While most Syrians and their supporters understandably celebrated the downfall of their notorious despot, some self-styled Western “anti-imperialists” — including voices within the pro-Palestinian movement — adopted a more muted stance.
It feels perverse to see Syrians forced into defensive positions on the day they are freed from half a century of tyranny. Why must Syria’s liberation from a notorious regime that spent decades destroying the fabric of its society — hollowing out its people, resources, land and opportunities — be met with hesitation, muted celebrations or warnings to “watch with caution”? Why can’t it simply be recognized for what it is: a victory for human liberation? There is growing dismay at those critiquing Assad’s overthrow for showing little regard for the sincere desire for freedom of Arabs and relegating their national aspirations to mere chess moves on a geopolitical board. Ironically, these oracles of doom are nearly always railing against the paternalistic patronising of Western orientalists of global south countries, and yet here they are telling Syrians they don’t know what’s good for them. As estimations emerge that up to 100,000 Syrians disappeared into Assad’s prison cells, the majority killed, do the naysayers really expect us to be thinking of “worse to come” without the regime? It is beyond demeaning. Some also lament Assad’s demise for the almost laughable claim that he was an anti-imperialist fighter, a deterrent to Israel and a friend of Palestine. These claims are absurd when weighed against the regime’s reality. Its survival depended entirely on direct foreign intervention by Russia and Iran. While they may not fly the stars and stripes, imperialism comes in many flags. As for deterring Israel, the obvious question is: with what? Any study of revolutionary history shows that beginnings are often bumpy and the future uncertain. Yet, by most comparisons, HTS’s ouster of Assad and takeover of Syria have been remarkably bloodless and smooth. Still, there remains the patronizing, infantilizing finger-wagging and cautioning. Even more troubling is the risk of suppressing our grief over the staggering loss of Syrian lives during the grotesque reign of the Assad dynasty. Will Syrians now be compelled to intellectualize and justify their relief at escaping their abuser instead of beginning the long process of healing? This is about generations of work — processing trauma, recovering, rebuilding — and Syrians need support to undertake it, not shame for embracing their freedom. https://newlinesmag.com/argument/liberation-in-syria-is-a-victory-worth-embracing/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#34004): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/34004 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/110067352/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
