,REVOLUTION>Y E*OES FROM ,SYRIA 
,CONV]SATIONS ) TWO AN>*I/S FROM ,ALEPPO 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ANONYM\S 

,TEXT 3 

,9TRODUCTION 

,! DISCUSSION BEL[ REFLECTS AN OV]VIEW ( ! CONDITIONS EXP]I5C$ BY 9DIVIDUALS :O >E TRY+ TO LIB]ATE !MSELVES FROM ! SY/EM ( SOCIAL HYPOCRISY & ! M5TALITY ( SUBORD9ATION4 ,\R EXP]I5CE IS /ILL FRAGILE1 A NEWBORN4 

,DUR+ ! REVOLUTION & EV5 N[ ! DIFFICULTY LIES 9 \R 9ABILITY TO OBS]VE CLE>LY ! 9H]5T AU?ORIT>IAN P[] )9 ! SOCIETY & ! /ATE4 ,CONSEQU5TLY ?IS PREV5T$ - & /ILL PREV5TS - US FROM /RIPP+ ! LAY]S !Y HIDE BEH9D & FI<T+ !M RAW & B>E4 

,MANY 9DIVIDUALS W]E LAUN*+ A D\BLE W>3 ONE AGA9/ A TOTALIT>IAN REGIME4 ,ANO!R AGA9/ !IR [N =C$ AFFILIATIONS3 BE IT E?NIC1 RELIGI\S OR SECT>IAN4 ,:5 FUTILITY & FRU/RATION %ATT]$ ! ,SYRIAN /RUGGLE1 \R LOSES W]E ALSO D\BL$3 NOT ONLY DID ! REGIME CRU% ! REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T1 ! A*IEVEM5T WE MADE ON A P]SONAL LEVEL W]E ALSO WA/$4 ,\R S5SE ( BELONG+ TO ! UPRIS+ WEAK5$1 TO BE F9ALLY REPLAC$ BY \R EX-IDEOLOGIES3 TRIBALISM1 NATIONALISM1 ,ISLAMISM1 ETC4 

,TO ADD 9SULT TO 9JURY1 ! DISMANTL+ ( ! POLITICAL SY/EM WAS DEEM$ 0MORE IMPORTANT0 ?AN ANY O!R /RUGGLE4 ,CONSEQU5TLY1 REVOLUTION>Y =CES SAW NO CONTRADICTION 9 ALLY+ !MSELVES ) O!R HI]>*ICAL AU?ORITIES TO CONFRONT ! BIGG] DANG]1 NAMELY ! SECURITY /ATE & ITS 9/ITUTIONS4 

,) ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T1 9 A SMALL MEET+ - AMONG A GR\P ( FRI5DS - WE CONCLUD$ ?AT IF ! CONFLICT LA/$ MORE ?AN ?REE OR F\R MON?S1 ! :OLE C\NTRY W\LD SUCCUMB TO A CIVIL W>4 ,?IS WAS NOT A LUCKY SPECULATION4 ,! SOCIAL BALANCES 9SIDE ,SYRIA W]E V]Y CLE> 7SECT>IANISM1 RELIGI\S T5SIONS1 NATIONALISM 44 74 ,ALAS1 ,?IS E>LY REALIZATION HAD NOT PU%$ US TO DEVELOP A NEW /RATEGY4 

,REVOLUTION !ORIZATION1 & !ORIZATION 9 G5]AL 7ANY ATTEMPT AT ANALYSIS1 9DUCTION1 OR CRITIQUE7 IS CONSID]$ A CRIME :5 C>RI$ \T BY ! 0COMMON0 PEOPLE4 ,CONTR>ILY1 9TELLECTUAL WORK IS MONOPOLIZ$ BY A UNIQUE SOCIAL CLASS1 0,! CULTURAL & POLITICAL ,SYRIAN ELITES04 ,A CLASS ) A LONG HI/ORY 9 POLITICAL /RUGGLE & DET5TION1 GIV+ !M ! 0RI<T0 TO 0REPRES5T0 ! PEOPLE4 

,!SE CULTURAL & POLITICAL B\ND>IES CONTEMPLAT$ & DRAWN BY ?OSE ELITES1 CONF9$ REVOLUTION>Y WORK4 ,! 5?USIA/IC & BRAVE REVOLUTION>IES1 FULLY CONSCI\S ( !IR 0LACK ( EXP]TIZE0 TURN$ !IR HEADS TO POLITICIANS & 9TELLECTUALS LOOK+ = SOLUTIONS4 ,9NOVATIVE MEANS ( /RUGGLE W]E !N REPLAC$ BY ROOT+ = POLITICAL P>TIES 0REPRES5T+0 ! 0VOICE ( ! ,SYRIAN /REETS0 9 ,U,N MEET+ HALLS4 

,:O'S TO BLAME8 ,! CORRUPT POLITICIANS8 ,\R GULLIBILITY = BELIEV+ !M8 ,RELIGI\S IDEOLOGIES ?AT TURN$ ! /RUGGLE 9TO A HOLY W>8 ,=EIGN POLICIES ?AT S\<T TO KEEP ?IS REGION 9 A CON/ANT /ATE ( W>8 

,WE HAVE NO BLAME-MET]1 NOR WILL IT BE MU* USE ANYWAY4 ,:AT WE CAN 9F] ) C]TA9TY IS ?AT ! QUE/ION ( 0:O'S TO BLAME0 HAS CO/ US DE>LY4 

,WE MANAG$1 9 A %ORT P]IOD ( TIME1 TO CONQU] FE> ( IMPRISONM5T1 ( POLICE BRUTALITY1 ( LIVE BULLETS & DEA?4 ,TRAGICALLY1 !SE SACRIFICES W]E 9 VA91 BECAUSE C\RAGE ALONE IS NOT 5\<4 

,CRITICAL ?9K+ WAS NE$$1 TO REFLECT UPON ! MOVEM5T & SEE :]E IT'S GO+1 H[ WE CAN 0W90 ! L>GE/ AM\NT ( BATTLES ) ! LEA/ AM\NT ( SACRIFICES4 

,9/EAD1 WE GLORIFI$ \R SUFF]+ & KEPT ?W>T+ =W>D ) ! REVOLUTION>Y BODY ( ! MOVEM5T TAK+ MORE VIOL5T HITS1 UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY & UTT]LY FATIGU$ & CRU%$4 

,IT'S \R [N ,BLACK ,KNI<T SYNDROME 7SEE ,MONTY ,PY?ON = REF]5CE74 ,YELL+ 0 'TIS BUT A FLE% W\ND0 :5 WE W]E GETT+ KILL$1 DETA9$1 TORTUR$ ON A DAILY BASIS1 )\T GETT+ ANY:]E F>4 

,\R TE/IMONIES & OV]ALL ANALYSIS 9CLUD$ 9 ?IS 9T]VIEW DOESN'T FALL F> (F4 ,IT SUFF]S FROM \R CON/ANT NE$ TO SUG>COAT AN O!RWISE TRAGIC ATTEMPT AT LIB]ATION4 

,WE 9VITE ! READ] TO KEEP A CRITICAL SPIRIT READ+ !SE L9ES4 ,IT'S FULL ( \R [N CONTRADICTION & LOGICAL FALLACIES2 & LIMIT$ BY \R EXP]I5CES1 TO SUMM>IZE WE DON'T (F] ! ,TRU?4 

,A4 & ,R4 

,TWO AN>*I/S FROM ,ALEPPO SUMSOM@>ISEUP4NET 

CONV]SATIONS ) TWO AN>*I/S FROM ALEPPO 

,FIR/ ,P>T3 ,NEXT TO ! RIV] 

,X4 

,! FIR/ QUE/ION IS3 H[ DID Y\ ORGANIZE BE=E ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION1 TO />T ) ?IS REVOLUTION8 

,R4 

,! QUE/ION 9DICATES ?AT A S+LE1 UNIT$ GR\P WAS BEH9D ! E>LIE/ DEMON/RATIONS1 :ILE ! EV5TS W]E A LITTLE MORE COMPLICAT$4 ,!RE W]E SEV]AL 0ORGANIZ]S04 ,CONTR>Y TO ! ,EGYPTIAN1 ,TUNISIAN & ! MAJORITY ( REVOLUTIONS1 ! CAPITAL CITY PLAY$ A M>G9AL ROLE.<#a.>4 ,ALL ATTEMPTS TO ORGANIZE DEMON/RATIONS 9 ,DAMASCUS W]E A TOTAL FAILURE4 ,IT WAS ! SMALL1 M>G9ALIZ$ CITIES LIKE ,D>AA1 ,BANYAS & LAT] ,HOMS ?AT W]E ! KEY PLAY]S 9 ! BEG9N+4 ,EA* ( ?OSE CITIES HAD A DIFF]5T /ORY & WAY ( ORGANIZ+4 ,= ,D>AA1 A TRIBAL1 FAMILY-C5T]$ SOCIETY1 ORGANIZ+ MANIFE/ATIONS ) ?\S&S ( PEOPLE WASN'T DIFFICULT 9 ! TE*NICAL S5SE4 

,AT ! MEAN TIME1 A LOT ( PEOPLE1 ESPECIALLY ?OSE ( US LIV+ 9 PLACES :]E PROTE/S W]E NE>LY IMPOSSIBLE1 WE W]E ACTIVE ANONYM\SLY ON SOCIAL M$IA1 TRY+ TO CREATE NETWORKS & F9D A WAY TO BREAK ?R\< ! REGIME'S SECURITY APP>ATUS4 

,IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS :AT F9ALLY 0SP>K$0 A REVOLUTION AFT] F\R DECADES ( /ATE OPPRESSION BY AN AU?ORIT>IAN1 TOTALIT>IAN REGIME1 !RE W]E A S]IES ( EV5TS ?AT TOOK PLACE 9 A %ORT P]IOD ( TIME1 FOLL[+ ! ,TUNISIAN & ,EGYPTIAN REVOLUTIONS4 

,A4 

,T5 DAYS AFT] ! FIR/ FAIL$ ATTEMPT TO DEMON/RATE1 >\ND MID-,FEBRU>Y.<#b.>1 SOME?+ HAPP5$ 9 ,DAMASCUS1 A GUY WAS >RE/$ BY TRAFFIC POLICE & ?AT'S REALLY ! FIR/ MOM5T :5 A LOT ( ,SYRIANS DEMON/RAT$ TOGE!R SEEK+ =444 K>AMA444 DIGNITY4 

,R4 

,YES1 HE WAS >RE/$ & HUMILIAT$ & IT WAS = A SMALL MATT]4 ,IT WAS 9 ! SUBURBS ( ,DAMASCUS4 ,A LOT ( PEOPLE GA!R$ SPONTANE\SLY & />T$ SPEAK+ AB\T IT1 WELL !Y ACTUALLY />T$ %\T+ = DIGNITY & !Y SAID ?AT ,SYRIAN PEOPLE %\LD NOT BE HUMILIAT$ BY ! REGIME & SO ON4 ,& !RE W]E MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY1 BY ! ?\S&S4 ,SO ! M9I/] ( 9T]IOR ACTUALLY CAME TO ?IS SQU>E & HE />T$ TELL+ PEOPLE 0?IS IS %AMEFUL AS A DEMON/RATION1 :AT Y\'RE DO+0 & !Y W]E LIKE 0,NO1 NO IT'S NOT REALLY A DEMON/RATION04 

,A4 

,LAU<S4 0,WE'RE JU/ KIDD+40 

,R4 

,BUT IT WAS444 A LOT ( PEOPLE %>$ ! VIDEO & WE ALL SAW = ! FIR/ TIME ?AT WE CAN DO ?IS4 ,BECAUSE !RE W]E A LOT ( FAIL$ ATTEMPTS TO MAKE DEMON/RATIONS1 !RE W]E A LOT ( FAIL$ ATTEMPTS TO ACTUALLY /& 9 SOLID>ITY 9 A SQU>E ) ! ,TUNISIAN OR ! ,EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION4 ,! POLICE W\LD COME1 EV5 DUR+ JU/ A SIL5T VIGIL 9 SOLID>ITY ) ! O!R REVOLUTIONS1 & ! COPS W\LD COME4 ,SO ?IS WAS ! TURN+ PO9T ,I ?9K1 :5 PEOPLE SAW ?AT WE C\LD DO ?IS4 

,A4 

,WE DISCOV]$ AT ?AT PO9T ?AT WE CAN FILM & WE CAN %>E ?IS %ORT VIDEOS4 ,BUT = ALL PEOPLE1 AS !RE W]E NO ACTIVI/S OR NO SPECIAL CLASSES 9SIDE ! SOCIETY AT ?AT TIME4 

,X4 

,9 ?IS MANIFE/ATION Y\ MEAN8 

,A4 
,YEAH1 ,I MEAN NO SPECIAL CLASSES OR ACTIVI/S 9 ?IS MANIFE/ATION4 ,AFT] ?IS MANIFE/ATION1 WE />T TO IMAG9E WE >E ALL 9VOLV$ 9 ?IS4 

,R4 
,!RE W]E NO LEAD]S4 

,A4 
,SO AFT] ?AT WE LIV$ 9 A SITUATION :]E A LOT ( /ORIES TOOK PLACE :I* W]E NOT FILM$ BY ANYONE4 ,!RE WAS A DEMON/RATION 9 A CITY F> AWAY CALL$ ,HASSAKA1 IT IS ON ! BORD] ) ,TURKEY4 ,SO !RE W]E LONG DAYS ( %>+ WEIRD1 HU%-HU% /ORIES AB\T PROTE/S 9 F>-AWAY CITIES1 AB\T SMALL CL&E/9E GR\PS ORGANIZ+ = A BIG PROTE/4 ,WE W]E WAIT+ = SOME?+ TO HAPP51 WE W]E V]Y SURE SOME?+ W\LD HAPP5 9 ?AT MON?4 ,& AT ! BEG9N+ ( ,M>* WE PUT ANO!R DATE = \R NEXT ATTEMPT AT A DEMON/RATION.<#c.>1 IT WAS ! FIFTE5? ( ,M>*4 

,X4 

,ANO!R CALL-\T4 

,A4 

,YEAH ) A SPECIFIC PLACE1 A SQU>E 9 ,DAMASCUS1 & IT WAS NOT SO4 !RE W]E NOT SO4 

,R4 

,!RE W]5'T MANY PEOPLE.<#d.>4 ,!RE W]E A LOT ( 9TELLECTUALS1 LIKE =M] PRISON]S & POLITICAL PRISON]S & !Y >RE/$ A LOT ( PEOPLE ?AT DAY1 EV5 !Y W\LD44 ,! PR(ESSOR8 

,A4 

,TAYYIB ,TIZ9I4 

,R4 

,YEAH HE WAS LIKE ,I ?9K #g YE>S OLD & HE'S A PHILOSOPH] & AN EX-POLITICAL PRISON] TOO & !Y >RE/$ HIM4 ,IT WAS BIG NEWS ?AT !Y >RE/$ A LOT ( PEOPLE SO !Y RELEAS$ !M 9 A %ORT P]IOD ( TIME4 ,!Y W]E V]Y C>EFUL AT ! TIME AS NOT TO ADD FUEL TO ! ALREADY-FLAM+ FIRE4 ,:5 !Y SAW ?AT A LOT ( PEOPLE TOOK 9T]E/ 9 ! MATT]1 !Y RELEAS$ ! DEMON/RATORS TWO OR ?REE DAYS LAT]4 

,9 A 0NORMAL0 SITUATION1 !Y W\LD'VE KEPT !M = AT LEA/ #e YE>S OR SO4 

,A4 

,! BIGGE/ EV5T HAPP5$ 9 ,D>AA1 ?REE DAYS LAT]1 AT ! #a#h? ( ,M>*4 ,ONE WEEK BE=E ?IS BIG DEMON/RATION1 ! SECRET POLICE 9 ?AT CITY >RE/$ T5 OR MORE *ILDR54 ,!Y >RE/$ !M BECAUSE !Y WROTE 0D[N ) ! REGIME01 !Y WROTE A LOT ( SLOGANS :I* !Y PICK$ UP FROM ! ,EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION4 ,SO AFT] ?AT ! SECRET POLICE & ! REGIME W\LDN'T RELEASE !M4 

,R4 

,AT ?AT TIME1 A /ORY SPREAD LIKE FIRE ACROSS ,SYRIA4 ,ONE ?AT ,I'M NOT SURE EV] HAPP5$1 BUT ,I ?9K ! FACT ?AT IT REA*$ ALL F\R CORN]S ( ! C\NTRY SAYS SOME?+ AB\T ! EV5TS ?AT W]E UNFOLD+4 ,! P>5TS ( ! DETA9$ *ILDR5 W5T TO ! MILIT>Y SECURITY BRAN* 9 ,D>AA & !Y DEM&$ ! RELEASE ( !IR *ILDR51 & ! POLICE TOLD !M ?AT !Y W\LDN'T DO IT & ?AT IF !Y 7! P>5TS7 /ILL NE$$ *ILDR5 !Y C\LD S5D D[N !IR WIVES & ! POLICE C\LD4 Y\ KN[4 ,I DON'T KN[ IF ?IS IS TRUE BUT ,I W\LDN'T BE SURPRIS$ BECAUSE ?IS IS ! WAY (4 

,A4 

,?IS IS ! M5TALITY (444 

,R4 

,SO1 ! #a#h? ( ,M>* ?\S&S ( PEOPLE 9 ,D>AA TOOK TO ! /REETS1 !Y W]5'T DEM&+ ! TOPPL+ ( ! REGIME1 !RE W]5'T ANY DEM&S LIKE ?IS1 IT'S MORE4 ,!Y W]E TALK+ AB\T FRE$OM1 TALK+ AB\T DIGNITY1 & !Y W]E TALK+ AB\T RE=M ACTUALLY 9 ! /RUCTURE ( ! REGIME4 ,DUR+ ! FIR/ MON? WE NEV] IMAG9$ ?AT WE W\LD ACTUALLY CALL =444 ,& ( C\RSE FROM ! FIR/ MOM5T !Y />T$ FIR+ LIVE BULLETS AT ! DEMON/RATORS4 ,IT WASN'T ?AT AT FIR/ !Y DIDN'T KN[ :AT TO DO & !N !Y *ANG$4 ,NO !Y W]E V]Y DIRECT FROM ! FIR/ MOM5T ?AT !Y W\LD FACE DEMON/RATIONS ) FIRE1 !Y NEV] REALLY QUE/ION$ IF !Y %\LD DO ?IS OR NOT1 & ,I ?9K ELEV5 OR TWELVE PEOPLE W]E KILL$ ! FIR/ DAY ( A BIG DEMON/RATION 9 ,SYRIA4 

,A4 

,ACTUALLY ! FIR/ DAY !RE W]E F\R PEOPLE KILL$4 ,AFT] ?AT ! PROTE/]S OCCUPI$ A MOSQUE1 A MA9 MOSQUE AT ! CITY.<#f.>4 

,& ?IS IS :AT GAVE ME HOPE1 BECAUSE ?IS SOCIETY 9 ,D>AA CITY IS SO RELIGI\S1 BUT EV5 ) ?IS RELIGI\S M5TALITY !Y PUT LEFTI/ SONGS BY AN >TI/ CALL$ ,SAMIH ,%KAIR4 ,HE WROTE A SONG IMM$IATELY AFT] ! DEMON/RATION1 IT'S CALL$ YA HEF4 

,R4 

,:AT A %AME4 ,:AT A %AME ?AT Y\ >E KILL+ Y\R [N PEOPLE ?AT >E DEM&+ FRE$OM & Y\1 Y\ >E RESPOND+ ) FIRE4 ,& IT BECAME V]Y POPUL> V]Y FA/1 BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY BLAM$ ! REGIME4 ,BECAUSE EV5 AT ?AT PO9T !RE W]E A LOT ( PEOPLE TALK+3 WELL1 IS IT ! REGIME OR IS IT PEOPLE 9FILTRAT+ 9 DEMON/RATIONS & %OOT+ AT PEOPLE8 ,BUT YES1 HE IS A V]Y POPUL> LEFTI/ >TI/ & !Y HAD NO PROBLEM ) ?IS4 

,A4 

,!Y PUT HIM ON ! SPEAK] ( ! MOSQUE4 ,IT WAS A REVOLUTION>Y /EP4 

,PAUSE 

,A4 

,! >MY SURR\ND$ ! :OLE CITY1 AFT] TWO DAYS1 ACTUALLY ! SPECIAL =CES 9SIDE ! >MY1 KN[N BECAUSE ( !IR PR(ESSIONALISM1 ! WAY !Y USE VIOL5CE4.<#g.> 

,R4 

,!Y >E V]Y LOYAL TO ! REGIME1 IT IS A BATTALION :I* IS KN[N = ITS LOYALTY TO ! REGIME SO !Y CAN MAKE SURE ?AT NO ONE W\LD DEFECT FROM ! >MY OR ANY?+4 ,( C\RSE ! TELEPHONE L9ES1 ! 9T]NET WAS CUT (F 9 ?IS CITY SO NO ONE C\LD ACTUALLY KN[ :AT WAS GO+ ON1 WE JU/ GOT %ORT CLIPS FROM PEOPLE4 ,= EXAMPLE !RE WAS ONE MAN & !RE WAS A TANK COM+ T[>DS HIM & HE WAS FILM+ & HE SAID3 0,COME ON1 KILL ME1 %[ PEOPLE :AT Y\ >E DO+ 9 MY CITY604 ,!RE W]E ONLY %ORT CLIPS & !Y W]E V]Y L[ QUALITY ACTUALLY BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY HAD PR(ESSIONAL CAM]AS & TELEPHONES &4 ,SO1 IT WAS ! PEOPLE :O W]E1 Y\ KN[1 !Y W]E ! J\RNALI/S & ! CORRESPOND5TS 9 ?AT SITUATION1 = ! W> ON ?IS DAY4 ,BUT IF Y\ WANT TO TALK AB\T H[ WE ORGANIZ$ \RSELVES1 !N ,I ?9K Y\ W\LD BE MORE QUALIFI$ ACTUALLY TO TALK AB\T ?IS4 

,A4 

,I AM TRY+ TO BUILD A BACKGR\ND FIR/ ( ALL AB\T ! M$IA SITUATION1 ,I WILL /OP BECAUSE IT />T$ R&OMLY1 IT'S NOT4 ,WE A*IEV$ A PO9T :5 WE REALIZ$ WE %\LD />T ORGANIZ+ \RSELVES1 WE %\LD />T SOME?+ ORGANIZ$4 ,BECAUSE ALL ( ! M$IA *ANNELS REFUS$ TO PUBLI% ?IS K9D ( VIDEOS1 EV5 ,AL ,JAZE]A1 ALL ( ! MA9/REAM M$IA ACTUALLY4 ,!RE WAS ONLY ONE *ANNEL ACTUALLY CALL$ ,ORI5T1 IT BELONGS TO A BUS9ESS MAN1 A ,SYRIAN BUS9ESS MAN1 :O 9VE/$ HIS *ANNEL 9 ?IS ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION = SOME REASON4 

,R4 

,YES IT WAS ACTUALLY /ILL BAS$ 9 ,DAMASCUS :5 HE />T$ %[+ !SE VIDEOS1 SO !N !IR (FICE WAS CLOS$ & !Y OP5$ ANO!R ONE 9 ,DUBAI TO CONT9UE1 ,I ?9K !IR (FICE 9 ,DAMASCUS GOT ATTACK$4 ,A4 

,YES4 ,SO AFT] LIKE ONE MON?1 !RE WAS ACTUALLY NO M$IA COV]AGE1 ONLY ?IS ONE *ANNEL & ! SOCIAL M$IA1 Y\TUBE & FACEBOOK4 ,AT ?AT TIME IT WAS QUIET 9 MO/ ( ! CITIES1 9 ,DAMASCUS & ,ALEPPO IT WAS SO QUIET1 !RE WAS NO?+ HAPP5+ UNTIL ,APRIL ,I ?9K4 ,BUT ! ?IRD BIGGE/ CITY 9 ,SYRIA :I* IS CALL$ ,HOMS JO9$ ! REVOLUTION4 

,R4 

,& !RE WAS ,FRANCE #bd :I* WAS ALSO %[+ ?IS VIDEOS1 & ,B,B,C4 ,BUT ,AL ,JA- ZE]A & ,AL-,>ABIA1 :I* >E ! TWO MA9 ,>ABIC SPEAK+ OR ,>ABIC BAS$ *ANNELS1 !Y W]5'T4 ,BUT ,B,B,C & ,FRANCE #bd ,I REMEMB] ?AT ,I US$ TO WAT* !M & TO SEE :AT WAS GO+ ON4 

