Stop and stare

Current political-related events in Yemen make me wonder how we are different from the revolutions in other Arab countries.

I figured that most Arab nations are split in two groups. You get the pro-government supporters and the anti-government side. Or you would find no split at all, like in Tunisia where people were united in their revolution.

But in Yemen it’s so surprising to find that our nation is separated into three sides: government supporters, anti-government protests and spectators. The last mentioned group is the majority as most Yemenis consider their revolutionary job title as ‘stop and stare’.

Their eyes move between the participants of the comedy-drama demonstrations of the government supporters and their opponents. The stage is driven and controlled by two leading parties while the audience can't decide who to join.

Pro-government supporters feel comfortable with the country’s 32-year situation and they don’t have any idea how their people are really living.

They are drugged by Qat and are being tricked by the promises of government ministers. These speeches are staged from time to time without any fulfillment forthcoming. The opposition parties mostly originate from the same ‘royal government family’ and seek to fulfill their interests under the guise of change.
Take a closer look at most demonstrations and you will find these two groups fighting each other, using violence with stones, sticks, bombs (as in Taiz), gun shots (also in Sana’a), an exchange of foul language. Then all of this acting ends with the cheers of "life for Yemen, life for Yemen". Suddenly you can’t believe your eyes because the two groups shake hands, hug each other and forgive each other. Peacefully they split and go home. Some will say, "That's how Yemenis are in general".

We need to look though at protests where Yemeni people demonstrated without any political party leadership to get a better idea of what’s going on. Every time Israel attacks Palestinians you find Yemenis with their desire, power and unity flowing to the streets to protest in millions against Israel.

Demonstrations all over Yemen scream in one voice for Palestine.
Another demonstration that united Yemenis was the publication of Danish cartoons that insulted Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). There was no violence because it was the people's desire and not political parties that motivated these protests. People were united without any outside intervention. And that’s what happened in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

The people stood together and were not divided by political parties.
These days you are asked a common question everywhere. “Are you with the pro-government or anti-government supporters?” I replied, “Until the people are released from the influence of political parties and stand united for their country I'll be a spectator”.

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