RIOT DON'T DIET

The walk from John Rylands Library to BBC Manchester was exhilarating; almost something out of Lord of the Rings. I felt like I was about to fight for my life, as if the Orks were waiting for us, ready to peel my skin apart. I felt alarmed yet focused.  Yet, I can tell you such treatment was taking place in Libya. The only difference, it was Gaddafi, not fictional characters like Orks, but a real person. A real person who is supposedly the leader of the country yet is killing hundreds of people together.

As we grew closer I heard protesters shouting ‘La illa ha illal lah’, I could see the old Libyan flag proudly being swayed in the wind. I had not felt such Goosebumps before. I was overwhelmed by the ache in their voices. There were protestors of all generations. I saw mums in their 50s, I saw babies in prams, boys of 5 years old and girls in groups of fours. The men’s voices grew stronger and stronger as more and more people joined us. At first, I simply stood there just to watch. I watched the lady at the front shout whilst the others repeated. I watched a group of men burn the green flag Gaddafi brought in.  I watched the vans of ITN and BBC in the corner. I watched little girls shout DOWN DOWN GADDAFI. I was both confused and astounded. I felt part of the crowd, yet alone. Of course, this was my very first major protest I had taken part in so wanted to simply observe first. But even that was too painful. I watched a couple of ladies huddled in the corner behind me crying. They were mourning. I remember there was a woman wearing a brown scarf with a phone diary in one hand and a mobile in the other. She was pink in the face with water blotches from the tears I guess. Only when I saw her did I start my uproar. More women gathered around us, and the voice of the people grew stronger.

The chants changed from English to Arabic, to claps and shouting. We were all there for one reason. Libya. Now, since Monday A LOT has happened in Libya. More than 2000 people have died, and more than 3000 injured. I’ve seen videos of children being burned, and women being attacked by mercenaries. Today I made the mistake of watching a very graphical video of a girl with a bullet shot in her head. It was disgusting and sad. Gaddafi is a monster. I don’t understand how he is doing this to HIS OWN people. How is money and power so bloody important to him, that he rather kill children and make their parents suffer than simply resign? We all know what he’s trying to do. But it’s not working. Gaddafi is trying to scare us so we all stop protesting and simply go home. Well, he can kiss that plan goodbye coz that is never going to happen. Libya is not going back, and definitely not now after Gaddafi has killed so many innocent people. And for what, money or power? He deserves to be burnt alive whilst the Libyans throw stones and rocks at his face. He is a criminal and everyone who is supporting him is just as bad. So if you’re pro-Gaddafi and are reading this, I have one message for you – [You’re an asshole and I wish you burn in hell so much that you feel the pain you’ve caused to all these families.  You’re a coward who cannot say no and who puts money before human life, well done you bastard, you have nothing to live for in your life. No principles, no morality, Nothing; you’re a loser.] Gaddafi’s days are numbered and I want to see what happens to all his supporters who make a living off his money. That should be fun to watch.

I don’t think you’ve lived until you share the thirst for democracy and freedom. Malcom X said ‘A man who stands for nothing falls for anything.’ I saw that quote accomplished at the protest. There was a singular moment for me where I got extremely into the protest that I started crying. There was a woman next to us mourning for her 2 nephew’s death. Whilst we were protesting outside BBC, they were doing the same in Libya; but the devil Gaddafi ended these young men’s lives for protecting their country. I think it was that moment when I wasn’t upset with what Gaddafi was doing; I was angry. I was enraged. My voice grew stronger, my hands were up in the air, and I jumped higher as I heard her cries in the background. We shouted LIBYA, LIBYA, LIBYA. As I shouted I felt tears trickle down my face. The type of tears you wipe away but they simply continue to flow down like a waterfall. I could not see as my eyes were like puddles of water. I started to breathe rapidly and felt my body tense and clench together. I was in awe. I screamed loud to ventilate all my anger, at the same time I wanted to just drop down and cry. I felt sick to my stomach. As I shook my head I play backed Gadhafi’s actions and what he has done to Libya.  The word evil does not do him justice. This man is worse than the devil. Who does that? Why is he doing this? Gaddafi is a criminal and I just pray Libya overthrows him before he kills anymore.

