SYRIA: What do the rioters want?

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We have all been reading about the upheavals in the Middle East where peoples in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Jordan, Yemen and Bahrain rebelled against their governments for freedom?

Being the products of the American Revolutionary War where our ancestors fought for freedom from English tyranny and the right to pursue happiness on their own terms, we obviously feel for the plight of the oppressed around the world and especially now for those in the Middle East.

Before we get too caught up in our fight for freedom type emotions, let us remember some realities.

In the 1960s, it was all about countries and peoples rebelling against their colonial rulers, especially in Africa and in Asia. For some it turned out well for others like Rhodesia / Zimbabwe, among others, things actually deteriorated and the people suffered under a new, less benevolent dictator, even though he was one of them and not a foreigner; remember Idi Amin?

Same thing in Iran; threw one dictator out and got another but this time a religious dictator and not a secular dictator; which one is worst? – I think the people want the old one back.

Syria has been under the strong hand of a dictator for over 40 years; first Hafez al-Assad and then his son Bashar al-Assad.

Syria has been a pain in the ass for the U.S. because it supports all sorts of terrorist organizations including Hamas, Hezbollah, etc. The irony is that Syria is a secular state, no religious radicals allowed, but it supports Islamic religious terrorists.

The current rioting in Syria has resulted in many deaths usually people shot by the Syrian police forces. But what is it these rioters are rioting for?

The government has given in to some of the demands like dropping the ban on wearing Islamic veils for teachers in Syrian schools; yes, the people want the return of burquas?

The other demand was to close all casinos. Is this something I would be willing to risk my life for?

It appears, at this stage, that the people rioting and dying are being led by religious zealots similar to the clerics in Iran. If this is true, the country and its people could be in for a rough ride.

Syria, like other countries in the Middle East, were drawn up by Western powers (French in this case) after WWII and encompassed a variety of peoples. Syria is 74% Sunni, 13% Shia with an Alawite sub group, 10% Christians and 3% Druze, of all people.

A democratic or parliamentary form of government would be ideal for Syria but it does not appear that Syria is headed in that direction.

I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong because the Syrian people have been severely oppressed for a long time.

An interesting side note: People in Syria  were recently allowed access to the internet. Is this the new revolutionary tool of the world?

Related articles

• Does anybody know what time it is? (powerlineblog.com)
• What Is Happening In Syria? (powerlineblog.com)
• Syrian unrest worsens with losses on both sides (philly.com)
• Syria has heard all this reform talk before | Brian Whitaker (guardian.co.uk)
• Report: Syria to crack down on protests (edition.cnn.com)
• Timeline: Protests rock Bashar al-Assad's Syria (reuters.com)