The Politics of Children

Recently in the news we read, view, or listen to the many sudden upheavals in some of the Middle Eastern Governments. It started in Egypt with Hosni Mubarak’s refusal first to give up power to the people, then fleeing when his own military stepped in and took over. On the heals of awakening corruption charges Mubarak fled and his cabinet fell.


Next of all places to have political unrest, Tunisian president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali age 74, accused of corruption and murder has been overthrown and the military has taken over. I should restate my previous paragraph, this happened before Egypt. Then spilled over to the Egyptian population. The countries that border Tunisia are in order from the Red Sea and Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunis, and Algeria. Is this a coincidence? I think not. Revolution and an awakening eye are focusing in Northern Africa, the Muslim world is feeling great growing pains. Who’s next, Morocco? I believe that’s already a Democratic nation.

Let’s discuss Libya for a moment. Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, Libya’s autocratic leader and dictator has held power there for upwards of 30+ years. I remember the eighties when the US sent a hit squad and planes to rocket his house in Tripoli. We missed him, but that quieted him for a few years. No one took him to seriously because his life style began looking more akin to Hugh Heffner’s. However, there was the occasional story that made it’s way into our ears about people dieing, families disappearing, and large amounts of money flowing through Swiss banks supporting Terrorism. We pretended we didn’t hear and went through our daily lives blind and happy.

It has taken his own people to finely deal with the maniac in the castle. After seeing an interview on CNN, listening to what Hillary Roddem-Clinton has said about him, and watching his body language, I can comfortably state that President Col. El-Qaddafi is insane. He appears to be suffering from megalomania, delusions, and is slipping away into his own self created fantasy. Maybe, just maybe he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

The northern parts of Africa for the most part are exploding into political turmoil. Change is painful, but sometimes very beneficial. Children do grow, and political children sometimes grow slow at first and explode to a death akin to re-birth.

Is it time?

Peace and Balance,
John