The Powerful Funeral of a Syrian Graffiti Artist

Nour Hatem Zahra - Syrian Activist
Art Work: Courtesy of his friends

When the Arab Awakening began picking up steam last spring, the people of Syria hoped to rid themselves of brutal dictator Bashar Assad in a fairly timely fashion, just as their Arab brethren in Egypt and Tunisia had ousted their corrupt leaders. 

Instead of fleeing in exile or peacefully transitioning power though, Assad and his supporters dug in. They began to arrest, torture, and murder those who opposed them. And when the opposition began to organize mass demonstrations, with protestors in numbers too great for arrest and detention, security forces began to open fire on them.

Nour Hatem Zahra was one of the thousands of Syrian anti-government activists. Known as "the spray man," the 23 year-old Zahra used spray paint and graffiti to spread the message of revolution and opposition. In 2011, he was apprehended by the government, and his anti-Bashar graffiti landed him in jail for two months. Upon his release, Zahra proved to be undeterred, and the defiant artist quickly returned to his work on the walls of Damascus.

Zahra was shot and killed by Syrian security forces last week, an action that has subsequently elevated the popular activist to the status of martyr. The video clip below contains powerful images from Zahra's funeral celebration: anti-government protestors pouring into the streets by the thousands, carrying signs, dancing, chanting in unison, and looking bold, committed, and unafraid.

As I watched the striking images, I came to the realization that this is what revolution looks like.

Facebook, Twitter, and Other Weapons of Mass Instruction

Being an activist used to be hard and time-consuming work. Thanks to the advent of the social network - that's just not so any more.

Back in the day, if you wanted to send a message of discontent to "the man" or needed to disrupt the status quo, your first priority was to determine the best ways to fight the perceived injustice and to inflict harm upon your oppressor, or to otherwise gain attention for your cause. Then, you had to pound the pavement to identify a group of like-minded individuals and organizations who are willing to rally around your vision and objectives. Next, you might have to get busy printing placards, staging protests, organizing boycotts, and finding ways to attract the media. All of this took a lot of time and effort, but it was the necessary work of activism. Because you can't be very effective as a crusader if you're not thrusting your anti-whatever movement into the public spotlight, right?

Social media has revolutionized revolutionizing though. Now, any dick with a blog (eh-hem) can express his opinions, demand change, and publish a widespread call to action with little more than the click of a button (or two). Thanks to the World Wide Web - anyone, or everyone, can pick up the mantle of injustice and be an activist, and you never have to leave the cheap warm comfort of your parents' basement.

The internet enables us to react with blazing speed, and to respond and rebel nearly instantaneously when we have had enough of being held down, put down, torn down, or just gotten kind of ticked off. It provides us with a digital megaphone whose reach, with a bit of well-intentioned sharing, re-posting, and re-tweeting, is practically unlimited. And that's the other thing that makes social media revolutions so awesome - not only are they easy to start, they are incredibly easy to join, allowing for our "active" participation, even if we only give a half-hearted shit about the cause.

Gaddafi Reported Arrested, Killed

Former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi

Giant news from the Arab world this morning as reports claim that Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has been captured and killed by rebel forces in his hometown of Sirte. Reuters, the BBC, and other international news outlets are reporting Gaddafi's death, although it has not been confirmed by U.S. news agencies or by the American government. A gruesome cell phone photo that is reported to be the corpse of the Libyan dictator has been broadcast on MSNBC and other networks.

With Gaddafi having been in power over 40 years (since the Nixon administration to put it into context), his imminent demise poses large questions about what happens next in Libya.

As the Arab Spring continues in to fall, Libya is just the latest Arab nation making headlines as civil unrest spreads across the Middle East and Northern Africa. Since last December, we have seen political revolutions resulting in the ousting of longtime dictatorial leaders in Tunisia, Egypt , and Libya, and we have witnessed uprisings and civil protests in Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, and other Arab states.

The fire of rebellion spreading through the Arab world is exciting, and the idea that real organic democracy (not the Bush-imposed brand used in Iraq) may take hold in these nations inspires hope. With these revolutions though also comes uncertainty, and a pressing need for cautious and balanced American diplomacy and leadership (this is not time for walking tall and carrying a big stick).

As we celebrate the downfall of cruel and tyrannical dictators, we should all, regardless of political affiliation, hope our leaders are capable of thoughtfully positioning the U.S. favorably in great Arab unknown. The Arab Spring presents historical opportunities for our nation to forge new positive relationships in the Arab world. Our leaders must exercise enormous care to make sure we take an appropriate role in these events that allows us to leverage these opportunities to make new friends, or at least to avoid making new enemies.

Bachmann Gets Another Taste of Shoe Leather

Just when you think she can't do more to hurt her own chances of becoming President, Michele Bachmann has done it again. 

This time, Bachmann "blamed" the President's Middle East policy for inciting the "Arab Spring." Apparently, Bachmann thinks it's a bad thing that Arab populations in several countries have risen up against long-standing despotic rulers. 

Democracy as we say, not as we do? Is that it Michele?