In Honor Of Mohamed Bouazizi

You have been called the man who toppled Tunisia, the man who ignited the spark that set the Arab world on fire.  It is the first time the leadership of an Arab country changed because the people demanded it, rather than handing it over to the next in line relative. The first time ever. You set yourself on fire on 12/17/10, died on 1/04/11,and Ben Ali, who visited you in hospital, fled the country on 1/14/11.  I think about you every day. Remember you and your life.  How difficult it must have been.  You never had a fair opportunity, only hardship. I think of  your mother.  She misses you terribly, but she is proud of you.  I am proud of you too.  Now there are posters of you all over Tunisia.  Your friends and compatriots miss you.  They consider you a martyr.

In the United States self immolation is generally considered insanity.  In fact many had not even been aware of the practice until our involvement in the Viet Nam War.

On January 6, 2011, two days after you died, a 17 year-old high school student, Al Hamdi, a set himself alight in the principal's office for being barred from organizing a protest march to coincide with your funeral.  Five thousand mourners marched in your procession chanting,  "We weep for you today, we will make those who caused your death weep tomorrow. "

Although the seeds of revolution had already been sown, your deed was the catalyst for change.  No one was intimidated any longer.  Nothing could stop those who had been mistreated for so long.

You did not die in vain.  We will always remember you.

No Fly Zone

Our involvement with the "No Fly Zone" over Libya makes me very uncomfortable.  Secretary Gates stated that this was a bad idea before it started, because among other logistical reasons, it meant that we would have to declare war on Libya. President Obama has reiterated that there will be no "boots on the ground" in Libya.  Once the camel gets its nose under the tent how long before the rest follows?  Now NATO is in charge of the operations.  I do not know who Obama is listening to.  Recently, I thought I wish he would listen to his mother,or what he thought his mother would think and say. From what I know of her, she sounded incredible and raised quite a remarkable son.  I know we are signatories to the doctrines of NATO,but I would be proud for the United States to provide humanitarian services: food, water and medicine. After all is this not a humanitarian effort?  I am disappointed about the military jets dropping bombs. The French,or I should say Sarkozy, is enthused about enforcing a no fly zone, and so are the Brits.  Norway is contributing jets. So is Belgium. Is that not enough?  We can not afford this sort of folly.  We who voted for Obama are war weary.  We do not want it. If we continue to save lives, and Qaddafi prevails, then what?

My next task is to write to Obama to tell him to listen to his own voice, because it is a good one, and to Michelle's, his daughters, his mother-in-law and of course his mother's.  I'll let you know how that works out.

Exodus of Biblical Proportions?

Reportedly, there are now tens of thousands of Northern Africans, Libyans, Egyptians and Bangladeshis who had been working in Libya, trying to emigrate to Europe, or in the case of the latter, simply go back home. France has offered, and is flying whoever they can  back home.  They are also providing humanitarian care in the form of medical supplies and food.  England is following suit with airplane transportation back home for whoever  wants it.  The United States has checked in with the offer of air transportation home as well.  So far, I have not heard anyone offer asylum or welcome these poor unfortunate devils a home.

Firstly, it is not that easy to get out of Libya from all reports of beatings, robbery, and general harassment at the very least.  The EU had its  meeting to decide what to do, when it realized how many immigrants could possibly enter Europe,( the figure of 300,000 was mentioned) and came up with a loose plan of France, Germany and England each taking its share.  I am sure something more concrete has been determined by now, because obviously all the Northern Africans can not just be sent home.

Lampedusa has been overwhelmed and the population of that tiny island is ready to have a protest of its own, saying business has suffered and the resources are insufficient to accommodate such a huge influx of humanity.Since Italy is the gateway to Europe from Northern Africa, it looks as though that country will have to deal with the majority of the emigres.  After being processed in Sicily, any point in Europe could be a destination.

We will just have to stay tuned.

Fallout from Unrest in Northern Africa

Five thousand immigrants from Tunisia arrived by boat on Lampedusa last week.  This small Italian island in the Mediterranean, usually a vacation destination, is closer to Africa than Italy, and is used to receiving immigrants from northern Africa.  Lampedusa has approximately six thousand year round residents, and facilities for 850 immigrants.  A ferry carries the immigrants in small groups to Sicily and then onto the Italian mainland.  Some Tunisians have relatives in France and that is their final destination.  Others want to go to Germany.  Italy processes each immigrant and gives him or her 30 days to report back or go home.  This process is not enforced by the Italian government.  The Interior Minister of Italy wants the EU to pay Italy for all this added expense, especially for security.  In the end someone has to pay.  Europe's population will swell.  There are not enough jobs for their own, let alone immigrants arriving on Lampedusa almost weekly or more frequently.  The first group of Tunisian immigrants reportedly were well behaved and marched through the main street with signs thanking the Italian people for their hospitality.  Then there were unconfirmed reports of fires being started in the holding facility, citing inhuman conditions.  How many Egyptians will take the same path, and now Libyans.  There is a fear of al quaeda operatives being among the immigrants.  Revolution and change are needed.  But we will all be affected eventually.      

Tunisia, Egypt, Who's next?

While the Egyptian people were protesting, demonstrating peacefully, I could not believe it.  It was unprecedented, exciting and I was riveted to the news coming out of that northern African country.  In fact, I wished I could have been there with them.  At least I wanted them to know I was with them and supported their brave actions in the name of democracy.  Every day during those two weeks I so hoped there would be no violence to spoil this pure people driven revolution.  Alas there was violence and in fact people were killed, but it was generated from those who had held power for thirty years.  Think of it, whole families sleeping outside in Tahrir Square for days, then one week, then two weeks.  At first I did not think they could achieve it, but as the protests progressed, I saw how determined this populace was, how they could not be deterred, and how their resolve could not be shaken.  I admired their steadfastness to achieve a single goal: to depose Mbarak.  When this goal was reached by their unyielding solidarity, I shared their jubilation, in fact I wanted to go out in the street and celebrate too.  Instead I shed a few tears. Now the military is in charge of that country.  I worry about that.  So far it is o.k. and during the protest the military held a sympathetic presence.
However, the Egyptian people's accomplishment is of historic proportions, and to have nothing in place to follow can be rather dangerous.  Egypt is in a fragile place where some faction or other could come forward and take negative advantage and undo this democratic venture in a very undemocratic environment.

So What's Up With So?

When I hear an interview of someone who is very erudite, with lots of letters behind his or her name or who has great accomplishments of which to boast, he or she always begins answering the initial question with the word "so".  This is a fairly new phenomenon, and to me it is a phenomenon.  I have heard no one else talk of this.  Now even the interviewer is beginning the interview with "So."  I thought "so" was a word that was used to connect phrases and events that had already taken place.  I am not saying it is wrong, just awkward.   The first time I heard it I thought I missed half of the interview.  This was not the case. Is it a case of the more it is heard, the more it is accepted?  Because it is everywhere.  I listen to NPR just about exclusively, and the other day I heard Terri Gross lead her interview with "So"  Is there anyone else wondering this same thing?
Or should I call this "So What?"