I am out
September 13, 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…
Entry Filed under: For a Better Syria. .
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1.
abu kareem | September 14, 2007 at 12:48 am
Fares,
I hope you’ll decide to return to your blog; your passion has been missed. Your single-minded determination on the issue of prisoners of conscience was truly admirable. You are right, too many Syrians are ready to compromise with regime and forget the prisoners. Somehow the fate of a handful of people didn’t seem to matter in the big picture. But as you have pointed out over and over again, it does matter, it matters a lot. What a regime is willing to do to a single innocent citizen it can do to any citizen; no one is immune. If the regime cannot achieve this very basic respect for individual rights, how can you trust it with any reforrm. This issue has to come first, it icannot be subject to compromise.
Change will take time; real, deep and lasting change in the way we are governed and in our perception of how we should be governed. Most Syrians don’t know anything other the the Baathist regime. They don’t know that a representative government answers to the people not the other way around.
But Fares, you are too pessimistic; your glass is always half empty. When I read some the Syrian blogs (from inside Syria) I am astonished at the courage of some these bloggers. They are not fooled, they see the regime for what it is and they are not afraid to say so. Reading what they write gives me hope that slowly and surely change will come.
2.
rahaf | September 14, 2007 at 1:46 pm
this is the best thing i read in ur blog.
byeeesssssss
3.
Disaffection | September 15, 2007 at 12:19 am
why is it that people feel they can change a socio-political problem single handedly as individuals? they set themselves up to failure. And why is it that people feel that ultimate change has to come about within two years or even within their life time? Doesn’t prosperity and emancipation deserve a period of development? who says how long that should be? civilization develop and fall… thats history for ya. We in the ME are going through our Medieval Age… but that doesn’t mean we should just hang up the white flag and turn our backs. The aim is to have everyone constantly voicing their views and spreading awareness, no matter how little or insignificant it is. If your angry, then let it be known why. Silence means Death.
4.
Maureen | September 15, 2007 at 1:22 am
Dear Fares,
If you know for sure that something is true and right then it is so important to keep on saying it, even if no-one seems to be listening. And even more so if people are denying its truth. How else will we make the world a better place?
5.
offended | September 15, 2007 at 4:36 pm
A brotherly advice Fares, don’t stop blogging..
I, for instance, disagree with most of your opinions, but I don’t like to see you out of the game. You should probably change your strategy, adopt a longer breath attitude…but don’t just leave, the spectrum wouldn’t be complete without you..
Take it easy and good luck..
6.
Professor | September 18, 2007 at 2:22 am
I just came upon this blog by chance. I don’t know Fares, but it seems that the tactics of the syrian (and other ME regimes) have worked on him as they did on others within the country. I know that change will happen when a larger outside force forces the change in syria. This regime will not hesitate to murder and terrorize millions of its people. They are a gang of thieves. The answer is not to give up though, but to expect that the solution is not instantaneous and we must be mentally prepared for that.
Best of luck everyone.
7.
Maureen | September 25, 2007 at 1:09 am
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
8.
الوليد | December 28, 2007 at 5:51 pm
If you know for sure that something is true and right then it is so important to keep on saying it, even if no-one seems to be listening. And even more so if people are denying its truth. How else will we make the world a better place?