AP: U.S. Teen Runs Off to Iraq by Himself

Associated Press ^ | 12/29/05 | JASON STRAZIUSO

[Old Student]

"Didn't the teacher properly read the No Child Left Behind educational guidelines?"

As if you had? Nothing in NCLB about religion of peace, FRiend. All it says, basically, is we're supposed to test them, and find out if they really learned anything, then report the results. "dangerous and irresponsible" indeed.

On the other hand, I think the kid needs to find a poker game, and see if he has any luck left. I bet his guardian angel is in for a wing-joint overhaul right now.

[BurbankKarl]

This paragraph he wrote would never be allowed in a U.S. newspaper...

"Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help. Unfortunately altruism is always in short supply. Not enough are willing to set aside the material ambitions of this transient world, put morality first, and risk their lives for the cause of humanity. So I will."

[Rebelbase]

"I'll bet his hero is Johnny Lindh."

The only thing those two have in common is/was a young wanderlust. Any comparison between the two ends there.

[inquest]

As if you had?

It was a joke. Chill.

[Rebelbase]

My dad lied about his age and joined the Air Force toward the end of the war. After a few weeks his commander figured it out and instead of punishing him, gave him an honorable discharge and sent him packing.

Dad promptly joined the Navy and was talk of his ship as to how a kid so young could already have an honorable discharge from the Air Force.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Here's the essay:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/journey_to_iraq_essay_1

Essay by U.S. Teen Who Went to Iraq By The Associated Press
2 hours, 48 minutes ago



Excepts from an essay written recently by Farris Hassan, 16, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who traveled to Iraq without telling his parents:

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There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction. You are aware of the heinous acts of the terrorists: Women and children massacred, innocent aid workers decapitated, indiscriminate murder. You are also aware of the heroic aspirations of the Iraqi people: liberty, democracy, security, normality. Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help ... So I will.

Life is not about money, fame, or power. Life is about combating the forces of evil in the world, promoting justice, helping the misfortunate, and improving the welfare of our fellow man. Progress requires that we commit ourselves to such goals. We are not here on Earth to hedonistically pleasure ourselves, but to serve each other and the creator. What deed is greater than sacrificing one's luxuries for the benefit of those less blessed? ...

I know I can't do much. I know I can't stop all the carnage and save the innocent. But I also know I can't just sit here ...

I feel guilty living in a big house, driving a nice car, and going to a great school. I feel guilty hanging out with friends in a cafe without the fear of a suicide bomber present. I feel guilty enjoying the multitude of blessings, which I did nothing to deserve, while people in Iraq, many of them much better then me, are in terrible anguish. This inexorable guilt I feel transforms into a boundless empathy for the distress of the misfortunate and into a compassionate love for my fellow man ...

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless the one who gives them.

Going to Iraq will broaden my mind. We kids at Pine Crest (School) live such sheltered lives. I want to experience during my Christmas the same hardships ordinary Iraqis experience everyday, so that I may better empathize with their distress. I also want to immerse myself in their environment in order to better comprehend the social and political elements ...

I plan on doing humanitarian work with the Red Cross. I will give my mind, body, and spirit to helping Iraqis rebuild their lives. Hopefully I will get the chance to build houses, distribute food supplies, and bring a smile or two to some poor children.

I know going to Iraq will be incredibly risky. There are thousands of people there that desperately want my head. There are millions of people there that mildly prefer my demise merely because I am American. Nevertheless, I will go there to love and help my neighbor in distress, if that endangers my life, so be it ...

If I know what is needed and what is right, but do not act on my moral conscience, I would be a hypocrite. I must do what I say decent individuals should do. I want to live my days so that my nights are not full of regrets. Therefore, I must go.

[muggs]

I like this kid, though I' glad he's not mine.

I like him too but I think I would have had a heart attack if I was his mom.

[freema]

Standing ovation!

[Forgiven_Sinner]

"First, where did this kid get the money to finance such a venture?"