,A4 

,IT WAS %ORT1 LIKE TWO M9UTES4 

,R4 

,IT DIDN'T MAKE ! HEADL9ES4 ,IT WAS JU/4 Y\ KN[4 

,A4 

0,!RE IS SOME?+ HAPP5+ 9 ,SYRIA40 

,R4 

0,IF Y\ WANT TO KN[40 

,LAU<+4 

,A4 

,WE W]E SO DISAPPO9T$1 ESPECIALLY ) ,AL ,JAZE]A1 BECAUSE !Y AIR$ AN 9T5SIVE COV]AGE ( O!R 0,>AB ,SPR+0 REVOLUTIONS4 ,!Y HAD LIKE #a H\RS = ,EGYPT & ,TUNISIA & !Y JU/ GIVE US LIKE WRITT5 BREAK+ NEWS4 ,SO ! SITUATION IS1 ! MO/ P[]FUL WEAPON WE HAVE IS ! M$IA1 IT IS ! MO/ P[]FUL WEAPON ) :I* WE CAN FACE ! REGIME1 \R CAM]AS4 ,BECAUSE = SOME REASON WE HAVE1 WE DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN DEFEAT ?IS SY/EM JU/ BY GO+ TO ! /REET & NOBODY KN[+ AB\T IT4 ,WE %\LD USE !SE VIDEOS TO %[ ! :OLE WORLD & TO CALL ! :OLE WORLD TO DEF5D US4 ,BECAUSE WE KN[ ?IS REGIME IS SO VIOL5T1 IT WILL KILL US AT ANY MOM5T1 SO IF WE HAVE A M$IA SPOT1 ! REGIME WILL CALCULATE ?IS AS A NEW SITUATION1 IT WILL NOT GO AS F> ) ITS VIOL5CE SO WE CAN MANAGE4 ,! FIR/ ORGANIZ$ GR\P WAS ! M$IA GR\P4 ,Y\NG PEOPLE COOP]AT$ ) *ANNELS1 !Y MADE ! *ANNELS ACTUALLY1 ON Y\TUBE1 & ,I /ILL REMEMB] ! FIR/ *ANNEL1 LOCAL *ANNEL ON Y\TUBE :I* WAS CALL$ ,UG>IT4 ,AFT] ?AT WE GOT ,FLA% & ,%AM4 ,!SE W]E ! LOCAL GR\PS BAS$ ON Y\TUBE4 ,!Y W]E ORGANIZ$1 !Y HAD CORRESPOND5TS EV]Y:]E4 ,!Y COLLECT$ MOVIES & MADE IT A LITTLE BIT4 

,X4 

,BUT !SE W]E PEOPLE :O ORGANIZ$ TOGE!R & :O KNEW EA* O!R ALREADY FROM BE=E ! REVOLUTION1 OR WAS ?IS SOME?+ GR[+ 9 ! REVOLUTION8 

,R4 

,I DON'T ?9K SO BECAUSE IT WAS ACROSS ,SYRIA1 9 DIFF]5T CITIES SO ,I ?9K PEOPLE ACTUALLY4 ,& IT WAS H>D BECAUSE !RE WAS NO TRU/1 Y\ HAD TO BUILD ! TRU/ BECAUSE ANYONE C\LD BE AN 9=MANT ( ! REGIME4 ,SO IT TOOK SOME TIME BUT 9 ! 5D !Y C\LD =M A L>GE GR\P ( MANY CORRESPOND5TS ACROSS ,SYRIA ?AT C\LD FILM & $IT1 !Y />T$ $IT+ ! VIDEOS1 9CREAS+ ! QUALITY4 

,A4 

,AT ?AT MOM5T WE W]E US+ ,SKYPE1 BUT WE W]E US+ FAKE NAMES & CLOS$ *AT ROOMS1 TO GET TO KN[ EA* O!R4 ,= EXAMPLE ,I WAS LIV+ H]E 9 ,HOMS1 9 A C]TA9 NEI<BORHOOD & ,I HAD GOTT5 A HOLD !SE VIDEOS4 ,SO !RE WAS SOME?+ LIKE A PLAT=M OP5$ CALL$ ,UG>IT4 ,WE W]E ALL 9VOLV$ 9 ?IS *ANNEL4 ,& AFT] WE HAD AN ALT]NATIVE PLAT=M1 LIKE IT IS A *ANNEL BUT !RE WAS NO K9D ( 0WE KN[ EA* O!R AS P]SONS04 ,!RE W]E NO P]SONS ACTUALLY1 ONLY ! MATT] ( :AT WE W]E DO+ AT ?AT TIME4 

,X4 

,Y\ MEAN ?AT !RE W]E NO PEOPLE PHYSICALLY MEET+ EA* O!R1 EV]Y?+ HAPP5$ ?R\< SKYPE8 

,A4 

,= M$IA1 AT ! E>LI] P>T ( ! REVOLUTION1 YES !RE WAS NO PHYSICAL MEET+1 EXCEPT = FRI5DS :O KNEW EA* O!R1 BECAUSE4 ,?IS HAS NO?+ TO DO ) COORD9ATION1 MANAG+ H[ WE W]E GO+ TO COORD9ATE PROTE/S ON ! /REETS4 ,BUT ! FIR/ ORGANIZATION1 ! FIR/ ORGANIZ$ PH5OM5ON 9 ,SYRIA WAS A M$IA GR\P4 ,& AFT] ?AT ! CREATION ( A COORD9ATION DEVELOP$4 ,PEOPLE DEALT ) EA* O!R 9 ! SAME CITY1 %>+ VIDEOS1 UPLOAD+ VIDEOS ON Y\TUBE4 ,AFT] ONE MON? ( DO+ ?IS WORK1 IT HAD CREAT$ SOME K9D ( TRU/ BETWE5 ?IS GR\P SO3 0,O,K1 LET'S GO & MEET 9 ?IS PLACE & TALK AB\T H[ WE CAN4440 ,& EV5 :5 WE MEET PHYSICALLY WE W]E /ILL AFRAID ( EA* O!R4 ,NOT REALLY AFRAID ( EA* O!R1 AFRAID REALLY !RE IS SOMEONE :O PRES5TS HIMSELF AS A REVOLUTION GUY BUT MAYBE BELONGS TO ! REGIME4 ,WE W]E AFRAID ( ! REGIME1 MORE ?AN WE W]E AFRAID ( EA* O!R4 ,SO WE DECID$ NOT TO %>E \R REAL 9=MATION1 EV]YBODY KNEW WE W]E US+ FAKE NAMES1 NICKNAMES TO PROTECT \RSELVES & ?IS WAS NOT A PROBLEM4 ,SO EV]YONE WAS WORK+ ANONYM\SLY1 BUT PHYSICALLY AT ?IS /AGE4 ,ESPECIALLY :5 WE >E TALK+ AB\T ?OSE CITIES :I* DON'T HAVE A BIG REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T1 BUT W]E BUILD+ A BIG MOVEM5T 9SIDE ! CITY4 ,BUT :5 WE TALK AB\T ,D>AA = EXAMPLE1 ! REVOLUTION HAS ALREADY />T$ 9SIDE ! CITY SO EV]YONE ALREADY KN[S EA* O!R4 ,& ,HOMS1 ! SAME SITUATION4 ,& !RE IS A SMALL CITY CALL$ ,SALAMIYAH1 :]E ,I CAME FROM1 IT IS LIKE ! CITY ( A!I/ LAU<S1 SECUL> CITY4 ,IT JO9$ ! REVOLUTION FROM ! BEG9N+1 & ?IS WAS SOME?+ :I* GAVE US SOME HOPE & P[] BECAUSE !RE W]E T5 ?\S& PEOPLE ON ! /REETS 9 ?IS CITY1 ?IS CITY ) A POPULATION ( NO MORE ?AN #a # PEOPLE4 ,SO WE HAVE AN IMPRESSION FROM ?IS CITY PROTE/+ & IT WAS A HUGE NUMB] = US AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION4 ,& BESIDES 0FRE$OM0 & 0DIGNITY0 !Y RISE AS A %>444 

,R4 

,SLOGAN4 

,A4 

,SLOGAN1 SECUL> SLOGANS4 

,X4 

,= EXAMPLE8 

,A4 

0,! RELIGION = ,GOD & ! NATION = ALL40 ,SOME?+ LIKE ?IS4 ,IT IS K9D ( DIPLOMATIC1 BUT IT WAS GOOD4 ,LAU<S4 HMM444 ,:AT ELSE1 AB\T H[ WE ORGANIZ$1 WE >E TALK+ AB\T H[ ! ORGANIZATION DEVELOP$ DUR+ ! REVOLUTION4 

,X4 

,SO AT ONE MOM5T ! IDEA GREW ?AT !RE WAS A NE$ = COORD9ATION1 DID ,I UND]/& WELL :AT Y\ SAID8 ,LIKE AT :I* MOM5T ?IS IDEA WAS GR[+ & :Y & H[ ?IS TOOK =M8 ,OR IS IT TOO FA/1 MAYBE WE >E NOT YET AT ?AT PO9T4 

,A4 

,OK1 !RE W]E A LOT ( LOCAL COORD9ATION GR\PS1 & !Y MADE A GOOD JOB AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION1 & W]E CALL$4 

,R4 

,LOCAL COORD9ATION COMMITTEES4 

,A4 

,LOCAL COORD9ATION COMMITTEES ACTUALLY DOES NOT 9CLUDE ! MAJORITY ( COORD9ATION GR\PS & !Y W]E TRY+ TO REPRES5T EV]YBODY4 ,!Y PUT GOALS1 & VALUES TO 0PROTECT0 ! REVOLUTION FROM GO+ SO RADICAL ) RELIGION1 OR SECT>IANISM4 

,X4 

,:5 DID ?IS />T TO DEVELOP MORE OR LESS8 ,A4 

,IT />T$ FROM ,APRIL ONW>DS & !Y W]E TRY+ TO CONJO9 ALL ! O!R COORD9ATION GR\PS1 VIRTUALLY OR PHYSICALLY BUT ,I DON'T BELIEVE ?AT WAS SOME?+ BAS$ ON VALUES OR BELIEVES1 ,I ?9K IT WAS A POLITICAL /EP1 = EXAMPLE ?IS C\NCIL DECL>ES A DOCUM5T :I* SAID CLE>LY 0! REVOLUTION SEEK+ = EQUALITY = ALL PEOPLE REG>DLESS RELIGION1 G5D]1 NATIONALITY ETC04 ,& !RE W]E A C\PLE ( GR\PS 9SIDE ! C\NCIL :O AGRE$ ON PAP]1 BUT :5 IT CAME TO ACTIONS !Y DID ! OPPOSITE4 ,AFT] ?REE MON?S1 9 ,JULY1 :5 ! VIOL5CE HAD RIS51 SOME?+ NEW APPE>$1 :I* WAS CALL$444 

,R4 

,! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION COMMITTEES4 

,A4 

,!SE COMMITTEES W]E CONTROLL$ BY ! ,BRO!RHOOD MOVEM5T1 NOT (FICIALLY BUT UND] ! TABLE1 ?IS IS H[ ! ,MUSLIMS BRO!RHOOD WORKS4 

,X4 

,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION ,COMMITTEES1 :AT WAS ?IS8 ,A4 

,IT WAS ! ALT]NATIVE ( ! ,LOCAL ,COORD9ATION ,COMMITTEES4 ,OR IT IS NOT ! ALT]NATIVE1 IT IS LIKE MUNAFIZ444 COMPETITION4 

,R4 

,ESPECIALLY :5 !Y />T$ TO BECOME WEAK] & WEAK] BECAUSE ! REGIME >RE/$ A LOT ( ACTIVI/S FROM !SE COMMITTEES1 ! LOCAL COORD9ATION COMMITTEES4 ,!Y W]E />T+ TO %ATT]4 ,SO ?AT GAVE ! OPPORTUNITY TO ! O!R COMMITTEES TO REPLACE ! WORK ?AT HAD BE5 DONE BY ! LOCAL COORD9ATION COMMITTEES4 

,A4 

,& !SE COMMITTEES HAD GOOD ?\<TS1 GOOD GOALS1 GOOD VALUES4 ,BUT !Y DIDN'T GIVE ANY?+ NEW1 A NEW /RATEGY = EXAMPLE = H[ WE C\LD RESI/ AS A CIVIL MOVEM5T.<#h.>4 ,AFT] ! /RUGGLE WAS BECOM+ MORE COMPLEX1 MORE & MORE & )\T ANY SOLUTIONS1 SO PEOPLE W]E SEEK+ TO F9D ANO!R POLITICAL SOLUTION4 ,SO IT WAS NOT JU/ A MATT] ( H[ ! ,BRO!RHOOD HACK$ ?IS CIVIL MOVEM5T1 !RE WAS A REAL PROBLEM ?AT WASN'T SOLV$4 ,SO AFT] ?AT WE GOT ?IS PH5OM5A 0,I CAN MAKE A C\NCIL & 9VITE SOME FRI5DS04 ,Y\ KN[ WE />T$ TO BE DIVID$ BETWE5 A LOT ( GR\PS :O WANT$ TO BE ! C5T] ( ALL !SE GR\PS4 ,BUT ! MA9 VIEW IS ?AT WE GOT TWO C\NCILS1 ! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION ,C\NCIL & ! ,LOCAL ,COORD9ATION1 LOCAL C\NCILS BECAUSE !Y HAD A GOOD RELATION%IP ) ! MA9 M$IA *ANNELS & O!R 9T]NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LET'S SAY !Y GOT A GOOD SUPPORT FROM A C\PLE ( FACTORS4 ,9 ,JULY ! POLITICIANS />T$ ORGANIZ+ AS WELL1 ! 9DIVIDUAL POLITICIANS ORGANIZ$ & :AT HAPP5$ NEXT444 

,R4 

,YES1 ! ,SYRIAN ,NATIONAL ,C\NCIL ,I ?9K ?IS IS H[ IT IS CALL$4 

,X4 

,! ONE ?AT WAS \TSIDE ( ,SYRIA8 

,A4 

,IT IS 9SIDE & \TSIDE4 

,X4 

,LIKE ! (FICIAL REPRES5TATION4 

,A4 

,& ?IS IS V]Y IMPORTANT BECAUSE :Y DO PEOPLE *OOSE TO TRU/ POLITICIANS 9/EAD ( TRU/+ ! C\NCILS :I* W]E CREAT$ DUR+ ! REVOLUTION8 ,PEOPLE IMM$IATELY /AT$ TO BE SO MOTIVAT$ AB\T WAIT+ 0,:AT'S ?IS GUY GO+ TO DO80 & 0,:O IS ?IS POLITICIAN804 ,MO/ ( !M W]E $UCAT$1 HI<LY $UCAT$4 ,! DISCUSSIONS 9 ! REVOLUTION W]E AB\T !M & H[ !Y W\LD MAKE A SOLUTION = ! :OLE SITUATION1 NOT :AT WE WILL MAKE4 ,\R MISSION AT ?AT MOM5T WAS TO GO ON ! /REET & TO DO ! SAME ?+ AS WE DID BE=E4 ,TO GO TO ! /REETS & SAY 0FRE$OM1 FRE$OM01 GET KILL$ & GO AGA94 ,TO COME ) BODIES1 ,I DON'T KN[ H[ TO SAY444 FUN]AL4 ,FUN]AL1 FUN]AL4 

,R4 

,WE W]E /UCK 9 A VICI\S CIRCLE K9D (1 & ! REASON :Y PEOPLE TRU/$ SO MANY C\NCILS1 SO MANY GR\PS OV] & OV] AGA9 WAS BECAUSE !Y W]E LOOK+ = A WAY TO GET \T ( ?IS CIRCLE1 BECAUSE WE W]E REALLY /UCK4 ,WELL FIR/ ( ALL WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXP]I5CE1 ANY CIVIL DISOB$I5CE EXP]I5CE1 ANY POLITICAL EXP]I5CES 9 ORD] TO HAVE ! TOOLS TO 9FLICT *ANGE4 ,SO :AT WE SAW FROM O!R ,>AB REVOLUTIONS1 WE DID ! SAME ?+4 ,BUT ! ?+ IS ?AT ! REGIME WE HAVE IS V]Y DIFF]5T4 ,IT WASN'T GO+ TO WAIT Y\ KN[ 0,!SE PEOPLE SEEM V]Y DET]M9$ TO *ANGE ! REGIME1 SO ,I'LL JU/ LEAVE04 ,NO1 IT WASN'T LIKE ?IS1 WE W]E FAC$ ) VIOL5CE OV] & OV] AGA9 & IT WAS ACTUALLY 9CREAS+1 NOT DECREAS+1 ) TIME4 ,SO WE FELT LIKE WE W]E DO+ ! SAME ?+S & WE W]5'T GETT+ ANY RESULTS4 ,SO EV]Y TIME :5 A GR\P OR ESPECIALLY :5 POLITICIANS CAME 9TO ! SC5E PEOPLE FELT LIKE30,!SE >E POLITICAL PRISON]S1 EX-POLITICAL PRISON]S & !Y HAVE A POLITICAL RECORD SO MAYBE !Y KN[ :AT TO DO1 BECAUSE !SE C\NCILS & !SE CIVIL GR\PS ?AT >E BE+ =M$ DON'T REALLY HAVE A SOLUTION = :AT IS GO+ ON04 ,SO ?IS IS REALLY4 ,PEOPLE />T$ TO LOOSE HOPE ,I ?9K1 AT ?AT TIME4 ,SO !Y BECAME MORE WILL+ TO PUT !IR DE/9Y 9TO ! H&S ( O!RS1 NO MATT] :O ?OSE P]SONS W]E4 

,A4 

,AT ! SAME TIME WE DEVELOP$ GOOD SKILLS ) M$IA1 ) FILM+4 ,SO = EXAMPLE 9 ,HOMS !Y PUT A LOT ( CAM]AS >\ND ! NEI<BORHOOD1 FILM+ #bd H\RS ON #b#d1 & ?IS = WAT*+1 = CONTROLL+ ACTUALLY :AT ! REGIME W\LD DO1 9 ! NI<T1 H[ !Y W\LD >RE/ PEOPLE = EXAMPLE4 ,SO WE'VE GOT A RECORD1 A HUGE RECORD ACTUALLY AB\T H[ !Y >RE/ PEOPLE DUR+ ! NI<T & :5 IT CAME TO /REAM+1 IT WAS ?IS NEW LEVEL ON4 

,X4 

,/REAM+8 

,A4 

,/REAM+4 ,/REAM+ IS4 

,R4 

,! VIDEO WAS LIVE1 IT WAS NOT UPLOAD $ AFT] ! DEMON/RATION1 IT WAS DUR+ ! DEMON/RATION ?AT PEOPLE W]E SEE+ IT4 ,& WE GOT A LOT ( HELP FROM BIG NEWS *ANNELS LIKE ,AL ,JAZE]A :O />T$ %[+1 %>+ !SE VIDEOS LIVE4 ,YES & BY ?AT TIME !RE W]E A LOT ( NEI<BORHOODS1 9 ,HOMS = EXAMPLE1 ?AT W]E TOTALLY LIB]AT$ ( REGIME PRES5CE1 !RE W]E ONLY PEOPLE & !Y W]E ORGANIZ+ )9 !MSELVES FOOD1 SO IT BECAME FRE] = PEOPLE1 IT WAS SAF] TO444 

,X4 

,H[ DID !Y *ASE ! POLICE FROM !SE NEI<BORHOODS 9 ,HOMS8 

,A4 

,H[ DID !Y TAKE !M \T8 ,) A LITTLE BIT ( VIOL5CE1 ) LOCALS :O HAVE ,KALA%NIKOVS4 ,SOME?+ LIKE ?IS4 ,!Y HELP$ !SE PEOPLE1 BUT ! MA9 P[] WAS ! PEOPLE4 ,:5 WE >E TALK+ AB\T ,HOMS1 AB\T ?IS NEI<BORHOOD = EXAMPLE ,BABA-,AMRO1 OR ,KHALDIYAH4 ,ALL ! PEOPLE !RE W]E GO+ TO ! /REET SO WE'VE GOT ?\S&S 9 ! /REET1 T5 ?\S&S ACTUALLY4 ,!Y OCCUPI$ ! :OLE CITY4 ,SO ! REGIME WAS ?9K+ AB\T H[ IT W\LD MANAGE ?IS SITUATION4 ,SO ! REGIME LEFT1 BUT NOT = LONG ACTUALLY4 ,?IS >EA DIDN'T REMA9 LIB]AT$ = A LONG TIME4 ,WE >E TALK+ AB\T ! CIVIL ]A4 

,R4 

,YES IT WAS = WEEKS BUT !N ! REGIME W\LD COME BACK4 

,A4 

,COME BACK ) ! >MY1 NOT ) POLICE4 ,X4 

,& Y\ W]E SAY+ PEOPLE W]E ORGANIZ+ FOOD & SO ON & SO ON4 ,CAN Y\ EXPLA9 H[ ?IS WAS DONE8 

,A4 

,IT WAS BAS$ ON4 ,ACTUALLY ! ECONOMY4 ,WE HAD K9D ( A LOCAL ECONOMY 9 EA* CITY4 ,SO ALL CLASSES 9 ,HOMS = EXAMPLE !Y W]E 9 SOLID>ITY ) EA* O!R4 ,! RI* PEOPLE DID A GOOD JOB DUR+ ?IS P]IOD ( TIME1 !Y W]E GIV+ FREE FOOD TO PEOPLE DUR+ !SE DAYS4 

,R4 

,!Y K9D ( COLLECTIVIZ$ AT SOME PO9T ! FOOD & !Y DIVID$ IT )9 EA* O!R4 ,BUT ALSO BECAUSE !SE NEI<BORHOODS W]E LIB]AT$ BUT AT ! SAME TIME !Y W]E SURR\ND$ BY ! >MY1 SO !Y W]E BLOCK$ FROM4 !RE WAS SORT ( A SIEGE >\ND EA* NEI<BORHOOD :I* DIDN'T HAVE ANY REGIME PRES5CE ANYMORE4 ,SO !Y W\LD ORGANIZE PATROLS ( PEOPLE ?AT W\LD LEAVE AT NI<T TO GO & GET FOOD & COME BACK &4 ,I KN[ ?IS BECAUSE ,I HAVE A LOT ( FRI5DS :O W]E AT ,HOMS DUR+ ?AT P]IOD1 EV5 PEOPLE :O LEFT FROM CITIES LIKE ,ALEPPO1 !Y W5T !RE4 ,!Y W\LD TELL ME /ORIES AB\T H[ !Y W\LD TAKE ADVANTAGE ( ! >MY SLEEP+ OR DO+ O!R ?+S & !Y W\LD GO TO O!R PLACES 9 ! CITY & !Y W\LD BR+ /UFF1 & COME BACK4 

,A4 

,& A LOT (4 ,= EXAMPLE 9 ,ALEPPO !RE WAS NO?+ HAPP5+1 IT WAS A LITTLE BIT ( A QUIET CITY1 BUT !RE W]E A LOT ( PEOPLE :O SUPPORT$ ! REVOLUTION4 ,!Y C\LDN'T DO ANY?+ 9 ,ALEPPO BUT !Y DID A LOT ( SUPPORT1 BY FOOD & MONEY1 S5T IT TO ,D>AA1 S5T IT TO ,HOMS4 ,BUT ?IS WAY DOESN'T HELP US ON ! LONG T]M1 Y\ KN[ IT WAS A %ORT T]M SOLUTION4 ,IT BUILT A K9D ( BOND BETWE5 CITIES4 ,BE=E ! REVOLUTION1 WE HAD A LOT ( PROBLEMS BETWE5 CITIES4 

,R4 

,:5 WE'RE TALK+ AB\T ?IS TIME P]IOD 9 ,JULY REALLY ! BIGGE/ ?+ ?AT HAPP5$ :I* %OCK$ EV]YONE WAS ,HAMA4 ,BECAUSE ?IS WAS ! CITY :]E ! BIGGE/ MASSACRE 9 ! HI/ORY ( ,SYRIA TOOK PLACE & :]E #d # PEOPLE W]E KILL$ 9 ! #h'S4 ,BUT !Y MADE A DEMO 9 ,JULY & A LOT ( PEOPLE W]E KILL$1 SO !N ! MUHAFEZ1 ! MAYOR ( ! CITY1 HE SYMPA?IZ$ ) ! REVOLUTION & SO HE ORD]$ EV]YONE FROM ! >MY ?AT WAS 9 ?IS CITY NOT TO FIRE AT DEMON/RATIONS4 

,A4 

,TO GO \T ( ! CITY4 

,R4 

,YES1 HE KICK$ !M \T4 ,& SO ! NEXT ,FRIDAY LIKE #h # PEOPLE W]E 9 ! DEMON/RATION4 

,X4 

,:O DID HE KICK \T1 ! >MY8 

,R4 

,YES1 ALL ( ! REGIME (FICIALS FROM ! CITY4 ,!RE WAS ONLY ! MAYOR & ! CIVILIANS ( ! CITY4 ,& ,I ?9K ?AT ALMO/ EV]YONE1 ! *ILDR51 ! OLD PEOPLE1 EV]YONE REALLY P>TICIPAT$ 9 ?IS HUGE DEMO & IT WAS ON ,T,V4 ,IT WAS ! FIR/ LIB]AT$ CITY ( ,SYRIA LET'S SAY4 ,& SO AT ?AT TIME IT WAS MO/LY ONLY ON ,FRIDAY ?AT PEOPLE1 L>GE AM\NTS ( PEOPLE W\LD GO \T 9TO ! /REETS BUT !N !Y />T$ HAV+ DEMOS EV]Y DAY4 ,Y\ KN[ !SE HUGE C>NIVALS Y\ W\LD SAY :]E SOMEONE W\LD /& UP & S+ & EV]YONE W\LD DANCE & IT WAS AMAZ+4 ,& PEOPLE />T$ COM+ FROM O!R CITIES LIKE FROM ,ALEPPO1 :]E !Y C\LDN'T DEMON/RATE 9 !IR CITIES SO !Y W\LD GO !RE4 ,& ! ?+ IS1 AL?\< ,HAMA IS A BIT RELIGI\S !RE W]E A LOT ( PEOPLE FROM DIFF]5T SECTS & WOM5 )\T VEIL & !Y W]E WELCOM$4 ,SO1 IT WAS1 ,I ?9K IT WAS ! UTOPIA ( ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION BECAUSE EV]Y?+ GOOD AB\T ! REVOLUTION WAS !RE 9 ?AT SQU>E1 IT WAS A HUGE SQU>E4 

