"We are Citizens not Subjects"

Syrians seem to be having a difficult time coming up with their own version of the Arab Spring of 2011. The regime has well-staffed security agencies and a sectarian social support base that will support the regime to the end. The country had a history of political violence and extreme suppression. But it has been nearly 30 years since a band of radical Muslim Brother rose up in arms against the regime, which responded by bombing old Hamah in 1982, killing thousands and sending many more to flee their country. Most Syrians today and younger than 30; that episode does not define their worldviews. Plus, the regime was repressive before and after that event.

Young Syrians and meeting on Facebook. Many announced February 5, 2011 as their Day of Rage . Witnesses say security forces blanketed the streets of Damascus with pictures of Bashar and Hafiz al-Assad. The scare tactic worked and massive demonstrations were aborted. In remote areas like Dir'a near the border with Jordan, people wrote on walls in the cover the of the dark the familiar chant of the Arab People Power Revolution of 2011, "the people want to depose the regime!" So there is evidence of restlessness.

In one random incident circulating among people throughout the region, a pedestrian challenged verbal abuse from a traffic police officer who call the man an "ass." The man suprised him by coming back to him demanding an apology for mistreating a citizen. In a matter of minutes, the confrontation turned into a demonstration of a few thousand civilians coming to the aid of the man facing off a score of security officers. A large force from the Interior Ministry dispersed the crowd but the Interior Minister apologized publicly for the incident--perhaps a first in modern Syrian history. The story cannot be confirmed but it underscores the growing feeling of empowerment and appreciation to the rights of citizenship among Arabs.

In the last few days, al-Jazeera reported (with some amature footage) that tens of young, upper middle class youths from different sects and genders took to the street in the famous Hamidiyah Market. Two men and one woman were arrested. The following day their relatives and friends went to the Interior Ministry to demand a meeting with the minister and to inquire about the whereabouts of the arrested demonstrators. Their gathering turned into a demonstration in front of the ministry building. They were told that a meeting with the minister requires an application process that takes time. But what they gained is to train the regime and its functionaries that people are taking to the streets peacefully and are willing to meet and talk.

Walid Al-Muallim, the Foreign Minister of Syria, said that change is coming this year. Suhair al-Atasi, a Syrian human rights advocate, said all these incidents are spontaneous, stemming from the growing sentiment among people that they want to be treated as citizens, not subjects. This is another indication of the cultural transformation in the Arab world. Change is coming to Syria. Let's hope it will be as peaceful as it has been thus far in Tunisia and Egypt.

Tomorrow, March 18, 2011, has been dubbed by Syrian new media activists as the Friday of Dignity. It is fair to predict that more people will come out asking politely and firmly for rights they know belong to them but which they have been denied for so long.