I had not seen my friend so solemn about anything before. B is from Libya herself and seeing her wave her beautifully made poster made me realise the longing for liberty. She stood tall getting closer and closer to the front; she was not scared to show her face. In fact she WANTED to show her face. She wanted to show Gaddafi she is not scared of him, of his son or any mercenaries he brings in. He can come, because she will not step down until his head is in her hands. Whilst she was at the front screaming in Arabic, I was struck my two very cute children. A little girl of about 6 years old with her baby brother of 2/3 years; they were lost. There must have been about 300 people at the protest, if not more and here there were two children lost with their mother nowhere to be seen. Now that’s just irresponsible. And what’s worse, the baby was crying extremely hard which broke my heart even more. I don’t even know why I got so emotional about it, but I guess seeing the situation in Libya at the moment I started conceptualising about where his mother was and whether she was hurt. Nevertheless I held the girls hand and carried the baby whilst rocking him to the chants being shouted. I whispered in his ear ‘Everything is going to be alright’, and let me tell you I felt like I was in a movie. I felt like I was in that scene of ‘Independence Day’ where everyone is getting lost and the lady helps the lost chid. I think I got emotionally swept away in the moment as I tried to relate this incident of these lost children to what would happen if we were in Libya. Of course in the end the mother was found and the children returned.

I think the last bit of the protest was quite distressing as more and more women started crying. The one thing that did put a smile on my face was seeing the same pink haired Amnesty International lady we saw on our way to BBC. Seeing her stand between an Arab woman in a scarf and a girl with pony tails, really made me smile. As the protest came to an end, I walked towards her to thank her for coming. She started apologising for not seeing enough white people among the Libyans. She said “I am sorry to see not many white people in the crowd. The issue is dangerous and we need more people here to fight for Libya. I think if we all come together we will see results and it is not about any difference. WE are all the same. You, me, her, him, there is no difference.” She continued propagandizing, and I could not but admire her words and attitude. Seeing people like her gives me confidence anything is achievable if we just let all our prejudices and stereotypes aside and let our humanity and morality choose.

Whoever says an Arab is passive and oppressed clearly needs to open their eyes. On Monday I saw a beautiful human race. I saw people from all ends stick together fighting for one cause. I was proud to be amongst them, rubbing shoulders and holding hands. Libya’s tears are my storm and I feel responsible for making this issue aware to those uninformed. So whilst you read this do not see this as a regular post you read, this is my message to you.

Unless you have stood amongst hundreds of Libyans, heard them cry, feel their pain, you will not fully see this pain. My message to you is through this piece of writing. Change isn’t going to come through leaders of the world. Name me one leader who has directly intervened in Libya?

YOU have to help. WE all have to help. Freedom comes from people like you and me. Freedom is a human right, and it is your right to help humans be free. Help Libya be free and end Gaddafi’s massacre.

PEACE

I don’t think there are any words in the dictionary that describe how the Libyans feel at the moment. Passion? Determination? Thirst for freedom? Brave?

None of those words are worthy enough to recognize the actions of Libya today. But I for one have to say my thirst for freedom has enhanced through the LIBYAN PEOPLE. My passion and determination to speak out has been enriched by LIBYA. So don’t you think for one second that the actions of Libya do not affect you; trust me my friend. They do. And as a human being it’s YOUR job to help the people.  The Goosebumps I had whilst shouting DOWN DOWN GADDAFI were like none other. The rage inside of me was definitely one I had not experienced ever before. Libya truly is in trouble, yet how many of you reading this has done something to promote solidarity with Libya?

It’s weird when you think you’ve seen and learnt everything in the world, but suddenly things change after one Monday. For me 21^st February, Monday 2011 was when my eyes opened. A protest was organised in support of Libya outside Manchester BBC and of course I was to attend. Me and my friends waited in the Library until the time came to head towards BBC, but seeing a university friend run towards us in tears completely shook me. One, because this girl is like the sun; always bright and always glowing. Two, because those tears were tears of fear and hopelessness; tears that were put there by a monster.  As B took her to a side to calm her down, I could not stop worrying about what was wrong.

Gaddafi.

I learnt he had started throwing bombs from jets over Libya. I cannot actually explain to you how amazingly upset and angry I felt at that point. It is such a fiendish thing to do, WHY?!.  Imagine you just heard bombs were being thrown onto your family’s house, and they have no means of contact so you don’t know whether they’re alive or dead. What cruel, moronic, bastard-face monster would do this? AH yes, Muammar Gaddafi. I wasn’t even upset anymore, I was angry. I was just furious, and not because my best mate is Libyan. Oh no. This isn’t even a personal issue, this is about mortality and that no one is helping this genocide. WHERE THE FACK IS THE WORLD?!

