Children Defy Dictatorship
Syria’s youth revolution will not be deterred by regime oppression
So much has been said about the role of Facebook and Twitter and various social networking websites in support of the Arab revolutions from Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Egypt. But it is also vital to note the role of the young and youth leaders in awakening these revolutions buried deep within the heart of oppressed Arab citizens.
In Syria, a kid named Hamza al-Khatib was key in arousing the revolution amongst youngsters. Arrested in April, his horribly mutilated body was returned to his family the following month. Other rebellious kid who cheered against the regime and wrote slogans on the walls of their schools were arrested, tortured and killed in cold blood.
After four month of widespread demonstrations demanding the end of the regime and of all killings by the regime, Bashar al-Assad must be shocked by the acts of the rebellious kids in front of him.
This is the same generation that grew up on the Baath doctrine and was taught from a young age the concept of enslavement and the adoration of the eternal leader. The regime made sure for decades that these concepts were well-rooted in the hearts and minds of generations of Baathists by spreading the ideology in schools, universities and the union of Syrian students to create a generation that bows to one leader and one party in a totalitarian system.
But the children of Syria succeeded in confronting these ideologies by participating in the demonstrations all over the country in the face of the arrogance and tyranny of a regime that stole from them so many years of freedom of expression – and to inform the regime that it is part of history and the future is in their hands.
The children of Syria succeeded in breaking down the barrier of fear and hesitation among adults and boosting the popular demonstrations by their bravery and courage. This success stems from their rejection of all kinds of indoctrination while insisting that the democratic culture will grow and be established here because of them.
The regime that is rejecting the inevitability of change is trying to kill the truth by killing and torturing the rebellious kids after failing to intimidate and indoctrinate them.
To date, the regime has not understand that the children see the future in their eyes – and no matter what the sacrifice is, Assad will not be able to stop their movement because they see the future clearly: a free and democratic Syria.
