You're more important than politics

For countless days, I've been monitoring the events in Syria, only wishing I could take part. Though as time wore on, I received numerous comments along the lines of "Your life is more important than politics, it's a good thing you're not actively protesting" and "Why should you care? It's not your problem to fix."

My life is more important than politics?

What about the 3,000 + who have died so far in Syria? What about the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of those who have or are currently detained by the Syrian regime, who are subject to extreme torture during every day they are detained? It's OK that they are subjected to that kind of life whilst we sit in our homes unaffected by a cruel regime? Not every single person killed or detained were actively protesting; some were by-standers, in the wrong place at the wrong time, and others were relatives of those involved.

Syria, a population of approximately 23 million, has lived in relative silence for 40 years (too long). Yes I understand that no government is perfect, but that doesn't mean we should stay quiet on a regime that kills its own people and abuses all human rights. I've always despised the American government especially in its foreign policies along with the British such as the Iraq war, the Afghanistan war as well as Guantanamo Bay. I'm sure I would despise many more European governments if I came to research more about them, many of whom are imperialistic and colonial, but at least westerners have more opportunities than those in Syria. Though that doesn't mean we can't take the time to improve each and every one of those countries. I will continue to highlight the abuses of the western governments, so why should I not of the Syrian regime? How can society improve, whichever society it may be, without constant dialogue, without people actively engaging in issues and highlighting abuses? Syrians have never been actively involved in politics; only a small portion of the population are and they are often subject to harassment and detainment. Politics affects every part of people's lives.

Human rights abuses were evident for a long time in Syria where there's a long history of arbitrary arrest, unfair trials and prolonged detentions. At least five detainees died in custody in 2010, with no serious investigations into their deaths by the authorities. That's just in 2010. Kurds also face constant discrimination, when also in 2010, security forces shot at a crowd of Kurds celebrating the Kurdish New Year in the city of Raqqa, in northern Syria, in order to disperse them where at least one was killed. It wasn't until April of this year (2011) where Kurds were allowed to obtain citizenship; a demand they've been requesting for many years but was only granted after nationwide protests took place across Syria as a way to end the protests. I could go on for ages writing about the abuses many Syrians have faced, ranging decades back such as the Tadmor prison massacre and the Hama massacre to name a couple though I'm sure there's ample sites that could advance your knowledge on Syrian history.

Corruption in Syria is very high. It's estimated that Rami Makhlouf, Bashar al-Assad's maternal cousin, controls approximately 60% of Syria's economy. Makhlouf's large network of regional business partners provides Bashar al-Assad with enormous leverage at home and provides the regime with a layer of protection against outside Arab pressures; an asset that Bashar wouldn't want to lose. Many speculate that the Assad family themselves are directly benefited by Rami's ventures by hidden profits being supplied to them, but there's currently no solid evidence to support it. According to the US Department of the Treasury, “Makhlouf has manipulated the Syrian judicial system and used Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate his business rivals. He employed these techniques when trying to acquire exclusive licenses to represent foreign companies in Syria and to obtain contract awards.” Rami is the very symbol of corruption in Syria.

Assad's regime's main goal is to stay in power. As a result, its interest will never shift to economic growth and development. Syria's culture of corruption inherently blocks meaningful long-term domestic reform. The regime has had years to develop meaningful reforms to help the working and middle class but instead has resorted to superficial gestures of improvement; most state initiatives are Potemkin reform at best, merely façades.

So tell me why Bashar al-Assad should stay in power? Why should the Ba'ath party be the only political party to legally exist in Syria? Why can't a nation be involved in it's politics?

The current regime has no incentive to engage with the opposition. They haven't done so in the past 7 months, nor are they trying to now. Until they engage in dialogue and call back their army and shabeeha, then people will go out to protest. When the regime affects every part of the civilians lives, causing many to be outraged at the lack of opportunities, the lack of money and clear violations of human rights, you expect people to sit back and say thank you?

How can you expect me to sit back whilst all of this is happening?

N.B. If I hear one more person stating that what is happening is an American/British/Israeli/Saudi/Qatari conspiracy where those just mentioned fund armed gangs within Syria, with the aim at destabilising the region, I will literally explode. The Assads haven't done anything good worth mentioning domestically in Syria. The resistance to Israel and America comes from the people, not from a government that doesn't know how to lead a country. Though if that's what you really truly believe, then be it. But for the anti-imperialists, anti-NATO, anti colonialists out there who aren't Syrian, please stay out of it; it really infuriates me to see people who are not directly implicated or involved, who have not been or lived in Syria think they know what they're talking about when they say this is all one big conspiracy in  order to help their resistance.