The Syrian perspective: two years later

The room was noticeably silent last Monday evening as Dr. Mary Mikhael, former president of the Near East School of Theology, gave a view into the complex web of issues facing the Syrian Republic since the inception of a Civil War coming upon its second anniversary next month, and how those issues are impacting not only the Middle East, but the entire world.

More than two years ago, the start of the Arab Spring brought about a flood of new political ideas in the Middle East with some countries reacting better than others. According to Mikhael, the uprising in Egypt was supposed to be a hallmark for the rest of the region though this turned into blind hope for a Syrian people looking to come out from under the regime of their dictator, Bashir al-Assad.

She then turned the conversation to focus on the displaced Syrians that came as a result of the Civil War. Syrians of all backgrounds have had to flee their homeland in seek of new residence, and have done so in many of the countries surrounding Syria, most notably Lebanon, which has taken hundreds of thousands of Syrians, followed by Turkey.

“We are not calling for any party to win,” Mikhael said “We are merely calling for an end to the violence.”  With no end to the war in sight, and displaced Syrians fleeing the country every day, she called on major powers; notably Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, to help bring peace in the area by working with both sides to attempt to find a reduction in hostilities.

It is clear now by this stage in the revolution, the average Syrian merely wants the comfort of stability, and knowing that any side can offer this would come as much needed relief.