The protests began on February 15, 2011. The world had just watched the Tunisian people unseat their leader and the Egyptians soon followed suit by forcing their leader Hosni Mubarak to step down. Then the world watched as more countries began to have their own demonstrations from Yemen to Bahrain and Algeria to name a few. It became like a fever spreading through the region.
In the other countries there were clashes with the government and people lost their lives but in Libya it was a different story. I will refer to the leader as G. and his son as S. On February 20th, 2011, S. spoke on Libyan state TV, stating that if the protesters did not stop there would be rivers of blood. At the same time he tried to offer an olive branch stating reforms were needed. Then on February 21, 2011, G. spoke saying the protesters were young drugged people and that outsiders were responsible for the uprisings. He compared the people to rats and stated he would execute all protesters. He has a grip on Tripoli but other cities are slowly falling away and with the possible loss of support of major tribes such as the Wafalla, G's base is crumbling. The east is apparently under control of anti-G. personnel. The border between Libya and Egypt appears to be unguarded and reports of defections by military personnel and diplomatic officials continue.
G. and S. blame the US and the west for fomenting the rebellion and he vows he will die a martyr. What is a martyr well according to answer.com "
One who chooses to suffer death rather than renounce religious principles.
One who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, cause, or principal.
The first does not apply and the second is a matter of interpretation. To die a martyr for power and money could be interpreted as dying to further a cause or principal. The only martyr that would come out of this will be Libya a country in chaos, a country facing war therefore the comment by S. on the rivers of blood.
Should the west intervene? I do not have the answer to this as if we do intervene then we are condemned for meddling in other countries affairs and if the west does nothing then we are callous. I believe the Libyan people need to determine their own course but the "WORLD" needs to put a stop to the murder of innocent unarmed protesters who are expressing what we consider a right about their opinions of what is going on in their countries. The US does need to treat all peoples equally and to stand for what is right not for what is expedient. Let us not devolve this into a religious issue because even though the majority of Libyans are Muslim and most are Sunni, this is not about religion but about human rights. G. tries to show he is a devout Muslim but he is not following the strictures of the Quran. Please see the movie Lion of the Desert which chronicles Omar Muktar's struggle against Mussolini in World War II, as once again the Libyan people are at war with despotism.
In the news, we are being criticized for not being more forceful but the situation between Libya and Egypt is different as with Egypt we had leverage and with Libya we have none and G. has proven in the past what he is willing to do. Until foreigners are safe, it is necessary to tread carefully.
Where do we go from here? What happens next? Just as in the cases of Nero, Caligula, Hitler and Mussolini and leaders of the past who used violence against people, history will be the judge. History is a harsh judge and an unforgiving recorder of events. Our choice as conscientious humans is where will we be in the records of history.
I pray for those who are in harms way.
In the other countries there were clashes with the government and people lost their lives but in Libya it was a different story. I will refer to the leader as G. and his son as S. On February 20th, 2011, S. spoke on Libyan state TV, stating that if the protesters did not stop there would be rivers of blood. At the same time he tried to offer an olive branch stating reforms were needed. Then on February 21, 2011, G. spoke saying the protesters were young drugged people and that outsiders were responsible for the uprisings. He compared the people to rats and stated he would execute all protesters. He has a grip on Tripoli but other cities are slowly falling away and with the possible loss of support of major tribes such as the Wafalla, G's base is crumbling. The east is apparently under control of anti-G. personnel. The border between Libya and Egypt appears to be unguarded and reports of defections by military personnel and diplomatic officials continue.
G. and S. blame the US and the west for fomenting the rebellion and he vows he will die a martyr. What is a martyr well according to answer.com "
The first does not apply and the second is a matter of interpretation. To die a martyr for power and money could be interpreted as dying to further a cause or principal. The only martyr that would come out of this will be Libya a country in chaos, a country facing war therefore the comment by S. on the rivers of blood.
Should the west intervene? I do not have the answer to this as if we do intervene then we are condemned for meddling in other countries affairs and if the west does nothing then we are callous. I believe the Libyan people need to determine their own course but the "WORLD" needs to put a stop to the murder of innocent unarmed protesters who are expressing what we consider a right about their opinions of what is going on in their countries. The US does need to treat all peoples equally and to stand for what is right not for what is expedient. Let us not devolve this into a religious issue because even though the majority of Libyans are Muslim and most are Sunni, this is not about religion but about human rights. G. tries to show he is a devout Muslim but he is not following the strictures of the Quran. Please see the movie Lion of the Desert which chronicles Omar Muktar's struggle against Mussolini in World War II, as once again the Libyan people are at war with despotism.
In the news, we are being criticized for not being more forceful but the situation between Libya and Egypt is different as with Egypt we had leverage and with Libya we have none and G. has proven in the past what he is willing to do. Until foreigners are safe, it is necessary to tread carefully.
Where do we go from here? What happens next? Just as in the cases of Nero, Caligula, Hitler and Mussolini and leaders of the past who used violence against people, history will be the judge. History is a harsh judge and an unforgiving recorder of events. Our choice as conscientious humans is where will we be in the records of history.
I pray for those who are in harms way.
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