,A4 

,YES1 ,I /ILL REMEMB] 9 ?AT SQU>E WE MET TWO GUYS & ONE ( !M WAS SAY+30,I AM FROM ,HAMA1 ,I AM NOT RADICAL ,I AM NOT A REAL ,MUSLIM ACTUALLY1 WE >E N[ 9 ,RAMADAN & ,I AM SMOK+ Y\ KN[ Y\ SAW ME1 ,I AM NOT40 HE TOLD ME4 ,LAU<S4 ,SO WE'VE GOT LIKE A /]EOTYPE SAY+ ?AT ALL PEOPLE 9 ,HAMA >E SO RELIGI\S1 SO RADICAL & !Y TALK ONLY AB\T GOD &4 ,BUT :AT HAPP5$ !RE1 ,I WAS !RE1 ,I ATT5D$ ONE ( ?OSE DEMOS & PEOPLE W]E 9 A REALLY GREAT SITUATION1 PSY*OLOGICALLY4 ,HAPPY1 S++1 !RE W]E NO PROBLEMS4 ,ACTUALLY1 = SURE !RE W]E SOME TR\BLES H]E & !RE BUT ! BIG 5]GY ( ?IS DEMOS WAS LIKE P]FECT ,I CAN SAY4 

,R4 

,TWO WEEKS LAT]1 ! MAYOR WAS 9VIT$ 9TO ! H\SE ( ! PRESID5T & HE FIR$ HIM FROM HIS JOB & HE PUT ANO!R ONE4 ,HE WAS REALLY VIOL5T444 

,A4 

,A SOLDI]4 

,R4 

4V]Y RADICAL4 ,YES HE WAS A MILIT>Y MAN1 & !N ! >MY ( C\RSE /ORM$ ! CITY ( ,HAMA & EV]Y?+ /OPP$4 

,A4 

,!RE WAS A FAM\S S+] CALL$ ,KA%- \%1 HE CREAT$ A LOT (4 

,R4 

,!Y W]E REVOLUTION>Y SONGS BUT AT ! SAME TIME !Y W]E MOCK+ ! REGIME1 !Y W]E TRY+ TO4 ,BECAUSE IT WAS MO/LY FE> ?AT WAS ! B>RI] = A LOT ( PEOPLE SO WE US$ COM$Y A LOT 9 ORD] TO JU/ MAKE ! REGIME SEEM 9F]IOR1 ?AT WE JU/ %\LDN'T BE SC>$ ( !M BECAUSE !Y >E MO/LY /UPID & .<LAU<S.> SOME?+ LIKE ?AT4 

,A4 

,SO :5 ! >MY OCCUPI$ ,HAMA !Y TAKE HIS4 :AT'S ?IS4 

,R4 

,!Y SLUT HIS ?ROAT4 ,!Y KILL$ HIM & !Y ?REW HIM 9 ! RIV]4 

,A4 

,?IS WAS ! 5D ( ! CIVIL ]A ( ! REVOLUTION4 ,?IS WAS ! FIR/ SIGN ( ! 5D4 

,R4 

,! BEG9N+ ( ! 5D4 

,A4 

,AFT] ?AT !RE WAS ! FREE G5]ALS MOVEM5T4 

,R4 

,YES1 G5]ALS ( ! >MY !Y DEFECT$ FROM ! ,SYRIAN >MY & !Y F\ND$ ?IS ?+4 ,SO IT /OPP$ BE+ Y\ KN[ LOCALS DEF5D+ !IR NEI<BORHOODS & IT BECAME MORE EXP]I5C$ >MY M54 

,X4 

,CAN Y\ EXPLA9 AB\T !SE LOCALS DEF5D+ !IR NEI<BORHOODS BE=E WE GO TO ! MILIT>Y8 

,R4 

,OK4 

,A4 

,MO/ ( !4 !Y DECL>$ A MISSION AB\T :AT !Y HAD TO DO1 ! LOCALS4 ,!Y SAID 0,WE >E H]E TO PROTECT ! DEMON/RATION4 ,NOT TO FI<T ! REGIME4 ,WE >E H]E = PROTECTION NOT4= W>04 ,SO4 ,IT WAS REALLY DIFF]5T FROM CITY TO CITY4 ,= EXAMPLE :5 WE >E TALK+ AB\T ,D>AA IT WAS MORE CONTROLL$ BY ! CIVILIANS1 ! DEMON/RATION P[]4 ,MORE ?AN ! MILIT>Y4 ,BECAUSE Y\ KN[1 SOME GR\PS HAD ! P[] ESPECIALLY :5 WE >E TALK+ AB\T WEAPON P[]4 ,SO !Y W\LD BE MORE AU?ORIZ$ TO DO & GIVE ORD]S3 0,WE %\LD DO ?IS & WE %\LD DO ?IS04 ,SO ) ?IS CRIT]IA 9 ,D>AA = EXAMPLE IT WAS MORE FRI5DLY BETWE5 ! LOCALS ?AT W]E >M$ & ?OSE :O W]E NOT >M$4 ,9 ,HOMS IT WAS DIFF]5T4 ,BECAUSE 9 ,D>AA ! :OLE SOCIETY WAS 9VOLV$ 9 ! SAME TIME4 ,!RE IS ACTUALLY NO BIG DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! C\NTRY SIDE & ! CITY4 ,:5 WE >E TALK+ AB\T ! ,HORRANI !Y HAD ?IS TRADITIONAL BOND1 FAMILIES & SO ON SO ON4 ,& ,HOMS WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFF]5T BECAUSE 9 ?AT CITY WE HAVE ?REE SECTS1 ACTUALLY ?REE SECTS & TWO RELIGIONS2 ,*RI/IANS1 ,SUNNIS & ,ALAWIS4 ,SO FROM ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION !RE WAS A DIVISION4 

,R4 

,LAU<S4 ,!Y DON'T LIKE EA* O!R4 

,A4 

,AT ALL4 

,R4 

,!RE IS A V]Y SECT>IAN HATE BETWE5 ! ?REE4 

,A4 

,ALSO WE CAN ADD TO ?IS SITUATION ?AT ,HOMS HAD A PROBLEM BETWE5 ! C\NTRYSIDE & ! CITY4 ,SO ! LOCALS :O W]E >M$1 MO/ ( !M W]E FROM ! C\NTRYSIDE4 ,& MO/ ( !M W]E PEOPLE FROM AN >EA CALL$ ,BABA-,AMRO4 ,?IS IS AN >EA BAS$ ON TRADITIONAL SOCIETY :I* IS CALL$ ,B$\94 

,R4 

,IT IS A TRIBAL SOCIETY4 

,A4 

,!Y TRADE WEAPONS1 ,I AM TALK+ AB\T ! PA/1 DRUGS1 & !Y W]E ALREADY SO VIOL5T4 ,SO !Y GOT MORE P[] ) !IR ATTITUDE4 ,!Y DIDN'T C>E AB\T VALUES SU* AS FRE$OM4 ,!Y HAVE O!R SORT ( IDEAS4 IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE = !M TO ACCEPT FRE$OM AS A VALUE4 ,9/EAD ( IT !Y W\LD BE MORE MOTIVAT$ = REV5GE & FI<T ! REGIME4 ,?IS K9D ( DIFF]5CE 9 ! CONFLICT IS BAS$ UPON :I* SOCIETY WE >E TALK+ AB\T1 BECAUSE ,SYRIA IS NOT ONE SOCIETY AT ALL4 ,& ) ?IS S5SITIVE SITUATION1 :5 WE >E TALK+ AB\T ,HOMS !RE >E ?REE RELIGIONS1 ?REE SECTS & A BAD RELATION%IP BETWE5 PEOPLE & EV]YONE :O IS 9VOLV$1 :O HAD ! MO/ P[] 9SIDE ?IS /RUGGLE8 ,TWO GR\PS1 ! REGIME & ! >M$ LOCALS :O W]E SEEK+ = REV5GE & FI<T+ ! REGIME1 IT DIDN'T MATT] :AT HAPP5$ TO ! CITY4 

,R4 

,BUT TO BE P]FECTLY CLE>1 ?IS HAPP5$ ACROSS ! BO>D BECAUSE IT WASN'T LIKE PEOPLE ORGANIZ$ !MSELVES & DECID$ TO HOLD UP >MS 9 ORD] TO DEF5D ! NEI<BORHOODS4 ,9 A LOT ( CASES !Y W]E PEOPLE :O ALREADY HAD >MS & !RE W]E A LOT ( PEOPLE :O *OSE TO /AY PEACEFUL & DECID$ NOT TO HOLD >MS4 ,SO ! P[] WAS DIVID$ BETWE5 !SE TWO GR\PS4 ,PEOPLE :O HAD >MS FELT ?AT !Y W]E MORE P[]FUL1 BECAUSE !Y W]E PUTT+ !IR LIVES 9 DANG] MORE ?AN PEACEFUL DEMON/RATORS SO !Y ?\<T !Y %\LD BE 9 CONTROL1 !Y %\LD DECIDE4 ,!RE W]E A LOT ( CONFLICTS BETWE5 ! TWO1 ! PEOPLE :O KEPT HOLD+ ON TO ! PR9CIPLES & ! VALUES ?AT WE SET FROM ! />T ( ! REVOLUTION :I* W]E NOT AB\T REV5GE1 :I* WASN'T SOME?+ P]SONAL ) ! REGIME1 :I* WAS NOT SOME?+ AGA9/ SPECIFICALLY ! ,ALAWITES ?AT AS A SECT W]E 9 CONTROL ( ! REGIME4 ,IT'S AB\T A BETT] LIFE = ALL ! CITIZ5S1 = EV]YONE 9 ?IS C\NTRY4 ,SO !RE WAS ?IS CONFLICT BETWE5 !SE TWO & 9 ! 5D ,I ?9K :5 CIVIL DEMON/RATORS W]5'T GO+ ANY:]E1 ,I ?9K !Y FELT !Y W]E /UCK1 ?OSE PEOPLE W]E ALL[$4 EUM4 OR HAD EV5 MORE P[] 9 ORD] TO SET ! C\RSE = ! RE/ ( ! REVOLUTION4 ,!Y SAID3 0,WELL IF PEACEFUL ISN'T WORK+ WE %\LD GO TO >MS04 ,& SO ! PEOPLE :O HAD DIFF]5T VALUES1 :O W]E LEAN+ MORE T[>DS REV5GE1 :O DIDN'T REALLY TAKE P>T 9 ! REVOLUTION FROM ! BEG9N+ BUT :O JO9$ AFT]W>DS :5 !Y W]E FUEL$ BY HATE & NOT BY4 ,!Y W]E NOT REALLY REVOLUTION>Y !Y W]E JU/1 !Y HAD P]SONAL MATT]S ) ! REGIME ?AT !Y NE$$ TO SORT \T SOME?+ LIKE ?IS1 SO !Y TOOK OV] FROM !RE1 ,I ?9K4 

,X4 

,!Y W]E ALL LIKE ?IS1 ! PEOPLE TAK+ UP >MS8 

,R4 

,NO1 (F C\RSE NOT4 

,A4 

,I M5TION$ ,D>AA4 ,WE DIDN'T HAVE ?IS K9D ( SITUATION 9 ,D>AA4 

,R4 

,& O!R PLACES4 

,A4 

,WE >E TALK+ G5]ALLY ACTUALLY4 ,IT IS NOT ! TRU? ?AT ,D>AA REPRES5TS ! REVOLUTION VALUES & ,HOMS DOESN'T4 ,NO BUT ! SITUATION !RE WAS MORE BALANC$ BETWE5 A LOT ( P[]S1 A LOT ( S\RCES1 ( VALUES1 (4 

,R4 

,YES & (F C\RSE :51 BECAUSE ! REGIME KN[S AB\T HATE BETWE5 OR CONFLICTS BETWE5 DIFF]5T SECTS1 DIFF]5T RELIGIONS 9 CITIES :]E Y\ HAVE DIFF]5T RELIGI\S GR\PS LIKE ,HOMS1 !Y TRY TO PLAY ON ?IS1 !Y TRY TO PLAY ?IS C>D4 ,BECAUSE AT ! BEG9N+ !RE WAS EV]YONE1 IT WASN'T HOMOG5E\S LIKE AFT]1 ! DEMON/RATION WASN'T FROM A SPECIFIC SECT IT WAS EV]YONE COM+ TOGE!R4 ,BUT AFT]W>DS1 :5 VIOL5CE WAS T>GET$ T[>DS A SPECIFIC GR\P1 :5 !Y TOOK ,SUNNI PRISON]S & !Y TORTUR$ !M :ILE !Y W]E MORE 9DULG5T ) O!R SECTS OR RELIGI\S GR\PS1 !Y TRI$ TO FUEL HATE 9 BETWE5 !M1 TO TRY TO TURN !M AGA9/ EA* O!R4 

,A4 

,& (FICIALLY ACTUALLY ALSO ! CONSULTANT ( ! PRESID5T %[$ UP AT ! M$IA & %E SAID3 0,H]E 9 ,SYRIA WE HAVE A LOT ( SECTS1 RELIGIONS4 ,ALL PEOPLE LIVE TOGE!R 9 PEACE & IF ?IS WILL /ILL HAPP51 ?IS SITUATION WILL BE 9 DANG]4 ,& WE CAN REMEMB] /ORIES FROM ! HI/ORY H[ ,SUNNI KILL$ ,ALAWI40 %E M5TION$ A LOT ( /ORIES AB\T :5 ! REGIME HAD NO P[]1 NO CONTROL1 ! PEOPLE W]E GO+ TO EAT1 TO FI<T EA* O!R1 TO KILL EA* O!R4 ,SO IT WAS A K9D ( W>N+4 ,!Y W>N$ US ?AT ?IS W\LD HAPP54 ,& AB\T ?IS ,I HAVE JU/IFI$ 9=MATION FROM ,HOMS AT ?AT TIME1 !Y KILL$ ,ALAWITES1 OPPOSITION ,ALAWITE PEOPLE1 Y\NG & POLITICALS1 POLITICIANS & !Y MADE /ORIES AB\T H[ IT WAS ,SALAFIS & JIHADIS & T]RORI/S :O HAD KILL$ !M BUT ACTUALLY ! SECRET POLICE HAD KILL$ !M & !Y1 = TWO MON?S !Y PLAY$ ?IS GAME & ! CITY ALREADY !Y4 

,R4 

,!RE WAS T5SION TO BEG9 ) BETWE5 !MSELVES4 ,IT WAS EASI] = PEOPLE TO BELIEVE !SE /ORIES ?AN 9 O!R PLACES4 

,A4 

,Y\'VE GOT ! RADICAL RELIGI\S PEOPLE FROM BO? SIDES1 !Y PROV$ !SE /ORIES1 !Y JU/IFI$ !SE /ORIES3 0,?IS IS REAL1 ?IS IS :O WE >E4 ,WE HATE EA* O!R04 

,R4 

,& ! ?+ IS !Y BOMB$1 !Y BOMB$ A S*OOL 9 AN ,ALAWITE'S NEI<BORHOOD1 A *ILDR5'S S*OOL1 & PEOPLE />T$ SAY+ IT WAS ! REGIME :O W\LD B5EFIT FROM ?IS1 ?AT NO ONE W\LD B5EFIT EXCEPT = ! REGIME FROM HATE BETWE5 PEOPLE1 TURN+ PEOPLE AGA9/ EA* O!R4 ,BUT PEOPLE W\LD REALLY BELIEVE !SE /ORIES BECAUSE !Y'D SAY30 ,:Y W\LD ! REGIME DO ?IS1 HE BELONGS TO ! SAME SECT1 SO :Y W\LD HE KILL HIS [N PEOPLE804 

,A4 

,IT IS LIKE AN EV]YDAY QUE/ION3 0,:Y W\LD ! REGIME DO ?IS804 

,R4 

,YES BUT IT IS TRUE BECAUSE HE WAS1 HE TRI$ TO COMMIT SU* ATROCITIES ?AT IT W\LD BE IMPOSSIBLE OR UNBELIEVABLE ?AT PEOPLE W\LD ACTUALLY1 !Y C\LDN'T BELIEVE ?AT ! REGIME W\LD DO ?IS4 ,HE TRI$ TO GO TO EXTREMES 9 ORD] TO MAKE IT4 79T]V5TION ( A DOG PASS+ BY7 4 ,SO :AT DO Y\ ?9K1 :AT %\LD WE TALK AB\T N[8 

,X4 

,WE C\LD TALK AB\T ! MILIT>Y DEFECT+444 ,Y\ HAVE ! FEEL+ ?AT ALL ?+S ?AT W]E HAPP5+1 H[ ! ?+S W]E EVOLV+1 !RE WAS SOME?+ 9 Y\R H&S /ILL AT ?AT MOM5T OR IT WAS SLIPP+ \T ( Y\R H&S8 

,R4 

,YES ,I ?9K SO1 BUT AT ?AT TIME WE W5T 9TO REACTION1 WE W]5'T ACT+1 WE W]E JU/ REACT+ TO :AT ! REGIME WAS DO+4 ,WE LO/ A LOT ( ! P[] WE HAD1 WE LO/ A LOT ( ! CONTROL WE HAD BECAUSE AS TIME PROGRESSES PEOPLE />T$ LOOS+ ! 5?USIASM1 LOOS+ ! 5]GY !Y HAD AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION & !Y W]E SEE+ ?AT A LOT ( LIVES HAD BE5 LO/ & A LOT ( BLOOD HAS BE5 %$ & NO?+ SEEM$ TO *ANGE1 ! REGIME SEEM$ V]Y DET]M9$ TO CONT9UE ) ! POLICY IT HAD &4 ,I ?9K MAYBE MORE PEOPLE W]E BEG9N+ TO SYMPA?IZE ) ! REVOLUTION & WE W]E BECOM+ MORE BUT AT ! SAME TIME !RE W]E A LOT ( PEOPLE :O W]E LEAV+4 ,SO4 ,EV]Y?+ WAS BECOM+ *AOTIC AT ?AT PO9T4 ,WE DIDN'T KN[1 WE DIDN'T KN[ :AT TO DO4 ,& ! TWO MA9 CITIES1 ,ALEPPO & ,DAMASCUS1 SEEM$ TOO H>D4 ,I MEAN ,I WAS !RE & ,I REMEMB] ,I BLAM$ A LOT ! PEOPLE ( MY CITY ?AT !Y W]5'T DO+ ANY?+1 BECAUSE !RE W]E ONLY SMALL DEMON/RATIONS TAK+ PLACE4 ,BUT ! REGIME WAS MORE VIOL5T ) !SE CITIES BECAUSE IT WAS TOO AFRAID ?AT SOME?+ W\LD HAPP5 !RE BECAUSE IT C\LD LOOSE A LOT ( SUPPORT1 ESPECIALLY ) ,DAMASCUS BE+ ! CAPITAL ( C\RSE1 & ,ALEPPO BE+ A V]Y 9DU/RIALIZ$ CITY ) A LOT ( 9VE/M5TS & 9T]E/S1 SO IF IT LO/ ?IS CITY ! ECONOMY W\LD BE DE/ROY$1 & ?IS IS :AT HAPP5$ ACTUALLY4 ,SO :AT HE DID WAS ! TRIBES ?AT >E KN[N TO BE V]Y LOYAL1 ?AT W]E MO/LY DRUG TRAFFICK]S1 !Y W]E DEPLOY$1 !Y W]5'T EUM4 ,:AT DO Y\ CALL !M8 ,EUM4 ,LIKE %ABIA WE C\LD SAY4 ,%ABIA IS1 Y\ KN[ !Y >E NOT (FICIALLY ) ! REGIME BUT !Y >E PAID 9 ORD] TO4 

,X4 

,!Y CALL IT PAID ?UGS 9 ,5GLI%4 

,R4 

,SO IT WAS CRAZY !Y HAD KNIVES1 & LONG ,I DON'T KN[1 BATS1 & !Y W\LD GO & IT WAS4 ,I DON'T KN[ BUT EUM4 

,A4 

,AT ?AT TIME WE />T$ DEMOS 9SIDE ( ! UNIV]SITY & WE FAC$ ?IS GR\P ( PEOPLE :I* WAS M5TION$4 ,IT WAS ! />T ( A /UD5T MOVEM5T & IT WAS SO AMAZ+ BECAUSE !RE W]E A LOT ( BACKGR\NDS1 FROM A LOT ( DIFF]5T CITIES1 9SIDE ! CAMPUS4 ,:AT HAPP5$4 ,WE TOOK LIKE ONE MON?1 /RUGGL+1 WE MADE A LOT ( PROGRESS ) EA* O!R1 IF WE >E TALK+ AB\T A SPACE COORD9ATION4 ,WE HAD A SOLUTION = H[ WE C\LD COMMUNICATE BETWE5 EA* O!R EV5 IF WE W]E SO DIFF]5T1 EV5 IF WE HAVE DIFF]5T BACKGR\NDS1 DIFF]5T VIEWS AB\T :AT IS ?IS REVOLUTION1 :AT IS ! FUTURE ( ?IS REVOLUTION4 ,WE ESCAP$ FROM ?IS /RUGGLE BETWE5 EA* O!R4 ,AFT] ?AT EUM4 ,I DON'T KN[ :Y ! REGIME WAS A LITTLE BIT TOL]ANT ) US AT ! BEG9N+1 ,I ?9K TO NOT MAKE A LOT ( TR\BLE 9SIDE ! UNIV]SITY1 Y\ KN[ ?IS IS ! UNIV]SITY1 IT'S /UD5TS & A BIG CITY1 & ALL WAS SO QUIET EXCEPT = ?IS >EA4 ,SO AT ! BEG9N+ WE FAC$ ! POLICE1 (FICIAL POLICE1 !Y US$ AGA9/ US GAS1 FAKE BULLETS4 ,& IT WAS AMAZ+ = US1 ?IS K9D ( CONDITION4 0,OH1 WE HAVE GAS N[ WE >E HUMANS NOT4440 LAU<S4 ,BUT AFT] ?AT !Y S5T ,%ABI- AHA & IT WAS A BLOODY NI<T1 NOBODY KILL$ BUT A LOT ( /UD5TS HAD 9JURIES4 ,DANG]\S SITUATION4 ,AFT] ?AT !Y ESCALATE TO VIOL5CE1 !Y = EXAMPLE !Y EUM444 ,IT'S NOT A K9D ( BOMB IT'S4 ,IT'S A K9D ( BOMB !Y ?R[ IT 9SIDE ( ! BUILD+4 ,& IT WAS A CRAZY NI<T1 ! 5D ( ?IS /RUGGLE 9SIDE ! CAMPUS4 

,X4 

,Y\ W]E /AY+ ! NI<T 9 ! CAMPUS AS WELL8 ,Y\ SLEPT !RE8 

,A4 

,I SLEPT AT MY C\S9'S ROOM ,AKHEEL1 WE W]E ME & ,AKHEEL4 

,X4 

,BUT ! /UD5TS >E LIV+ !RE OR IT WAS AN OCCUPATION ( ! UNIV]SITY8 

,A4 

,NO WE W]E SLEEP+ !RE1 WE HAVE ROOMS1 WE HAVE B$S4 ,WE CALL IT ! UNIV]SITY CITY4 

,R4 

,BECAUSE ! ?+ IS ?AT IT />T$ REALLY E>LY ACTUALLY4 ,IT WAS ! ONLY MOVEM5T ?AT WAS GO+ ON 9 ,ALEPPO4 ,BECAUSE AT ! UNIV]SITY CITY ( C\RSE !RE >E A LOT ( PEOPLE :O CAME FROM O!R CITIES :I* WITNESS$ A LOT ( DEMON/RATIONS1 !Y CAME FROM ,HOMS & FROM ,D>AA & WELL FIR/ ( ALL !Y W]E 9FURIAT$ BECAUSE ! PEOPLE ( ,ALEPPO W]5'T DO+ ANY?+ TO /& 9 SOLID>ITY ) !IR CITY1 BUT AT ! SAME TIME !Y WANT$ TO DO SOME-?+ SO EV]YONE !RE GOT TOGE!R &4 IT WAS4 

,A4 

,IT WAS FUN4 

,X4 

,BUT :AT WAS GO+ ON8 ,Y\ W]E DO+ DEMOS 9 ! CAMPUS8 

,A4 

,YES1 IT'S K9D ( A LOT ( BUILD+S1 ITS LIKE A NEI<BORHOOD WE C\LD SAY1 !RE >E /REETS 9SIDE ! CITY1 )\T C>S4 ,SO WE OCCUPI$1 WE DON'T OCCUPY IT )444 JU/ AT ! NI<T1 SIX H\RS EA* DAY4 ,SO WE HAVE BOTTLES1 = ! POLICE4 ,LAU<S4 

