24 May 2011

We won't be forgotten

I spent so long today trying to find a way to get online; the regime is doing everything it can to shut us down and have the world think that there is nothing happening in this country. If no one knows what is happening here, they think, it will not have happened.

I’m not so sure.

Sometimes, I look around at what is happening here and I think I must have fallen asleep and fallen into some sort of dream. I came back to Syria to escape a crazy life, to escape conflicts and sinking economies. I thought, when I arrived, that I’d be able to relax and enjoy life more easily than in the US. I had vague plans to finally finish the autobiographical novel that I’ve been steadily working on, maybe to finish a few of the science fiction and fantasy stories I had plotted. I’d reconnect myself to my roots and the price seemed low.

All I’d have to do was not be too public about my own opinions and everything would be fine. Back last summer, a time that now seems a lifetime ago, it made sense. The Syrian economy was doing relatively well; the world economic crisis hadn’t struck as harshly here as some places. New economic freedoms were beginning to pay off; free trade and free movement with more and more of the neighboring countries had begun to have effect … and Syria was safe, Syria was stable. Politics hadn’t changed in my lifetime and gave no sign of doing so.

Then everything started changing. Tunisia woke up, Egypt woke up, we began to wonder whether something similar might happen here. But even that didn’t seem to likely.

And then it did. Syria woke up. And at first the government looked like it might stay ahead of the wave of change and reform itself. But it didn’t. Then bullets started flying, tear gas and batons appeared, mass detention …

Now, at least 1100 have died. New martyrs appear every day. And every day, new places wake up. The whole country is rising.

The government wants you to believe that they are winning; they want you to believe that there are only a few fanatics, foreigners and Islamic extremists … but that is not the case. I’ve been in several cities here and seen what is happening on the ground. This is the whole country waking up from its long slumber ….

And it is not the CASE NIGHTMARE GREEN scenario that the regime and its lackeys portray it as being. They promote sectarianism and violence and hate … and then claim that it is our doing. They use ugly violence and say that we are the awful ones.

Our message is simple. We want freedom,

Hurriyah, Azadi, Freedom.

We want democracy. We want an END to a society where one is judged by one’s sectarian origin, we want an END to rule by fear, we want an END to torture, we want an END to intimidation, we want an END to killing …

No, we don’t want to bring on the Doom Time; we want to bring an END to this endless situation … we want to be able to wake up from this nightmare we have been living in for all of our lives.

Is that so wrong?

31 comments:

riversong said...

you are being heard
you will not be forgotten

there are so many people
who want peace for you

who want you to craft
syrian peace on syrian terms

it's like giving birth
you can't stop now...

Anonymous said...

lets keep the azadi out of this
It is not about them
It is about syria

Jonas said...

I am a High School Junior living in Minnesota,and I have found so much power in everything that you are saying. I am so glad that there is someone reporting from the scene on what is happening. I am so glad that it is someone as empowering as you.

In essence, thank you.

Anonymous said...

Another excellent post! The shout-out to Stross' "Laundry" novels did not go unnoticed.

Rupert Neil Bumfrey said...

FYI:
Blogspot was having problems yesterday.

Hopefully Google is more influential than Assad! ;-)

Anonymous said...

"Is that so wrong? "

Off course not, but since the military is against you, and you actively refuse outside help, it's only natural that Assad will keep killing you by the numbers, oppressing the ignorant masses while blaming the west.
And you know what's the funny thing? They believe him.

Philip said...

Hey Amina,

I'd be interested to read your ideas for a new Syrian constitution.

Don't be disheartened; you know best that more and more people are braving the armies of Assad; the pressure will build up for however long it takes until the government disintegrates. Anonymous worries needlessly; the reported rumors of masses of police being executed are encouraging even if they are false, because they mean two things. They are being propagated (at least partially) by police officers themselves who presumably believe them, furthermore such stories will spur even more to the realization that their bosses aren't acting in their best interest.

Profoundly Superficial said...

Amina, like everyone I am concerned about your personal safety. If you haven't already done so, please decide on a "if reaches this point" moment for deciding when to leave. Bon courage!

Anonymous said...

ninaseeksamina@hushmail.com

Please please email me and I will explain.

Anonymous said...

Hi Amina, I like so many other have been watching events in Syria - at least as far as Aljazeera and other coverage allows us.
I hope that no more have to die or suffer for your freedom - but alas, it doesn't seem close to being over yet. My thoughts are with you - stay safe. Bon courage. Rosemary Barraclough

Green Mountain Firebird said...

To Anonymous #1: "azadi" means freedom. You are confusing it with "alawi", which is one of the Syrian Muslim sects.

To Amina: No, what you and your fellow Syrians want is not wrong; collectively you have lived through the historical times of sectarianism, monarchy and despotism. You are ready for freedom and democracy. It is not being imposed on you, it is your choice. Assad and all his minions cannot take that desire away; they can only kill... but they can never kill enough to douse the flame. You will prevail; I only pray that you are there to rejoice. Take care of yourself and your father, please. Thank you for sharing yourself. Blessed Be. ~Pat

Anonymous said...

