I'm sure millions of people read the play of the great playwright Samuel Beckett (waiting for Godot) and I am 100% sure that everybody had a specific idea and image for Godot but all the ideas, images and thoughts can be summarized in one word. Hope is the word that might give the full meaning of Godot. yet, we will have may be hundreds of Godots because each nation has its own hope.  Like all people in the world, Iraqis draw their own image of Godot.

    Since my work is strongly related to people life, I thought about 12 dreams or hopes or wishes that might be the GODOTs of Iraqis.

1- Godot might mean passing the law of election. The law became one of the biggest challenges for Iraqis in general and especially for the Iraqi politicians who proved that they never think about Iraqi and Iraqis as much as they think about their parties.

2- Godot might mean having a real stable security situation. From time to time, we hear Iraqi officials say that the security situation in Iraq is under control. Usually the responds come in the form of big explosions that claim the lives of hundreds of innocent.

3- Godot might mean reaching real National Reconciliation. In spite of the dozens of the national reconciliations that had been hold in Iraq, Japan, France and even Austria (I do not know why they were hold in these countries), we could not reach a real peace agreement or as our politicians call reconciliation. That would be a good Godot if it happened.

4- Godot might mean having real Government of National Unity. It is strange to read about the government of the national unity while our politicains fight each other. The result of their fight is simply Harder Life for Iraqis.

5- Godot might mean ending the involvement of the neighboring countries in Iraqi affairs. Only six of our six neighboring countries involve continuously in Iraq affairs. Putting an end for their involvement means pouring cold water on the burning wood.

6- Godot might mean not using the siren by the officials' convoys when they pass in Baghdad streets. Although many decisions and orders issued by the Iraqi Prime Minister preventing the use of these sirens and ordering to respect the traffic law, no on of the officials follow these orders. In fact, some of the security guards of some officials point their guns towards civilians, others say bad words while some others show respect.

7- Godot might mean accepting the Iraqi passport in all the embassies of the nations easily just like the American and the European passport. It is the dream of thousands of Iraqis to visit some countries especially in Europe but until this moment, most of the embassies including most of the embassies of the Arabic Countries do not give visa to Iraqis. One of the neighboring countries asks the Iraqi visitors about their sect (Are you Shiite or Sunni?) If this Godot came true, I would catch the first plane to England to attend the matches of LIVERPOOL, my favorite soccer team.

8- Godot might mean removing all the blast walls from everywhere in Baghdad including the International Zone or what is called (the Green Zone). These odious long Blast wall cut Baghdad into pieces and separate the brothers and the friends under the excuse of providing security.

9- Godot might mean reaching work on time. This dream became so difficult to achieve in Iraq especially in Baghdad because of the traffic jams. For example, it takes me more than one hour everyday to make the trip from house to work although I live only few kilometers a way from work and I use the highway. sometimes I can not even do it because of the sudden blocking of some roads. Yet, I am luckier than my colleague who needs three hours or more for a 30 minutes trip. I am sure there are other Iraqis who share us this Godot.

10- Godot might mean using real Explosive Detecting Devices in the checkpoints throughout Iraq. The toys that our security forces use can detect shampoo, perfumes, dishes cleaning liquids, break oil and teeth fillings but not explosives.

11- Godot might mean having electricity power for 24 hours a day. I am sure many people would be happy with 20 hours or even less but come on, it is only a Godot and probably it will never come. Since the first day of the American invasion, we hear only promises about providing electricity but until now, nothing real happened.

12- Godot might mean having a house for each family. Thousands of Iraqi families share their houses with their brothers or sons. One of our neighbors changed his beautiful garden into two small houses for his two sons because building a small might cost a fortune. I heard some stories about five or six families share less than 70 squared meter house. While hundred of thousands of families can not build small houses, the Iraqi parliament works to approve a law that allows the lawmakers to own very wide properties in the most expensive area of Baghdad near Tigris river. 

    i am sure there are many other Godots for other Iraqis but these ones might be the ones for poor and simple Iraqis who hope only to live like normal human beings.