Reader Comments: Syria

At the conclusion of each trip, the Hot Zone team highlights some of the more interesting, thoughtful or provocative reader comments.

At the conclusion of each trip, the Hot Zone team highlights some of the more interesting, thoughtful or provocative reader comments.

SYRIA ON THE BRINK

22
It's good to see people knowing how to live normally in

Syria, but one must not forget communism had a lot of normality too, and still it was a very wicked regime. As long as there is a tolerance for absolutism within the population, nothing is won. As for the US, it's clear it has its black sheep too, both in the right and in the left. Everyone should pay attention and not be idealistic.
Posted by sceafig on Wed, Jan 25, 2006 2:17 AM ET

83
I find it really sad that so many of the people posting here display such a shallow understanding of what this site is about. The point is this: we're all just people, you're a little different from me, as I am from her, but we're all just people. Isn't it interesting that we can appear to be so different but on the inside we're really all the same? There's no reason to call names, no reason to swear. Yes what is happening in the world can be frustrating, but if we would communicate constructively and open our minds, things would be much easier all around. For ALL of us. Thank you, Kevin, for your insights into these cultures....I hope you continue your good work. Obviously there are a great number of people needing the enlightenment you provide. It's just too bad they're too wrapped up in trivialities and don't see it.
Posted by launicados on Wed, Jan 25, 2006 4:24 PM ET

87
Great article, Kevin! I was in Syria this summer for 2 weeks - had a wonderful time! I was a little apprehensive when I arrived in Damascus because of the "image" in which Syria is portrayed. I quickly found out for myself how warm, hospitable, and friendly the people were. The food is awesome! I feel lucky to have visited a country so rich in history and culture.
Posted by islandgirl0909 on Wed, Jan 25, 2006 5:00 PM ET

REGIME CHANGE?

31
We always talk to the people who are like us, he men in suits, the people who speak English, the ones who went to school in the US -- the people like us. Then we say, wow, they are all like us (surprise, surprise), democracy is coming and it will be great. Then democracy comes, and Hamas is elected, and we say geez, what happened?!?
Posted by kderiel on Wed, Feb 1, 2006 4:23 PM ET

BORDER BADLANDS

15
Anyone who has ever visited Syria would know that you cannot sneeze without the security apparatus of Assad knowing about it, let alone trot through their border unoticed.
Posted by bernmaya on Fri, Jan 27, 2006 1:15 AM ET

CHOOSING THEIR WORDS

32
I've heard a lot of talk about Syria being a fear state. Interesting. If you abhor such a state where you have secret police roaming around, listening in to your conversations, all in the name of "national security".. then why do so many people in America support the Patriot Act and national wiretapping by the Bush Administration. "Oh oh, but Bush is doing it for national Security, we are at war." Well, you know what? The reason the Syrian government has a secret police and keeps tabs on it's citizens is for the exact same reason Bush does the things he does. All in the name of "national security." If you truely value freedom, then you wouldn't support the erosion of civil liberties here at home. There are better ways of fighting the terorist w/o having to slowly shred up the constitution.
Posted by usofahmedica on Sun, Jan 29, 2006 12:01 PM ET


75
It seems that pluralism and tolerance are not being considered by any side. Each points to the flaws and errors of the other and cannot bring themselves to admit any virtue of their enemies while also justifying the use of terror. Syria's vision has been a pan-arabic state. It sees no place for Jews or christians for that matter.

Israel, though claiming pluralism offers special consideration for Jews. Such a situation is a formula for conflict.
Posted by rdbyrne on Wed, Feb 1, 2006 8:40 AM ET

BLOG-O-POTAMIA

3
Elie describes globalization as a one way transaction, but what he can not know is that the same isolationist tendency, the same fears of homogenization, the same reversion to 'traditional' values, are found here in the USA (witness the conservative revolution). Change is always scary for those unprepared to adapt, those who hold power, those who are comfortable.
Posted by philosopher2000 on Tue, Jan 31, 2006 1:22 AM ET

10
I think it's wonderful of you Kevin to go all the way to Syria and spend time listening to some of the people's thoughts. Everyone has to stop being so bias.
Posted by a7la_il_banat on Tue, Jan 31, 2006 5:20 AM ET


18
Nice article about Syrian people, but politically irrelevant. I read so many simple-minded comments about, "See how nice the Syrian People are?" Well who cares? There are nice people everywhere. I'm sure Kevin could have found a few very nice people in Nazi Germany or Chinese-Exterminating Imperial Japan. The hard fact is that Syria is a supporter of terrorism, and uses the murder of innocent people to increase their political clout. They are too economically and socially backward to matter, so they gain international influence through the murder of innocents. No amount of tea & cookies with a few college students can change that fact.
Posted by joseph_bisesi on Tue, Jan 31, 2006 11:20 AM ET

30
Joseph_Bisesi, I fear you are entirely missing the point- yes there are Intelligent, compassionate people in every walk of life, but there are also the narrow-minded who refuse to acknowledge them. I APPLAUD Kevin for shedding some light on this. As an American I want to know these stories and more like them, that there are people in other countries that feel as helpless as I do to bring about some change in our foregin policy.
Posted by ryansi51 on Tue, Jan 31, 2006 1:27 PM ET

41
Joseph- Exactly. The Syrian government would gladly murder for political gain, but I for one see the importance of putting a personal face on individual Syrians who are opposed to all the killing, but don't have the same freedoms we enjoy (for now) as Americans. I am appalled at what is going on in this country and my lack of power to effect change, imagine living in Syria and fearing for your livelihood to get your voice heard.

Posted by ryansi51 on Tue, Jan 31, 2006 2:14 PM ET

ALSO ON YAHOO!