Sirte The Stigma... Till When?

So last post was more like a second rant of some sort, and I feel the liberty to do so once I'm sensing injustice. Don't you?

Now, some might think, "Why can't she focus on the fighting going on in Libya, rather than racial conflicts?" Well, the answer is, I'm focusing on both. They go parallel in terms of importance. I mean, it's a hard thing to ignore once you find yourself subject to it almost everyday on facebook, and in real life before that. This to me is more like a challenge I intend on taking. The challenge to free us Sertawis from the misconceptions and myths that tag us around.

Some days ago, I mentioned on Twitter that I was working on establishing a page devoted to news from Sirte. The page is up and running since last Sunday. Though it's hard to get hold of any news from there these days, I think it's important that we have a voice. So far there are 17 members :) I wouldn't- didn't- expect much to begin with, because, I know truly well that they wouldn't want to be mistaken for a Pro just because they like this page. The funny thing was the page attracted a Pro-Gaddafi (who had to be kicked out due to his inappropriate conduct) so, I hope you get what I mean lol

I do hope that by fighting to clear our marred history because of him I wouldn't be misinterpreted... Sirte, as many should well know, is not just Gaddafi and his people. And I wish that once all this is over, we could finally give it a rest.

Till next time,

Hana S.

Let Me Be... Let Libya Free

As far as I could remember, at least before the 21st century, Libya's main spite poured over Americans and the west. "America is our enemy," was Gaddafi's cliché phrase for ages every time he delivered a speech, and what made this concept more like a Libyan's motto was the American air strikes on Libya back in 1986.

There is a limit to almost everything. Even when doing good deeds one should be moderate (This is merely my POV btw)

And speaking of moderation... do I sense a decline in facebook big-mouths lately? XD I am totally ecstatic! Like whenever Libyans would come out with a video stating they're with the revolution and anti-Daffy (Gaddafi), loads of member would backlash yapping about how late these statements are and what not. Now, if that ain't aggressive and hurtful, I don't know what is.

Basically, coming from a city, which I predict would be like the last city to make a move due to the plague of Pro-Daffys there, these kinds of acts are pretty depressing and demeaning.

This was noticeable to me ever since Misurata had been liberated about a week ago (if not more?) ... Why is it people make it sound like Libya's been liberated from this antagonizing regime? Aren't there other cities facing Hell day and night?

I am not a prejudiced person, nor am I racist, but to rejoice with one's victory then start lashing at others because they're not from a victorious city is mighty incongruous. And I don't really know if I have full right to make remarks about this, but this is something that has touched me and I've seen how others on facebook (not necessarily from Sirte) were taken aback as well.

Like we don't choose our own parents, we don't choose which clan we're born into. I'm sick and tired of people turning pale every time I introduce myself as being from Sirte '___' I mean, logically, why relate a whole bunch of people to one individual?? Don't give me that "One rotten apple ruins a bunch", the other ones get rotten just because they chose to stick to it, and by that, I mean all pro-Gaddafis on this planet!


*sigh*

To be cont....


Till next time,

Hana S.

Keepin' It Real, Libya

"It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities." - J.K. Rowling

Spring cleaning's almost over in Libya. It sure has been a lousy long time doing it, but the outcome is almost evident now. To me, it's like when Beast's castle transforms from evil-dark to angel-white when the spell was broken... a widespread wave of fresh air seeping around Libyan sand dunes and rustling through palm trees.

There's no doubt about it that the uprising had uplifted millions of Libyans in Libya and around the world. The image of grumpy people wherever you go is still vivid. The oppression of demanding rights compressing their lungs. People have no patience whatsoever when their on the road. They would just hate that you're driving peacefully ahead of them when they haven't the time in the world to get to their destination! Brace yourself when they drive past you for an inaudible curse or two and an angry brandish of the hand       -___- I, as a female, get that a lot (lol)

I have no idea why that made me laugh??!

Ahem. Moving on...

