In case you don’t know what’s happening in Syria, this is for you.
In case you don’t think anything is happening in Syria, this is for you, too.
“Be brave. Don’t give up. The history is on your side. Every dictator… every bad person out there throughout history has gone down in flames. They all go sooner or later – no matter how bad or evil they are. History advances, and the human race progresses. And that’s what’s happening now in Syria. I’m so proud of you” – Michael Moore.
I may not like Moore but his words resonate true – especially with all the atrocities happening in Syria. Award-winning journalist Marie Colvin was killed in Syria today. Anthony Shahid, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist of Lebanese origins, died a few days ago.
More than 7000 people have been killed in Syria just for asking to be respected on every basic human level. The victims are losing their voices with every journalist killed. But the revolutionaries are still fighting and Assad’s forces are still killing. And some countries are still silent.
BeirutSpring speculates that the first step in starting a massacre is to end front-line reporters. This is what’s happening in Syria today in order to silence the world. This is what we, as bloggers, people, activists and humans, need to prevent from happening. It is high time to take a stand. I’ve taken mine. When will you take yours?
A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares 
This is heartbreaking.
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It is. What’s sad is that some people don’t think anything is happening.
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I will admit that I really don’t know what’s going on over there (which is why I’m googling it and found this site). I see videos about fighting, hear about dead journalists, and some guy’s army is killing people. But oI don’t know what the heck is going on. Why are they fighting? Who are the two sides? Are we involved? etc…
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Syria has had the same family governing it for the past 40 years. Bashar Assad, the current president, has been as such since 2000, when his own father passed away.
The regime is oppressive. Only one party (the president’s) is allowed to rule. Freedoms basically do not exist. Opposition people are either exiled or killed.
Syria also has parasytic effects in neighboring countries such as Lebanon where it had an unofficial occupation for 15 years during which it killed many, kidnapped many and contributed in ruining the foundations of any state Lebanon had.
Following the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, the Syrian people started revolting against their regime. It started on March 15th 2011. Now, almost a year later, about 7500 have been killed by that regime. Cities are being destroyed. Children, women, men are being assassinated just because they’re standing up for their rights.
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Pingback: The Battle of Homs: A Video from inside the Syrian Revolution « A Separate State of Mind
Pingback: The Battle of Homs: A Video from inside the Syrian Revolution « A Separate State of Mind
This is a very sad video actually. Thank you for sharing it. Hopefully the Syrian people will find a solution to their problem soon.
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So the calls to “take action” here (U.S.A.) are basically to take out that royal family to end the violence?
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The family is not royal. They’re not kings and queens. But I would assume so.
Either way, you shouldn’t support military involvement but should advocate for more active political involvement from all countries, not just the U.S.A., in face of the injustice.
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Is the violence being controlled by this one guy and his family?
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More or less. He’s killing the people who are protesting against him.
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I know you said you oppose a military solution, but that seems like the simplest/most efficient solution. If there’s a singular point of contention (this guy and his family) then a “capture or kill” policy would seem to be the quickest way to end it … unless I’m missing something.
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It most definitely is not. What right does the US have in interfering militarily in Syria? absolutely nothing.
A military solution will only lead to more violence, ripping Syria in pieces and igniting a civil war based on sectarian tension.
Killing Assad is also not the solution. If he dies and his system remains behind him, then the protests have led nowhere.
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I’m not speaking on what “right” the U.S.A. has/doesn’t have, that’s not what I’m talking about.
What I’m saying is that if we (the U.S.A.) are being asked to “do something” about what’s going on in Syria that seems like the simplest “something” on the table.
If it’s just one dude and his family … drone strikes all around! Done & done then we can go home. Otherwise (IMO) we should just continue to stay out of it like we have been.
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The USA can put more pressure on countries such as Russia and China, which are major hurdles in the face of the Security Council when it comes to Syria related decisions.
Let things take their course. Any type of foreign military involvement would be catastrophic for Syria. When asked to step up, the first thing that pops to mind should not be military involvement. It should be more activity in the political process.
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I’m not saying I’m right or you’re wrong here (or vice versa) I’m just saying it seems like the simplest solution to me … but I don’t make these decisions (or have all the information).
I wouldn’t worry about military action right now anyway, because despite McCain calling for it, this country is, generally speaking, tired of constant war & oppose any more military deployments. This is an election year and politicians are keen not to piss of the citizens during those years and tend to show a little more restraint.
Your political approach may be the right one, it just seems long & convoluted … and expensive … to me.
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The military decision is never the simplest solution. First, it will need a whole lot of international backing for it to happen. Second, a military approach is also very expensive and, as you said, in an election year with the US economy improving oh so slowly, no one will compromise that for anything.
The political approach is convoluted. It is simply the nature of politics. I don’t see how it can be expensive.
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You are entitled to your opinion, but like I said you won’t have to worry about it because it’s not going to happen.
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I’m sure it won’t happen. And I think in case it’s an option to be discussed, then it’s the wrong option. It’s not as simple as go in, kill, go out.
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A bullet is a pretty simple solution…
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It never is :p
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I disagree 😛
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