One voice from Syria, the ordinary voice of a citizen of Damascus:
When you watch the news, do you ever wonder, like I do, “where is the voice of an ordinary citizen?” Do you wish reporters could knock on a family’s door, be invited in for dinner and discuss what is happening through their eyes over coffee?
We may never get this point of view in the media. But we can still get it. All we have to do is talk to one another. Not through politicians and armies but through blogs, social media, and travel. We’ll have to skip dinner and coffee. But we can hear a voice from Syria.
In my last post, I told you about my friend “Maryam” in Syria. For this post, I offered “Maryam” my blog for a day.
“My dear friend, I appreciate everything you have been and have done… I love you so much and cherish our memories together. Check your inbox please.”
Among my messages I found a note with this attachment. Maryam originally wrote this for the many friends she made over a lifetime working and studying around the world. Now she wants to include wander-readers in that circle of friends.
Maryam’s letter:
My dear friends,
Why is it that everyone seems convinced that the rebels are in the right? The rebels are the ones who are terrorizing us, maiming women and raping them… killing children. The other day, during the massacre in a village close to Latakia that they held, they were brutal beyond belief. It is said that since the days of the Turkish massacre on Armenia, nothing so brutal was seen. They cut women in half from their heads downwards, and cut off their nipples and made necklaces out of them that they are now wearing to show off. One rebel terrorist cut open the belly of a pregnant mother to pull out the fetus to ensure that it wouldn’t survive. They are lining up men and killing them in cold blood, often cutting off their heads with swords, and more horrifying, they are often giving the swords to twelve year boys to “do the honors.” Some terrorists were also cannibalistic. They proudly tore out the heart and liver of their victims and ate them raw. This is just one example of many such massacres. Imagine if they come to power what they would do?! And by the way, the chemical weapons were used by the rebels. All evidence has proven that, despite what the media is saying. And this is not the first time the terrorists have used chemical weapons on innocent civilians since this crisis started.
Interestingly, President Bashar Al-Assad is one of the best presidents Syria has had. Till now, the majority (at least those who live in Syria, and that would include me) are on his side. He has brought so much to Syria, and because of his high level of (non-political) education, along with our first lady’s, Syria flourished more than ever.
For the past 40 years, Syria hasn’t had any foreign debts. We are almost 100% self-sufficient. Until the terror started, we had no homeless people, no one slept hungry, education and medical care are provided free to everyone (including cancer treatment and other expensive treatments). And when I say education is free, that includes university level. Even post graduate studies are free to scholarship winners. Those who don’t earn a scholarship can still attend at a nominal fee.
Many activities here are sponsored by the state and therefore are free or for a nominal price (like my daughter’s basketball training — completely free with top coaches.)
Basic food stuff like rice, sugar, tea, bread, flour, milk, etc… are subsidized by the state so that everyone can afford them. Pure drinking spring water reaches our faucets, and we pay nominal fees for it. Fuel, both for cars and for heating, is subsidized by the state, as is cooking gas.
The level of safety and security we enjoyed before the terror started is incomparable to anyplace I ever visited. A woman could go out in the middle of the night to the most remote area in Syria and feel 100% safe. Crime was so rare, that when it happened, everyone would be talking about it for weeks.
One of the greatest things about Syria is the complete lack of sectarianism. In other words, with all the different religions, sects, and factions living here, in addition to all those who came to Syria in the past to take refuge from many different ethnic backgrounds, no one held race against them. We always say that “Syria is a beautiful mosaic piece of art.” Now the rebels are trying to stir sectarian and ethnic conflict between us, to create an opposition. They are scandalized by those who refuse to divide.
In Syria, before the terrorist rebellion, the lifestyle is one of the most peaceful, relaxed lifestyles. After work is over, many people are out in every imaginable place. Parks, Qassyoun mountain, cafes, restaurants, any place you can imagine. Having fun, playing cards and backgammon, sipping Arabic coffee or mint lemonade, some smoking our famous argeelahs, and just enjoying life together.
We have always been the home of anyone who needed to take refuge. Over the years, that has included the Armenians, the Sarkasians , the Chechnyans, the Somalis, and more recently the Palestinians, Iraqis, and Lebanese. One French Orientalist once said, “Everyone has two homelands: his own and Syria.” This has always been the truth.
Everyone who comes here is welcome, and so many have fallen in love with Syria and decided to make it their home. I am not saying that life here is perfect and worry-free, but Syrians were happy, and the government has always done so much to help all those who have needed help.
One alarming fact: the overwhelming majority of the “rebels” who are terrorizing us, and bringing the most twisted “religious” concepts imaginable are non-Syrians, and most of them are from Al-Qaeda which is supposedly the West’s number one enemy. How is this explained?!
I know this has been a VERY long letter, but I really want you to know, dear friend. I know you have zero tolerance for injustice, and what is happening to the Syrian people is completely unjust. I wish everyone in the States could know this. The media is lying, and this is clear to me not only because I am living here, but because I listened to what they reported about events I actually witnessed in person. I was was shocked at how the reports misrepresented some circumstances and was outright wrong about others.
Please forgive that I withhold my name. You cannot imagine how many threats I get simply because I was writing about how much I love my country. Even when I avoid political comments and only share my love of this timeless city in a beautiful country. I am threatened just for saying I love it.
The nature of these threats leave me completely speechless. So severe, that I often couldn’t understand the words. And the most mild threat was that I would be raped. This is the language of the rebels. Now I think a million times before I write anything publicly. I don’t fear for myself, but my daughter was dragged into it and threatened. I must be cautious.
There is so much more I wish I could tell you. Someday… when we can talk again face to face over coffee.
(end letter)
I know there are many other voices longing to be heard. I hope this one voice from Syria is useful and cultivates compassion. Most of all, I hope all the other voices of Syrian citizens find a platform too.
Please forgive the absence of photographs in this post. I do not want to include any images that might link “Maryam” to this letter or help rebels identify her. I want a chance at that cup of Turkish Coffee with her in old Damascus.
Read ~ Write ~ Wander
~Angie