A blogger from Baghdad – Not a new concept to us new media students. We’ve spent hours behind Baghdad Burning, loving or hating Riverbend, through all her adventures. Now, our friends Lissy and Alec have brought us Salam Pax, a man who started a blog originally to keep in contact with his friend Raed, but whose posts eventually progressed into full-fledged citizen journalism, straight out of war torn Baghdad, Iraq.

Salam Abdulmunem, known under the pseudonym Salam Pax, or Peace Peace in English (come one, Salam! You can be more creative than that!), was actively writing posts concerning the Iraq war, bombings, and disappearances of people under the government of Sadam Hussein.

What made his blog so successful? Firsthand accounts of what was really going on in Iraq, without editing or filters, the use of photos that were not censored, and multiple posts per day keeping readers up-to-date. Let’s not forget hilarious posts like this one. Oh, Salam!

Come to think of it, the main reason why I spent a good twenty minutes browsing Salam’s blog is because of how funny he is. I mean, really. He is hilarious. Exhibit A: His link to this internet gem. (pictured below)

Right?!

Verdict: Salam Pax is an interesting guy. Somehow, amidst all the turmoil and misery that coat his recollections of war-trodden Baghdad, he manages to throw in some lighthearted posts to remind us that even those in the worst parts of the world can use a laugh once and a while.

Peace Peace to you too, Salam. You deserve it.

– Melissa Kuipers