(source)
We have the strange phenomenon, lately, of silence and cynicism in so-called progressive circles, even on this website, regarding the revolution in Libya. We earlier witnessed progressives, Leftists, even some libertarians falling all over themselves with banners and slogans of support for the liberation movements in Tunisia and Egypt, many even marching in solidarity rallies in Western cities as revolutionary Egyptians battled with Mubarak thugs in Tahrir Square.
Yet when it has come to the worst of the dictators still in power in the Middle East right now, a truly narcissistic mass-murderer and torturer who has left a trail of blood and terror spanning decades, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, we are seeing either silence or, worse still, betrayal, slander and cynicism emanating from the words of many a leftist or so-called progressive pundit, actually making common cause with conspiracy radio hosts like Jeff Rense AGAINST the very same liberation-spirited protesters putting their lives on the line for a just and free society in Libya.
Suddenly Gadaffi's well-documented forays into violence and assassination (check out Wikipedia HERE) are being glossed over, ignored, even denied or defended, his in-your-face megalomania being spun as Western propaganda and exaggeration, even though Gaddafi is so whacked out even in public that he began calling himself "The King of Kings of Africa" in 2008 during a self-promotional meeting that he arranged with African tribal "royals" in Benghazi, one of the rebel-held Libyan cities he is now threatening to level for its temerity in opposing his semi-divine will. Who other than a certifiable mental case is going to parade himself openly as "The King of Kings"?
Even Libyan's common struggle with Egyptians, Tunisians, Saudis, etc. for humane and democratic government has been erased from the equation in various slanderous propaganda onslaughts, a convenient way of avoiding solidarity with "THEM". For example, Jeff Rense, self-styled expert on Libya as of late, described the liberation struggle to his audience on March 10th as "the European-US inspired, armed coup d'etat attempt at Libya that tried to steal Libya's oil and Gaddafi and the Libyan people's wealth" (source), never mind that Gaddafi has been stealing wealth from the Libyan people for decades through crass nepotism to the tune of billions of dollars for himself, his relatives and sycophantic friends.
So with this and other such rote rants against Western imperialism as their main propaganda spiel, these same pundits and conspiracists basically paint a puerile and simplistic picture of a hard-pressed (though slightly flawed) Bedouin Colonel Gaddafi bravely warding off all the evil monsters of renewed colonialism generated by the West's endless lust for oil. End of story. The corollary: throw the hopes and dreams of the Libyan people for dignity, freedom of speech and all those other Rights of Man, coupled with freedom from tyranny, arbitrary detention, torture and execution, throw it ALL under the bus. Then secretly or subconsciously applaud Gaddafi for doing the work of the Devil.
The worst of all this is that it just not the young and older men of the revolution, to the tune of God knows how many thousands, who are going to be brutally sacrificed on the altar of ideology if Gaddafi successfully regains control of Libya, and who will be (and already are for those recently captured) facing beatings, torture and murder under star chamber trials and convictions, if they are even afforded that. No, a similar fate awaits the revolution's women, perhaps even children too, for they are all part and parcel of this same struggle against Gaddafi. Women have also disappeared into his torture centers in the past and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future if he is not removed from power.
For those who do not understand that Libyan women are part and parcel of this revolution, it is time to wake up! Please watch on:
And here is a look at the daily solidarity work of Libyan women for their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers struggling on the front lines against a vastly better armed and brutal war machine largely forged from Western weaponry, equipment and ordnance:
And as for Jeff Rense's and other benighted ideologues' slanders that these courageous men and women are cartoon characters working with the West to steal Libya's oil, listen to what Libyans are really saying to the West:
The pertinent question now is, why aren't prominent American women and organizations speaking out in solidarity with the women of Libya? Other than good ole Medea Benjamin of Code Pink who with a score of Libyan-American women, some a part of the small Code Pink contingent, all stormed the Libyan Mission in DC on February 24th, the silence has been largely deafening:
Where are the voices of Cindy Sheehan, Naomi Klein, Naomi Wolf and Code Pink nationally, as well as other national women's organizations? Where indeed are American and European women's voices in general in the struggle against oppression at such a critical juncture in the bloodstained march of humanity for freedom in the 21st Century?
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