It's hard to find a Libyan that doesn't smoke. The guys that I positively know they don't are my dad and bro. That's... a small number. I personally think my dad's a very calm person. That's evident in the way he drives... unless he's in Tripoli! lol

So, yeah I really do feel sorry for us. The war against Gaddafi is our therapy from Hell. Like when they say go hit something to release your anger? Our Freedom fighters were given the choice of grabbing guns to do that. And the cause is much greater here. They are freeing a whole country with their vent. Are we doing a good job acknowledging them? Especially those who have lost their lives, limbs... for the sake of our freedom? Doing so is likely to keep us awake for a few weeks.

At the beginning of the uprising, freedom fighters have been accused of being this and that. This is always the case when you're on the right. You get opposed for no clear reason, or for the sake of being opposite.

That's the price we are to pay for liberty. I am so proud of our men and women, hand in hand they have established a unity we hardly knew was there. With that, our Freedom Fighters were able to achieve successes in various parts of Libya. Recent one was Misurata... free at last. Now Fighters are moving west towards Zliten and news are coming in by the hour of clashes between them and Gaddafi forces in the city. Their ability to maintain strength and patience till this very day is outstanding. 

This is Libyans for you. This is their faith. This is what they believe in.

I would do anything...

As always we'll keep praying with full boost. We're getting there inshallah. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Till next time,

Hana S.

Quick Rant!! @#$$%^$%

I just wanna say that I can't get over the post I posted yesterday T___T It disappeared after the site's maintenance...

*Sigh*


Back to pen and paper -___-#

Hana S.

What Makes A Freedom Fighter

We have a saying in Arabic...

فاقد الشئ لا يعطيه

He who is deprived of something does not give it

Get it?

Okay.

That's not one of my favorite sayings, because I don't entirely believe in it.

Our youths are an excellent example of this- the contrary, that is- of giving something that they were deprived of. Freedom. Safety. Incentive to all those around them. Pride. Respect.

Willing to try.... Willing to learn.

We take moments, hours, days! to try and perceive what went wrong to a country that is rich in values and heritage. A hundred years back we were fighting, we had fighters then too. We were ridiculed. How could warriors on horseback defeat the developed and magnanimous artillery (well, it was back then) of the Italian army? And history repeats itself with our current Freedom Fighters, who lack experience in military defense, they share the same force with which our grandfather Omar Mukhtar fought with a century ago.  

So why do the Freedom Fighters lack the ability to grab a gun and save the day?

For many years, I've heard of men trying desperately to skip/flee military service in Libya. Some have actually been residing abroad for a long time, away from family and friends, just for that cause. It's all because of the horrors of the regime's military technicality. As a soldier, you are dealt by ignorant, aggressive men who think you're not a man unless you are trained to be treated like trash.

Protecting our family and land is our top priority

Now we are witnessing a battle between Gaddafi's diabolic regime, who I'm positive most of them were lucky enough to reach junior high, and the educated entity of our Libyan population who have fulfilled an educated life (regardless of how they've achieved that) and seek freedom to and a better life.

We are the ones aware of how the world is getting about, prospering, figuring out sollutions to keep things going.

Our road is paved with our worship to Allah, with our faith in that He'll guide us to our release. And that's what makes us successful in reaching our goal.

Inshallah.

Saif said there's going to be a civil war. Did he go and see how families are assisting each other in Misurata? Giving each other emotional boost and sharing their food... Or our fellow brothers and sisters in the liberated east who are preparing to march to the far west to free Tripoli and its neighboring cities?

It's time that this regime seriously clammed it and disappeared.

It is our chance to prove what we're really made of and capable of doing. We are not worthless. God valued us when he gave us minds and souls to live. Living under this regime is not our way of saying thank you.

The going is tough...

But we're getting there... With God's will we are :)

Till then,

Hana S.

Gaddafi: Livin' La Vida Loca!

"Unbelievable sights... indescribable feeling."

To all of you who are familiar with Disney's Aladdin, then you pretty much know that part of the soundtrack.

