What would you have done if you were George W Bush?
This is one of the most memorable questions asked of Donna Mulhearn while visiting schools and talking with students about her experiences as a human shield in Iraq.
According to Donna, the human shields were united by one belief: that all life is precious.
As a human shield she saw there were two main aspects of their presence in Iraq. One was to protect important civilian sites such as power stations and water treatment plants vital for the Iraqi’s existence. The other was to be witnesses and observers of the events that took place during the war.
Walking through civilian territories after the bombing of Baghdad, Donna picked through the debris of an Iraqi home—she found books, shoes, a tennis racquet and rag doll. These items, that could have easily been found in an Australian home, were a chilling reminder that the cycle of terror and violence can happen anywhere in the world.
Throughout her experience in Iraq, Donna’s conviction remained strong. Her solidarity with the people of Iraq was reciprocated, and this made it all the more valuable.
‘The Iraqi people gave us warmth, generosity and inspiration and we gave them support, hope and friendship. We gave to each other love and acceptance. We rose above the politics and related to each other as human beings.’
‘Experiencing the war in Iraq confirmed to me, beyond a doubt, that war is not the answer …’
Thirty-four-year-old Donna grew up in the town of Maitland in New South Wales. Her mother—widowed at thirty-five—raised four children on her own. She greatly influenced Donna with her wisdom as a hard working country woman and a humanitarian.
‘I gained my political lessons from my mother. While other girls were pinning Duran Duran on their wall, I had a poster of Bob Hawke.’
Growing up in a single parent home was difficult but Donna believes that the struggles they encountered as a family helped to make her aware of others in their struggles. This lesson has taken Donna first to the streets of Sydney working with street kids and then all over the globe to third world countries as a volunteer to help the oppressed.
Donna had a career as a high powered media advisor but her desire to fulfill an inward journey made her rethink her path and subsequently begin a solo world pilgrimage. The pilgrimage took her to sacred sites of different religions in many countries. Her exploration of the traditions of other faiths led her to a deeper understanding of her Christian beliefs.
| ‘All the petty things that occupied our religious
lives for so long are revealed as just that: petty or little. Arguing
over theology, biblical interpretations, life after death, the end
times, rules and regulations … for what?
‘In an ever-increasing plastic and superficial society, the challenge to find truth, realness and authenticity in anything is greater than ever. And in today’s noisy, crowded, busy world in order to lead an authentic [spiritual] life, to seek God and to love him—first we must be still … and know him.’ Donna believes the answer is in contemplative prayer and meditation. The desire to "be" first and not "do" is her passion. It empowers Donna to meet God within. We need to block out bombarding, conflicting messages in order to be agents of love and hope in the world. ‘Silence, reflection and meditation rip away the distractions and the nonsense. It brings everything back to one thing: love. Loving God. Loving our neighbour. Loving ourselves, which enables the first two.’ Donna’s motivation for becoming a human shield was spiritual rather than political. Rather than considering herself a peace activist, she saw herself as an ordinary person trying to follow her Christian beliefs in an authentic way. Her decision was based on the prayer of St Francis: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace’, an ideal to which she has a solid personal commitment. |
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During her time in Iraq Donna became aware of the suffering experienced by orphaned children, many of whom were dislocated from their families during the war and subsequent occupation. Chaos flows through the streets of Baghdad, leaving the civilians’ livelihoods in ruins. Death, physical injury and lack of employment weigh heavily on the families.
This has led Donna to answer another call—the call of the hundreds of children abandoned by war who are scratching an existence on the streets. The desperation of these children has left them vulnerable to predators and criminal gangs. With little hope, the older ones are turning to glue sniffing and the younger to begging from the western military and media.
One answer to the problem is a shelter. ‘Our House’ is a project co-created by Donna and nine others—most of whom were human shields.
Our House is a safe haven for children to be loved and respected equally. Donna believes that tolerance, non-violent action and peace-making are central to the philosophy of Our House.
Returning to Iraq will be even more dangerous. This time Donna will shield the children from the unpredictable environment. Her love for the Iraqi people will overcome the tension of uncertainty. ‘It is an overwhelming privilege and a wonderful place to be when in the presence of the Iraqi people.’
The establishment of Our House was made possible due to invaluable information left behind by aid agency Enfants du Monde following the removal of their staff due to the unstable security situation.
The project was set up with the help of the carers from Dar Al Hanam, a former state-run orphanage. They worked along side the Our House team to implement all the logistical concerns such as finding the housing needed to set up the program. Dar Al Hanam is already overflowing with more than 100 orphans and without government support these children are being fed by the staff from their own homes.
Donna hopes that the project will reconcile children with their families if they feel safe returning to these homes.
Our House’s success will depend on the generosity of the average Australian and corporate sponsorship because the program is 100 per cent donation funded. None of the volunteers are paid so the money goes directly to the Iraqi children at Our House.
Donna wishes peace was as profitable to countries as war.
‘Wouldn’t it be nice if governments had the same funding resources for a department of peace as they do for their department of defence?"
What would Donna have done if she were in George W Bush’s position? Her answer is as simple as it is challenging: ‘Love your enemies and do good for those who hate you. Saying "Yes" to the power of love and forgiveness can heal and transform the hardest of hearts.’
If you wish further information regarding Our House or Donna Mulhearn, you can subscribe to her e-mail list by sending an e-mail here, or see Donna’s website at www.pilgrimstoryteller.com
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