By Maureen
It is Dr Kamal Labwani’s 50th birthday on 10th October. I suggest that we inundate ‘Adra Prison, near Damascus, Syria with postcards sending him our greetings. I am also compiling a list of names of people who wish to send him goodwill messages and I will forward this to his family so that they may let him know he is not forgotten on his 50th. If you wish to be on the list, please send your name and town/country to mhudsonthomas@yahoo.co.uk
September 25, 2007
This blog has been very passive the last few months…but now it is official, I no longer enjoy blogging or discussing middle eastern politics anymore…and it is best to ignore the tragedies of the middle east since we have zero control over it. Whatever happens, just Let it be
I just feel like purging this blog but I won’t out of respect for the prisoners, I will just freeze it. I had very good intentions at the beginning and throughout the last 2 years. I wanted to promote freedom of expression and the ability to break the taboos of the Middle East and change how people view events or envision progress. I felt for the poor prisoners that people cared little for… some people who expressed sympathy were just doing it to show a better image or play politics but not willing to change their priorities. The most disgusting thing was what the Syrian regime made these people who had little courage to say something slightly different from the baathist line: they made them traitors and a pawn in their battle with the international community.
Anyway, talking to a lot of young Syrians whom I met socially the last year, made me realize that people there, are entrenched in their views. They say that they want a better Syria but in reality they are very comfortable with the political climate and in fact very used to it. They don’t really care and they brush aside whatever bothers them. Their only enthusiasm come only when Syria or HA defies the rest of the world…so the regime has accomplished a great job in brain washing the people and modeled them to accept whatever positions they want to make.
It is a sad reality but I raise the white flag and I don’t think that the region will change in the near future so why frustrate myself…I am so glad that I am not a politician and my dad once joked when I was a kid “why do you see yourself as a social reformer”…but now I see why I chose a different career, something more practical and less emotional.
I thank the other bloggers that I looked up to and everyone who supported me or shared my views at some point. I really appreciated that and for people whom I differed with: there was nothing personal and I wish everyone success and happiness…I still despise the Syrian regime but I hope they do enough “release the prisoners and be less of a regional trouble maker” to make me accept them again
Peace and Good Bye
Fares
Happy Ramadan as well…
September 13, 2007
