The amount
of death that is occurring in Syria is unacceptable. To put the numbers into
perspective, it is the equivalent of the (combined) population of the cities of
Burlington and South Burlington, and the village of Essex Junction here in
Vermont. What started as part of Arab
Spring –an awakening and interest in democracy—in March of 2011, has changed to
a protest and uprising against President
Bashar al-Assad. A visible and vocal part of the Arab Spring revolution, the students
at Aleppo University have paid a high price.
Many died and others suffered terrible injuries as they continue to
fight against an oppressive government. The fighting is not limited to the
University; there are attacks going on all across the country. People are starting to believe that there is
no part of Syria is safe.
Many Syrians wonder why the world isn't coming
to the aid of the freedom fighters. How
many people have to die they wonder?
Whether or not to intervene –and exactly how far to support those who
fight for freedom—is being discussed in Berlin, London and Washington, D.C. And while the leaders are weighing the
options, more and more Syrians are dying. President al-Assad bombs village
after village. U.N. observers speak of a peaceful resolution—but those efforts don’t
last long. The bombings continue…and more people die. What is confusing to me is how so many are so
passionate for freedom and are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice; while
others speak that they “love” their president and seem to be willing to forgive
the fact that he has butchered so many of their brothers. There needs to be
more of an effort from the UN to help stop the attacks that are happening. Something that started out innocently asking
for more freedoms for people from the Arab Spring turned into to protests and
deaths all around Syria.
Katie Juhl
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