I have encouraged our staff to address the revolutions happening in the Middle East right now. I remember the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Libya's role and their dictator Moamma Kadafi's maniacal face on the TV. Now his country is gripped in a civil war, right on the heals of the fall of Egypt's dictator and several other uprisings in the Arab world. Twitter played a big role in Egypt to the point that the government shut the Internet down for a spell, but in the end all was restored and their leader stepped down.
Last year Iran was able to stop an uprising by holding firm and making small concessions, but Twitter and the Internet fueled days of revolutionary behavior that nearly led the American adversary into civil war. Twitter reported and helped tell the story of the protests on the streets that ended up in some violence.
It is unfortunate that many of us here in the United States hold certain stereotypes and biases to the people of the Arab world, when the truth is they are like any of us. They want freedoms, they are intelligent and they are now using the means available to organize and fight back against their oppressors.
It is also unfortunate that we are insulated by the media to the sound bites, and quick reports that usually end with "And today on Wall Street, investors were nervous with rising oil prices and stocks fell."
If television brought the weekly highlights of war to the living room of America during the Vietnam War, the allows you access to a play by play. You can be a participant in the discussion, the debate, the dialog. Active rather than passive interaction is your option.
Amazing times being shaped by a Global community.
