The people of Iraq have to rise to the occasion, separate government and religion.Take religion out of education.

Raising Arizona is the reference, you got it! Just another empty pop-cultural reference to keep my empty metaphors company.

I so appreciate your ability to define my terms for me and teach us all the value of hyperbole.

Perhaps the lack of examples and quotation here will immediately discount what I have to say but the general tone of your letters are kind of bullying (at least by my definition of the word). You also like the 'us vs. them' frame very much. And you bring up higher education alot. It makes for an entertaining Letters section but not one in which I feel you are actually trying to communicate.

AS FOR THE VIDEOS - I only have this to add

1. I appreciated that I finally felt I was hearing about what they believed in and not just what they did everyday (though that never bothered me when there was other content around)

2. The absence of female voices was not a problem for me at first because I got the impression that we would eventually see other voices besides these three. Is that not the case? Does the series only follow these three guys?

I had no idea I was being so … avuncular.

I'm familiar with most of the polls re Iraq; and with Riverbend's blog. I even ventured an opinion on Salon's re-posting of her most recent offering.

See! I'm just a fount of opinons! Some of them are 'wetter' than others, but none are intended to be condescending or to evade responsibility for what WE do.

And, thanks for the feedback.

David Buckley responds:

"They can SAY whatever they want on these video clips. They don't have to remain silent. The aim, presumably, is to connect with a wider world outside Baghdad. Why not have them address issues that are of real and pressing concern to Iraqis?"

So you're merely arguing for a better "Hometown Baghdad"? I won't argue with that; the interviews could be better. I blame the interviewer, not the interviewees. Since the subject is the war and occupation, though, I am not surprised they aren't being asked about women's rights or something.

"Preferably from a wider group of people than they currently highlight. The opinions of some young women would be nice, for a change."

I agree, I'd like to see them deal with more people. If you watch the clips about the university and one man's relationship with his girlfriend you get a little bit of the female perspective. Why they don't delve further, I'm not sure. It seems to me these videos are being made by a small cirlce of college-age men.

"I'm only asking that they become more open in talking about the situation they and their country are in."

Some of the videos show them talking about politics, but I think if they did it might open a can of worms. The point of the videos is supposed to be showing what their real lives are like. Personally I'd like to know more about their political views too, though.

"I'm not defending or condoning America's barbarity in this war."

Sorry I misunderstood you. It sounded to me like you were criticizing these guys for whining about their situation while not doing anything to change it.

"BUT … ONLY Americans can do something about Bush (War Crimes Tribunal, anyone?); and ONLY Iraqis can tell us what Iraqis think about the problems they face."

Salon just published a blog excerpt from a woman who is finally choosing to leave the country with her family. I think she ought to provide you a good source for the type of commentary you're seeking. There are others out there, and there has been a lot of polling on the subject. If you really want to know what Iraqis think politically it's not like "Hometown Baghdad" is the only source.

"So "Hometown" doesn't have to be a series of cliches cued by "appropriate" music etc. It CAN offer something broader, more engaged, and more engaging."

I have no idea who makes the videos or if they read these message boards. If they do then maybe they'll try to follow up on your suggestion.

Are you Nathan Jr. the abducted baby from "Raising Arizona"?

I am not suggesting that "ordinary people can't be responsible for their own liberation." I am suggesting that it is foolish to say the Iraqis should be doing something more to liberate themselves, and then not even state an example of what they could do.

Maybe we have different ideas of what the word "liberate" means. In the context of the Iraq war it was supposed to mean freeing people from the oppression and tyrrany of Saddam. Clearly they are more oppressed and terrorized now than they were before, with less security in their lives.

There is another definition of "liberate" that is a more American version having to do with equal rights, freedom of political speech and so on. I don't think this is what we meant when we said we were going to "liberate" the people of Iraq.

Your statement about "the tip of [my] elitist iceberg" is funny. First, how am I being elitist? Second, did you know that I mounted an Ivory Tower on top of my iceberg? It's pretty cool (just like empty metaphors are cool).

1) "Please, David, tell us what exactly these young Iraqis would do in order to "choose" to be free."

They can SAY whatever they want on these video clips. They don't have to remain silent. The aim, presumably, is to connect with a wider world outside Baghdad, so that an unfiltered view of the reality can find its way through the western media smokescreen. If that's the premise, why not have them address issues that are of real and pressing concern to Iraqis? to them?

2) "You are probably sitting somewhere in the U.S. safe in the knowledge … "

All of this is fine and dandy. But, I'm not asking these guys to do anything exceptional. I'm not asking them to (for instance) send us more video clips of conditions outside while the guns are going off. I'm asking them to raise questions and provide footage of real Iraqi responses. Preferably from a wider group of people than they currently highlight. The opinions of some young women would be nice, for a change. And the fact that none of them are "public" or "elected" officials would make it that much more interesting. At least to me.

3) "Your message seems to suggest that they should have a comprehensive understanding of political theory or something."

My sons are younger than these guys and have opinions on everything from "screamo" (don't ask) to BushCo to global warmnig to … you name it.

Even when they don't have a clearly formed opinion, they can generate one by talking an issue through with other people. You know, like a … what's the word? … a … discussion. I'm not asking that these young men become history professors or political philosophers or "start a political movement to make freedom happen" (but why not for god's sake?) … I'm only asking that they become more open in talking about the situation they and their country are in.

4) "Seriously, David, you're talking out your ass."

Could be. Bio was never my strong suit.

But it could be that I'm talking out of my mouth and you're turning it all into so much shit as you listen.

5) "You are repeating the old argument that we gave Iraqis this wonderful freedom and then they screwed it up. It's their fault, not ours, right David?"

That's not what I'm saying at all, Xrandadu … and you know it.

I am NOT (as you put it) "stuck in a loop of denial." I'm not defending or condoning America's barbarity in this war. That "the U.S. fucked up royally" (as you so delicately put it) is not in question. I know it. You know it. We ALL know it. Even these dudes in Baghdad know it.

BUT … ONLY Americans can do something about Bush (War Crimes Tribunal, anyone?); and ONLY Iraqis can tell us what Iraqis think about the problems they face.

So "Hometown" doesn't have to be a series of cliches cued by "appropriate" music etc.

It CAN offer something broader, more engaged, and more engaging.