,R4 

,YES1 Y\ ?REW ROCKS &4 

,A4 

,WE ?REW MOLOTOV'S1 ROCKS &4 ,WE W]E PLAY+ ACTUALLY1 WE HAD A LOT ( FUN4 ,& IT WAS LIKE4 

,X4 

,BUT Y\ W]E NOT GO+ TO CLASSES1 !Y W]E NO CLASSES GO+ ON ANYMORE8 

,A4 

,NO1 AT NI<T !RE W]E NO CLASSES4 

,X4 

,AH1 ?IS WAS AT ! NI<T1 ,O,K4 

,A4 

,YES1 AT ! NI<T4 ,BECAUSE 9 ! EV5+ ?IS CITY WAS SURR\ND$ BY POLICE1 BLOCK$4 ,!RE W]E A LOT ( P>TIES1 GR\PS1 ! ,BAA? P>TY GR\PS1 9SIDE ! CITY4 ,!Y *ECK$ A LOT ( ! ID5TITIES3 0,Y\ >E FROM H]E1 FROM !RE04 ,!Y CONTROLL$ DUR+ ! EV5+1 BUT AT NI<T !RE WAS NOT A LOT ( LI<T Y\ KN[ SO WE C\LD HIDE !RE & WE C\LD RUN ETC4 

,X4 

,& SO :AT DID Y\ WANT TO TELL AB\T !SE BOMBS8 

,A4 

,AT ! 5D (1 AT ! LA/ DAY 9 ! UNIV]SITY1 ACTUALLY !Y BOMB$ A BUILD+ )444EUM444,B,M,B8 

,R4 

,OH YES1 ! SMALL] TANKS1 NOT ! BIG ONES4 ,A4 

,!Y >E CALL$ ,B,M,B4 

,R4 

,IT IS A M$IUM SIZE TANK4 

,A4 

,YES1 !RE WAS A /UD5T ?R[N FROM ! RO(1 TWO /UD5TS ACTUALLY4 ,ONE ( !M ?R[N (F BY ! SECRET POLICE1 & ! O!R ONE WAS ?R[N (F BY ! /UD5TS4 ,HE WAS A /UD5T BUT HE WAS COOP]AT+ ) ! SECRET POLICE4 ,HE WAS ALSO AN ,ALAWITE4 ,SO !Y ?R[ HIM FROM ! RO( & ! REGIME US$ ?IS /ORY TO BOMB ! BUILD+1 TO ATTACK & ?R[ /UD5TS FROM ! BUILD+4 ,LIKE TW5TY OR ?IRTY /UD5TS GOT ?R[N FROM ! RO(4 ,OR PEOPLE JU/ ESCAP+ FROM ! POLICE & !Y ?R[ !MSELVES FROM ! BUILD+4 ,SO IT WAS1 ?IS LA/ DAY WAS A DISA/] & EV]YBODY AFT]4 ,WE C\LDN'T DO ANY?+ BECAUSE ! UNIV]SITY WAS %UT D[N SO EV]YONE %\LD TRAVEL TO !IR CITIES4 

,X4 

,!Y CLOS$ ! UNIV]SITY8 

,R4 

,NO1 IT WAS ! 5D ( ! SECOND SEME/]4 ,X4 

,BUT ,I DIDN'T UND]/&1 !Y ?REW BOMBS 9 ! BUILD+8 

,A4 

,IT IS A K9D ( SMALL BOMB1 IT MAKES GAS1 BUT IT DAMAG$ ONE FLOOR ( ?IS BUILD+4 ,IT MADE SOME DAMAGE LIKE :OLE ROOMS W]E DE/ROY$4 

,X4 

,& ?IS WAS ! SAME NI<T !Y ?REW ALL ! /UD5TS FROM ! BUILD+8 

,A4 

,! LA/ DAY WAS ! MO/ VIOL5T DAY1 YES !Y ?REW /UD5TS FROM W9D[S & >RE/$ A LOT ( US1 !Y US$ :ITE WEAPONS ETC4 ,BUT BE=E ?IS DAY !RE WAS ALSO A FAMILI> VIOL5CE :I* HAPP5$ DUR+ ! /RIKE ,I C\LD SAY ! /RUGGLE LA/$ = #d WEEKS1 ! GOV]NM5T WAS TOL]ANT ) US JU/ = #c OR #d DAYS & AFT] ?AT !Y *ANG$ ! *IEF ( POLICE & />T$ ) A NEW /RATEGY1 EUM444 :AT HAPP5$ DUR+ ?IS /RUGGLE4 ,DUR+ ! LA/ WEEKWE W]E LOS+ \R BOND1 /UD5TS SEEM$ MORE4 ,MORE VIOL5T1 NO COMMUNICATION1 !Y JU/ REGR\P$3 0,WE >E FROM ,IDLEB0 = EXAMPLE1 FROM ?IS CITY4 

,X4 

,BECAUSE ( :AT ! REGIME WAS DO+ ! PEOPLE W]E44 8 

,A4 

,YES BECAUSE ( ! NEWS WE RECEIV$1 IT WAS SO VIOL5T AB\T :AT HAPP5$ 9 ,IDLIB1 :AT HAPP5$ 9 ,HOMS1 :AT HAPP5$ 94 ,SO1 PEOPLE />T$ %\T+ TO EA* O!R3 0,Y\ DON'T DO 5\< 9 Y\R CITY604 ,LIKE ?IS1 & (F C\RSE IF SOMEONE FROM ANO!R SECT1 IF SOMEONE IS NOT ,SUNNI1 OR ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE IS ,ALAWI1 !Y WILL NEV] TALK TO HIM1 OR !Y W]E TRY+ TO PROTECT !MSELVES FROM HIM4 ,ALSO !RE W]E REASONS = ?IS4 ,BECAUSE :AT HAPP5$ ALSO WE GOT AN ,ALAWI/ GR\P WORK+ ) ! SECRET POLICE1 >M$ ) WEAPONS1 MAK+ PATROLS DUR+ ! NI<T4 ,SO EV]Y?+ WE W]E WORK+ ON1 ! BOND1 ! VALUES1 NO MATT] :AT WAS ! BACKGR\ND1 COLLAPS$4 ,& IT WAS SU* A HUGE LOSS4 ,S+S4 ,?IS IS ! 5D4 

,R4 

,SO Y\ SEE ALL ! CIVIL MOVEM5TS1 ALL ! REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5TS ?AT W]E CREAT$ AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION W]E BE+ DE/ROY$ AT ! SAME TIME P]IOD Y\ C\LD SAY1 9 DIFF]5T CITIES1 9 ! UNIV]SITY :I* WAS V]Y IMPORTANT ALSO4 ,SO YES1 PEOPLE />T$ BECOM+ MORE HESITANT1 ASK+ !MSELVES IF ?IS WAS ! RI<T WAY1 >E WE DO+ ! RI<T ?+1 %\LD WE LOOK = O!R MEANS ( FI<T+ ! REGIME4 ,?IS IS :]E WE />T$ ?9K+ ( AN >M$ /RUGGLE1 & NOT A PEACEFUL /RUGGLE4 

,SECOND ,P>T 

,R4 

,E>LI] DEM&S ( ! REVOLUTION4 ,9 ! CASE ( ,D>AA = EXAMPLE ONE ( ! PROBLEMS WAS ?AT -FOLL[+ AN 9T]NATIONAL 5VIRONM5TAL AGREEM5T- ! GOV]NM5T BANN$ DRILL+ WAT] WELLS 9 ! CITY4 ,?IS ISN'T A BAD BILL 9 ITSELF1 EXCEPT = ! FACT ?AT ,D>AA IS AN AGRICULTURAL CITY ) NO O!R S\RCES ( WAT]4 ,! GOV]NM5T NEV] SUPPORT$ ! F>M]S OR PROVID$ NEW MEANS ( IRRIGATION1 ESPECIALLY S9CE A SEV]E DR\<T HAD HIT ! >EA4 ,BRIB]Y BECAME OMNIPRES5T 9 ! CITY4 ,SOME F>M]S W\LD PAY ! SECRET 9TELLIG5CE OR ! MAYOR A C\PLE MILLION ,SYRIAN ,LIRA TO DRILL A WELL4 ,?IS CREAT$ A HUGE PROBLEM = ! LOCALS :O BEGAN TO GRADUALLY LOOSE !IR MA9 S\RCE ( 9COME4 ,ADD TO ?IS ! ISSUE ( Y\?S BE+ DETA9$ 9 ! CITY & Y\ GET ! P]FECT RECIPE = A REVOLUTION>Y HUB4 

,A4 

,AFT] ?AT ! PEOPLE W]E SEEK+ = DEM&S1 NOT TO *ANGE ! REGIME1 !Y W]E SEEK+ = A NEGOTIATION ) ! REGIME4 ,I CAN REF] TO ! PAP] ?AT WAS MADE BY ?IS C\NCIL ( ,HORAN FAMILIES4 ,!RE >E T5 PO9TS3 AB\T ! RELEASE ( ! *ILDR51 TO FIRE ! MAYOR ( ,HORAN1 LET PEOPLE MAKE WELLS 9SIDE ( !IR L&S1 K9D ( DEM&S LIKE ?IS4 ,SO ACTUALLY WE >E NOT TALK+ AB\T REVOLUTION BUT WE >E TALK+ AB\T SOCIAL MOVEM5TS4 ,BE=E ?IS1 ! SOCIAL MOVEM5T WAS DEAD 9 ,SYRIA1 !RE WAS NO?+ ACTUALLY HAPP5+1 NO ONE MADE DEM&S1 NO ONE SPOKE UP1 PEOPLE JU/ LIV$ !IR LIVES ) %ITTY CONDITIONS4 ,SO WE ?9K IT IS AN IMPORTANT MOM5T TO USE & TRANS=M IT 9TO REVOLUTION4 ,I /ILL REMEMB] MY FRI5DS FROM ,HORAN 9SIDE ! UNIV]SITY1 !Y TOLD ME3 0,LOOK1 ?IS IS NOT REVOLUTION4 ,?IS IS SOME?+ SPECIAL BETWE5 US & ! /ATE4 ,Y\ ,ALEPPIAN1 Y\ RE/ ( ,SYRIAN PEOPLE1 Y\ DON'T HAVE ANY?+ TO DO ) ?IS ISSUE4 ,DON'T DRAG US 9TO :AT Y\ >E ?9K+ AB\T40 ,IT IS NOT ! MAJORITY ( ,HORAN1 NOT ! MAJORITY ( ,HORAN IS LIKE ?AT BUT ! (FICIAL SPEE* ( ?IS CITY WAS LIKE ?IS3 0,IT IS NOT REVOLUTION4 ,IT IS SOME CONFLICT BETWE5 US & ! CITY & WE WILL SOLVE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE04 ,C\LD Y\ CONT9UE FROM ?IS PO9T8 

,R4 

,>E WE TALK+ AB\T H[ AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION ! DEM&S W]E NOT REALLY REVOLUTION>Y AS MU* AS IT WAS = SOCIAL RE=M1 OR8 ,IS ?IS :AT Y\ >E TALK+ AB\T8 

,A4 

,YES1 EXACTLY4 ,IT WASN'T A REVOLUTION1 IT WAS4 ,WE NOTIC$ ?AT WE W]E ALIVE N[1 ?AT WE C\LD DO SOME?+1 WE C\LD DEM&1 WE C\LD PROTE/4 ,BUT IT WAS NOT REVOLUTION4 ,UNTIL ,APRIL1 ! #a#h? ( ,APRIL1 ! MORN+ :5 ! MA9 SQU>E 9 ,HOMS WAS OCCUPI$4 ,AT NI<T1 ! SECRET POLICE 7MUKHAB>AT 9 ,SYRIAN7 BLOCKAD$ ! SQU>E & GAVE PEOPLE HALF AN H\R TO EMPTY IT COMPLETELY4 ,?OSE :O *OSE NOT TO LEAVE W]E KILL$1 ALL ( !M4 ,WE /ILL DON'T KN[ EXACTLY H[ MANY4 ,HUNDR$S6 ,IT WAS A ,MONDAY4 

,R4 

,! NEXT ,FRIDAY1 PEOPLE DEMON/RAT$ UND] ! NAME 0,! ,GOOD ,FRIDAY04 

,A4 

,IT WAS ,EA/]4 ,IT WAS LIKE A MESSAGE3 0,WE >E NOT RACI/1 WE >E NOT JU/ ,SUNNI'S4 ,WE CONSID] ?IS DAY AS A NATIONAL DAY4 ,ON ! O!R H& ONL9E1 9 ! VIRTUAL WORLD1 ! REVOLUTION BEGAN ) A SPECIFIC DATE1 ! #a#e? ( ,M>*1 ,I AM TALK+ H]E AB\T ! VIRTUAL WORLD4 ,AT ! BEG9N+ ! NAMES ( ! ,FRIDAYS W]E NATIONAL1 REVOLUTION>Y NAMES ?AT DID NOT DIVIDE PEOPLE OR CATEGORIZE !M BY DI/9CT ID5TITIES4 ,AFT] ?AT !Y HAD BEGUN TO GIVE ,ISLAMIC NAMES ) RADICAL ,ISLAMIC CONCEPTS LIKE JIHADI/ & /UFF LIKE ?IS4 ,SO1 ) ! ,GOOD ,FRIDAY1 WE4 ,LIKE MO/ ( ! C\NTRY1 EV5 ,ALEPPO1 ,DAMASCUS1 W]E 9VOLV$ 9 ?IS ,FRIDAY & W5T 9TO ! /REET TO PROTE/ AGA9/ ! REGIME & 9 ,HOMS AT ?AT PO9T !Y DEM&$ ! D[NFALL ( ! REGIME4 ,?IS WAS ! BIGGE/ MOM5T (4 ,N[1 IT'S SO S]I\S6 ,LAU<S4 ,HOMS BECAME ! C5T] ( ! /RUGGLE4 ,HOMS BECAUSE IT WAS ! RESPONSIBLE CITY = ?IS DEM&1 WE ACCEPT :AT ,HOMS W5T ?R\<1 WE AS O!R CITIES4 ,SO ?IS REQUE/ MOV$ FROM ,HOMS TO ALL ! RE/ ( ! C\NTRY4 ,ALL ! PEOPLE N[ DON'T DEM& TO MAKE SOME K9D ( RE=M ) ! REGIME1 N[ WE KN[ ?AT ! REGIME WILL NEV] LI/5 TO US1 IT WILL NEV] RE=M OR MAKE ANY PROMISE4 ,SO AT ?IS PO9T WE SAY3 0,! ,SYRIAN M$IA IS LY+1 ! REGIME IS LY+1 WE CANNOT TRU/ ! REGIME04 

,X4 

,I ?9K1 WAS IT Y\ :O EXPLA9$ ?IS PO9T BE=E1 LIKE ?AT !RE WAS ALWAYS A NEW C5T]4 ,MAYBE Y\ CAN EXPLA9 IT AGA9 BECAUSE444 

,R4 

,O,K1 EUM444 ,O,K1 SO LIKE ,A SAID1 ! FIR/ DEM&S TO TOPPLE ! REGIME W]E 9 ,HOMS & AFT] ?AT !RE W]E HUGE DEMON/RATIONS TAK+ PLACE 9 ,HOMS & :OLE NEI<BORHOODS ?AT GOT1 ?AT W]E LIB]AT$ FROM REGIME PRES5CE1 !RE W]E ONLY ! CIVILIANS LIV+ !RE & SELF-MANAG+ ! :OLE NEI<BORHOOD4 ,SO WE FELT LIKE ,HOMS TOOK A C5TRAL ROLE 9 ! REVOLUTION BECAUSE !Y MADE ! L>GE/ SACRIFICES1 A LOT ( PEOPLE W]E KILL$ !RE1 !Y W]E ORGANIZ+ L>GE DEMOS1 !Y W]E TRY+ TO EV54 ,I DON'T KN[1 Y\ C\LD SAY !RE W]E A LOT ( ACTIVITIES TAK+ PLACE !RE4 ,AT ! BEG9N+ !RE W]5'T MANY CITIES 9VOLV$ 9 ! /RUGGLE /ILL SO WE FELT LIKE ,HOMS WAS ! C5T]1 ! C5TRAL CITY 9 ! /RUGGLE4 ,SO EV]YONE WAS TALK+ AB\T ,HOMS1 ,HOMS WAS LIKE ! CAPITAL ( ! REVOLUTION = A LONG TIME4 ,SO EV]Y TIME ! REGIME W\LD 5T] ! CITY & REOCCUPY A NEI<BORHOOD ?AT HAD BE5 LIB]AT$1 WE W\LD FEEL LIKE A P>T ( ! REVOLUTION WAS BE+ LO/1 WE'D FEEL V]Y DISAPPO9T$1 WE'D FEEL CONQU]$ BY ! REGIME1 ?AT WE BECAME WEAK]4 ,& ?IS IS BECAUSE WE PUT SU* HI< HOPES ON A SPECIFIC CITY & WE REALLY GAVE !M MORE RESPONSIBILITY ?AN WE %\LD HAVE1 ,I MEAN NO-ONE %\LD HOLD SU* A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY ON !IR %\LD]S4 

,A4 

,BUT ALSO NOT JU/ US4 

,R4 

,YES1 BUT !M ALSO NOT4 

,A4 

,NO1 ALSO NOT JU/ !M4 ,WE >E TALK+ AB\T M$IA TOO1 WE'RE TALK+ AB\T ,AL ,JAZE]A1 !Y FOCUS$ ON ?IS CITY & !Y MADE />S LIKE ,KHAL$ ,ABU ,SALAH1 LIKE444 ,:AT'S HE CALL$8 ,GOALKEEP]8 

,R4 

,AL-,S>\T4 

,A4 

,AL-,S>\T1 YES4 ,WE'VE GOT LIKE />S FROM ?IS CITY1 REVOLUTION />S FROM ?IS CITY4 

,R4 

,& ! ?+ ?AT HAPP5$ WAS PEOPLE 9 ,HOMS />T$ AT SOME PO9T EXAGG]AT+ :AT !Y W]E DO+1 EV5 EXAGG]AT+ ! NUMB]1 ! TOLL NUMB] ( PEOPLE :O ACTUALLY DI$ 9 ORD] TO KEEP ?IS ROLE ?AT !Y >E ! ONES :O SACRIFICE !MSELVES1 !Y >E ! CAPITAL ( ! REVOLUTION1 9 ORD] TO KEEP UP ) ?IS TITLE ?AT HAS BE5 GIV5 TO !M4 ,!Y ACTUALLY FABRICAT$ A LOT ( NEWS & ?IS CO/ ! REVOLUTION TO LOOSE A LOT ( CR$IBILITY 9 ! EYES ( EV5 O!R ,SYRIANS :O W]E HESITANT AB\T JO9+ ! REVOLUTION OR NOT4 ,BECAUSE !Y SAW ! REGIME LY+ BUT ALSO ! OPPOSITION1 SO !Y >E NOT REALLY ?AT DIFF]5T FROM !M4 ,& ?IS IS :AT HAPP5$1 DIFF]5T >EAS LIKE EV5 SMALL VILLAGES 9 ,HOMS 7,QUSAYR7 W]E OPPOS+ = MON?S & !Y KEPT RESI/+ & ?IS VILLAGE ALSO BECAME A /> & EV]YONE WAS LIKE3 0,!Y WILL NEV] FALL & WE WILL KEEP /RUGGL+01 EV5 PEOPLE :O >5'T REALLY !RE1 Y\ KN[4 ,& ACTUALLY ! REGIME DID CONQU] IT BECAUSE ( C\RSE IT HAS MANY1 MANY MORE SOLDI]S & MORE WEAPONS & EV]Y?+4 ,! :OLE REVOLUTION LO/1 9/EAD ( EV]YONE TRY+ TO ORGANIZE )9 !MSELVES & /&+ 9 SOLID>ITY ) ?IS CITY OR ) ?AT VILLAGE & SAY+ EV5 IF ?IS VILLAGE1 EV5 IF WE LO/ H]E WE >E /ILL /RONG !RE & WE CAN KEEP GO+4 ,IT IS NOT1 ! REVOLUTION IS NOT ,HOMS1 ! REVOLUTION IS EV]YONE4 ,WE DIDN'T DO ?IS1 WE W]E ALWAYS V]Y EMOTIONAL1 :I* WAS ! NEGATIVE SIDE4 ,WE W]E ALWAYS SAD1 ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE W]E BE+1 WE >5'T GO+ ANY:]E1 LIKE ! REGIME WAS TOO /RONG & WE C\LDN'T KEEP UP ) :AT IT IS DO+ TO EV]YONE4 ,SO1 C5TRALIZ+ ! REVOLUTION 9 SPECIFIC >EAS ( ,SYRIA HAS REALLY CO/ US A LOT ON MANY LEVELS4 ,ON ! LEVEL ( CR$IBILITY1 ON ! SUPPORT ?AT WE GOT FROM O!RS :O >5'T 9VOLV$1 & EV5 ! S5TIM5T & ! 5]GY WE HAD T[>DS ! REVOLUTION BECAUSE ) EA* FAILURE WE FELT WEAK] & WEAK] TO ! PO9T ?AT WE FELT ?AT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYMORE 5]GY1 ?AT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY /R5G?1 ?AT P]HAPS WE C\LDN'T FI<T ! REGIME1 MAYBE IT WAS A MI/AKE TO BEG9 )444 

,A4 

,YES1 ?IS IS TRUE4 ,& WE NEV] MADE A PLAN TO GO & OCCUPY ,DAMASCUS1 :I* IS ! MO/ IMPORTANT CITY4 ,IF WE HAD OCCUPI$ ,DAMASCUS & MADE A LOT ( TR\BLE 9 ,DAMASCUS1 ?AT W\LD HAVE BE5 A HUGE DAMAGE = ! REGIME1 MORE ?AN 9 O!R CITIES4 ,SO PEOPLE PREF]R$ TO GO ) !IR VILLAGES1 ) !IR CITIES1 TO SAY TO O!R CITIES OR TO SAY TO O!R PEOPLE3 0,WE >E H]E1 WE SUPPORT Y\04 ,TO MAKE SOLID>ITY ) O!R CITIES Y\ KN[1 RA!R ?AN TO FOCUS ON :AT WAS ! GOAL ( ?IS PROTE/1 :AT WAS ! GOAL ( ?IS DEMON/RATION4 ,YES1 ,I UND]/&1 IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE 9 ONE'S [N VILLAGE1 OR 9 ONE'S [N /REETS1 9 ONE'S [N NEI<BORHOOD TO SAY :AT Y\ WANT TO SAY BUT WE NE$$ !SE PEOPLE 9 A SPECIFIC PLACE1 NOT 9 !IR [N PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT HELPFUL = ! REVOLUTION TO MAKE DEM& 9 !SES VILLAGES4 ,SO :AT HAPP5$ AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION1 ! REVOLUTION WAS CIVIC1 )\T WEAPONS1 )\T P[]4 ,!RE W]E A LOT ( VILLAGES1 = EXAMPLE WE HAVE A VILLAGE LIKE ,ALB$AA 7:I* MEANS ! :ITE71 WE KN[ AB\T :AT HAPP5$ !RE4 ,! 9TELLIG5CE =CES W5T !RE & !Y >RE/$ ! :OLE VILLAGE1 ! :OLE VILLAGE1 WE >E TALK+ AB\T HUNDR$S ( PEOPLE4 ,!Y >RE/$ !M & />T$ TO HUMILIATE !M & TORTURE !M1 TREAT !M LIKE ANIMALS1 & !Y TOOK !M TO :AT WE CALL ! BLACK HOLE4 ,WE DIDN'T KN[ ANY?+ AB\T !M UNTIL ONE MON? LAT]1 BECAUSE ( A BRAVE MAN :O APPE>$ 9 A FILM4 ,HE FILM$ HIMSELF3 0,?IS IS MY NAME1 ,I AM FROM ?IS VILLAGE4 ,:AT HAPP5$ 9 ?IS VILLAGE IS ?IS & ?IS04 

,R4 

,YES BECAUSE !Y4 ,WELL ,I ?9K :AT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT WAS ?AT ! POLICE OR1 WELL !Y >E ALL POLICE TO ME1 !Y W]E /EPP+ ACTUALLY ON ! BODIES ( PEOPLE4 ,!Y W]E ON ! GR\ND & !Y W]E /EPP+ ON !M1 & :AT !Y W]E SAY+ WAS3 0,Y\ WANT FRE$OM HA6 ,?IS IS = FRE$OM01 & !Y W\LD /EP ON !M4 ,SO :AT REALLY WAS 9FURIAT+ ! REGIME WAS ?IS3 ?AT ! ! REGIME FELT IT HAS SUBJUGAT$ PEOPLE TO ! PO9T ?AT IS WAS IMPOSSIBLE = !M TO IMAG9E A DIFF]5T K9D ( WORLD1 A DIFF]5T K9D (4 

,A4 

,YES1 & ?IS IS ALSO :AT MADE ! SITUATION MORE RELIGI\S4 ,BECAUSE 9 !SE VIDEOS !Y DON'T JU/ SAY TO PEOPLE3 0,Y\ WANT FRE$OM HA01 !Y SAY3 0,SAY ,BA%> ,AL ,ASSAD IS Y\R GOD04 ,& ?IS MADE ! SITUATION MORE RADICAL RELIGI\S1 = PEOPLE TO DEF5D3 0,NO FUCK Y\ ,BA%> ,AL ,ASSAD1 ,ALLAH IS MY GOD4 ,I DON'T PRAY1 JU/ = ,ALLAH01 SO ON1 SO ON4 

