Straight away this latest trip has been
an eye opening experience. On the tram from the airport to my hostel
I encountered an elder man from Syria. He began curiously
interrogating my friend and I's home countries and why we were
visiting Istanbul. He introduced himself as a Syrian and carried on
normal conversation with us for the first few stops. Then he grasped
our hands and apologized for doing so but he wanted to change the
topic of conversation to Syria and with fiery passion in his eyes he
began.
It turned out that he was an exile for
over 20 years who has been traveling around Europe, learning
languages and unable to return to Syria. His story then became more
intense when he identified himself as formerly being very close and
part of the Assad regime. It was this point that his demeanor became
more aggressive and his tone changed to intense hatred for Assad and
his regime for whom he once worked.
He began explaining how Assad was born
into this lifestyle of wealth and not knowing of work or poverty. The
current war is a result of this upbringing in that Assad will never
willingly give up his wealth and power. It is this attitude that has
driven the rebels, with no other option, to try to take the country
back at whatever cost. It is this willingness of both sides to
sacrifice life over compromise that forecasts a long struggle with no
end in sight.
It was the look in his eyes, of both
terror for his countries fate, and anger towards the man that has
left his country in ruins that has burned its image into my mind. As
we approached our tram stop he once again apologized to us for
speaking of this as he returned to a civilized tone once again. As I walked off the train and away, this
conversation followed. The sad reality is that mankind has not
learned it's lesson of dealing with dictators past and the world will
continue to look onto this war from a distance, as dreams fade and lives are
lost.
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