Except, when Jasmine sang that verse, she was beyond happy, taking in the spectacular views of the world's wonders.

The one I'm singing is quite on the contrary. I don't see trees of green when I watch reports on Libya, nor clouds of white. I see destruction, men torn apart, children crying, women screaming ... those are my "Unbelievable sights". 

How come a whole community gets to suffer just because of a wretched individual who's got psychological issues?? One person!? 

Remember how it's like when there's an elderly in a family whose mind is outta this world? Other members ignore his actions and keep treating him with kindness... because!... he's of no danger to anyone. Well, of course unless relatives don't watch over him and make sure he gets his meds on time.

But this... this... grrr! (guy) is too much.

Back in the days during 'his' so called revolution, Libyans thought they were in for a real deal of freedom. Freedom from a foreign occupation that lasted decades, preceded by another which lasted centuries (The Othomons). So, year by year, it dawned at them that what was supposed to be ultimate freedom to the mass turned out to be a building empire at Gaddafi's disposal.

How ironic.

He became engulfed with the international attention he'd been receiving and thought he'd play with it... on our very own expense. Allow me to take you back with the word again. Remember. Remember when every time you introduced yourself as a Libyan, people would either mistake you for a Lebanese, or instantly say, "Ooooh, Gaddafi? Blood sucker?"

-___-"

Imagine hearing that when you were a kid. I did. And it didn't make sense because I wasn't aware yet of his doings both inside and out of Libya. And most naturally, I get to understand later on why my folks have been giving vague responses once asked.

Well now I know.

During my frequent visits to Libya in the past, I used to feel sorry for the country. Not because of its government - Apparently there wasn't any- but because of the state it was in. When I left, my vivid memory of Libya was that of sand, sand and more sand, large scary ants, and looong weary drives from one city to the other.

I loved that memory of mine. And I secretly resented the change that took place in areas where I used to play in the sand dunes, that have overnight turned into buildings and roads. Ah, well.

Change in Libya, terribly slow as it was, happened quite recently. For example, Libya in 2000 was different from that in 2005. Man, I feel so sorry for the long gone generations who have lived through the hard times.

It's all been blamed on the UN sanctions that were lifted in 2000. Okay, so the country lived in near poverty during which... but that wasn't apparent on Gaddafi or his family. Their appearances in Europe! Their assets!

And when Feb17 movement errupted he asked his 'Trumpets' to go out and dance, sing... and get ready. In other words: Livin' la vida loca (Living the life crazy) Evidence of his command can be seen live almost every night on Libyan State tv from Bab Alaziziya (Gaddafi's crib). Let alone the crimes his mercenaries have committed around Libya. 

Live your vidas as loca-listically as you like... we will not forgive.

Till next time,

Hana S.

Epidemic-G

With today's news of Bin Laden being dead, one would only think how worse this year could get!!

Do they seriously think we're buying their scheme? "Oh, look! We got Bin Laden and he's dead. Mission accomplished. Let's head home." Don't we all know they were heading home in the first place?!! Which is lame because why would they leave without finishing their initial job - getting rid of BL- but wait a second! On our way out we ran into him and killed him!

-_____-"  Ugh!

So last Saturday Gaddafi's son, Saif Al-Arab (or Al-Urouba)... like we'll ever know!..., died due to NATO'S raid on their residence in Tripoli. *sigh*

As weird as it gets...

Why does it have to get more and more complicated? This regime is worse than anything in history. Epidemic-G ... an oozing substance that's seeping through everything... everywhere!... destructively.

For a very long time now we've been absorbing their atrocity. We ain't sponges of excellent quality when it comes to absorbing a little bit more of them. 

We're bored. We want this to end... but not just like that. We want it to end the way we want it. 

A free land, with a dark history of invasions...


If we are the rats...



Then we can't wait for the day our big cat gets caught!!

Nuf said B-/

I'm kinda worried about the future of this blog, because writing about this epidemic is so... sickening!

But till next time anyway,

Hana S.