in the smoky little club to watch five scantily clad dancers sway their hips to the beat of a drum and the grooves of an electric piano. Once a common sight in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, the scene can now only be found in the more liberal Kurdish north.

Dozens of dance halls and clubs have opened across the Kurdish region during the past months, capitalizing on a crackdown against alcohol in Baghdad, where officials in November began closing clubs serving booze and banned alcohol sales at stores.

That prompted the capital's nightlife — its musicians, dancers and impresarios, and the patrons who flock to them — to migrate north.

"Baghdad has become a dead city where there is no more amusement, no drinks and no music. They have dressed the capital in religious clothes," said Hameed Saleh, a Baghdad Academy of Music graduate who plays the drums and oud, the Arabic forerunner to the lute, at Kurdonia Club. "Now I play music in Sulaimaniyah and my life is secure."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-ml-iraq-kurdish-club-scene,0,4606406.story

[Diclotican]

1. sabra

sabra

US "demorcacy in the middle east" at work (do I need the sarcasm tag)

Diclotican

[aquart]

3. Could you explain the use of the word "sabra" in this context?

Because I don't understand you.

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. screen-name of the original poster?

[aquart]

9. Is that a guess?

In which case, how is it likely to be useful?

[sabra]

11. Diclotican is a longtime DU member, and is a citizen of another country

(not sure where) - he usually starts his replies with the OP poster's name, kind of like a Dear X. I have seen him sometimes add a little something at the end of his posts asking us to forgive his posting format, being that he is a foreign citizen.

:hi:

[Diclotican]

15. sabra

sabra

It is true, that I have been member of this board for a while now.. Not sure how long, but it is a while since I discovered this site, first as a lurker, then as a more active member..

And yes, I sometimes ask forgivness for my posting format, I know my grammar english sucks, big time, but I try to do the best Im able to do, in my rather bad english.. Who by the way is been improved when I use the language.. But it is many words I are not even able to write down properly...

And, I came from a small place called Norway, a small country in the north of Europe, where Icebears, or polar bears roam the streets at night, and where the trolls are still active in the great winter woods.. (just kidding, but really, some americans really belive that we have polar bears in our streets and living trolls.. A figure from our old myths... Some even belive it exist vikings in Norway.. And one old gray lady asked me once, serious about if we had a problem with the vikings, bad as they was... Wel I told him, that no, we have not many problems with the vikings, Im a viking too:P.. The old woman allmoust fall to the ground becouse of that little joke:evilgrin: . Poor old woman... I had to tell her, that vikings was something that existed, allmoust 800 year ago, and evolved into what is norway, sweden and denmark today... Who is maybe somewhat more sivilized than our ancestors was..

My uncle, who are into genetalogy, have discovered that in the area I am living today, my familiy roots goes back to 1350 at least.. So my familiy have been in the same area for the last 661 year.. Interesting to know sometimes;)

Diclotican

[Alamuti Lotus]

16. Regardless of what your original language is, I have no complaints on your posting habits!

You usually have better English skills and more interesting things to say than most "native English" speakers--no apologies ever need be made.

[Diclotican]

17. Alamuti Lotus

Alamuti Lotus

Thank you, allways nice to "hear" about that.. I try to improve my skills, even when I know it is not easy..
And I also try to stay on top before I shoose to tell what I think.. That make thing maybe little more interesting too?. And I read a lot more treads than I comment.. Sometimes i REQ without saying a word.. Sometimes I agree, and nothing can be told anyway;

Diclotican

[Diclotican]

14. Alamuti Lotus

Alamuti Lotus

Bingo, 10 points for you

Diclotican

[Diclotican]

13. aquart

aquart

It is meant to be like Im talking to the person.. Where I came to, it is common curtisy to communicate to the _person_ you is "talking" to.. And in this context, it was Aquart I was talking to..

Diclotican

[KamaAina]

2. Don'tcha love the sound of freedom on the march?

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[aquart]

4. They were allowed to leave the city?

They went someplace else and started businesses. That is exactly what we call it. It's how my family got here. Yours?

[KamaAina]

5. They were FORCED to leave the city

because it is no longer a friendly environment for them, as it was even under Saddam.

[aquart]

8. Do you mean to be so funny?

Do you truly not understand the word "force"?

Yes, ALL immigrants were FORCED to leave their homelands because the environment was no longer friendly.

That's exactly the same as leaving Alabama to get a factory job in Detroit, also.

They're alive. They're working. They are FINE.

Why don't you go count corpses in Colombia. They just found some new ones. Learn the meaning of FORCE.

[KamaAina]

12. It almost sounds like you're defending the sort of religious intolerance

that caused the Pilgrims to emigrate here.

But that wouldn't be very progressive, now, would it? :shrug:

[MrSlayer]

6. Nice job Chimp.

Way to bring that freedom. Dick.

[WestSeattle2]

10. So the Kurds get the oil AND the girls. Well you know this won't

last long. I'm betting by 2015, Iraq will be a bigger problem for us than Saddam ever was.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. It already is. nt