Apparently he got a very genorous Christmas gift--at least $1500-2000

Here are more interesting details:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/journey_to_iraq_timeline_1

Timeline of U.S. Teen's Journey to Iraq By The Associated Press
2 hours, 11 minutes ago



A timeline of the travels of Farris Hassan, 16, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who went to Iraq without telling his parents:

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Dec. 11 — Departs Miami International Airport, cutting a week of school.

Dec. 12 — Gets connection in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Dec. 13 — Lands in Kuwait City at 12:05 a.m. Tells parents for first time he plans to go to Baghdad. Reaches the Kuwait-Iraq border by taxi but cannot cross because of tight security before Iraq's parliamentary election.

Dec. 15 — Flies to Beirut, Lebanon, and stays with family friends. Spends time interviewing minority Christians.

Dec. 25 — Flies to Baghdad International Airport, where family contacts pick him up and drop him off at a hotel known to house Americans.

Dec. 27 — Walks into the offices of The Associated Press. AP contacts U.S. Embassy.

Dec. 28 — Members of 101st Airborne drive him to embassy, which takes custody of him.

Sometime this weekend — Scheduled to fly from Baghdad to Beirut to Kuwait City to the United States, eventually landing in Miami.

[Rebelbase]

I think Pine Crest School should use the kid for a TV commercial, after all he was just following their lead:

"You will see some students with their noses in their books. But, for the most part, you will see young people active in their quest to grasp the broad educational opportunities that Pine Crest offers. You will see them learning to act, dance, paint, compete in sports, speak a different language, work on lab experiments, and give back to the community. You will watch students learning to want to know more about a myriad of topics."

http://www.pinecrest.edu/about/president/

[Mad_as_heck]

"There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction," he wrote.

Wow.

Unless I'm misunderstanding and he thinks that the Jihadi's are the ones "striving for liberty and freedom?" I'm actually very impressed by this kid.

He's a fool and colossal PITA for everyone involved but also a brave and resourceful young man. I'm torn between whacking him upside the head and giving him a commission.

If he only suffers from youthful high spirits the nitwit may mature into a real asset to this country. You won't see many 16 yo hippies with this guys brass nuggets.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Some thoughts:

1. Damn, I like this kid.

2. He's seen more of Iraq than Patrick Quinn now, or any of the non insurgent-local-stringer reporters of AP, NYT or WaPo.

3. Compare his experiences ("I got ripped off by taxi drivers!" with the reports that Arab Propagandists are putting out on behalf of the insurgents to whom they're loyal. I wonder how bad the country is when a kid can be-bop around. Notice that the last several hostages taken have been pro-insurgent hostages trying to get captured to put ransom money in the hands of their terrorist pals, or in the case of Suzanne Osthoff, to get a murderer sprung.

4. He's lucky Bilal Hussein wasn't the first AP-nik he ran into, or he and his head would be resting separately.

5. Come to think of it, he's also lucky that his motivation was journalism, or Quinn might well have turned him over to his insurgent pals and we'd never have heard of him again unless the Marines tripped over his head in Ramadi. Quinn's true loyalty may be to the Ba'athist/Islamist side, but apparently journalism-as-nationality comes up trumps.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[FierceKulak]

I think that this guy is either going to do something really dumb or be really successful (depending on how you define success)

[Rebelbase]

You are misunderstanding it.

[Straight Vermonter]

I was thinking the same thing. Can you imagine anyone thinking that simply discussing politics with someone at a church or synagogue would be "dangerous and irresponsible"?

[Casloy]

Big balls, tiny little brain.

[Old Student]

Never, NEVER, N!E!V!E!R! forget the sarcasm tag. You'll save a lot of wear and tear on my blood pressure. If it helps, I'd intended to mention that I hoped you had missed a tag, but got all hot and bothered and posted without thinking further. My apologies.

[CindyDawg]

What an adventure. If I was his mom I would want to hear all about it and then ground him for life:')

[mylife]

"Farris Hassan's Day Off"

OMG LMAO

[gotribe]

Heck, if he were my kid I'd buy him a cold beer, 16 or not!