@Green Mountain Firebird
Historically there have been many cases where Monarchs killed enough to quite down upraises, including for democracy.
Truth is, as long Assad he keeps killing them with the army's support, things will remain the same.
Three months into the protests, there's no reason to believe things will change.

Anonymous said...

Have followed you since the post where your father stood up to the police when they came for you. Found mention of you on a US blog, they are the last free press in the United States. Funny in a way.
You make me wish I was younger and in a place/country where what I do matters. I hope that is something and wish you well.
As you mentioned in a post, avoiding the "poison" assistance of the US Government is a vital key.
"Take Care", it is what I tell my own family in good and bad times.

bobby said...

Good news! According to DebkaFile, Turkey is breaking with Assad and throwing her support to the revolution. Here's the link w/lots of details... let's hope its true

http://www.debka.com/article/20967/

Anonymous said...

I am from New York & started reading your blog when a friend was in Syria and I was trying to see what was happening.

Growing up in America it's so hard to imagine being denied basic freedoms such as the right to criticize the government. A pastime here that some people go overboard on because when you see what we have in comparision to - say Syria, we should - along with the criticisms never forget how lucky we really are. still fight to keep them on their best behavior, which they never are but...

My prayers are going to you and all of Syria.

All the brave people who gave their lives to fight for what they believe in, what should be.

Stay strong.

Grazia said...

is there a way to send you my email address without having to write in public?
Thanks

Micah said...

There is no easy way to say this and I wish it were different:

Free nations are built on the blood of patriots.

Fight the good fight.

Anonymous said...

From Rosemary Barraclough,
Hi Amina, I hope all is well with you today!
r

Anonymous said...

It could be interesting if this will be her last post before the military catches up with her.

It's titled - "We won't be forgotten".
Great last title.

Anonymous said...

We are all awaiting your next post with abated breath dear Amina!

Stay safe.

Hopefully you will soon see your beloved Syria free of this vicious regime.

Amen

Anonymous said...

Worried about you after the radio silence - hope you and your father are ok.
Best wishes from Wisconsin, USA.

sandra said...

To all of you thank you for supporting Amina...Just want you to know that she is OKAY and ALIVE...just exhausted and hard to get online for her.
Best,
Sandra

Omar said...

@ sandra, thank you for the update. Very much appreciated. GREAT to know all is well. Hoping online access becomes easier and Amina continues to be well.

Anonymous said...

Dear Amina,

Stay safe and stay strong and good luck tomorrow to you and to all the freedom-loving Syrians

With love

Ali (in Belgium)

marinamesquita said...

Hi, Amina.
I´ve trying to find your e-mail through the blog, but I couldn´t.
I´m a journalist who works for Folha de S.Paulo (http://www.folha.com.br/english, a brazilian newspaper, I would love to interview you this week, if you have time.
Could you contact me at marina.mesquita@grupofolha.com.br
Thank you very much.
Marina Mesquita

Anonymous said...

F*ck aljazeera and f*ck america!

Anonymous said...

this is a comment on a comment.

on 25 May 2011 00:07 someone anonymous said, "lets keep the azadi out of this".
maybe this person was confused about what it means.

i was a bit shocked to read it here.
as azadi means freedom in kurdish (and farsi), i (maybe wrongly) thought it was meant as anti-kurdish.

freedom cannot be segmented.
freedom ist for everyone or there is no freedom.

i want to quote Audre Lorde, black north american writer and poet:


"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. And I am not free as long as one person of Color remains chained. Nor is any one of you."

and amina, be safe, keep your strength and we hope all the best and are solidaric with freedom-loving people in syria and everywhere else!

a berlin feminist dyke

marcusbarondi said...

Hope all is well with you Amina and good luck with the conference in Antalya next week.

I do hope that the participants will be able to recognise and keep focus on the main and overriding issue: Democracy in Syria.
Democracy in its truest and deepest meaning: Freedom, Equality, Justice and Dignity to all Syrians regardless of their ethnicities, religions and political affiliations. If such consensus can be achieved and maintained then disagreement and differences on technicalities can be viewed as enriching.

May the Road to Democracy in Syria be the Road to Damascus and may it be via Antalya and via anywhere else - let's just get there!

Anonymous said...

Hope for democracy and freedom for all of you there
Gene from Paris - France

Micah said...

Thanks for the update, Sandra.

I suspect a lot of us were getting a bit on edge wondering what was going on.

Anonymous said...

Dear Amina, Thank you for your post. I am from New Zealand and an Editor of an anthology - featuring women writers & artists from around the world. I would very much like to connect with you and discuss a possibility of your involvement in submitting your work. The name of anthology is: Mapping Me - A Landscape of women's stories. If you are interested in further information please send me an email to: mappingme@gmail.com . I hope to hear from you. My thoughts and support are with you. Kia kaha! Tamara

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