As we walked down Oxford Road stood a volunteer of Amnesty International. Her bright pink hair and chin piercing was definitely a mind distracter from Gaddafi’s doings. I wish I took a picture of her now because she really did preach some wise words. We asked her why there aren’t non-Libyans coming to the protest. After subtly promoting International Amnesty she went on in her Russian accent, making a lot of sense actually. “This is what we are trying to get across. It is not about religion, race, gender or how rich you are. We are all equal. There are more of us than them. It is about us representing human rights. We need to bring fairness and freedom to fellow humans. We need to help each other.” I actually wanted to hug her, but instead just nodded and increased my tone of ‘Yeahs!’ It’s crazy how on one hand you have Gaddafi, extremely rich and wants to kill everyone to preserve his power. And then you have this girl, not the richest but wants to save everyone.

I guess it’s true. Without money we’d all be rich.

I hate being ill. I hate feeling all low and utterly weak. I really need to write the post regarding the Libyan protest I went to yesterday.

It was amazing.

I have many pictures and videos to post aswell, but I want to make sure what I write is beautiful and moves whoever is reading it, because the Libyans showed such pride in their people. I don’t want to write for the sake of it, that way it won’t meet my standards nor convey the message across. Hence I am going to sleep now, and tomorrow I shall wake up early to write and open your eyes to help the oppressed.

Gaddaffi made a speech today lasting more than an hour. It was bullshit.

To everyone who is not a Libyan,

Libya is in trouble. But before I start this pardon my language, for everyone who knows me, you know I never swear but I don’t think I can actually describe my hatred for Gaddafi without the occasional swearing. You may have beard Gaddafi is using jet planes to bomb the cities in Libya. He has killed every soldier who refused to kill the protestors. He has brought rapists to rape the Libyan women at their homes. He has brought in Italian forces to slaughter those who speak against him. This is not a revolution. This isn’t even a civil war. This is a MASSACRE. And it’s your duty as a human being to help anyone and everyone in pain. Justice is being denied, and the international world is turning a blind eye. Where is Obama, Cameron and all those other losers now? Cowards is what they are, SO WE MUST FIGHT!  Saif El Islam, the son of Gaddaffi kept saying Libya is not like Egypt or Tunisia. He’s right. It isn’t. How can it, when Gaddaffi the fucking son of a bitch is killing innocent people, just because they are voicing out their opinion.

Today I went to the protest held at Manchester BBC. I’m not Libyan, and but I was stood there in pride. Chanting ‘El sha3d youreed uskaat el nitham”, amongst young, and old, I was proud of the Libyan people. Proud to see there solidarity. Proud to see their courage. Now tell me, what YOU have done to alert the people around you about Libya. Soooooooo what if all your mates are white, or Pakistani or Chinese? TELL THEM! Tell them to support the call for humanity. Gaddafi is going to loose, but we ALL need to help Libya achieve this. There were women around me crying, after hearing news of their loved ones die. No one from my family are in, but seeing this tragedy around me, I could not help but allow tears down my cheek to express my unity with anyone losing their loved ones.

Don’t be scared that ‘oh no I can’t go to protests; it’s not for girls’ coz that’s bullshit! If you have that state of mind then I’m sorry but we need to talk. Or if you think it’s not ‘respectful’ or ‘culturally acceptable’, mate if you start thinking like that you’re not going anywhere. Sure culture is beautiful, but don’t confuse it with anything else. It’s your job as a HUMAN being to help those in difficult situations. At the end of the day, there’s more of us than there are of these motharfacking dictators, so imagine how amazing it would be if people from Pakistan, Japan, America, Madagascar all support Libya on this cause. More than 1000 people have died, and the media can’t simply keep up to date with the numbers.

So I urge you my friends, change your profile picture in support of Libya. Your pretty picture of you at a wedding can wait, but this cannot. As we speak planses bomb houses.  Like i should really have my student elections poster as my profile picture, but that can wait because LIBYA is dying, and the word needs to get around, to EVERYONE, whether you’re in dubai or pakistan, if you see my profile picture then help this fight get noticed.  Change your status and alert your friends. PLEASE PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO SOMETHING! It hurts me to see such less Pakistanis unaware of this, SO PLEASE DO THIS! Share this message and tell your friends.

I’m going to write a post concerning this situation, what happened today and what is wrong in libya. and you all need to help Libya and do something about it. To everyone from Pakistan I have one message. The Pakistani people are humble, loyal and we know our rights, yet no one stands up against Zardari. You guys all know what a dog he is, so you should be able to understand the brutality in Libya. You should be able to understand their hunger for freedom. FORTY TWO BLOODY YEARS?! Gaddafi must die. He must be grated, and die.  Don’t use your nationality, or mother tongue, or mother roots as a barrier, If you are a human being, you will hear the call of the Libyans.

Peace,

ZA

Let your Humanity decide…

Not your Prejudice.