,R4 

,:5 ! VIDEO WAS AIR$ ON ,T,V /ATIONS1 ! REGIME D5I$ IT HAPP5$ 9 ,SYRIA & !Y SAID IT HAPP5$ 9 ,IRAQ :5 ! ,AM]ICAN >MY WAS OCCUPY+4 

,A4 

,NO IT WAS NOT ! ,AM]ICAN >MY ACTUALLY1 ,PE%M]GA4 

,R4 

,AH1 ,PE%M]GA4 ,SO ONE ( ! PEOPLE :OSE FACE WAS %[N 9 ! VIDEO1 HE W5T \T ON CAM]A & HE SAID3 0,MY NAME IS ?IS & ,I WAS !RE & ?IS HAPP5$ 9 ,SYRIA04 ,?IS WAS4 ,BECAUSE = ! FIR/ TIME Y\ C\LD SEE SOMEONE FROM ! 9CID5T :O CAME \T TO SPEAK & TO CONFIRM :AT HAPP5$4 

,A4 

,& IT WAS REALLY BRAVE :AT HE DID 9 ?AT P]IOD4 ,BECAUSE ONE DAY AFT] ?AT !Y >RE/$ HIM & UNTIL N[ HE IS /ILL 9 PRISON1 WE DON'T KN[ ANY?+ AB\T HIM444 ,I M5TION$ AB\T :Y DON'T WE GO TO ,DAMASCUS 9/EAD ( PROTE/+ 9 \R VILLAGES1 9 \R C\NTRYSIDE SMALL CITIES4 ,!RE W]E ONLY TWO ATTEMPTS TO OCCUPY ,DAMASCUS1 MADE ON ! C\NTRYSIDE ( ,DAMASCUS4 ,= EXAMPLE :AT HAPP5$ 9 ,CAIRO1 IT WAS NOT JU/ ! POPULATION ( ! PEOPLE ( ,CAIRO :O W]E PROTE/+ 9 ,TAHRIR SQU>E1 ALL ,EGYPT WAS !RE4 ,ALL ,EGYPT CAME FROM ! C\NTRYSIDE1 FROM F> AWAY CITIES TO ,CAIRO TO PROTE/ 9 ,TAHRIR SQU>E4 ,& ?AT NEV] HAPP5$ 9 \R CASE4 ,A LOT ( PEOPLE W5T TO ,HAMA = EXAMPLE BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLAN TO GO & OCCUPY ,DAMASCUS4 

,R4 

,I DON'T KN[ :Y4 

,A4 

,& ?AT CO/ US A LOT4 ,IF WE W]E FOCUS+ ON ,DAMASCUS 9/EAD ( DIVID+ \R P[]S 9 ! :OLE C\NTRY & CALL = HELP4 ,PEOPLE 9 ,D>AA !Y %\T =3 0,:]E >E Y\ ,ALEPPO1 :]E >E Y\ ,DAMASCUS1 :]E >E Y\ ,T>TUS04 ,& PEOPLE MADE 9VITATIONS ?R\< DEMON/RATIONS4 ,WE IMAG9$ ?AT ! :OLE C\NTRY %\LD PROTE/ AT ! SAME TIME4 ,& IT WAS A REALLY H>D TASK4 ,WE W]E NOT ORGANIZ$ 5\<1 WE HAD H>D CONDITIONS1 ! REGIME WAS VIOL5T1 SO ! GOAL WE PUT 9 \R IMAG9ATION TO PROTE/ 9 ! MA9 SQU>ES 9 ! :OLE C\NTRY AT ! SAME TIME1 IT WAS K9D ( DREAMY & NOT REALI/IC AT ALL4 

,X4 

,BUT1 LIKE JU/ TO MAKE IT A BIT MORE CLE>4 ,FIR/ WE >E TALK+ AB\T ! MI/AKE ( C5TRALIZ+ ! /RUGGLE & !N WE TALK AB\T H[ WE ALL HAVE TO GO TO ,DAMASCUS4 ,BUT ?IS W\LD ALSO BE A C5TRALIZATION ( ! /RUGGLE NO8 

,A4 

,YEAH1 IT IS K9D ( C5TRALIZ$ BUT IT W\LD BE UND]/&ABLE1 = ME4 ,IF WE DE/ROY ,DAMASCUS4 ,LAU<S4 ,! :OLE REGIME W\LD BE DE/ROY$4 ,BUT ! REGIME HAS NO 9T]E/ 9 ,HOMS & IT ALREADY DE/ROY$ IT1 BUT IT WILL NEV] DO ?IS 9 ,DAMASCUS BECAUSE IT IS ! MA9 PO9T ( P[] = ! REGIME4 

,R4 

,& !RE IS SOME?+ ELSE BECAUSE A LOT ( !SE DEMON/RATIONS ?AT W]E TAK+ PLACE ACROSS ,SYRIA1 W]E TAK+ PLACE 9 >EAS :I* HAD NO REGIME PRES5CE ANYMORE4 ,SO PEOPLE W]E JU/1 IT WAS BECOM+ A TRADITION ?AT EV]Y ,FRIDAY OR EV]Y DAY PEOPLE W\LD GO 9 ! /REET & DEMON/RATE BUT NO?+ WAS GO+ FROM !RE4 ,!Y W]5'T BUILD+ ON ?IS1 !Y W]E JU/ REPEAT+ ! SAME ?+ & :AT WE >E SAY+ IS IF !SE PEOPLE & ALL ( US REALLY CAME UP ) A PLAN TO OCCUPY A QUIET CITY1 A /ILL CITY1 LIKE ,DAMASCUS AT ! TIME1 IT W\LD HAVE CO/1 EV5 IF WE DIDN'T DEMON/RATE IF JU/ A LOT ( PEOPLE W\LD GO !RE BECAUSE !Y W]5'T GO+ TO /OP PEOPLE FROM 5T]+ ! CITY !Y DON'T KN[4 ,IF A HUGE NUMB] ( PEOPLE W\LD HAVE JU/ GONE !RE1 !Y W\LD HAVE BE5 JU/ WALK+ >\ND ! /REETS )\T DO+ ANY?+4 ,IF WE HAD JU/ CAME UP ) O!R MEANS ( /RUGGLE1 O!R ?AN DEMOS BECAUSE EI!R IT WASN'T WORK+ BECAUSE PEOPLE W]E JU/ GETT+ KILL$ & !N REPEAT+ ! SAME ?+ OV] & OV] AGA91 OR IT WAS ALREADY DEAD4 ,I MEAN IF WE >E DEMON/RAT+ = ! REGIME TO LEAVE ?IS CITY TO GO SOME:]E ELSE WE'VE DONE ?IS ALREADY SO WE >5'T PUTT+ ANY?+ AT RISK1 WE >E JU/ REPEAT+ ! SAME ?+4 ,SO 9/EAD ( ?IS WE %\LD HAVE COME UP ) A DIFF]5T WAY ( FI<T+ ! REGIME1 9 ITS CA/LE1 9 ,DAMASCUS1 OR EV5 9 ,ALEPPO IF PEOPLE W\LD JU/ GO TO A BIG CITY :]E WE HAD A LOT ( PROBLEMS ( M$IA COV]AGE1 IT W\LD BE A %OCK TO ! REGIME BECAUSE IT W\LD NEV] IMAG9E ?AT CITIES1 BIG CITIES LIKE ,ALEPPO OR ,DAMASCUS W\LD REVOLT4 ,BUT IF PEOPLE W]E DEMON/RAT+ 9 SMALL VILLAGES1 9 SMALL CITIES ?AT DIDN'T HAVE REGIME PRES5CE ANYMORE1 IF !Y JU/ HAD MOV$ TO ANO!R BIG CITY & !Y W\LD !RE444 ,BECAUSE FIR/ ( ALL IT W\LD %OCK ! REGIME & SECOND ( ALL O!R PEOPLE W\LD SEE4 ,BECAUSE !SE PEOPLE W]E REALLY AFRAID1 NO ONE W\LD GO 9TO ! /REETS & DEMON/RATE1 !Y W]E SITT+ AT HOME & !Y W]E HESITANT TO JO9 OR NOT TO JO91 TO SUPPORT ! REGIME OR NOT4 ,BUT IF !Y SAW PEOPLE 9 ! /REETS1 EV5 IF !Y >E NOT FROM ! SAME CITY AS !IRS1 DEMON/RAT+ !Y W\LD SEE3 0,!SE >E CIVILIANS01 ?AT !Y DON'T HAVE >MS4 ,A LOT ( ! REGIME'S PROPAG&A & LIES W\LD BE UNCOV]$ BECAUSE !Y W\LD SEE ) !IR [N EYES :AT IS GO+ ON4 ,BUT WE DIDN'T1 WE W]E /UCK 9 ?IS1 9 ?IS CYCLE4 

,A4 

,9/EAD ( BLAM+4 ,BECAUSE WE >E /UCK ON BLAM+ ,ALEPPO & ,DAMASCUS4 ,PEOPLE JU/ = EXAMPLE ,HOMSIAN1 ?IS PEOPLE ( ,HOMS BLAME A LOT ,ALEPPO3 :]E >E ! PEOPLE1 :]E IS ! SUPPORT ( ,ALEPPO4 ,& ?AT HAS 5=C$ A C\PLE ( IDEAS AB\T LOCALIZ$ MOVEM5T1 & Y\ >E RESPONSIBLE = Y\R CITY1 IF ,I AM FROM ,ALEPPO ,I AM RESPONSIBLE = :AT WILL HAPP5 9 ,ALEPPO4 ,SO !Y DON'T CONSID] ME AS A FRI5D1 AS A COMRADE ( ?IS REVOLUTION1 !Y WILL BLAME ME = MY FAILURE TO MAKE ?IS CITY MOVE 9 SOLID>ITY ) ! O!R CITIES4 ,9/EAD ( DO+ ?IS1 COME TO ,ALEPPO & LET'S DO SOME?+ H]E4 ,IT IS NOT MY CITY1 JU/ =GET !SE FUCK+ IDEAS LIKE MY CITY1 IT'S /UPID1 FUCK+ CITIES1 ! :OLE C\NTRY IS = US1 SO LET'S4 ,IT IS /ILL !SE K9D ( WALLS LIKE 0,I AM FROM ,ALEPPO & Y\ >E FROM ,IDLIB1 Y\44404 ,& ?AT 5=CES ?IS IDEA & PEOPLE W]E BECOM+ SO PR\D AB\T 0,AH1 ,I AM FROM ,HOMS604 ,ALSO1 AB\T C5TRALIZ+ ! /RUGGLE 9 ,HOMS1 MY C\S9S1 ,I HAVE C\S9S !Y >E NOT FROM ,HOMS BUT !Y />T$ TO SAY3 0,I AM FROM ,HOMS40 ,LAU<S4 ,REALLY1 IT'S LIKE ?AT4 ,WE HAVE A VILLAGE ?AT BELONGS TO ! ,ASSAD FAMILY :I* IS CALL$ ,ALQ]DAHA1 SO ANYONE :O WANTS TO MAKE AN AU?ORITY ON PEOPLE HE WILL SAY ,I AM FROM ,ALQ]DAHA & ! O!R MAN W\LD BE V]Y AFRAID ( HIM4 ,SO IT BECAME LIKE ?IS4 0,I AM FROM ?IS VILLAGE1 9 ?IS VILLAGE Y\ KN[ WE >E44404 

,R4 

,YES1 IT IS A TRIBAL M5TALITY ,I ?9K4 ,NO ONE FELT LIKE WE HAD A COMMON 5EMY & ?IS W\LD ABOLI% ALL ! WALLS WE HAVE1 ALL ! B>RI]S & ! S5SE ( BELONG+ TO C]TA9 GR\PS ?AT HAVE DISCRIM9ATION AGA9/ ANO!R GR\P4 ,WE ALWAYS FELT CON/RA9$ BY !SE AFFILIATIONS4 ,SO ?IS IS1 IF WE >E TALK+ AB\T ! CIVIL /RUGGLE1 ! PEACEFUL /RUGGLE AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION ?IS IS :AT REALLY WAS HOLD+ US BACK FROM GETT+ TO ! NEXT LEVEL1 FROM 9NOVAT+ NEW MEANS TO FI<T ! REGIME1 NEW TOOLS & NOT JU/ TO KEEP US+ ! SAME ONES :5 WE SAW ?AT EV5 IF IT HAD EFFECT IT WAS A LITTLE EFFECT & IT WAS V]Y SL[1 IT WAS SL[] ?AN WE IMAG9$4 ,BECAUSE ! ?+ IS ?AT :5 WE SAW ! ,EGYPTIAN & ! ,TUNISIAN REVOLUTIONS WE ?\<T ?AT IT W\LD BE ?AT EASY3 IF WE C\LD JU/ GET TO A SQU>E & OCCUPY IT & PEOPLE W\LD SEE ?AT WE W]E PEACEFUL ?AT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WEAPONS & ?AT ! REGIME KEEPS KILL+ US & KEEPS BOMB+ US & EV]Y?+1 ! :OLE WORLD W\LD /& ) US & ! REGIME W\LD BE 9 SU* A %AME ?AT IT W\LD LEAVE4 ,BUT IT WASN'T LIKE ?AT4 ,FIR/LY IT WAS V]Y H>D TO DO ?AT & SECOND ( ALL ?IS MAY HAVE WORK$ ON A %ORT T]M BUT AS TIME PROGRESS$ & VIOL5CE ESCALAT$ & WE HAD NEV] *ANG$ \R TOOLS444 ,BECAUSE ,I DON'T ?9K WE KNEW :AT ELSE TO DO4 ,WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY =M] EXP]I5CE 9 ! MATT] TO HELP GET US \T ( ?IS HOLE ?AT WE HAD DUG \RSELVES 9TO4 ,BECAUSE WE HAD ?IS PRECONCEIV$ PICTURE ( :AT EV]Y?+ W\LD BE LIKE & :5 ! ?+S ?AT HAPP5$ DIDN'T MEET \R EXPECTATIONS1 WE DIDN'T *ANGE ANY?+4 ,& ?IS IS :]E ,I ?9K EV]Y?+ />T$ TO COLLAPSE4 

,A4 

,YES1 ALSO :5 ! ,LIBYAN REVOLUTION />T$ & ! ,N,A,T,O DECISION WAS ADOPT$444 ,EUM444 ,! NEW FLAG ROSE 9 ! NAME ( ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION1 & IT WAS NOT A DECISION (444 ,Y\ KN[ !Y />T PEOPLE & ONE ( !M1 WE />T ) ?AT TALK LIKE3 0,?IS FLAG1 OLD FLAG1 IS ! ,>ABIAN FLAG4 ,BECAUSE IT IS ! FLAG ( ! ,>AB UNIT$ NATION BETWE5 ,SYRIA & ,EGYPT1 :I* WAS DECL>$ BY ,JAM> ,ABDEL ,NASS]1 SO IT IS NOT ! ,SYRIAN FLAG1 WE %\LD USE ! ,SYRIAN FLAG & ?IS IS A HI/ORICAL FACT4 ,WE %\LD *ANGE \R FLAG04 ,:AT A SILLY ?+ WE W]E DISCUSS+1 :Y DID WE PUT ANO!R /RUGGLE 9 ?IS SOCIETY4 

,R4 

,BECAUSE WE W]E FAIL+ & !444 

,A4 

,BECAUSE WE W]E ?9K+ TO G5]ATE ! SAME ?+ AS 9 ,LIBYA4 ,BECAUSE ! SAME ?+ HAPP5$ 9 ,LIBYA1 !Y HAD TWO FLAGS1 ! GRE5 ONE & ! OLD ONE4 ,SO WE WANT$ TO SIMULATE ! CONDITIONS & AFT] ONE WEEK WE W]E SEEK+ = ,N,A,T,O & WE CALL$ ?IS ,FRIDAY444 

,R4 

,=EIGN 9T]V5TION4 ,YES1 AFT] :AT HAPP5$ 9 ,LIBYA1 WE />T$ ?9K+ ?AT A =EIGN 9T]V5TION 9 ,SYRIA WAS POSSIBLE1 BE=E WE DIDN'T4 ,& SO WE ?\<T IF WE >E FAIL+ ON A LOCAL LEVEL MAYBE A =EIGN 9T]V5TION C\LD SOLVE \R PROBLEMS4 ,?AT ! REGIME WAS TOO VIOL5T1 TOO /RONG = US BUT MAYBE IF444 Y\ KN[ ! WE/]N C\NTRIES & ,AM]ICA IF !Y C\LD COME ) !IR BIG DRONES & !Y W\LD DROP BOMBS & ! REGIME W\LD LEAVE4 

,A4 

,LAU<S4 ,N[ WE >E SEEK+ =1 ALSO 9 ! DEMON/RATIONS WE >E SEEK+ = A HELP FROM ! ,ISLAMIC WORLD1 FROM ! >AB WORLD1 & WE CREAT$ SU* A ?+ LIKE 0,:]E >E Y\1 ,MUSLIMS804 ,WE MADE AN (FICIAL 9VITATION = ,MUSLIMS TO COME H]E & DECL>E JIHAD4 

,R4 

,YEAH & :5 !Y DID444 

,A4 

,& :5 !Y DID1 !Y SAID3 0,FUCK Y\ ,MUSLIMS4 ,GET \T ( \R C\NTRY40 

,R4 

,YES & EV5 :5 WE'RE BE+ SUBJUGAT$ UND] DIFF]5T NAMES & ) DIFF]5T TYPES4 ,:5 ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY 5T]$ ! CITY ( ,ALEPPO.<#i.> & PEOPLE W]E />T + TO CRITICIZE ITS WRONG DO+S & W]E SAY+ ?AT !Y >E DO+ ?IS1 !Y >E DO+ ?AT & IT'S NOT GOOD & ?AT !Y %\LD *ANGE !IR BEHAVIOR1 WE TRI$ TO COMMUNICATE ) !M & !N PEOPLE >E /AT+3 0,& :AT >E Y\ DO+1 !Y >E PUTT+ !IR LIVES AT RISK TO SAVE Y\ & :AT >E Y\44401 SO PEOPLE />T$ BECOM+ LIKE ! LOV]S ( O!R DICTATORS1 UND] O!R NAMES BUT !Y RETURN$ TO !IR OLD SELVES :5 !Y ACCEPT$ ?AT PEOPLE W\LD TREAT !M 9 A444 ,Y\ KN[ AS SLAVES ?AT DON'T HAVE AN OP9ION1 ?AT DON'T HAVE FRE$OM TO DECIDE4 ,JU/ BECAUSE444 ,I DON'T KN[4 

,A4 

,BECAUSE3 0,!Y DIDN'T TAKE 5\< RISK4 ,!Y DIDN'T RISK !IR LIFE4 ,SO Y\ HAVE NO RI<T IF Y\ >E 9 SAFETY40 

,R4 

,BETWE5 BRACKETS4 

,A4 

,YES1 IT BECAME LIKE ?IS3 IF Y\ HAVE A GUN & Y\ FI<T ! REGIME Y\ HAVE A RI<T TO MAKE DECISIONS1 BUT IF Y\ >E NOT HOLD+ !SE GUNS Y\ %\LD BE SO C>EFUL AB\T Y\R WORDS & :AT Y\ >E SAY+ AB\T ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY4 ,WE %\LD BE K9D ( RESPECTFUL AB\T !SE GUYS1 :AT !Y >E DO+1 !Y RISK !IR LIVES1 SO Y\ %\LD RESPECT !M4 ,:AT ,I WAS TALK+ AB\T WE %\LD BELONG TO EA* O!R & IF !Y MADE SOME?+ WRONG WE %\LD SAY IT TO !M3 0,Y\ >E MAK+ MI/AKES H]E04 ,IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HATE !M OR WE DON'T RESPECT !M1 IT IS NOT A MATT] ( SOME?+ P]SONAL BETWE5 US1 IT IS A MATT] ( ! :OLE C\NTRY & ! :OLE REVOLUTION4 ,I BELONG TO ?IS REVOLUTION & ,I PUT RISK TO BELONG TO ?IS REVOLUTION4 ,I DON'T NE$ TO PROVE MY BELIEFS & TO GO & FI<T ) GUNS1 IT IS NOT Y\R BUS9ESS TO TALK TO ME LIKE ?IS4 

,R4 

,!Y W]E />T+ TO CREATE NEW CLASSES4 ,:ILE AT SOME PO9T WE W]E ON ! SAME LEVEL1 WE W]E ALL COMRADES 9 ! REVOLUTION & WE W]E ALL ! SAME1 !N IT BECAME PEOPLE :O HAD >MS1 & PEOPLE :O DIDN'T4 ,PEOPLE :O DEMON/RAT$1 PEOPLE :O MADE /RIKES1 PEOPLE :O /OOD 9 SOLID>ITY ) ! REVOLUTION BUT NEV] REALLY DID ANY?+4 ,BUT AT SOME PO9T WE />T$ BECOM+ DIVID$3 ! CLASS ( ACTIVI/S :O W]E GO+ TO DO ,I DON'T KN[ :AT & ! CLASS ( HUMANIT>IAN WORK]S & ! CLASS ( ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY1 & EV]YONE HAS ?IS P]SONA G5]ALIZ$1 LIKE ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY %\LDN'T BE CRITICIZ$ BECAUSE !Y W]E DO+ ?IS & ?IS & ! ACTIVI/S >E DO+ ?AT4 ,& EA* GR\P />T$ DEVELOP+ !SE BIASES1 ! 9-GR\P BIAS FAVOR+ ITS [N GR\P & AGA9/ O!R GR\PS4 ,!SE RUMORS />T$ BE+ CREAT$ & EV]Y GR\P />T$ HAT+ ! O!RS4 ,I DON'T KN[4 

,A4 

,WE >E TALK+ AB\T ! COLLAPSE ( ! REVOLUTION N[4 

,R4 

,YES1 ?IS IS IT4 ,:5 WE HAD A COMMON /RUGGLE1 A BIG COMMON /RUGGLE ?AT UNIT$ US & WE W]E FI<T+ = IT1 :5 WE FELT ?AT WE W]E LOOS+ WE />T$ HAV+ !SE PITIFUL SMALL ?+S ?AT WE WANT$ TO W94 ,LIKE ,I AM AN ACTIVI/ & ,I WANT TO W9 ?IS SORT ( ?+1 ,I WANT TO PROVE ?AT MY GR\P IS BETT] ?AN ! O!R GR\P BECAUSE WE W]5'T REALLY SUCCE$+ ON A BIGG] LEVEL4 ,SO WE />T$ JU/ 9V5T+ ?IS CONFLICTS BETWE5 EA* O!R 9 ORD] TO FEEL ?AT WE >E DO+ SOME?+1 LIKE ! FLAG = EXAMPLE4 ,IT W\LD NEV] HAVE BE5 A CONFLICT IF WE W]5'T REALLY FEEL+ LIKE WE >E LOOS+4 

,A4 

,LAU<S4 ,BUT IT IS FUCK+ REVOLUTION1 :AT ! FUCK >E Y\ TALK+ AB\T4 

,X4 

,W]E !RE DIFF]5T PROPOSITIONS = FLAGS8 ,I DON'T REALLY UND]/& :AT WAS ! CONFLICT AB\T ?IS FLAG1 NOT EV]YBODY AGRE$ TO *ANGE ! FLAG8 

,A4 

,YES1 NOT ALL PEOPLE AGRE$ AB\T *ANG+ ! FLAG4 ,BUT ! IDEA BEH9D IT1 ,I DON'T LIKE4 ,I WAS ONE ( ! SUPPORT]S TO *ANGE ?IS FLAG4 ,BECAUSE1 :5 ,I ?9K AB\T IT1 YES FUCK ?IS FLAG1 ?IS FLAG IS FUCK+ RACI/ ,>ABIAN FLAG & ! OLD FLAG WAS Y\ KN[ GOOD = EV]YBODY1 ,KURDI% = EXAMPLE !Y DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM ) ! GRE5 FLAG1 ! R$ ONE IS A NATIONALI/ FLAG4 ,SO LOGICALLY IT IS RI<T Y\ KN[4 ,:5 Y\ TAKE IT HI/ORICALLY1 TO *ANGE ! FLAG1 ! OLD FLAG IS MORE REPRES5TATIVE = ALL GR\PS 9 ,SYRIA4 ,BUT ! O!R FLAG REPRES5TS ! IDEOLOGY ( ,BA'A? & ,>ABI/ P>TY SO444 ,BUT IT WASN'T LIKE ?IS4 

,PEOPLE :O SUPPORT$ ! O!R FLAG1 ! MAJORITY ( !SE PEOPLE ?AT SUPPORT$ *ANGE1 !Y SUPPORT$ IT BECAUSE ( :AT HAPP5$ 9 ,LIBYA1 9 ! ,LIBYAN REVOLUTION4 ,?IS CAUS$ A NEW CONFLICT BETWE5 !M1 BETWE5 ! SAME GR\PS4 ,AT A SPECIFIC P]IOD ( TIME Y\'LL HAVE 5\< PROBLEMS TO DEAL )1 & N[ Y\ BR+ ANO!R PROBLEM ?AT DIVIDES ! PEOPLE1 ! GR\PS :O SUPPORT ! FLAG &444 ,SO ?IS IS MY PO9T AB\T ! FLAG4 

