May 1, 2011:
Osama bin Laden is dead. U.S. and Pakistani government intelligence agencies tracked him down to a mansion outside of Islamabad and shot him in the head several hours ago.
President Barack Obama spoke to the nation tonight to make the official announcement. He was somber and pensive, yet resolute and somewhat relieved. The radical Muslim leader who planned the attacks on September 11, 2001 is finally dead--a decade and knee deep in two wars later. Of course, the Iraq war is officially over, but we still have troops there...
Am I happy? No. Osama bin Laden's death will only fuel more jihadists and it isn't as if his death is practical--just symbolic.
Regardless of his death being more symbolic than anything, people across the U.S. are celebrating. A crowd of young people gathered in front of the White House late last night to chant "USA, USA!" over and over again. Many of my friends and family crowded the Facebook news feed with triumphant comments (some could be considered rather "in your face" and distasteful), many praising God for bin Laden's death and a U.S. victory. When I saw the cheering crowds in front of the White House and viewed many of the comments on Facebook, I could not help immediately drawing a paralleled to the similar energy and attitude of anti-American demonstrations across the Middle East within the past decade. When we celebrate an enemy's death and demise, are we not reacting just like our "enemies?"
Perhaps Americans should take a cue from our president. President Obama was nothing near celebratory in his speech. He was relieved at the death of a man who greatly threatened our country and [other countries]. If he felt joy over bin Laden's death, he was certainly reticent. The president did not portray any other emotion than alleviation, solemness, resolve, and rumination. For the president knows that, while this may relieve the American people and others around the world, that this can be used to strengthen jihad and that, because of this, the conflict is far from over. There will be plenty more bloodshed.
Hate begets hate. Death births only death. In the end, only love can conquer, but (sarcasm) where is the glory in that?
Don't get me wrong. I am relieved at his death. I just dread what is to come...
02 May, 2011
Another Day in History...
I rarely write about U.S. politics, but as this pertains to the entire world, I felt it was appropriate. Last night I lay in bed writing in my journal. I have posted my entry below (with some added media, of course).
26 February, 2011
25 February 2011: Iraq Revolution
It has been over a year since I wrote in this blog and for that I am truly sorry. It is clear to me now that it is long past time for me to "pick up my pen" (in the electronic sense, of course) and do my part to illuminate my fellow Americans on the events happening around the world out of the U.S. media's spotlight.
The world has kept a keen eye on Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Jordan, and Libya the last month. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all those who have laid down their lives for freedom within the last month, particularly in Libya. Today Iraq joined the brave men and women across the Middle East to protest peacefully for two fundamental human rights: freedom and representation in government. There has been little media coverage here in the U.S. on Iraq's protests, though CNN , Al-Jazeera, and Human Rights Watch have reported on the unrest there in online articles. I do not believe that this is intentional, but rather that the mass scale of the atrocities in Libya has over-shadowed the protests in several countries within the last week, Iraq now included.
Friday, Iraqis all over their nation came out to protest against their government. Their demands were for corruption to end in the government, for consistent availability of amenities (such as electricity and clean water), for government aid for widows and orphans, for jobs to become available for young people, and for the infrastructure of Iraq to be rebuilt. According to Hayfa Ahmed, an Iraqi refugee in Germany who had to flee in 2006 for her participation in politics and the women's rights movement in Iraq, the Iraqi people view their government as illegitimate because it was set up by the United States and not by the Iraqi people.
In a couple northern cities, such as Mosul, the protesters were reported to have destroyed government buildings and thrown stones at police and soldiers, according to CNN. These protesters, however, were met with live ammunition. In what world are rocks and bullets equivalent? In most other cities, such as Baghdad, the protests were completely peaceful and yet were still greeted with violence and bullets. The above mentioned news organizations have estimated between 2 and 5 people were killed in Baghdad alone. According to my source (who will remain unnamed for his safety), the number is closer to 7 and included a nine-year-old child. Many of the protesters were rounded up and taken into custody as well. According to both my sources, Al-Maliki has shut down all media attempts to cover the protests. Several journalists were taken into custody, beaten, and threatened with execution, according to the Washington Post today. Violence and a media black out? Again, one must ask, if his government was just and a true democracy, what would he have to worry about if the media were to cover the protests? Parallels to the first actions of Middle East dictators are easily made in people's minds.
My unnamed source in Baghdad has shared several YouTube videos of the violence there yesterday. First, a helicopter flew over Tahrir Square in Baghdad (yes, there is one there too) to scare off the protesters. When that did not work, violence ensued.
Video 1: Helicopter over Tahrir Square, Baghdad.
Video 2: Peaceful protesting, gun shots begin.
Video 3: Gun shots and wounded.
The response to this by Americans (and people all over the world) is simple. If we as Americans believe that we went into Iraq to allow them to create a government for themselves where they are represented and heard, then we will stand with them and support them! For these atrocities to occur in a country that is still (technically) occupied by the United States is absolutely unacceptable! Peaceful protests for freedom should be supported by all who value democracy and human rights.
The world has kept a keen eye on Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Jordan, and Libya the last month. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all those who have laid down their lives for freedom within the last month, particularly in Libya. Today Iraq joined the brave men and women across the Middle East to protest peacefully for two fundamental human rights: freedom and representation in government. There has been little media coverage here in the U.S. on Iraq's protests, though CNN , Al-Jazeera, and Human Rights Watch have reported on the unrest there in online articles. I do not believe that this is intentional, but rather that the mass scale of the atrocities in Libya has over-shadowed the protests in several countries within the last week, Iraq now included.
In a couple northern cities, such as Mosul, the protesters were reported to have destroyed government buildings and thrown stones at police and soldiers, according to CNN. These protesters, however, were met with live ammunition. In what world are rocks and bullets equivalent? In most other cities, such as Baghdad, the protests were completely peaceful and yet were still greeted with violence and bullets. The above mentioned news organizations have estimated between 2 and 5 people were killed in Baghdad alone. According to my source (who will remain unnamed for his safety), the number is closer to 7 and included a nine-year-old child. Many of the protesters were rounded up and taken into custody as well. According to both my sources, Al-Maliki has shut down all media attempts to cover the protests. Several journalists were taken into custody, beaten, and threatened with execution, according to the Washington Post today. Violence and a media black out? Again, one must ask, if his government was just and a true democracy, what would he have to worry about if the media were to cover the protests? Parallels to the first actions of Middle East dictators are easily made in people's minds.
My unnamed source in Baghdad has shared several YouTube videos of the violence there yesterday. First, a helicopter flew over Tahrir Square in Baghdad (yes, there is one there too) to scare off the protesters. When that did not work, violence ensued.
Video 1: Helicopter over Tahrir Square, Baghdad.
Video 2: Peaceful protesting, gun shots begin.
Video 3: Gun shots and wounded.
The response to this by Americans (and people all over the world) is simple. If we as Americans believe that we went into Iraq to allow them to create a government for themselves where they are represented and heard, then we will stand with them and support them! For these atrocities to occur in a country that is still (technically) occupied by the United States is absolutely unacceptable! Peaceful protests for freedom should be supported by all who value democracy and human rights.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)