For Arab Youth, Dreams May Be Deferred : NPR
For Arab Youth, Dreams May Be Deferred
by Deborah Amos
March 25, 2011
March 25, 2011Demands For 'A True Partnership'
I would like the government to say, 'OK, citizens, your voice counts. Tell us what you want. Not: Tell us what you want on a piece of paper and we will consider it.'
- Saudi blogger Ahmed Bagadood
In one Saudi neighborhood, the noon call to prayer is thick in the air, but Ahmed Bagadood doesn't even look up from his computer. He's scrolling through the blog he's written since 2009.
"SaudiDream.net — it has a slogan of 'Tomorrow's accomplishments are today's dreams.' "
Dreams, he says, that come from a new sense of patriotism, a term that's come into fashion with young Arabs these days. His demands reflect online petitions signed by reformers.
"I would like the government to say, 'OK, citizens, your voice count. Tell us what you want. Not: Tell us what you want on a piece of paper and we will consider it,' " Bagadood says. "We want a true partnership, and this has to happen."
So far, young Saudis say they are deeply disappointed by the royal response. Disappointment is spreading in Egypt, too, where protesters are frustrated by the pace of reform.
Is the Facebook generation prepared for setbacks? After all, the initial euphoria has turned to violence in Libya and Bahrain.
The question troubles Yousef. He says reform requires long-term pressure in a region known for incremental and reversible measures.
"I think the biggest threat is loss of confidence, loss of faith, defeated expectations that might settle in after a while," he says.
Toppling autocrats in Egypt and Tunisia may turn out to be the easy part.
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pilar graham (cybidium) wrote:
God bless 'em. This is the main thing for me, this spirit of pride and self determination. With all the focus on the violence, the dreams and the positivity are evaporating. I'm looking forawrd to a new of generation of musicians, artists, scientists, and world leaders. I really hope that along with covering all the strife (if it bleeds, it leads) that the media doesn't forget that the roots of this uprising came from hope and from peace and for the potential for these kids, young men and women, to bloom. Please NPR and others, chase these stories and help shape events by keeping some focus on where these kids are going. It's going to be tough, uncertain times ahead, and instead of getting sucked into to the old narrative, help define the new one. It will be way too easy for the kids to get hijacked by the old ruts and the old voices. It needs to stay fresh and positive to the greatest extent possible. Already the violence in Libya is taking center stage and depression, stagnation and despair is not far behind once we all begin to forget what this is all about. Help them help themselves. Give them a platform for their music, art films, novels, ideas and dreams. It will be the lifeline they need to make the transition. Go kids, Go!
Friday, March 25, 2011 10:56:38 PM
GPRP GPRP (GPRP) wrote:
Is it too much to hope that maybe, just maybe, Arabs have realized they have far more serious problems than whether some Jews live in the same area?
Friday, March 25, 2011 9:00:53 PM
my little interview