,R4 

,BECAUSE AT ! 5D FLAGS >E V]Y NATIONAL SYMBOLS TO EV]YONE1 TO EV]Y ,SYRIAN P]SON4 ,I ?9K ,I NEV] REALLY C>$ BECAUSE ,I DON'T GIVE A %IT AB\T FLAGS1 ,I MEAN ,I ?9K IT'S JU/ A COLOR$ PIECE ( CLO?1 BUT TO A LOT ( PEOPLE IT IS A SYMBOL4 ,SO EV5 TO ! SUPPORT]S ( ! REGIME OR PEOPLE :O W]E 9 BETWE5 FELT LIKE !SE PEOPLE1 ! DEMON/RATORS OR :ATEV]1 !Y >E TRY+ TO SEP>ATE !MSELVES FROM US & IT IS TRUE :AT HE REGIME IS SAY+ ?AT !Y DON'T C>E AB\T ,SYRIA1 !Y WANT TO DE/ROY ?IS C\NTRY BECAUSE !Y >E MESS+ ) ! MO/ NATIONALI/ SYMBOL ( ALL ,SYRIA1 ! FLAG4 ,PEOPLE EV5 />T$ TALK+ AB\T ES!TICS1 AB\T H[ ?IS FLAG IS BETT] LOOK+ ?AN ! O!R FLAG1 SO :Y *ANGE IT8 ,& !RE W]E A LOT ( /UPID >GUM5TS BE+ MADE & ?IS ALL[$ ! REGIME TO SPREAD ITS PROPAG&A AB\T H[1 BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY READ HI/ORY1 AB\T H[ ! REVOLUTION FLAG WAS ! FLAG ( ! ,FR5* COLONIZATION ( ,SYRIA4 ,& PEOPLE ACTUALLY BELIEV$ ?IS & SO MORE & MORE RUMORS W]E SPREAD+ AB\T H[ !SE PEOPLE >E TRY+ TO DE/ROY ! C\NTRY4 ,?IS HELPS ! REGIME BECAUSE IT DIVID$ PEOPLE EV5 MORE ?AN !Y ALREADY W]E4 ,IT CREAT$ TWO C\NTRIES ,I ?9K OR PEOPLE FI<T+ AMONG EA* O!R4 0,:Y DID Y\ HAVE TO DO ?IS80 & ,I DON'T KN[ H[ TO EXPLA9 IT BECAUSE :5 WE W]E 9SIDE ! /RUGGLE WE BECAME V]Y DEF5SIVE LIKE3 0,Y\ KN[ :AT Y\ >E SAY+ AB\T ?IS FLAG IS WRONG1 IT HAS NO?+ TO DO ) ,FRANCE1 IT WAS ACTUALLY FROM AFT] ,FRANCE LEFT & ?IS & ?AT04 ,& WE %\LDN'T HAVE1 ,I MEAN IT IS A /UPID CONFLICT ?AT444 

,A4 

,YES1 ?OSE >E FAKE >GUM5TS1 IT'S A FAKE /RUGGLE4 

,R4 

,SO Y\ SEE H[ SOME?+ REALLY SMALL CAN 5D UP444 

,A4 

,& PEOPLE />T$ HAT+ ! OLD FLAG1 !Y EV5 TOOK IT FROM444 

,R4 

,!Y />T$ BURN+ IT4 

,A4 

,YES4 ,& N[ Y\ DON'T REMEMB] AB\T H[ WE BR+ ?IS FLAG 9SIDE ,HAMA SQU>E4 ,BECAUSE DUR+ ! REVOLUTION PEOPLE TOOK ! R$ FLAG & !RE WAS NO PROBLEM ) IT & !Y TREAT$ IT AS HOLY FLAG4 ,LAU<S4 ,BUT ?IS *ANG$4 

,R4 

,:AT'S NEXT8 

,A4 

,COMPROMISES4 ,AS :I* GR\P4 

,R4 

,:O >E WE8 

,A4 

,O,K1 LIKE AT ! BEG9N+ ( ! REVOLUTION !RE W]E LIMIT$ ! RELIGI\S SLOGANS4 ,WE JU/ ACCEPT 0,ALLAHU AKB>01 WE'RE COOL4 

,R4 

,IT WASN'T AT ! BEG9N+4 

,A4 

0,ALLAHU AKB>0 WAS AT HE BEG9N+4 ,ALSO IT WAS ! KEY 9 = EXAMPLE ,ALEPPO1 :5 WE WANT$ TO />T A DEMON/RATION1 !RE WAS A SPECIAL MAN :O SAID 0,ALLAHU AKB>60 & HE W\LD RUN4 ,LAU<S4 ,?IS WAS HIS MISSION1 Y\ JU/ %\T 0,ALLAHU AKB>60 AS L\D AS Y\ CAN & Y\ RUN4 ,SO IT IS ,O,K1 BUT IT WAS NOT ! MA9 SLOGAN1 SO PEOPLE JU/ SAID IT AT ! />T ( ! DEMON/RATION TO SAY3 0WE >E H]E04 ,& IT WAS OKAY UNTIL !N BUT :AT WAS HAPP5+ AFT] IS ?AT PEOPLE />T$ TO *ANGE ALL ! SLOGANS :I* HAVE TO DO ) FRE$OM1 DIGNITY & ECONOMI/ ISSUES & ! DEM&S ( :AT WE WANT W]E REPLAC$ BY RELIGI\S SLOGANS4 ,LIKE3 0,\R LEAD] =EV] IS ,MOHAMM$ & HE IS ! LEAD] ( \R REVOLUTION04 ,O,K GREAT1 N[ WE LOOSE LAU<S *RI/IAN & A LOT ( A!I/S = ?IS REVOLUTION4 ,& A LOT ( FRI5DS />T$ TO TALK ) ME3 0,N[ Y\ BECAME A ,SUNNI1 WE ?\<T Y\ >E A!I/ :AT HAPP5$ TO Y\R VALUES1 Y\ >E SUPPORT+ !SE PEOPLE SAY+ ?IS K9D ( %IT804 ,I WAS TRY+ TO EXPLA93 0,NO1 !Y >E NOT MEAN1 !Y >E EMOTIONAL1 !Y >E UND] ! PRESSURE ( VIOL5CE0 & IT WAS TRUE4 ,PEOPLE />T$ TO TALK AB\T ?IS RELIGI\S ?+S AFT] VIOL5CE ESCALAT$1 AFT] ! REGIME />T$ TO *ALL5GE ! HOLY GOD ( ,ISLAM4 ,SO ! >MY WROTE ON ! WALLS 0,\R GOD IS ,BA%> ,AL ,ASSAD & Y\ %\LD PRAY TO ,BA%> ,AL ,ASSAD04 ,WE GOT SO MANY VIDEOS DUR+ ! REVOLUTION ( SOMEONE BE+ TORTUR$ & !Y SAY TO HIM3 0,PRAY TO Y\R GOD604 ,& !Y PUT A PICTURE FROM ,BA%> ,AL ,ASSAD1 & ?IS DRIVES PEOPLE TO BE MORE RELIGI\S & MORE & MORE & MORE444 

,X4 

,IT IS A /RATEGY8 

,A4 

,YES1 (F C\RSE IT WAS A /RATEGY4 ,!Y US$ ?IS ALREADY BE=E1 9 ! #hS1 9 ,HAMA1 !Y US$ ! SAME WAY & ?IS IS ! SAME ME?ODOLOGY ( ! REGIME1 & WE KNEW ?IS1 BUT :AT CAN WE DO ) ?IS SITUATION8 ,H[ CAN WE REACT8 ,WE FELT IF WE JU/ KEEP /&+ BESIDE ! PEOPLE & GO ) !M & SAY ! SAME %IT !Y SAY & AFT] ?AT WE WILL MAKE DISCUSSIONS ) !M3 0,O,K1 LET'S BE MORE LOGICAL PEOPLE1 LET'S CALM D[N & ?9K AB\T :AT ! REGIME IS TRY+ TO DO ) US04 ,BUT ACTUALLY ! TASK WAS MU* H>D] ?AN :AT WE CAN DO AB\T IT4 ,?IS VIDEOS444 WE />T$ TO444 IF WE CAN /OP !SE VIDEOS TO BE 9 H&S ( PEOPLE4 

,X4 

,!SE VIDEOS ( PEOPLE BE+ TORTUR$8 

,A4 

,YES1 BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE ,AL ,JA- ZE]A & ,AL ,>ABIA :]E %[+ !M ON A L>GE M$IA SCALE4 

,R4 

,!Y W]E ALSO P>T ( ?IS BECAUSE !IR POLICY1 !IR /RATEGY WAS ACTUALLY TO ACC5TUATE H[ O!R SECTS & O!R RELIGIONS W]5'T TAK+ 5\< P>TICIPATION 9 ! REVOLUTION4 ,H[ IT WAS A K9D ( ,SUNNI REVOLUTION & H[ ! REGIME IS A SECT>IAN ,ALAWITE REGIME & IT'S NOT ?AT HE'S 9DISCRIM9ATELY TRY+ TO KILL ANYONE ?AT /ABS 9 HIS BACK1 NO IT WAS SY/EMATIC TO T>GET SPECIFIC GR\PS4 ,& !Y W]E FUND+ MORE RELIGI\S GR\PS1 ) >MS1 ) MONEY4 ,& !Y W]E TRY+ TO PLAY ON ?IS C>D BECAUSE IT IS REALLY ,SUNNI1 ,QAT> & ,SAUDI ,>ABIA1 WELL !Y >E ! ,SUNNI BRAN* ( ! P[] 9 ?IS SCALE SO !Y W]E HELP+ ! REGIME 9 ?IS GAME REALLY4 

,A4 

,& ALSO ! REGIME />T$ TO BOMB ! MOSQUES & HUMILIATE H[ ,MUSLIMS PRAY4 ,= EXAMPLE !RE >E A LOT ( VIDEOS444 ,SO IT BECAME1 ! /RUGGLE BECAME ,SUNNI AGA9/ ! :OLE C\NTRY & ?IS IS ! MAJORITY ( ! C\NTRY SO !Y C\LD HAVE CONTROLL$ ! :OLE C\NTRY4 

,R4 

,BUT ,I REALLY DON'T KN[ :I* P>T ( IT WAS \R FAULT & :I* P>T ( IT WAS444 

,A4 

,BUT IT'S NOT444 

,R4 

,?IS :AT HAPP5$1 ,I MEAN CAN WE BLAME \RSELVES = :AT HAPP5$ OR CAN WE JU/ SAY ?AT ! REGIME WAS SM>T] ?AN US MAYBE1 OR HE HAD MORE RES\RCES4 

,A4 

,NO1 WE C\LD SAY444 ,IT WAS NOT JU/ :AT HAPP5$ DUR+ ! REVOLUTION ?AT MADE ! :OLE ?+ LIKE ?IS4 ,WE'VE GOT A HI/ORY ( ?IS4 ,WE'VE GOT A HI/ORY ) ?IS ?AT />T$ F\R OR FIVE C5TURIES AGO4 ,WE HAVE ?IS SITUATION BETWE5 ! SECTS & EV5 IF WE >E NOT TALK+ 9 A HI/ORICAL CONTEXT1 WE C\LD JU/ TAKE IT FROM :AT HAPP5$ 9 ,ALEPPO & ,HAMA 9 ! #hS4 ,& ! EXAMPLE ( ! P[] ! ,ALAWITE ACC5T HAD 9 ,SYRIA1 BECAUSE :5 Y\ TALK ) AN ,ALAWITE ACC5T 9 ,SYRIA1 Y\ HAVE ! P[] ( ! ACC5T Y\ KN[4 ,Y\ C\LD T]RIFY A P]SON4 ,SO ! CONDITIONS >E READY = IT TO BE A CIVIL W>1 & ! REGIME ) ALL ITS P[]1 ) ! HELP ( O!R C\NTRIES LIKE ,SAUDI & ,TURKEY & ,QAT> ) !IR M$IA4 ,WE RESI/$ = F\R MON?S & ,I ?9K WE DID GREAT4 ,F\R MON?S IT WAS A GREAT ?+ TO DO4 ,BECAUSE IT IS WEIRD TO IMAG9E A SUCCESSFUL REVOLUTION ) !SE CONDITIONS4 ,WE'VE GOT LIKE #e.0 TO SUCCE$ & WE TAKE ! RE/ TO444 

,R4 

,IT WASN'T CONSCI\S BUT YES ,O,K4 ,BUT YEAH1 WE TALK$ AB\T ?IS BE=E ?AT ALL ?IS HATE BETWE5 ! COMPON5TS ( ! ,SYRIAN SOCIETY WAS REPRESS$ & :5 IT F9ALLY CAME UP IT TURN$ 9TO A CIVIL W> BECAUSE IT IS ! ONLY WAY TO444 ,SO PEOPLE ?9K ?AT3 0,:Y DON'T WE JU/ GO BACK801 PEOPLE >E REALLY JU/ TIR$ & WANT TO GO BACK TO A PLACE 9 ! TIME BE=E #b#a#a1 TO A TIME :5 EV]Y?+ WAS PEACEFUL & ALL444 ,BUT ! ?+ IS IT WASN'T PEACEFUL1 IT WAS JU/ ON HOLD1 IT WAS JU/ PUT ON HOLD & EV5TUALLY IT W\LD HAVE EXPLOD$ IF NOT 9 #baa !N 9 #bae BUT IT WAS GO+ TO EXPLODE BECAUSE IT IS NOT NORMAL = PEOPLE TO HOLD SO MU* HATE & TO BE 9 SU* BAD CONDITIONS & NOT TO ACT ON IT1 NOT TO MANIFE/ !IR HATE & !SE NEGATIVE FEEL+S !Y HAVE T[>DS EA* O!R4 ,SO MAYBE AT ! BEG9N+ PEOPLE W]E IDEALIZ+ ! SITUATION1 IDEALIZ+ ! REVOLUTION ?AT WE >E /&+ TOGE!R N[ & ?IS REGIME IS AFFECT+ ALL ( US NEGATIVELY ! SAME WAY1 WE >E ALL POOR1 WE >E ALL REPRESS$ & P]SECUT$ & WE CAN'T EXPRESS \RSELVES1 WE CAN'T DO ANY?+1 SO WE %\LD /& TOGE!R 9 ORD] TO CONQU] IT4 ,BUT !N1 MANY FACTORS PLAY$ A ROLE BUT EV5TUALLY PEOPLE /OPP$ LOOK+ AT ! REGIME1 !Y />T$ LOOK+ AT EA* O!R & REALIZ$3 WE HAVE UNF9I%$ BUS9ESS ) EA* O!R & N[ WE HAVE ! OPPORTUNITY TO ACT ON ?IS4 ,YES ACTUALLY LIKE ,A SAID ,I ?9K EV]Y?+ WAS GO+ TO BE LIKE ?IS SOON] OR LAT] BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A *ANCE ) SO MU*444 

,A4 

,EV5 ,M 7AN>*I/ COMRADE7 HE SAID TO ME ONE TIME3 0,I CAN'T BELIEVE Y\1 LI/5 TO HIS ACC5T6 ,IT IS1 Y\ KN[1 ! REVOLUTION WE >E TALK+ AB\T6 ,I LOVE Y\60 ,LAU<S4 ,M WAS SO SURPRIS$ BY LI/5+ TO AN ,ALAWITE ACC5T TALK+ AGA9/ ! REGIME4 ,NOT BECAUSE HE IS RACI/ OR SOME?+ BUT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY WEIRD Y\ KN[4 ,IT IS A FACT1 ! MAJORITY ( ,ALAWITES !Y SUPPORT ! REGIME4 ,= A REASON1 ( C\RSE4 

,R4 

,YES1 BUT ! ?+ IS ?AT Y\ CAN'T EXPLA9 ?AT :5 !Y >E BE+ T>GET$1 :5 !Y >E BE+ KILL$4 ,>E Y\ GO+ TO SIT D[N ) !M & EXPLA9 ! SOCIAL-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ! ,ALAWITE COMMUNITY IS BE+ PUT ?R\<1 ?AT CREATE ! CONDITIONS = !M TO ACT 9 ?IS SPECIFIC WAY1 ?AT IT HAS BE5 A /RATEGY = ! LA/ #e YE>S1 S9CE ,HAFEZ ,AL ,ASSAD1 PURPOSELY PUTT+ ?IS COMMUNITY 9 ! CORN]1 9 ORD] = !M TO ACT EXACTLY ?IS8 ,BECAUSE SOME ( !M YES !Y B5EFIT FROM ! REGIME1 BUT ! MAJORITY !Y DON'T4 ,!Y >E JU/ CONV9C$ ?AT ! REGIME IS PROTECT+ !M BECAUSE BE=E ! ,BA'A? P>TY TOOK OV] !Y W]E A REALLY P]SECUT$ M9ORITY :5 ! ,SUNNI1 ! MAJORITY1 W]E 9 P[] LET'S SAY1 !Y W]E MOCK$1 !Y W]E PUT D[N & !Y W]E M>G9ALIZ$4 ,SO :5 ! ,ALAWITE PRESID5T TOOK OV] !Y FELT LIKE N[ EV]Y?+ WILL *ANGE1 N[ WE WILL /OP BE+ 9 ?IS POSITION4 ,& YES1 ! ACC5T1 A LOT ( ?+S *ANG$ = !M1 9 ! 5D IT WASN'T REALLY444 ,! MAJORITY ( !SE PEOPLE REMA9$ LIV+ 9 DI/ANT VILLAGES :]E !Y HAVE NO ELECTRICITY1 :]E !Y >E REALLY POOR1 BUT /ILL !Y DEF5D$ ! REGIME4 ,?IS IS :AT HE DID1 CREAT$ A HUMAN %IELD1 BY REALLY CONV9C+1 REALLY CONV9C+ A L>GE NUMB] ( PEOPLE ?AT EV]YONE >\ND !M WANTS TO KILL !M1 WANTS TO EAT !M1 ?AT UNLESS HE /AYS 9 P[] !Y WILL BE OBLIT]AT$4 ,Y\ CAN'T EXPLA9 ?IS TO PEOPLE1 !Y WON'T LI/5 TO Y\4 ,:AT O!RS SEE IS AN ,ALAWITE DEF5D+ ! SAME REGIME ?AT IS TRY+ TO KILL HIM1 SO !Y SEE ! SUPPORT]S ( ! REGIME AS JU/ AS GUILTY AS ! REGIME ITSELF & SO SECT>IANISM />T$ TO GR[ /RONG] & /RONG] & WE C\LDN'T DO ANY?+ TO /OP IT1 WE C\LDN'T BE LOGICAL ) PEOPLE BECAUSE EV]Y?+ WAS SO EMOTIONAL1 JU/ CAN'T JU/ SIT D[N & EXPLA9 IT TO ANYONE4 

,X4 

,! O!R DAY Y\ SAID ?AT 9 ! BEG9N+ Y\ W\LD HAVE HAD MORE *ANCE TO BR+ =W>D \R IDEAS4 ,DO Y\ ?9K ?IS W\LD HAVE MADE A DIFF]5CE8 ,9 :AT S5SE DO Y\ REGRET ?AT Y\ DIDN'T DO ?IS OR IS IT JU/ A CONSID]ATION8 

,R4 

,YES1 ,I REGRET WE NEV] TOOK ?IS AS AN OPPORTUNITY1 AN UNPREC$5T$ ONE & MAYBE IT W\LD NEV] HAPP5 AGA9 = T5S ( YE>S1 AN OPPORTUNITY = *ANGE ON ALL LEVELS1 NOT JU/ ON A POLITICAL LEVEL4 ,WE RE/RICT$ \R DEM&S ) A LI/1 EV5 IF IT WAS UNCONSCI\SLY3 0,WE WANT ?IS & ?IS & ?IS444 ,& MAYBE IF ! REGIME LEAVES WE'LL HAVE ! *ANCE TO *ANGE A LOT ( ?+S04 ,BUT WE W]E SO RE/RICT$ BY ! DEM&S WE HAD 9 \R M9DS1 TO ! PO9T ?AT WE DIDN'T REALLY ?9K ?AT PEOPLE N[ = ! FIR/ TIME !Y >E WILL+ TO *ANGE1 !Y >E NOT AFRAID TO *ANGE1 BECAUSE *ANGE IS REALLY SC>Y SOMETIMES1 BUT ?AT ?IS WAS EXACTLY ! TIME TO EXPRESS \R IDEAS & DISCUSS !M ) PEOPLE & TO SEE1 TO UND]/& \R SOCIETY BECAUSE WE HAD BE5 SO ISOLAT$4 ,I FEEL WE HAD A REALLY PRECONCEIV$ & V]Y DI/ORT$ IMAGE ( :AT ! ,SYRIAN SOCIETY WAS 9 ITS CORE4 ,BUT WE LACK$ ! EXP]I5CE1 WE LACK$444 ,I DON'T KN[4 ,MAYBE IT'S JU/1 IT'S H9DSI<T1 Y\ KN[ :5 Y\ >E CONFRONT$ ) A SITUATION BUT !N ?+S PASS & Y\ ?9K AB\T IT & Y\ ?9K3 0,:Y DID ,I DO ?IS80 & IT IS SO CLE>1 BUT AT ! TIME IT WASN'T4 ,!RE W]E A LOT ( ?+S GO+ ON & WE C\LDN'T REALLY HAVE A CLE> IMAGE ( :AT WE WANT$ & :AT WE %\LD DO4 ,BUT /ILL ,I ?9K IF WE HAD DONE ?IS1 IT W\LD HAVE *ANG$ A LOT ( ?+S1 IT W\LD HAVE AT LEA/ GAVE US MORE TIME1 MORE UNITY TO SORT !SE ?+S \T1 TO ?9K !M \T BETWE5 EA* O!R1 NOT JU/ BETWE5 CLOS$ GR\PS 9 DIFF]5T CITIES4 ,WE C\LD HAVE ALL SIT TOGE!R & TALK$ AB\T IT1 NOT JU/ EA* GR\P DEVELOP+ ITS [N IDEAS :I* W]E REALLY ISOLAT$ FROM ! RE/ ( ! SC5E :I* WAS !N GO+ 9 A DIFF]5T DIRECTION4 

,A4 

,LET'S TAKE A BREAK6 

,?IRD ,P>T 

,R4 

,I AM GO+ TO TALK AB\T ! HUMANIT>IAN ISSUE N[4 ,I WAS JU/ ?9K+ ,I %\LD GIVE SOME CONTEXT AB\T :Y ?IS ?+ HAPP5$1 BECAUSE 9 ,JULY #bab ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY 5T]$ ,ALEPPO FROM ! C\NTRYSIDE4 ,9 ALMO/ ?REE DAYS !Y OCCUPI$ A NUMB] ( NEI<BORHOODS 9 ! CITY1 NEI<BORHOODS :I* >E MO/LY CLOSE TO ! C\NTRYSIDE BUT IT WAS BIG NEI<BORHOODS ) A L>GE NUMB] ( PEOPLE4 ,SO ( C\RSE ! REGIME'S RESPONSE WAS TO BOMB ! NEI<BORHOODS IMM$IATELY & ?\S&S ( PEOPLE W]E DISPLAC$ & CAME TO ! O!R HALF ( ! WE/]N SIDE ( ,ALEPPO4 ,?IS IS :Y WE TALK AB\T ! EA/]N SIDE & ! WE/]N SIDE BECAUSE ! WE/]N SIDE REMA9$ MO/LY UNOCCUPI$ BY ! ,FREE ,>MY =CES1 IT WAS OCCUPI$ BY ! REGIME & ! O!R SIDE UND] !IR CONTROL SO !RE >E ALWAYS CONFLICTS BETWE5 ! TWO4 ,SO IT WAS SUMM] & !Y 7! DISPLAC$ PEOPLE7 CAME TO ! GOV]NM5T BUILD+S LIKE S*OOLS & O!R GOV]NM5T FACILITIES ?AT W]E EMPTY AT ! TIME4 ,& IMM$IATELY1 ,I DON'T KN[ H[ !SE ?+S GOT ORGANIZ$ SO QUICKLY BUT IT WAS CRAZY BECAUSE 9 A MATT] ( TWO DAYS HUNDR$S ( PEOPLE CAME TO CLEAN ! S*OOLS & PREP>E !M )444 ,WE TOOK \T ! DESKS & EV]Y?+1 TO MAKE 5\< SPACE4 ,& EV]YONE />T$ WORK+ AT ! S*OOLS1 WE W]E DIVID$ 9TO S*OOL SY/EMS1 EV]Y S*OOL HAD /AFF ?AT WAS WORK+ !RE MO/LY4 ,& WE DID CLASSES1 Y\ KN[ S*OOL CLASSES1 & WE W]E FE$+ ALL !SE PEOPLE ) CONTRIBUTIONS ?AT W]E COM+ FROM O!R PEOPLE LIV+ 9 ,ALEPPO4 ,( C\RSE WE W]E ALSO WORK+ BE=E ?AT HAPP5$ BECAUSE !RE W]E REFUGEES COM+ FROM ,HOMS & O!R PLACES F> AWAY FROM ,ALEPPO1 BUT NEV] AT SU* A L>GE SCALE BECAUSE !RE W]E N[ ?\S&S ( PEOPLE LEAV+ !IR NEI<BORHOODS & COM+ TO S*OOLS4 ,SO AS TIME PROGRESS$1 !RE W]E MORE & MORE1 :AT W\LD ,I CALL !M1 PEOPLE :O US$ TO BE ACTIVE 9 ! REVOLUTION1 :O444 ,:5 ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY 5T]$ ! CITY1 ALL ! ACTIVITIES /OPP$1 FROM MAGAZ9ES1 EV]Y1 Y\ KN[ REVOLUTION>Y \TLET NO MATT] :AT IT IS1 IT /OPP$1 & ALL ! PEOPLE ACTIVE AT ?AT TIME BECAME HUMANIT>IAN WORK]S4 ,!Y />T$ WORK+ 9 S*OOLS1 N'IMPORTE QUOI4 

