Farris Hassan

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Farris Hassan in Iraq.

Farris Hassan (born 1989) is an Iraqi American(Chaldean) who, while a junior at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, took an unaccompanied trip to Kuwait and Iraq. He said he was inspired by an English class having a project on "immersion journalism" and that he had traveled without any adult's knowledge. There is no such class as "immersion journalism" at Pine Crest School. Hassan's parents, now divorced, are Iraqi-born but immigrated to the United States, where they have lived for 35 years.

1 Journey
2 Essay on Iraq
3 Post-trip
4 Farris Hassan's Father
5 Footnotes
6 References

[edit] Journey

Hassan, who speaks little Arabic, set off for Iraq December 11, 2005 flying from Miami International Airport to Kuwait City, arriving on December 13 at 12:05 a.m, and stopping in Amsterdam on December 12. In Kuwait he first called his parents telling them that he wanted to travel to Baghdad. Failing to cross the Iraqi border by taxi, he then flew to Beirut, Lebanon, where he stayed with friends of the family and met with the head of media relations for Hezbollah.^[1] On December 25, he took a plane to Baghdad International Airport. The Boston Globe has reported that Hassan's father, Redha Hassan, assisted him by organizing the flight, a hotel room, and protection by a private security service.^[2] On December 27, however, he entered the offices of the Associated Press, claiming to be in Iraq alone and without knowledge of his parents; the Associated Press then contacted the United States Embassy in Iraq. He was later picked up by the 101st Airborne Division. The U.S. embassy then issued a statement on December 30, stating that Hassan had departed Baghdad, and was safely onboard a return flight back to the United States.

[edit] Essay on Iraq

Hassan wrote the following essay explaining why he felt compelled to go to Iraq:

“

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. Unfortunately altruism is always in short supply. Not enough selfless individuals answered the call when Sadaam Hussein purged Iraq of its virtuous. 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.

Life is not about money, fame, power, or college; life is about combating the forces of evil in the world, promoting justice, helping the misfortunate, and improving the welfare of our fellowman. 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? It’s one thing to send money and support from the comfort of one’s home. It’s quite another to go and join the struggle between good and evil in person.

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 can’t be like the rest, like those who feign empathy while staying home, enjoying peace, security, freedom, luxuries all. 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 café 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 than 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 fellowman. That is the truth. I am affirmed in love for those dying in the cause of freedom. I am affirmed in love for the innocent women and children who are being slaughtered everyday. To love is not a passive thing. To love is active voice. When I love I do something, I function, I give myself. I do not love in order that I may be loved back again, but for the joy of loving. And every time I do that, I am freed from guilt. 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.

I want to broaden my mind. We kids at Pine Crest School live such sheltered lives. I want to experience during my Christmas break the same hardships ordinary Iraqis face everyday, so that I may better empathize with their distress. I want to immerse myself in their environment in order to better comprehend the social and political elements that continue to sustain turmoil in the Middle East. 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 that desperately want my head removed from my shoulders. There are millions of people over there that mildly prefer my demise merely because I am American. Nevertheless, I will go there to love and help my neighbor in distress, and if that endangers my life, so be it. On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and compassion is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him. We will all die someway, someday. Most people wish to die at a very old age with power and wealth. That is the popular ideal, and I find it corrupt. Immoral is the man who maliciously advances himself while ignoring the needs of others. I will be grateful to die amidst an ideal greater than material wealth. However, please do not misunderstand me. I do not want to die. I have plenty of work ahead of me. So I will be most careful, and I shall return.

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

”

[edit] Post-trip

Hassan was punished by Pine Crest school upon his return. His grades were docked because of his absence, his free period was eliminated, and he lost the presidency of the school Renaissance Club. The Broward-Palm Beach New Times has reported that Hassan has continued to engage in "immersion" journalism since last December, including immersing himself as a "hippie" at the Rainbow Gathering camping festival in Colorado and posing as a Jew in Dearborn, Michigan.^[3]

[edit] Farris Hassan's Father

Farris Hassan's father claims to have been involved in anti-Saddam activities while living in Iraq as a teenager, including a connection to an assassination attempt. While living in Florida in 1985, he was briefly charged with creating fake Iraqi passports and military identification cards, apparently to help Iraqi dissidents. The charges were dropped and the case was reported by the Florida Sun-Sentinel.