Syrian Uprising Response

The Syrian Uprising is a huge world news and even if it is happening across the globe, it still effects us.

There is such a huge difference from Canada and Syria and I can not imagine myself living in Syria. Being ruled by a dictator instead of by democracy seems so scary. As citizens of Canada, we need to practice our rights.  Democracy is having a political system which enables you to choose or replace the government though free and fair elections. But in Syria there is no such thing as democracy. The country is governed by a one-party state without free elections and ruled by a dictator who assumes sole and absolute power,  making it is impossible to over throw the dictator. Thus, result of this ruling is the Syrian Uprising. Syrians were excluded from politics and not able to participate in civil life. Most of all human rights in Syria are really poor. Syria as part of the United Nation, are supposed to follow The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Even human rights activists and other critics of the government are harassed and imprisoned by the authorities.  Women and ethnic minorities face discrimination ,but under the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind.” (Article 2) Their freedom of expression, association and assembly are strictly controlled. The Ba’ath Party continues to maintain control of the press ; journalists and bloggers have been arrested and tried. But, the declaration states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (Article 19) In Canada, we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and this charter allows us all to have freedom of expression, association and assembly. We also are part of the United Nation, giving us rights too.

When the insurgents who didn’t want to open fire on civilians were executed, I felt that it wasn’t fair. Those soldiers had the freedom of belief and should not be detained of their rights.

Seeing that the opposition is dominated by the Sunni Muslims and the leading government figures are Alawites, reminded me of the Franco and Anglo relationship. The French believed in Catholicism while the English were Protestant. It seems like when ever there is conflicting religious groups and cultures, there will be separation or tension between these group as seen in from history. Currently in Syria there are undertones of  sectarianism, but I hope that situations like with the French and English would not happen between the  Sunni Muslims and the Alawites.

I find the Syrian Uprising important to me because it makes me realize how lucky I am to be Canadian. It makes me cherish my rights, freedoms and democracy that Canada gives me.  Though I do feel that the people of Syria should get back their rights that the Syrian government promised.

Citation

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” UN News Center. Web. 03 June 2012. aaaaaaaaa<http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/&gt;.