,X4 

,:Y DID ALL ! ACTIVITIES /OP8 

,R4 

,WELL1 ,I ?9K444 ,FIR/ ( ALL BECAUSE ! NEI<BORHOODS ?AT ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY OCCUPI$ W]E ! SAME NEI<BORHOODS ?AT WE W\LD USUALLY DEMON/RATE 91 & !Y W]E BE+ BOMB$ & ! PEOPLE W]E LEAV+4 ,SO ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY K9D ( BLOCK$ ! ONLY NEI<BORHOODS ?AT WE C\LD BE ACTIVE 94 ,& AT ! SAME TIME !RE W]E A LOT ( *ANGES GO+ ON1 EV5 MO/ ( ! PEOPLE WE W]E WORK+ ) ON ! MAGAZ9E1 A LOT ( !M US$ TO LIVE 9 !SE NEI<BORHOODS1 SO !Y MOV$ & ! GR\PS GOT A LITTLE BROK54 ,& ! FACT ?AT !Y HAD NO O!R ?+ TO DO MADE !M K9D ( MOVE 9TO ! HUMANIT>IAN AID4 ,:AT CAN ,I SAY8 ,!RE W]5'T ANY DISCUSSIONS BE+ HELD AT ?AT TIME1 EV]YONE WAS TRY+ TO FOCUS ON SP>+ !SE PEOPLE1 ! SUFF]+ ?AT !Y HAVE OR !Y 5DUR$ & H[ WE CAN HELP !M NOT TO FEEL LIKE !Y >E DISPLAC$4 ,!RE W]E A LOT ( SMALL !AT] ACTS & WE %[$ !M MOVIES SOMETIMES4 ,BUT EV]Y?+ HEAD$ 9 ?AT DIRECTION1 WE /OPP$ EV]Y?+ WE W]E DO+1 EV]Y?+ WAS ON HOLD4 

,A4 

,BUT !AT] ACTS1 LIKE :AT8 

,R4 

,LIKE !RE W]E ?REE PEOPLE :O US$ TO WORK ) PUPPETS & ?+S4 

,A4 

,AH1 Y\ MEAN = *ILDR58 

,R4 

,YES4 

,A4 

,& MOVIES1 LIKE8 

,R4 

,ACTUALLY ,M WAS SOMEONE :O OCCUPI$ ?AT POSITION1 SO IT W]E MO/LY C>TOONS4 ,MO/LY = *ILDR51 NO ONE REALLY ?\<T AB\T444 ,YES1 & !RE W]E DOCTORS !RE ALSO4 ,BUT444 ,I LEFT %ORTLY AFT]W>DS1 SO444 ,I DON'T KN[ :AT HAPP5$ EXACTLY LAT] BUT444 

,A4 

,I JU/ WANT$ TO ADD SOME?+ H]E AB\T :5 ! ,FREE ,>MY 5T]$ ! CITY4 ,!Y DIDN'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AB\T ! PEOPLE'S SAFETY4 ,OR !Y DIDN'T AL]T PEOPLE TO LEAVE ?IS >EA BECAUSE !Y W\LD OCCUPY IT1 AT LEA/4 ,!Y JU/ 5T]$ ! CITY & !Y *ANG$ ! :OLE SITUATION SO N[ WE %\LD1 AS A CIVILIAN MOVEM5T1 WE %\LD N[ DEAL ) ! HUMANIT>IAN ISSUES1 REG>DLESS :AT WE W]E WORK+ ON BE=E1 LIKE MAGAZ9ES OR DEMON/RATIONS OR :ATEV] ?+ WE W]E DO+1 SO ! :OLE CITY WAS HANG$4 

,R4 

,!Y W]E OCCUPY+ CIVILIAN NEI<BORHOODS & !Y KNEW :AT ! CONSEQU5CES W]E GO+ TO BE1 ! REGIME DOESN'T REALLY C>E AB\T444 ANY?+ REALLY444 

,A4 

,EV]YBODY WAS HAPPY1 WE >E TALK+ AB\T ACTIVI/S1 DEMON/RATORS4 ,BECAUSE ! FIR/ DAY1 ,Z TOLD ME AB\T IT1 ALL ! SECURITY W]E 9 !IR BASES1 HID+ 9 !IR BASES4 

,X4 

,:AT SECURITY8 

,A4 

,9TELLIG5CE =CES1 POLICE4 ,SO IT WAS LIKE1 Y\ KN[1 !RE IS NO POLICE 9 ! /REET4 ,I DON'T KN[ :Y ,I M5TION$ ?IS BUT ,I ?9K ?IS SITUATION JU/ MAKES ?AT PEOPLE DON'T BLAME ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY1 ,I AM TALK+ AB\T DEMON/RATORS1 !Y DON'T BLAME !M4 

,R4 

,!Y W]E ! SAVIORS AT ?AT TIME4 ,I DON'T KN[ IF ?IS IS WOR? M5TION+ BUT :5 WE W]E WORK+ AT ! S*OOLS ,I SAW A LOT ( MY OLD FRI5DS :O US$ TO SUPPORT ! REGIME ACTUALLY1 BUT !Y CAME TO !SE S*OOLS TO WORK4 ,!Y TOOK ?IS AS A HUMANIT>IAN NON-BIAS$ T]RITORY :]E !Y CAN COME & WORK TOGE!R4 

,A4 

,& ! *UR* WAS 9VOLV$ 9 ?IS4 

,R4 

,YES (F C\RSE4 ,!RE WAS A MONA/]Y1 !Y W]E ! ORGANIZ$ ONES ?AT W]E WORK+ ON ?IS BE=E ?IS HAPP5$ 9 ,ALEPPO1 ) DISPLAC$ PEOPLE FROM O!R CITIES4 

,A4 

,BUT ALL ! FOOD WAS S5T BY ?IS ORGANIZATION8 

,R4 

,NO1 !SE W]E CONTRIBUTIONS MO/LY4 ,A LOT ( PEOPLE W\LD BUY BREAD & SOMETIMES S5D MONEY4 ,ESPECIALLY ?AT IT WAS ,RAMADAN AT ?AT TIME :5 ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY 5T]$ ! CITY4 ,BUT IT WAS CRAZY1 ! PEOPLE ?AT W]E DISPLAC$1 SOMETIMES !Y ?\<T ?AT Y\ WORK$ = !M4 

,I REMEMB]1 BECAUSE 9 ,RAMADAN MO/ ( ! %OPS >E CLOS$ UNTIL V]Y LATE AT NI<T4 ,& ONE P]SON CAME & HE SAID ?AT HE WANT$ %AMPOO1 NO HE SAID ?AT HE WANT$ HAIR GEL ACTUALLY4 ,& ,I TRI$ NOT TO SCREAM AT HIM BUT ,I REALLY C\LDN'T3 0,:Y >E Y\ ASK+ ME = HAIR GEL OR :AT %\LD ,I DO N[8 ,DEM& & SUPPLY1 Y\ SUPPLY H]E4 ,:AT DO Y\ :AT ME TO DO804 ,LAU<S4 ,BUT ,I ?9K IT SUCK$ ! LIFE \T ( PEOPLE :O W]E ACTIVE BE=E 9 ! REVOLUTION4 ,WE W]E />T+ TO SEE ?IS1 BECAUSE WE W]E />T+ TO SEE ATROCITIES BE+ COMMITT$ BY ! O!RS1 BY ! O!R >MY4 ,& ,I DON'T KN[1 WE /OPP$ SEE+ ! REVOLUTION FROM H[ WE US$ TO SEE IT1 IT WAS BECOM+ MORE ( A HUMANIT>IAN K9D ( ?+4 ,IT WAS ! SITUATION WE W]E PUT 93 Y\ C\LD SIT HOME & DO NO?+1 BECAUSE Y\ C\LDN'T DO :AT Y\ US$ TO DO1 OR Y\ W\LD COME H]E & WORK ) PEOPLE :O W]E SUFF]+1 & BECOM+ ,MO!R ,!RESA Y\ KN[1 BECOM+ ?IS & LI/5+ TO /ORIES AB\T H[ PEOPLE444 ,& ,I'M NOT SAY+ IT'S1 BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GO ?R\< ?IS1 BUT SOMETIMES :5 ?IS IS ALL Y\ >E GETT+1 ALL Y\ >E HE>+1 ?IS AFFECTS H[ Y\ SEE ! REVOLUTION4 ,IT BECOMES MIS]Y :5 IT US$ TO BE WORK & 5]GY & EV]Y?+4 ,!N ,I C\LDN'T SEE H[ ,I AM DO+ ANY?+4 ,I FELT LIKE ,I WAS JU/ H&L+ ! CONSEQU5CES ( :AT WAS GO+ ON1 ,I WASN'T *ANG+ ANY?+1 ,I HAD NO EFFECT1 ,I WAS LIKE A /RAW 9 ! OCEAN4 ,SO ,I LEFT4 ,I LEFT ,SYRIA4 ,& ON ! WAY ,I SAW = ! FIR/ TIME ! C\NTRYSIDE ( ,ALEPPO1 :I* WAS DE/ROY$4 ,I NEV] VISIT$ !SE >EAS BE=E4 ,& !N ON ! BORD]S A ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY PATROL /OPP$ US1 !Y WANT$ \R PASSPORTS4 ,SO MY FA!R1 MY FA!R WAS ) ME & HE GAVE MY PASSPORT TO HIM4 ,SO HE WAS *ECK+ ! PASSPORT & HE SAID3 0,:Y >E Y\ GIV+ ME H] PASSPORT1 %E IS A WOMAN04 ,?IS IS ! LA/ SC5E ,I HAD 9 ,SYRIA & IT WAS SO UGLY TO ACTUALLY WITNESS ?AT REALLY ?IS IS :AT ALL ( ?IS HAS LET TO1 ?IS IS H[ Y\ SAY GOODBYE Y\ KN[1 TO ME4 ,! GUY FROM ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY BATTALION HE TOLD MY FA!R3 0,:Y >E Y\ GIV+ ME H] PASSPORT1 %E IS A GIRL404 ,HE MEANT ?AT HE %\LDN'T LOOK AT A WOMAN'S FACE4 

,A4 

,IT'S K9D ( RELIGI\S4 

,R4 

,K9D (8 

,A4 

,YES1 IT IS A MIX BETWE5 RELIGI\S & PSY*OPA?4 

,R4 

,LAU<S ,:]E DO WE GO FROM H]E8 

,A4 

,ON ! O!R SIDE444 ,?IS /ORY444 

,X4 

,DO Y\ KN[ :AT Y\ WANT TO TALK AB\T8 

,A4 

,AB\T ! MAGAZ9E4 

,X4 

,O,K4 

,A4 

,SO1 ! IDEA WAS TO CREATE SOME PLAT=MS TO WORK ON1 ON A CULTURAL BASE3 TO WRITE SOME?+1 TO RECORD SOME SONGS1 MAKE SOME >T1 SO ON & SO ON4 ,WE HAD ?REE IDEAS3 MAGAZ9E1 RADIO & MUSIC B&4 ,WE />T$ ) ! MAGAZ9E1 WE W]E SIX2 FIVE MALES & ONE FEMALE1 AT ! BEG9N+4 ,! FEMALE WAS NOT ,R4 ,LAU<S4 ,WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SKILLS AB\T H[ WE C\LD MAKE A MAGAZ9E1 WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BACKGR\ND AB\T H[ WE C\LD WRITE AN >TICLE4 ,SO WE DECID$ TO JU/ WRITE AN 9TRODUCTION PAGE1 & ! O!R >TICLES WE COLLECT$ !M FROM WRIT]S WE TALK$ TO ?R\< FACEBOOK4 ,SO WE W]5'T SO 9T]E/$ BY ! CONT5T1 ESPECIALLY ) ! FIR/ ISSUE4 ,( C\RSE WE PUT SOME FILT]S & CRIT]IA TO ! TOPICS BUT WE DIDN'T FOCUS ON ?IS ?+4 ,9/EAD WE W]E FOCUS+ ON H[ MANY ISSUES WE WILL PR9T & H[ WE C\LD DI/RIBUTE !M4 ,WE DIDN'T HAVE A NETWORK TO COMMUNICATE ) SO WE />T$ TO LOOK = PEOPLE1 WE DIDN'T KN[ !M EXCEPT FROM SKYPE4 ,! :OLE SITUATION WAS SO DANG]\S1 !RE IS NO?+ TO /& ON & WE TOOK ?IS DECISION1 & PR9T$ ! MAGAZ9E4 ,SO :5 WE SUCCE$$ ) ! FIR/ ISSUE1 IT WAS LIKE A DREAM Y\ KN[4 ,) ! SECOND ISSUE WE FOCUS$ MORE ?AN BE=E1 ,I />T$ TO WRITE1 ,Z ALSO & ,R#b4 ,SO 9 ! SECOND ISSUE WE GOT F\R >TICLES FROM \R GR\P & ANO!R F\R >TICLES FROM ! SOCIAL NETWORK4 ,SO IT WAS DEVELOP$ LIKE ?IS1 & 9 ! ?IRD ONE ,I GOT TWO >TICLES1 ,Z ALSO1 & IT IS3 N[ ,I KN[ :AT ,I AM DO+ 9SIDE ! MAGAZ9E1 ,A ALSO1 ,A#b4 ,ALL ! GR\P ( ,TAM>OD 7NAME ( MAGAZ9E1 ,REBEL7 HAD SPECIFIC MISSIONS TO A*IEVE1 SO WE BECAME A GR\P1 A REAL GR\P1 ORGANIZ$ &444 BUT444 WE FAIL$ TO CONT9UE ?IS PROJECT4 ,= A LOT ( REASONS1 ONE ( !M WAS ?AT IT WAS H>D TO CONT9UE AT ! SAME RHY?M & WE DIDN'T PREP>E \RSELVES TO PR9T ONE ISSUE EV]Y T5 DAYS1 EV]Y T5 DAYS WE %\LD PR9T SOME?+ NEW4 ,= ?AT WE GOT AN ALT]NATIVE SOLUTION1 SO WE />T$ NOT FOCUS+ JU/ ON PR9T+ ! MAGAZ9E4 ,WE />T$ TO PR9T PO/]S & GO+ AT ! NI<T & PUT PO/]S ON ! WALLS4 

,X4 

,:AT WAS WRITT5 ON !SE PO/]S8 

,A4 

,= EXAMPLE WE MET A GIRL ON FACEBOOK1 %E IS A DIGITAL DESIGN] & WE ASK$ H] TO DESIGN SOME?+ AB\T KALA%NIKOV & ! VIOL5CE & ! NON VIOL5CE TOO1 OR ! ACCEPTABLE VIOL5CE1 ! ALT]NATIVE VIOL5CE WE W\LD SAY4 ,SO %E DESIGN$ A PHOTO ?AT %[$ A WOMAN444 

,R4 

,IT WAS A P9UP ACTUALLY1 IT WAS A P9UP RI<T8 

,A4 

,:AT8 ,P9UP8 

,R4 

,P9UP1 ! ONES1 ! ,AM]ICAN ONES4 

,A4 

0,IF Y\ DON'T HAVE A KALA%NIKOV1 Y\ C\LD USE MOLOTOV401 IT WAS WRITT54 

,R4 

0,SWIT* TO MOLOTOV40 

,A4 

,) A TUTORIAL H[ Y\ MAKE A KALA%NIKOV4 

,R4 

,MOLOTOV4 

,A4 

,MOLOTOV4 

,LAU<+4 

,X4 

,TO COME BACK TO ! MAGAZ9E1 H[ DID Y\ DI/RIBUTE IT8 

,A4 

,= EXAMPLE1 WE KNEW SOMEONE :O WORK$ 9 ! COORD9ATION & HE HAD AN ACCESS TO ?IS >EA1 LET'S SAY HE HAD AN ACCESS TO #a P]SONS4 ,SO WE W\LD GIVE HIM LET'S SAY #be ISSUES 7\R /&>D WAS #a ISSUE = #d P]SONS7 & SO ON SO ON4 ,WE JU/ HAD A CIRCLE ( P]SONS WORK+ ON ! C\NTRYSIDE1 WORK+ 9 A NEI<BORHOOD4 ,WE'D GIVE TO SOMEONE & ?IS P]SON W\LD GIVE TO ?REE OR F\R O!RS1 & !SE F\R W\LD GIVE444 ,LIKE ?IS4 

,X4 

,DID Y\ GET A LOT ( FE$BACK ON ! MAGAZ9E8 

,A4 

,YES ACTUALLY4 ,& ! FACEBOOK PAGE WAS A LITTLE BIT ACTIVE ) COMM5TS & %>ES & IT WAS A LITTLE BIT FAM\S 9 ?IS TIME P]IOD4 

,X4 

,9 ! REGION ( ,ALEPPO OR ALSO \TSIDE ( IT8 ,A4 

,ESPECIALLY 9 ! REGION ( ,ALEPPO1 BUT WE PR9T$ ONE ISSUE 9 ,D>AA1 DI/RIBUT$ ALSO DOZ5S ( ISSUES 9 ,SALAMIYA1 BUT MO/LY ON ! C\NTRYSIDE & ! CITY ( ,ALEPPO4 ,!RE WAS LIKE A L9K BETWE5 US & O!R MAGAZ9ES 9 O!R CITIES4 ,SO1 WE PR9T$ ANO!R MAGAZ9E = !M 9SIDE ,ALEPPO & DI/RIBUT$ IT = !M & !Y DID ! SAME ?+ = US4 ,SO IT WAS LIKE ?IS3 WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY 9 ,D>AA BUT WE WANT$ TO GIVE SOME MESSAGES TO ,D>AA = EXAMPLE SO WE C\LD PR9T SOME?+ !RE4 

,R4 

,!RE WAS A LOT ( COOP]ATION BETWE5 DIFF]5T MAGAZ9ES1 & A LOT ( MAGAZ9ES 9 DIFF]5T >EAS ( ,SYRIA W\LD EX*ANGE !IR NEWSPAP]S & DI/RIBUTE IT TO ! MAXIMUM AM\NT ( PEOPLE POSSIBLE4 

,A4 

,YES & ALSO WE BUILT A CROSS CONNECTION BETWE5 EA* O!R4 ,IT WAS LIKE WE BUILT A SYNDICATE = MAGAZ9ES4 

,R4 

,BECAUSE A LOT ( MAGAZ9ES W]E BE+ E/ABLI%$ 9 DIFF]5T PLACES4 ,WE HAD A LOT (1 BECAUSE ,I WORK$ 9 ALT]NATIVE M$IA - ! WEBSITE -1 A LOT ( !M W]E ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD4 ,I MEAN1 MAYBE !IR /RATEGY WAS V]Y DIFF]5T FROM ,REBEL MAGAZ9E BUT !Y HAD 9T]E/+ IDEAS4 

,A4 

,YEAH4 444 ,BUT WE W]E ! BE/ ONE4 ,LAU<S4 ,X4 

,Y\ DIDN'T TALK AB\T ! RADIO YET4 

,A4 

,YES1 WE RECORD$1 WE />T$ ) ONE PROGRAM4 

,X4 

,ON ! 9T]NET8 

,A4 

,NO ACTUALLY WE W]E JU/ RECORD+1 WE W]E PREP>+ SOME SUB/ANCE TO />T ) IT4 ,SO WE W]E JU/ RECORD+ TO A*IEVE LET'S SAY FIVE H\RS & />T ) FIVE H\RS /REAM+1 & AFT] ?AT WE CONT9UE LIKE ?IS1 ?AT WAS ! PLAN4 ,BUT :AT HAPP5$1 IT WAS V]Y DIFFICULT4 ,WE SUCCE$$ 9 RECORD+ #d M9UTES ACTUALLY4 ,BECAUSE ( ! PROBLEM 9 ! GR\P4 ,Y\ KN[ Y\ HAVE A LOT ( ACTIVITIES N[1 Y\ HAVE A RADIO ACTIVITY1 A MAGAZ9E ACTIVITY1 A S++ ACTIVITY1 &444 ,WE SUCCE$$ ) ! MAGAZ9E & 9 ! BEG9N+ IT WAS SO NEW1 WE %\LD TRY AGA9 & AGA9 & AT SOME PO9T IT BECOMES A LITTLE BOR+ K9D ( SOME?+ Y\ HAVE TO DO4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ! MUSICIAN B&1 IT WAS FUN BECAUSE !Y HAD ! *ANCE TO GO TO ONE ( ! MO/ FAM\S VILLAGES 9 ! C\NTRYSIDE ( ,ALEPPO :I* W\LD BECOME ! CAPITAL ( ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY4 ,JU/ ,I AM TRY+ TO REMEMB] ! NAME ( ! VILLAGE1 7,M>E7 ,OKAY1 NO1 IT DOESN'T MATT]4 ,BUT PEOPLE !RE !Y W]E SO CONS]VATIVE1 & MO/ ( ! SONGS W]E K9D ( LEFTI/ OR Y\ C\LD SAY COMMUNI/1 BECAUSE ! S+] HE US$ TO BE A COMMUNI/ & AFT] ?AT HE HAD A LOT ( LEFTI/ IDEAS1 SO4 ,IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO S+ ?AT K9D ( SONGS 9 ?AT PLACE4 ,BUT IT WORK$4 ,= SOME REASON IT DIDN'T BO!R PEOPLE & !Y W\LD LI/5 TO !M & EV]Y?+ WAS F9E = ! GR\P & IT WAS K9D ( AN A*IEVEM5T & SO WE />T$ TO ?9K AB\T H[ WE %\LD BE PREP>$ = :5 WE W\LD OCCUPY ! MA9 SQU>E 9 ,ALEPPO1 ! MUSICIAN B& %\LD BE BETT] ?AN EV]Y MUSICIAN LAU<S ?AT IS 9SIDE ?IS4 ,& !Y />T$ TO WORK MORE TO DEVELOP ! MUSICIAN B& SO1 !RE WAS NO S+] PR(ESSIONAL ONE1 IT WAS JU/ ! GR\P :O WAS S++ TOGE!R4 ,SO WE />T$ TO MAKE AN 9VITATION & MAKE 9T]VIEWS 444 LAU<S444 = S+]S4 ,TO TE/ !IR VOICES & SOME?+ LIKE ?AT4 ,LAU<S4 ,IT WAS SO FUNNY TO BEG9 ) ?IS PROJECT BECAUSE WE MET A LOT ( PEOPLE1 & WE TRI$ A LOT ( DIFF]5T TYPES ( MUSIC4 ,I WROTE TWO SONGS1 BUT SILLY ONES1 JU/ MOCK+ ) ! SITUATION4 ,! MUSICIAN B& WAS RELEAS$ ?REE MON?S AFT] ! MAGAZ9E & IT HAD LIKE #a OR #ab SONGS4 ,YES1 AT ! 5D ( ! PROJECT WE MADE ONLY ONE ISSUE \TSIDE ( ,SYRIA4 ,WE TRI$ TO1 MAYBE IT C\LD WORK1 BUT ! :OLE MOTIVATION & ! P[] WE HAD GOT CLA%$ BECAUSE WE GOT ALL ! P[] FROM PEOPLE Y\ KN[1 PEOPLE GAVE US FE$BACK1 NOT JU/ ON ! VIRTUAL LIFE1 WE NE$$ A PHYSICAL CONTACT ) PEOPLE1 WE PR9T$ & DI/RIBUT$ >\ND ! C\NTRYSIDE & 9 ! CITY1 & :5 WE LEFT ALL ?AT DISAPPE>$4 ,SO1 ALL ( US RECOGNIZ$ ?AT !RE IS NO MEAN+ FROM DO+ ANY?+ ) ! MAGAZ9E ANYMORE4 ,ESPECIALLY !RE WAS NO S\RCE ( MONEY LIKE WE GOT 9 ,SYRIA BECAUSE !RE WE W]E 9 \R HOMES1 \R FAMILIES W]E SUPPORT+ US4 ,& N[ WE NE$$ TO GET A JOB & TAKE C>E ( \R BASIC NE$S4 ,SO MO/ ( US W]E ?9K+ AB\T H[ WE C\LD DEAL ) !SE NEW CONDITIONS4 ,?IS ) MANAG+ ! MAGAZ9E1 BUT WE FAIL$ ?IS MISSION4 ,SO WE DECID$ TO /OP ) ALL ?IS WORK & WE LOOK$ = A NEW SOLUTION & WE LOOK$ = A NEW MEAN+ = ?IS MAGAZ9E1 TO NOT LET ?IS MAGAZ9E GET HANG$4 ,& ,I DON'T KN[1 MAYBE 9 ! FUTURE WE C\LD CONT9UE ?IS MAGAZ9E4 ,IT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE MO/ ( MY MEMORIES1 MY REVOLUTION MEMORIES >E CONNECT$ TO ?IS MAGAZ9E4 444 ,BUT ,I %\LD CORRECT ?IS1 ! PLAN WAS TO MAKE ! MAGAZ9E TO BE LIKE EV]Y #ae DAYS1 OR MAXIMUM #a MON?1 BUT :AT WAS HAPP5+4 ,= EXAMPLE ,I GOT >RE/$ OR SOMEBODY GOT 9JUR$ OR W\LD HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL SITUATION & %\LD N[ DEAL ) IT1 SO !RE WAS NO1 Y\ KN[1 RHY?M1 A /ABLE RHY?M TO ?IS MAGAZ9E1 IT WAS K9D ( A PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE W\LD ?9K IT IS JU/ ONE NUMB] & IT IS GONE1 & !N AFT] ?REE MON?S 0,O1 IT'S ! SECOND NUMB]04 ,Y\ %\LD BUILD A /ABLE RELATION ) ! READ]S1 NOT EV]Y R&OMLY 0OKAY N[44404 ,IT WAS CRAZY LIKE ?IS444 

