A Home for the Wandering

         After years of violence and oppression, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for the Kurds. Iraq will soon vote for a referendum to give Iraqi Kurdistan the title of statehood, and in turn create a nation for one of the worlds largest ethnic groups with no country. The Kurds do not only call Iraq home, with a population near 30 million, they are also spread through out neighboring countries such as Turkey, Syria and Iran.
Killed in droves by the dictator Saddam Hussein, the Kurds have faced a long battle for their rights and this is not the first time they have fought to create a sovereign nation.  This time they ask for an area including the city of Kirkuk, which is an oil rich city under Kurdish control. By acquiring this land they wish to make Kurdistan a secure and autonomous state. However, Iraq will not give up part of it power so easily in a move that could further destabilize a region that's already been plagued by war for generations.
As is the case with most groups that must fight for their rights, the Kurds face much opposition from not only the surrounding governments but also their fellow citizens. Even in Kirkuk where they are the main ethnic group, not everyone believes a Kurdish state is the right move for the country. The discussion of policy if must remain taboo in this if they want the social relations to remain friendly.
In an ever changing world where intra-country coalitions, such as the European Union, have begun to show that they are not the final answer for amalgamation. The desire for Kurdistan has been compared to Brexit, not only in the separation of land and government but in the desire for a population to have true control over what is happening in their own nation. The goal of Kurdistan is longevity in a region that has been terrorized by political leaders and their cohorts.

Arango, Tim. “For Iraq’s Long-Suffering Kurds, Independence Beckons.” www.nytimes.com, September 9th, 2017. Web. September 12th, 2017