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Rage across the world: Why people are revolting in Libya, Algeria, Bahrain, Iran and Yemen
by Joseph Ernest February 17, 2011
Newscast Media -- The Tunisian uprising that started as a result of the jobless youth who were frustrated with their government's empty promises of jobs and affordable health care spread to Egypt and is now having a ripple effect across nations with autocratic leaders. The latest victims of this anger and frustration are: Libya, Bahrain, Algeria, Iran and Yemen. There was some political unrest in Jordan, but King Abdullah quickly recognized that rather than deal with people's frustrations heavy handedly, it would be more effective to invite the opposing voices and not only listen to their demands but also seek solutions from the very voices in opposition.
So far, the approach has worked in Jordan. However, one must remember that King Abdullah of Jordan is relatively young, and spent a big part of his life in the West, so he is not as regimented as the majority of dictators whose only desire is to cling to power at whatever cost. The king asked Marouf Bakhit, a conservative former prime minister to head a new government after accepting the resignation of Samir Rifai. He also asked the new government to take speedy and tangible steps to launch political reform. Jordan has announced a $225m package of cuts in the prices of some types of fuel and staples including sugar and rice. Rifai also announced wage increases to civil servants and the military in an attempt to restore calm. He was able to create a win-win situation for Jordanians, so this wave of anger seems to be contained, for now in his kingdom.
Day Of Rage In Libya:
Libya is experiencing its day of rage, as the citizens rise up against Moammar Gaddafi who has ruled the country for the past 41 years ever since he assumed office on September 1, 1969. Despite having a very healthy budget surplus, which is unheard of in African countries that are deeply indebted to the IMF and other financial institutions, Libyans are in the streets protesting against their government. So many times leaders believe that a healthy economy is enough to satisfy the citizens, but Libya has one of the strongest economies in Africa and the Middle East, with a healthy infrastructure forecast according to this 2011 Libya infrastructure report compiled by Research&Markets. (pop-up)
The question is, with the growing GDP, jobs, inexhaustible natural resources, why would Libyans revolt? Why would they risk the financial stability they have enjoyed to oust a leader who has been in power even before some of us were born? Would it not be best for them to retain a dictator they are familiar with, rather than a newcomer who may be unpredictable?
Reports by Al Jazeera from Libya say, before demonstrators burned down police stations across Beyida city, they gathered in the early hours of Wednesday morning in front of Benghazi's police headquarters and chanted slogans against the "corrupt rulers of the country." Chants including "No God but Allah, Muammar is the enemy of Allah," can be heard on videos of demonstrations uploaded to YouTube. Others chanted: "People want the end of the regime."
Mohammed Maree, an Egyptian blogger, said "Gaddafi's regime has not listened to such pleas and continues to treat the Libyan people with lead and fire. This is why we announce our solidarity with the Libyan people and the families of the martyrs until the criminals are punished, starting with Muammer and his family."
Ibrahim Jibreel, a Libyan opposition member based in Barcelona, told Al Jazeera, "I think the demonstrations are going to be rather serious. Libyan people have been oppressed for more than 41 years and they see to the west and to the east of them, people have been able to rise and to change their fate."
Why people revolt agianst "the powers that be" even in economic stability:
Most dictators come from a military background and are not trained in dealing with conflict in a humane or diplomatic way so they clamp down on any dissidents who dare rise up against them. They have only been trained to rule with the "iron fist", that is the reason why even though Sparta was militarily superior than all its adversaries, it ultimately fell because its military generals lacked the oratorical skills, and the diplomacy that the Greeks had. However, even though Spartans were a closed military society, they were subject to the law of the land, which doesn't seem to apply to rulers in military governments. The historian Herodotus (485-425 BC) noted: "Spartan rulers (kings) are free...but not entirely free; for they have a master, and that master is Law, which they fear."
Every dictatorship is an oligarchy, and what oligarchs or dictators cannot seem to grasp, is that people will always revolt against corruption, injustice and oppression. These are the catalysts to the uprisings we are seeing. These ingredients can turn the most docile population into an enraged critical mass of people, the result as we've witnessed is a contagious, unstoppable stampede that infects even the mediocre bystanders, the outcome of which, not even heaven can deny the people. Add Comments>>
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