,X4 

,Y\ /ILL WANT TO ADD SOME?+8 

,A4 

,NO 

,AFT]WORD 

,I MET ,A4 9 #b#a#c1 ON A TRAVEL 9 ,EGYPT4 ,HE /R&$ 9 ,CAIRO1 AS DID SO MANY ,SYRIANS DUR+ ,MORSI'S RULE4 ,I MET HIM & SOME ( ! COMRADES ) :OM HE CREAT$ ! ,TAM>ROD MAGAZ9E4 ,!IR TRAVEL CONT9U$ AFT]W>DS4 ,SOME YE>S 9 ,TURKEY & !N FROM ,GREECE ON T[>DS ,WE/]N ,EUROPE1 ! 9FAM\S REFUGEE R\TE4 

,M1 A ,SYRIAN COMRADE :O HAD BE5 LIV+ 9 EXILE 9 ,EGYPT = YE>S & P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION AS A SURGEON1 BR\<T ME 9TO CONTACT ) ?IS GR\P4 ,WE SP5T SOME EV5+S TOGE!R1 LOOK+ = A QUIET SPOT 9 EV] BUR/L+ ,CAIRO4 ,ACCOMPANI$ BY ,MO1 AN ,EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION>Y1 WE SAT ALONG ! RIV] ,NILE1 OR DRANK SOME BE] 9 CAFE ,HURRIYA4 

,WE TALK$ AB\T CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS SU* AS MOVIES & LIT]ATURE1 & AB\T REVOLUTION4 ,(F C\RSE4 ,ALL WAS AB\T REVOLUTION 9 ?OSE DAYS1 ALL CONV]SATIONS LEAD$ T[>DS ?AT BELOV$ TOPIC4 ,EV5 IF MASSACRE WAS ON ITS WAY TO ,EGYPT1 ! BATTLE AGA9/ ,MORSI WAS FULL ON4 ,EV5 IF B>REL BOMBS W]E DROPP+ ON ,SYRIA1 !RE ,I WAS SITT+ ) !SE COMRADES :O MADE ME FEEL :AT !IR REVOLUTION WAS ALL AB\T4 

,IT IS A /RANGE ?+1 TO COME 9TO CONTACT ) PEOPLE LIV+ A REVOLUTION1 & IT BLEW ME (F4 ,I MET PEOPLE SO DIFF]5T FROM ! ONES ,I KNEW4 ,& ,I AM C]TA9LY NOT TALK+ AB\T CULTURAL DIFF]5CES4 ,I'M REF]R+ TO AN ETAT D'ESPRIT1 SO WIDE1 SO OP51 SO FULL ( F]V5T VIBRATION1 EXP]I5C+ SOME?+ ,I C\LD ONLY GRASP BE=E LOOS+ IT AGA94 

,I GOT CONV9C$ ?AT ! MO/ BEAUTIFUL ?+ AB\T REVOLUTION >E ITS PEOPLE4 ,ITS PEOPLE :O >E READY TO DEF5D IT1 TO DISCUSS IT1 & ABOVE ALL TO LIVE IT4 

,?9K+ AB\T ,EGYPT /ILL MAKES ONE NO/ALGIC1 AS LEAV+ IT HAS MADE ME LOVESICK4 ,GO+ BACK ! REALITY ( PACIFI$ DEMOCRACY FELT LIKE WAK+ UP FROM A DREAM FULL ( TORNY ROSES4 ,AS LOVE CAN CAT* Y\ & *ANGE Y\R VIEW UPON ! WORLD SURR\ND+ Y\1 SO DOES REVOLUTION4 ,& IT DOES ! JOB 9 A ?OR\<LY PR(\ND WAY4 ,Y\ CAN'T COMP>E IT1 BUT SOMEH[ Y\ CAN4 ,! PA9 ACCOMPANI$ BY A LO/ CASE1 IS LIKE ! PA9 ( A LOVE LO/4 

,SO GETT+ BACK TO ,EUROPE ,I MISS$ ! PEOPLE ( ! REVOLUTION1 !IR PASSION & LOVE = *ANGE4 ,!IR DESIRE = *ANGE :I* WAS NOT A PLACID !ORETICAL ONE1 BUT A REAL EXP]I5CE ?AT GOES BEYOND LIMITS ( :I* ONE CANNOT IMAG9E :AT WILL BE !RE TO F9D4 ,I MISS$ !IR VIVIDNESS1 !IR URG5T 9T]E/ ( EX*ANG+ IDEAS & CONFRONT+ VIEWS4 ,& !IR OP5NESS T[>DS !M4 

,! ,SYRIAN COMRADES TOLD ME AB\T ! MAGAZ9E !Y CREAT$ BACK HOME & AB\T ! PR9T] /UCK 9 A W> ZONE4 ,EXPLA9$ ME AB\T !IR WILL TO CONT9UE ! PROJECT ONCE >RIV$ 9 ,TURKEY4 ,!Y TOLD ME MANY /ORIES IF :I* ,I UND]/OOD NOT EV5 HALVE1 & W]E V]Y ATT5TIVE & 9T]E/$ 9 :AT ,I HAD TO SAY4 

,!Y W]E FULLY AW>E ?AT ! WORLD DIDN'T GIVE A FUCK AB\T ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION4 ,MANY REVOLUTION>IES 9 ,EGYPT TURN$ AWAY FROM EXPRESS+ SOLID>ITY ) ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION S9CE ,ISLAMIC 9VOLVEM5T BECAME CLE>4 ,EUROPEAN AN>*I/S DIDN'T TAKE UP !IR RESPONSIBILITY AS REVOLUTION>IES 9 ?IS CASE AT ALL4 ,LET'S SAY IT WAS A REVOLUTION TOO EASY TO NOT C>E AB\T1 BECAUSE3 0TOO H>D TO UND]/&0 & 0,ISLAMI/ NOT REVOLUTION>Y01 OR 0IT'S A CIVIL W> LET'S =GET AB\T IT0 & 0,I WILL NOT GET 9VOLV$ 9 HUMANIT>IAN AID04 

,= MY P>T ,I FELT A%AM$4 ,IT'S NOT ?AT WE DIDN'T TRY TO EXPRESS \R SOLID>ITY ) ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION BACK HOME1 BUT ,I NE$$ TO ADMIT TO MYSELF ?AT ,I HADN'T HAD ! C\RAGE TO REALLY OP5 UP ! ,SYRIAN *APT] ( ! REVOLUTION BOOK4 ,! MANY IMAGES ( MUTILAT$ & MURD]$ BODIES1 ( BOMB>D$ *ILDR5 & TORTUR$ ELD]LY :I* ONE C\LD COME ACROSS 9 ,EUROPEAN CITIES1 SPREAD BY ,SYRIANS LIV+ ABROAD1 BLOCK$ ME4 ,! IMAGE CREAT$ WAS ONE ( DEFEAT1 ( MASS MURD]1 ( ATROCITY1 & NO?+ ELSE4 ,IT LACK$ ! O!R SIDE ( ! CO94 

,!RE=E ,I WASN'T 9CIT$ TO SE>* = ! /ORY BEYOND DEA? & SO MY SOLID>ITY T[>DS ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION HAD BE5 A %ALL[ ONE1 LACK+ DEP? & A TRUE ATTEMPT AT UND]/&+4 

,BUT ! ,SYRIAN COMRADES ATTRACT$ MY ATT5TION1 YES IT WAS A QUE/ION ( FEEL+1 & S9CE ?IS WAS ! CASE IT BECAME AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK = ME TO W>M UP PEOPLE BACK HOME = ?IS CAUSE4 ,BUT ,I SE>*$ = ! P[]FUL /ORY ( ?IS REVOLUTION1 ! /ORY ?AT WILL =EV] REMA9 9ACCESSIBLE = ! ONE'S NOT WILL+ TO KN[1 = ! ONE'S NOT WILL+ TO MAKE ! EF=T4 

,A4 TOLD ME 9 ,CAIRO ?AT 0! ONE :O WANTS TO KN[ AB\T ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION WILL F9D HIS ANSW]S404 ,& IT IS TRUE4 

,>E Y\ WILL+ TO LE>N8 ,TO MEET ) A WORLD ( MAGIC & TRAGIC8 ,TO LEAVE RACI/ PREJUDICES BEH9D8 ,BECAUSE ! ,SYRIAN /ORY WILL =EV] REMA9 A CLOS$ BOOK = ! ONE :O IS F$ BY FE> ( LOOS+ ! GRIP ON !IR FIX$ FRAMES TO 9T]PRET ! WORLD4 ,TO L$ GO ( !SE AN*ORS = A MOM5T & WAT* ! DIFFICULT REALITY FULL ( CONFLICT & CONTRADICTIONS4 ,TO BE ABLE TO WAT* IT )\T PRE-CON/RUCT$ MORAL JUDGM5TS OR IDEALIZ$ VIEWS UPON :AT ! FUCK IS REVOLUTION4 

,BECAUSE REVOLUTION IS CONTRADICTION4 ,REVOLUTION IS AN ONGO+ FI<T BETWE5 DIFF]5T CURR5TS4 ,IT IS A CONFLICT BETWE5 REACTION & :OEV] WANTS TO PU% ! REVOLUTION FUR!R & FUR!R1 BEYOND ANY LIMITS KN[N TO HUMANK9D4 ,REVOLUTION IS NOT A CLEAN /ORY1 SOME?+ :I* WE CAN ONLY BELIEVE IF WE READ HOLY BOOKS OR SEEK = HOL9ESS 9 ! BOOKS WE READ4 

,SO WE NE$ TO MAKE ! EF=T4 ,! EF=T NOT ONLY = ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION1 BUT = REVOLUTION 9 G5]AL4 ,IT'S AN EF=T ( SITT+ TOGE!R1 GA!R+ ! NECESS>Y 9=MATION1 ANALYZ+1 MAK+ ! NECESS>Y CONTACTS & DECID+ UPON :AT TO DO4 ,BUT NOT ONLY4 ,FIR/ & =EMO/ IT IS AN EF=T AT M5TAL OP5NESS4 ,AN EF=T AT LEAV+ ! 0REVOLUTION>Y0 ,I KN[ EV]Y?+->ROGANCE BEH9D4 ,A PRELIM9>Y CONDITION )\T :I* WE CANNOT EV5 />T IMAG9+ A PROJECT4 

,! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION IS AN UND]E/IMAT$ REVOLUTION4 ,REVOLUTION>IES ELSE:]E HAVE NOT LO/ MANY H\RS ( SLEEP ?9K+ OR ACT+ 9 SOLID>ITY ) ! EV5TS4 ,MORE G5]ALLY WE CAN SAY !RE IS A HUGE LACK ( C\RAGE = CONFRONT+ ONE'S SELF TO ?IS ?+ REVOLUTION>IES PRET5D TO DESIRE3 REVOLUTION4 

,A LACK ( C\RAGE & A C]TA9 LAZ9ESS4 ,BECAUSE YES1 IT TAKES AN EF=T TO UND]/&4 ,A BIG EF=T1 & ONE CAN ALWAYS EASILY SAY ?AT 0MY [N CONTEXT0 IS MORE PRESS +1 OR MORE EASY TO UND]/&4 ,!REBY WE CAN =GET AB\T :AT IS GO+ ON1 & READ BOOKS AB\T IT 9 ! YE>S TO COME4 ,TO DISCUSS AB\T IT 9 TW5TY YE>S TIME1 :5 ALL IS DEAD1 & WE CAN SI< TOGE!R ?AT REVOLUTION IS ALWAYS ON ! LOOS+ SIDE4 ,& WE CAN DREAM AB\T REVOLUTION1 )\T EV5 REALIZ+ ?AT :AT WE >E ABLE TO DREAM IS NO?+ 9 COMP>ISON TO :AT ,SYRIANS HAVE LIV$4 

,WE CAN 9V5T PURIFI$ V]SIONS ( ! CONFLICTS :I* WILL NEV] HELP US AT LIV+ !M1 S9CE WE WILL ALWAYS F9D SOME EXCUSES AS TO :Y ?IS CONFLICT DOESN'T MEET UP TO \R EXPECTATIONS ( A PURELY ANTIAU?ORIT>IAN REVOLT4 ,AN>*I/S >E SOMEH[ RELICS ( A WORLD PASS$ AWAY1 HOLD+ ONTO ! PA/1 GETT+ LO/ 9 ! PRES5T1 NOT KN[+ H[ TO CONFRONT DREAM ) REALITY1 PREF]R+ TO DREAM ?AN TO CREATE4 ,AN>*I/S >E DREAM]S1 AN UND5IABLE & NECESS>Y QUALITY IF ONE WANTS TO /ORM ! EXI/5T1 BUT AS WELL ONE ?AT CAN MAKE AN 9DIVIDUAL BY MOM5TS UTT]LY 9CAPABLE ( 9T]V5+ BECAUSE ! DREAMS SEEM TOO UNREA*ABLE & SO :Y W\LD IT MATT] TO EV5 TRY8 ,BUT \R DREAMS & IDEAS >E NOT !RE TO BE PROTECT$ 9 ITS PURITY = DAYS MORE BEAUTIFUL TO COME4 ,!Y >E !RE TO BE US$ 9 ORD] TO DE/ROY ?IS WORLD ( *A9S TODAY4 

,AT LA/ ,I WANT$ TO SAY ?AT REVOLUTION IS NOT A MATT] ( SCALES1 & PO9TS & EVALUATIONS SAY+30,O1 ?IS ONE IT LACK$ PO9T NUMB] FIVE & SEV54 ,& ?IS ONE IS MY FAVORITE404 ,WE >E NOT AT S*OOL4 ,REVOLUTION IS A /RIV+1 ALWAYS DIFFICULT1 ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL & PASSIONATE & EQUALLY CRUEL & DEVA/AT+4 ,!RE >E NO OBJECTIVE CRIT]IA TO DECIDE UPON 0,:AT IS A REVOLUTION804 ,WE WILL LEAVE ?IS QUE/ION TO HI/ORY TEA*]S4 ,BECAUSE REVOLUTION IS A GIV5NESS1 :5 IT'S GO+ ON IT IS GO+ ON4 ,LET'S PLEASE /OP ?IS CRAP ( DECID+ UPON :E!R !SE W]E REVOLUTIONS OR NOT4 ,BECAUSE IF WE >E NOT ABLE TO ACKN[L$GE !Y >E WE WILL BE ABLE ONLY TO /& 9 SOLID>ITY ) HI/ORY BOOKS & LOVE ! TEA*] 9/EAD ( ! LIV+ REVOLUTION>Y4 ,& WE CAN =GET AB\T GETT+ TO :AT IT IS WE HAVE TO DO3 TO ACT 9 SOLID>ITY4 ,TO SE>* = WAYS ( GIV+ BL[S TO REACTION4 ,TO UND]/& :AT IS GO+ ON & ! GAMES P[] IS PLAY+1 9 ORD] TO KN[ H[ TO ATTACK ! WORLD WE >E LIV+ 94 ,I AM CONV9C$ ?AT ! CURR5T SITUATION 9 ,SYRIA & ELSE:]E IS P>TLY DUE TO ! LACK ( REVOLUTION>IES M5TAL C\RAGE TO PUT ONE'S SELF AT ! SIDE ( ! C\RAGE\S REVOLUTION>Y NOT W9D BUT /ORM1 9 0! ,>AB WORLD04 ,& WE NE$ TO REFLECT UPON ?IS4 

,! 9T]VIEW ) \R COMRADES ,R & ,A IS A CONTRIBUTION TO ! DISCUSSION AB\T H[ WE C\LD ORGANIZE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWE5 FI<TS TAK+ PLACE 9 DIFF]5T CONTEXTS1 REALIZ+ WE >E LIV+ 9 ! SAME WORLD1 >E LIV+ ! SAME OPPRESSION & ?AT ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ IT NE$S TO BE AN 9T]NATIONAL ONE4 ,\R REALITY IS MU* MORE CLOS] TO ! ,SYRIAN ONE ?AN WE (T5 REALIZE4 ,! CURR5T MILIT>IZATION ON ,EUROPEAN SOIL & ITS BORD]S AS WELL AS ! RECUP]ATION ( NEGAT+ =CES BY ,ISLAMIC T5D5CIES GIVE US ! CRUEL PRO( ( IT4 ,BUT ?AT IS FOOD = ANO!R TEXT4 

,I1 AS O!RS1 HAVE BE5 LOOK+ = WAYS ( EXPRESS+ SOLID>ITY ) ! DIFF]5T REVOLUTIONS TAK+ PLACE4 ,! LACK ( COMRADES WILL+ TO ACT MAKES IT A TASK DIFFICULT TO BE> ONCE ! REVOLUTIONS >E %ATT]$ 9TO BLOOD1 PRISON & REACTION4 ,ONCE WE NE$ TO BE T\< & P]SI/5T1 KN[+ :Y WE DO IT EV5 IF IT'S NOT EASY NOR MAGNIFIC5T4 

,?IS 9T]VIEW (F]S AN AN>*I/ P]SPECTIVE ON A REVOLUTION LIV$ BY COMRADES ( \RS4 ,9 ,SYRIA AS ELSE:]E1 AN>*I/S TRY TO =GE !IR WAY 9 ! TUMULT ( ! PRES5T4 ,SO LET'S CONT9UE \R ATTEMPTS1 GET MORE 9TELLIG5T & LEAVE ! READY-MADE ANSW]S BEH9D4 ,LET'S DISCUSS1 LET'S LOOK AT ! EV5TS FROM AN 9T]NATIONALI/ P]SPECTIVE4 ,LET'S DO ! NECESS>Y EF=T1 FE>LESS & )\T PREJUDICES4 ,AS IS REVOLUTION4 

.<#a.> ,FROM ! #a#g? ( ,DECEMB] #b#a1 ! DAY ?AT ,MOHAM$ ,B\AZIZI IMMOLAT$ HIMSELF1 UPTO ! #a#d? ( ,JANU>Y #baa :5 PRESID5T ,B5 ,ALI LEFT1 ! UPRIS+ :I* />T$ 9 ,SIDI ,B\ZID ESS5TIALLY SPREAD 9 ! S\!RN REGIONS & ! C5TRAL REGIONS 7,GAFSA1 ,S\S1 ,GABES & ,KASS]9E7 BE=E MOV+ UPW>DS TO ! CAPITAL ( ,TUNIS1 EMBRAC+ ,?ALA1 ,REGUEB & !N ,BIZ]TE & ,SFAX4 ,AP>T FROM ! DEMON/RATION ON ! #b#g? ( ,DECEMB]1 ,TUNIS ONLY REALLY 9SURG$ 9 ! WEEK BE=E ! FALL ( ! REGIME ?AT ,TUNIS1 MA9LY />T+ FROM ! UNIV]SITY & ! NEI<BOORH\D ( ,ETTADHAM5-,MNIHL4 

.<#b.> ,?IS GA!R+ TOOK PLACE ON ! #a#g? ( ,FEBRU>Y #baa 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ( ,H>EEQA 9 ,DAMASCUS4 ,AB\T #ae P]SONS P>TICIPAT$4 

.<#c.> ,A FIR/ CALL = A ,SYRIAN 0,DAY ( ,RAGE0 WAS LAUN*$ = ! #d? & #e? ( ,FEBRU>Y #baa 9 ,DAMASCUS1 BUT NOBODY %[$ UP4 ,SECURITY =CES ON ! CONTR>Y W]E V]Y PRES5T AT ! APPO9TM5T4 

.<#d.> ,9 ! OLD CITY ( ,DAMASCUS >\ND TWO HUNDR$S P]SONS GA!R$ 9 RESPONSE TO ! CALL4 ,BUT ?\S&S ( O!RS GA!R$ SIMULTANE\SLY 9 ! CITIES ( ,HAMA 7C5T] ( ! C\NTRY71 ,HASSAKEH 7NOR?71 ,DEIR AL-,ZOR 7EA/7 & ,D>AA 7S\?74 ,EV]Y:]E DEMON/RATIONS W]E VIOL5TLY DISP]S$ BY SECURITY =CES4 ,! MUKHAB>AT1 ! SECRET POLICE1 MADE SEV]AL >RE/S4 

.<#f.> ,! ,OM>I ,MOSQUE4 

.<#g.> ,ON ! #b#c? ( ,M>* #b#a#a1 ! OCCUPI$ MOSQUE GOT ATTACK$ BY SECURITY =CES 4 ,AN UNKN[N NUMB] ( PEOPLE W]E KILL$ DUIG ?IS ATTACK1 NUM]\S PEOPLE GOT 9JUR$ & MANY GOT >RE/$ LAT] ON AFT] BE+ TAK5 9 BY HOSPITALS4 ,! FOLL[+ WEEKS1 HUNDR$S ( RAIDS TOOK PLACE & HUNDR$S W]E DETA9$4 ,! #b#e? ( ,M>* #b#a#a1 A CALL TO A 0,FRIDAY ( ,DIGNITY0 BR+S T5S ( ?\S&S ( PEOPLE TO ! /REETS 9 ,D>AA4 ,A /ATUE ( ,HAFEZ AL-,ASSAD GETS DE/ROY$ DUR+ ! DEMON/RATION4 ,MASSIVE DEMON/RATIONS TOOK EQUALLY PLACE 9 ! CITIES CLOSE TO ,D>AA LIKE ,JASEM1 ,DAEL1 ,9KHIL & ,SANAMAYN4 ,9 ?IS LA/ CITY MORE ?AN TW5TY PEOPLE W]E KILL$ BY SECURITY =CES REPRESS+ ! DEMON/RATION4 ,?\S&S ( PEOPLE TAKE ! /REETS 9 ,HOMS1 ,HAMA1 ,SA- RAQEB1 ,JABLEH1 ,AM\DA1 ,BANIYAS1 ,RAQQA1 ,DEIR AL-,ZOR1 ,LATTAKIA1 ,DAMASCUS & ,ALEPPO4 

.<#h.> 0,CIVIL MOVEM5T0 IS ! T]M US$ BY L>GE P>TS ( REVOLUTION>Y ACTIVI/S 9 ,SYRIA TO 9DICATE ! POPUL> MOVEM5T1 G5]ALLY \TSIDE .<#h.>( POLITICAL P>TIES OR EXI/+ POLITICAL /RUCTURES & UN>M$4 ,?IS T]M ALL[S TO DI/+UI% BETWE5 ! 0CIVIL0 MOVEM5T & ! 0MILIT>Y0 MOVEM5T4 ,! MILIT>Y MOVEM5T WILL BE =M$ LAT] ON1 />T+ FROM LOCAL PEOPLE :O TOOK UP >MS TO DEF5D ! DEMON/RATIONS AGA9/ SECURITY =CES4 ,! T]MS 0CIVIL MOVEM5T01 0PEACEFUL RESI/ANCE0 OR 0CIVIL DISOB$I5CE0 DO NOT SEEM TO IMPLY A TOTAL REJECTION ( 0VIOL5CE0 AS ONE (T5 UND]/&S 9 ,EUROPE4 ,:5 ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION>Y ACTIVI/S >E US+ !SE CONCEPTS1 !Y EMBODY WILD GA!R+S1 MASSIVE DEMON/RATIONS1 SIT-9S AS WELL AS RIOTS1 ATTACKS ) MOLOTOV COCKTAILS1 >SONS AGA9/ (FICIAL BUILD+S1 BURN+ B>RICADES4 ,!RE=E ! DI/9CTION SEEM/O PO9T \T ! DIFF]5CE BETWE5 A 0MILIT>Y0 APPROA* ( REVOLUTION & A 0POPUL>0 APPROA* ( REVOLUTION4 

.<#i.> ,AT ITS />T+ PO9T COMM&$ BY =M] (FIC]S ( ! REGIME & COMPOS$ ( SEV]AL BRIGADES1 ! ,F,S,A WAS =M$ 9 ,JULY #b#a#a4 ,!Y 5T] ,ALEPPO ON ! #b? ( ,JULY #b#a#a1 TAK+ OV] ! S\!RN & WE/]N NEI<BOORH\DS ( ! CITY4 ,BATTLES ) ! >MY & ITS RE9=CEM5TS 7TANKS1 HELICOPT]S1 AIRPLA9ES7 />T$ FROM ! #b#h? ( ,JULY4 ,FROM ,DECEMB] #bab ONW>DS1 ! REGUL> DEMON/RATIONS />T CRITICIZ+ ! ,FREE ,SYRIAN ,>MY & PROTE/ AGA9/ ITS ABUSES4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #c1 #bba 3 ,REVOLUTION>Y E*OES FROM ,SYRIA -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #g1 #bbb 3 ,REVOLUTION>Y E*OES FROM ,SYRIA -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/