Monday, February 19, 2007
Big Brother: God or Tyrant
In Baghdad, everything is watched over by Saddam Hussein. Putting aside current events, Hussein was a loved figure in the eyes of many. There were posters and signs with his image everywhere. He was also featured on merchandise. To somebody with no knowledge of Hussein, he appeared like a great person. However, there were a few people willing to talk about negative feelings toward Hussein. “Saddam Hussein, he is the worst dictator ever in the history of man.” (page 111) This is the current feeling of many people in America, but I wondered why more people didn’t feel this way towards him in Baghdad (remember, this book takes place around 1991). He tapped phones and restricted almost everything, yet he was popular. I think that his popularity, though some may be genuine, is deeply rooted in the fear he instills on the people of Baghdad. Why wouldn’t people like him when others who hated him were killed? -mg
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Like many dictators, Sadaam probably had a controlled society. What Iraqis seem understandably most shaken by right now is the chaos: the bombings, the lack of water or power, the danger involved in just going to the market, to work or to school. I'm not certain,, but perhaps his ruthlessness was directed less at the "common man" and more towards his perceived enemies. Perhaps people knew he was a tyrant, but stayed out of his way. Good question for Horwitz when he comes!!
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