HW 34 "Gold and Date Palms in Iraq"

“Gold is a part of our culture and the roll it plays in ‘family savings’ has increased since 1990 when the Iraqi Dinar began fluctuating crazily” (Page 100). Gold is played as a huge role in Iraq when it comes to the Iraqi’s jewlary. Since the value of the gold in Baghdad did not change, they transform their gold into all different sorts of jewelry consisting of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. Usually the jewlary they receive isn’t bought at a store. People get them when they are married, have a child, or have a special event occur in there life where they would receive a gift. When they receive this gold they can either keep or sell it. “People pulled their money out of banks before the war, and bought gold instead” (Page 100).
Date palms are used for syrup which is used for rice, syrup used for bread and butter, sugar used for Iraqi sweets and vinegar. There are over 300 different types of dates. “Every bit of a palm is an investment”(Page 104). You can also use them to make furniture and some use the seeds to make beads. They are considered so important to the Iraqi people because they have so many different uses. In a typical garden of Iraq, you will always find a palm tree. Everyone has one. They are used to protect flowers in the garden. When the U.S. troops go and cut down these trees it is considered an appalling and terrible act to commit.