TUNIS

TUNIS
Thank you for showing the way

Tunis has definitely been this month’s center of attention. Years of oppression, robbery, corruption, power abuse ended abruptly after a few days of popular manifestations caused by the immolation of a desperate citizen, the reaction to the abuse of a system favoring the super rich and especially the family of the (now former) president Ben Ali.

What happened in Tunis, although many observers might see it as an isolated popular revolution, is in my opinion the start of a new era, an era where the people demand justice and finally voice their right to choose their own existence.  Rights made impossible for too long by corrupt leaders assisted by the active interference of a complacent international community.

Where was the “civilized” western society in all this? Well, as usual, trying to keep friends with the dictator that allowed “civilized countries” to exploit the Tunisian people up to the last second. This time however, their strategy failed and popular revolution and the people’s determination were stronger than an imposed corrupt system.

And now after the change in Tunisian leadership we can hear voices calling for the West to support the new formation of a new democracy in Tunis. Let’s hope for the Tunisian people that the west stays far away from this development. The only thing that the so called “civilized world” has been good in, in the past decades, is keeping dictators in place so that they could exploit the country’s natural resources and benefit from cheap labor.

Tunis, don’t look at the West for help but show the West the way

Let’s hope that the neighbor countries will learn and find hope in the Tunisian revolution and rise to the occasion by starting their own revolution. Some uprisings are happening in the neighboring countries and let’s hope that the people there will follow through and regain or finally gain power. This century, or at least the first half of the century will be the one of the fight among classes. The population will fight against the powers that dominate them. This power has been capable of maintaining its position because a majority of people have not yet been able to really identify the source of their increasing decrease of wealth. Too many citizens are still trying to blame the situation on a political party, politician, neighbor, foreigner or whatever seems plausible to justify their worsening situation.

The solution however is not in solving the problem the power is trying to sell us, the solution lies in changing the power and reshape the way we live. Fellow citizens there is no sacred cow in this fight, we need to really assess what brought us here and change it.

Tunis has shown us the way, not only has it opened a window of hope for the North African countries but it has shown that no government can maintain its credibility If its final goal is not the well being of its people.

Thank you Tunisia again and let’s hope that for humanity’s sake, “civilized nations” will follow your example.

For your own good, Tunisia, just another advice: keep the Western countries far away, do not allow the West to deteriorate your natural democratic development no matter how many nice promises or threats they make.

JAMES TECTOR
Critical citizen