It's a transfer of power, one that has been in the works for months (if not years) now, and dodged three times before this day. Yemen's President and leader of 33 years, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has succumbed to the subject of protests lasting ten months: he has signed a formal agreement to step down from power and yield his title to current Vice President Abd Rabu Mansur Hadi, which will lead its way into an election process.
There's a catch, of course, because it couldn't be perfect or seamless: Saleh is guaranteed a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card, otherwise known as immunity from prosecution following the change in power. This doesn't seem to settle well with the public, and as author J. Dana Stuster notes the Yemeni Revolution is far from its ending chapter. In fact, this is only the beginning towards a supposed better future for the country.
Stuster, without being patronizing and pushy to her readers, is informative and catches the audience up to speed on the conflicts that have been building in the Middle Eastern country so as to give the events covered in the article a good context. This strategy was especially helpful to me while reading, as I had followed Libya and Egypt as they went through their revolts and transitions, but I haven't been following many news stories lately due to a lack of time management.
The whole world watched as Egypt overthrew their government, and as Libya became a battleground plagued with death and riots-- and for the most part, regions of the two countries still are. While war between the countries isn't going to break out, the events remind me of the 'powder keg' idea behind what sparked World War I. The Black Hand has Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand assassinated and the next thing you know, all of Europe is in an all-out war. In this case, however, it seems as if countries in the Middle East and surrounding areas are starting to revolt one by one, inspired by the progress other nations have made in hopes to better their country for future generations. While I'm definately not an expert on the subject, I can still say that it's a bloody road these nations are choosing to follow. However, change is never easy; no one ever said it was peaceful.
They (or rather, Jimi Hendrix) say that when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. Too many souls on this Earth, it seems, are hell bent on gaining power and control for this ideal to be realized. Some people may say that the rebels are barbaric in their ways following revolts. But take a step back, and realize the situation these people are being faced with. Also, remember this, America: We're a first world nation that has it far better off than these countries. Who are we to judge those who are merely fighting for what we believe in? Wind the clock back a bit. While the scenery and situations are parallel, we were wearing a similar pair of shoes two hundred years ago ourselves.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/11/dictator-pledges-to-step-down-but-yemens-crisis-is-not-over/249052/
Published 24 Nov. 2011.
Term Two, Week Two. (Nov. 20-26, 2011) Post Two.
My cousin was teaching in Egypt when all this started; she had to be flown home.
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