What Is Really Happening In Syria?

By now, despite the inadequate coverage by our media outlets (in my own opinion), you have probably heard about the crisis in Syria, so I will spare you some of the repetitive details. If you have been following outlets such as Reuters, CNN, BBC, and other Western news organizations, then you would be aware that Bashar al-Assad, the current President of Syria, has been running a tyrannical regime that continues to oppress and inflict violence upon his own citizens. This is fair, if there is only one side to the story. However, despite the massacre happening in Syria and the uneasiness of their bordering nation, Turkey, permanent UN Security Council members Russia and China have continuously vetoed a resolution that was meant to end the violence. This has prompted Western countries to condemn Russia and China for letting the conflict continue and putting their national interest above the lives of millions of Syrians. So why are they continuing to support Bashar al-Assad against the Free Syrian Army?

According to sources from Russian, Syrian and Chinese news agencies, the rebels opposing Assad’s rule consists primarily of members of the Muslim Brotherhood, and have dubbed them terrorists. It is understood by some that the reason Assad is not stepping down is because he still enjoys majority of the support from people of the Alawite, Druze, and Christian minority sects who fear that the Sunni majority would oppress them and lead to the demise of a secular Syria. Moreover, despite high-profiled defections, Assad still has the support of armies loyal to the regime. The Free Syrian Army, because of tactics such as the bombings of government buildings, which resulted in the death of Syrian elites, including the defense minister and Assad’s brother-in-law, have been said to work with Al Qaeda.

Currently, the two sides are battling in Aleppo, Syria’s main economic hub, with each claiming unverifiable victories. As Jordan and other neighboring countries open their borders to hundred thousands of Syrian refugees, the Syrian government has accused Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia of conspiring to topple the regime. Iran has recently warned Turkey that it would be a mistake for them to attack Kurdish rebels who are occupying Syria’s northern border, while the United States continue to have diplomatic battles with China and Russia. All three countries now occupy the Mediterranean with several warships.

All these accounts are taken with a grain of faith from different news outlets. I doubt we will truly have an honest answer of who is right and who is wrong on this issue. But as many would say, whoever wins writes history. Below are a few videos you will not see from Western news stories. Compare these to footages from Fox, CNN, BBC, etc. and decide for yourself on what to believe.

Video 1

Video 2

Latest Developments

Letter From Doug

“What do you wanna do with your life? What is your major? I have been asked these countless times since I have become a college student. The thing is at first I had no idea whatsoever (like most kids at least). So I went in undecided taking courses not knowing how any of them will turn out or who I will meet. My first class, Western civilization, man was that a mistake to take. I had some inkling that I wanted to become a history major at first due to my original fascination with it. I ended up pretty much hating it so that was out, but what next I thought what could I do with my life if not a historian or something which interested me (video game design) in the past? I had taken this 300 level class which I thought would be awesome, turns out it was a very intense debate class. I met an important person and friend who affects my life greatly now, and he is a great friend, he encourages me to keep chasing my dream while even becoming a part of it. So despite the class being wrong, something good came out of it. Besides meeting one of my really good friends at college, I decided to drop it and take fast and furious road movies to see what that would be like. I fell in love in the first class, analyzing film in the genre of the road. It truly hit me when I was out to a movie called “Drive” this movie (as most amazing movies do) gave me the feeling that I kind knew what I wanted to do all along, it was just waiting for some trigger to set if off in my brain. From that movie onward I have strived to be a part of the movie industry in some way or another. I am currently an intern at an editorial place and I love it, I am getting valuable experience seeing what an editorial house is really like. I choose to declare my cinema major this fall and am taking 3 more cinema classes which all have to do about filmmaking. Saying I am excited would be an understatement. The message I am really trying to portray in this story of my life is that if one of your paths close due to unforeseen issues, do not give up. Something else will come your way, sit tight, and once you grab hold of what you really wanna do with your life to make you happy as well as other people NEVER let go. Sure the road to it may not be easy, actually it won’t be at all, but if you want something bad enough you will risk anything to get it. That risk is what separates you from the rest who see opportunity as something that will knock twice. You want something motivating you to get out of bed everyday knowing that whatever it is you do, you love and wouldn’t wanna trade it for anything else.” – Doug

Write A Story

A blog, according to dictionary.com, is “a Web site containing the writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc.” This is the purpose of a traditional blog–an opportunity given to individuals to share their own narratives to a vast number of people. It is quite a feat of modern technology. I plan to use this blog, not for my own entertainment, but rather as a platform for individuals across the world to be able to share their stories.

You see, I believe that no matter what road in life you take, there is a story behind every journey. And stories, much like words, are very powerful. It can drive one to the point of anger or inspire another to do things they never thought they could ever do. But unlike traditional blogs, this invites various people to share their own tales–accounts of wisdom, anger, happiness, jealousy and epiphany down into a communal trail of emotions–because nothing is more human than being able to identify with each other.

So whoever you are and whatever road in life you are on, share with us your struggles, achievements, survivals, widsom, warnings, lectures, and anything else you want to scream out to the world. Do not hold back. Just e-mail them to me at everycrossroads@gmail.com with a title (if you prefer), and I will post them on this blog. You can be anonymous or you can name yourself. Depending on the traffic I get, I hope to post one everyday.

With that said, I hope someday our paths cross. But until that day comes, all we have are our stories to share. But as far as every little story goes, it has the potential to touch another person’s life.

e-mail: everycrossroads@gmail.com