I remember reading once that the Aleut language of Eskimos had several dozen different words for “snow.” Stands to reason, given the role of snow in that society. It’s embedded in the culture. It’s that important, that relevant, that dominant.
Now we come to learn that the Iraqis actually have a word – “sahel” – that means to so dominate and humiliate someone as to drag their corpse through the streets. Speaks volumes, doesn’t it, about the challenge faced by anyone who deigns to convert Mes O’Potamia into something approximating a contemporary democracy with a civilizational rule of law?
What the Iraqis need, instead, is a couple dozen words for reconciliation.