Anticipating Libya and Absolutism

Revolutionary change involves changing the map you associate with geography, otherwise, the old borders limit new ideas.

While the hour by hour play between media and facts on the ground in Tripoli lead us to anticipate what future will be next for the nation, perhaps too many may be too quick to label the challenge as over and done. The biggest challenge is what comes after the dictator’s fall: how they want to proceed in Libya? We as observational support or conscientious web-humanitarians, we are staring at tweets and media voices guessing as much as everyone else.

I don’t think the real challenge has even fully started. Learning from Egypt since the spring, nothing is over until it is over, and the challenges in Egypt are far from over. One has to anticipate counter-revolution, Western corporate initiative to pull as much headway into the natural resource development, or even whether or not these rebels have what it takes to be revolutionary rather than mere rebels. Even the media still calls them rebels, not revolutionaries.

Amilcar Cabral: "Do not confuse the reality you live in with the ideas you have in your head."

Will the Libyan rebels reach out to other minorities in the country, will they stop targeting black Libyans with fear of liquidation, will they care to develop women’s rights and women’s voices in political decisions? They have not expressed any interest to these questions over the past year of activity.

Revolutionary change involves changing the map you associate with geography, otherwise, the old borders limit new ideas.

One of the most frustrating interactions at this time, not directed merely to the Libya issue, but about history and society in general, especially here in the United States of America, is having to discuss issues with countless individuals who think they have all the answers to everything and think their understanding to the world outside their own reality is the most true, when they have never read a history book, interviewed individuals from different walks of life, or traveled extensively to understand someone else’s reality.

There is a sociology term for this called ‘phenomenal absolutism’. Selective perception and failing to accept any form of disagreement is creed of mainstream media from pundits and is not just in the camera’s eye, it is a cultural bias of individuals assuming knowledge one did not work at to obtain, just absorbed dictation from other dominant voices.

There is a way to overcome short sightedness, but it takes a committed energy to reach a higher standard. Even on the street today, a young group of Jehovah Witnesses approached me and asked me to believe in Jesus. When I stopped to discuss with them my own belief, they showed no interest. How can one expect others to listen to them if they are not willing to listen themselves? I respect their belief, and hope that they will respect mine.

Deaf ears do not create an open dialogue. It was just too much for a liberal to take.

Amilcar Cabral: "Do not confuse the reality you live in with the ideas you have in your head."