The Power of No

On the wings of Egypt's successful soar to freedom, Libya experiences acts of conscience the world might never have anticipated. While Egypt welcomes it's first visit by a foreign government, Cameron of UK, they have responsibily frozen all assets within Egypt belonging to the Mubarak family-and that is a vast empire built on patronage, bribes and extending far beyond family. Police are being arrested-in many cases for their own protection likely to avoid retribution by citizens they beat and tortured.

Mr. Obama, Hillary Clinton et al remain oddly silent post Egypt, as unprecedented history unfolds in a part of the world every person cherishes, no matter their religion. Egyptians were the first to stand up and say No-no more lies, torture, thieving, ignoring us for your own gains. No more taking billions to avoid war and tucking that money into family pockets instead of building our country.

In Libya Khaddafi removed himself from public view, and let his son speak for him. He sent planes up to shoot at his protesting citizens, a 7 year old child was shot in the head among the hundreds who were murdered by their own government, because they are asking for a change of leadership, No more living in terror, afraid to speak never knowing who is a spy, who will report back, No more mysterious disappearances of sons, fathers, brothers, professiors who are never seen again. No more leadership from a tent-Khaddafi you are so corrupted by wealth, saturated in obscenity, we ask you to leave, and like Mubarak-take your son with you.

Khaddafi/his son warned there would be 'rivers of blood' flowing and a civil war will ensure if protests do not end, immediately. After the military shot and killed, wounded hundreds of citizens who stood unarmed, many trying to speak to the end of a gun barrel, asking their fellow soldiers to think before killing their own people, finally the military began to turn away. The Libyan police, military and now the Air Force are turning against the government or fleeing their positions. Like in Egypt military positions that made them the most elite people in their homeland. Knowing they will risk their lives by turning against the dictator, possible revenge by citizens, they are choosing to say No, it is enough.

But most remarkable are Libyan Air Force pilots who defected to Malta around dawn Monday morning. Sent up with planes, loaded with bombs-bullets for strafing had not convinced protestors to get back to work and shut up-Khaddafi was preparing to bomb his own people, the people he so cherishes he resides in a tent to remind everyone he is a man of the people, simple, humble...a fellow tribesman. In an act of conscience, this elite group of pilots said No, we cannot murder our own brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, families, the poor, the unemployed, the illiterate, the intellectuals...we are saying No because no manner of wealth, special priviledge is enough in front of G-d to justify such murders that our rivers will flow red with the blood of our people, we say No.

Bahrain has announced the cancellation of its Gran Prix race for this year. Bahrain has been a magnet for architects who cant find commissions in the Unted States and accepting filthy lucre is not an issue for them. Architects creating floating islands with immense mostrously ugly buildings built for Arab investors, many of which now sit empty. Bahrain has been so focused on upgrading its tourist image, that somehow the needs of average citizens for quality educations, jobs and ending human trafficking were ignored. Protestors are following Egyptians example of peaceful rejection of the status quo and saying No-there is nothing left to negotiate, No to the current government, No to living under false pretense, your sultan-illusions of granduer where 'sultans' seem to be everywhere enjoying a menu of Western obscenities in hotels built for their private enjoyments, No more.

While Jews of the world are in the right place, at the right time, often for reasons only G-d knows, we are to be positive and find a Yes to our circumstances, whatever they may be. Because Jews are blessed with souls that inherently have the power to make choices of conscience, every moment of every day-

How extraordinary that in every corner of the Arab world coming to fruition is a communal desire to exercise conscience, to stand up and say No-that No being a regional first step in learning to say Yes-for existing in peace with all people