Thursday, August 9, 2012

The first thing I ever wrote



I was looking through my memory box (A drawer in which I keep all my old stuff) a while ago and I found a piece of paper, I unfolded it and it was something I wrote when I was in the seventh grade. I read it and had the biggest smile on my face. It wasn’t a great article, but it showed what kind of person I’ve always been.
This is the translation of what’s written on that piece of paper:

“Do you think it’s easy to ride your bicycle and go for a ride?
 Do you know what do you need to go for a ride on your bike?

1-      You need enough money to buy a bike
2-      You need to know a store that sells bikes
3-      You need to have the knowledge to choose the bike that suits you best
4-      You need proper shoes to wear while riding your bike
5-      You need proper clothes to dress while riding the bile
6-      You need time to learn how to ride a bike
7-      You need a decent road to ride the bike
7b- You need a garden or a nice place to ride the bike to
8-      You need bandages and sterilizers in case you fell off the bike
9-      You need a house with a shower to wash up after riding the bike
10-   You need soap, water, a towel, and new clothes to wear after that shower
11-   You need a comb to comb your hair with after the shower
12-   You need a place to store your bike and a good lock so thieves won’t steal it

And finally, you need a government that can make all that possible

Do you still think it’s easy to ride your bicycle and go for a ride?”

I was a kid when I wrote that, and you can see it’s not the best piece of art, but what I love about it is that it shows clearly that I was going to grow up and be the person I am now. It shows how I’ve always had no hope in the current Syrian regime, and that I’ve always been disappointed in how Syria was.






أول شيء كتبته

لم تجر العادة أن أنشر ما أكتبه باللغة العربية و ستكون هذه المرة الأولى التي أقوم بها بنشر شيء بلغتي الأم
كنت أعبث بجرار ذكرياتي حيث أبقي أشيائي القديمة ذات القيمة المعنوية الكبيرة لي عندما وجدت قطعة ورق صغيرة, فتحتها و قرأت ما بها مبتسما. كانت مقالة صغيرة كنت قد كتبتها و أنا في الصف السابع (الأول الاعدادي) و نسيت أمرها الى الآن.
ليست المقالة ذات معان مهمة أو ابداع لغوي و لكنها أظهرت أني كنت طوال عمري ممتعضا من أداء الحكومة و النظام الحاكم في بلدي سوريا
سأنقل ما قد كتبت في تلك الورقة دون تعديل:

"تظن أنه من السهل أن تركب دراجتك و تذهب في نزهة. هل تدري ماذا تحتاج لتستطيع أن تذهب بنزهة على دراجتك؟
1-      تحتاج النقود الكافية لشراء الدراجة
2-      تحتاج أن تعرف مكانا لبيع الدراجات
3-      تحتاج لمعرفة بالدراجات لتختار الدراجة التي تناسبك
4-      تحتاج حذاء لتلبسه عند ركوبك الدراجة
5-      تحتاج ملابس لائقة لركوب الدراجة
6-      تحتاج وقتا لتعلم ركوب الدراجة
7-      تحتاج طريقا جيدا لتركب عليه الدراجة
7َ- تحتاج حديقة أو مكانا جميلا لتذهب اليه
8-      تحتاج بعض الضمادات و المعقمات في حال وقعت عن الدراجة
9-      تحتاج بيتا فيه حمام لتستحم بعد ركوب الدراجة
10-   تحتاج صابونا و ماء و منشفة و ملابس جديدة بعد استحمامك
11-   تحتاج مشطا لتمشط شعرك بعد الاستحمام
12-   تحتاج مكانا لتخبئة دراجتك فيه و قفلا محكما لمنع اللصوص من سرقتها
و أخيرا... تحتاج حكومة تحقق لك كل ذلك...

فهل ما تزال تظن أن ركوب الدراجة و الذهاب في نزهة أمر سهل؟"

كنت طفلا عند كتابتي هذه السطور و بامكانك ملاحظة ركاكة الأسلوب و التكرار و بعض الأخطاء اللغوية, لكن بنفس الوقت يظهر بشكل جلي مدى الجدية و الازعاج الموجودين في شخصي بذلك السن و هو الأمر الذي لم يتغير و لن يتغير الا بعد حصول التغيير المنشود في سوريا

41 comments:

  1. It doesn't matter what these governments do, we will still have our self-sanctify one way or another. Ur a cool guy being so optimistic at times.
    {Big Al is immortal syria, though the story we read!} KR

    ReplyDelete
  2. We hadn't seen any updates from you in a while, I'm glad you are OK and look forward to many positive notes from you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope for positive noted too. We need good news. Thank you

      Delete
  3. Just want to let you know, I found out about you and your blog in an Australian newspaper handed out for free at city train stations a couple of days ago. You're reaching us all the way out here! :) all the best.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Al, I have been following the news on Syria everyday and I found your blog on CNN. My heart is breaking for you and your country. Please know that I am praying for you, your family, and your people everyday. Thank you for sharing your story with the world. It has changed me in many ways.
    Blessings to you
    Ashley

    ReplyDelete
  5. In case you aren't aware of this one:

    A CNN article re: Big Al
    http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/04/world/syria-blogger/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I worked on this for CNN. Hope you liked it

      Delete
  6. Mesmo sendo um garoto você ja tinha principios e um boa visão da realidade de conseguir seus objetivos.
    Voce pode ser um grande governante!
    Porque para governar um pais você deve saber a trajetória das necessidades e a importancia de cada coisa e suas consequências ao adquirir, acredito que voce seja um bom homem generoso e de bom coração. Que Deus abençoe seu pais e que saia desta situação.
    Através de atitude e caráter de um menino conhecemos um grande homem.
    Parabéns pelo seu trabalho de divulgação, por que acredito que muitas pessoas anseiam pela noticia de que esta tudo bem, e que esta acontecendo a mudança e a guerra esta finda.
    E desejo do fundo de meu coração que esta crise acabe.



    Even as a boy you've had good principles and a vision of reality to achieve their goals.
    You can be a great ruler!
    For a country to govern the way you need to know the needs and importance of each thing and its consequences on the purchase, I believe you're a good man, generous and kind. May God bless your parents and get out of this situation.
    Through attitude and character of a boy found a great man.
    Congratulations on your advertising work, because I believe that many people long for the news that all is well, and that change is happening and the war ended.
    And I wish from the bottom of my heart that this crisis ends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for the kind words. I wish for that as well.

      Delete
  7. You are an inspiration Al. I pray for intervention and peace in your country as should all peoples of this planet. You story of sacrifice and courage is truly one all can learn from. Stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Big Al I found your blog on CNN and I'm glad that you are ok. My heart goes out to you and all the innocents in Syria. May the world not forget nor turn their heads away from what is happening in your country. I'm sorry you've seen little assistance from my country. Know that many here in the US support your cause for a free Syria and wish that our government (and those of other countries around the world) would do more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I wish the Security Council wasn't such a useless organization. The entire world as a united council should've acted not just one country. However we're glad we have some friends who might help us one way or another.

      Delete
  9. Agree with Bartoney, many here in the US are wishing we would step in and do something, sad to watch this go on day after day knowing it could be stopped. Our thoughts are with you and the people of your country. Like others have said you're an inspiration to people around the world and that's something they can never take from you... Keep your head up, there will be better days ahead

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. We will keep on doing what we can and hope for the best anyway.

      Delete
  10. Heya mate,

    Your blog is a window to things that most of the world are not even aware of. Every update is a relief for your readers and a sign that you're still fighting for your cause.

    Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Reading your posts AL makes me feel better during the shelling days. Here not so far from you, form a suburb of damascus inside syria i can find someone express what i wanted to.. thanks AL

    ReplyDelete
  12. Also, yeah, I hear you about the back thing. Don't let even tiny people walk on you - somewhere in your logical brain you knew that was going nowhere good, right?? :)
    That "I'm a doctor 'cause I knew someone who knew someone and this is what they did" thing is universal. Just smile and nod.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol, yes exactly. I went to a doctor in Damascus and sorted that out. The advice I got from random people were amazing lol

      Delete
  13. We met a family from Syria, here in Canada, through family friends. My 16 year old daughter and the Syrian family's 16 year daughter have been hanging out this summer and i have gotten to know her a bit. This war really hits home when you see that this beautiful teenage girl is just like any other teenager here in Canada and just wants to live a normal life. She just hopes that her country does not fall in the hands of Islamist if Assad is defeated - she wants more freedom, not oprresion under a different name.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all want that same thing. Well, the majority of us really.
      Hope they will get here soon to a better Syria.

      Delete
  14. Ha! A bit late but I just read this. Your thoughts are true even in a democracy. In Britain we are just starting to fight a lot about cyclists and cycle lanes. The thing about fighting about cycling lanes is that its a) sort of a fight about cycle lanes and b) sort of a fight about other things which are nothing to do with cycle lanes. You know how in the US people fight about abortion, and that's not really to do with babies, its really to do with what sort of country its going to be, whether its going to be homely mom-n-pop going to church kinda country or a different kinda one. In Britain we argue about cycle lanes because some people see us as drive-home-to-the-suburbs-mind-your-own-business kind of country, and when they see cyclists they get afraid that actually we're turning into a nation of organic-veg chomping multi-racial web designers hanging out on street corners painting things with spray cans. They actually perceive people on bicycles as evidence of a scary change in society. So people get really irate about things like cycle lanes and seeing a cyclist on the pavement. They look at it and see that the world is changing and it scares them. Sad, really. That's why the Olympics was good, because you could see some of that change actually coming out in the open and being a good thing. I wonder whether you saw this. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/10/carol-ann-duffy-olympics-london

    Anyway, can't imagine you made it out on a bicycle much recently. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow. Thank you very much for those nice words.
    I really am just a guy with a smartphone and time to write that's all.
    Thank you for your caring and prayers. I really appreciate it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Stay safe. Just watched a news video about the bombing at the bread lines in Bab ah-Hadid on August 21st and other bakeries and worried you were among them, then I found your recent comments here. Phew you are still alive.

    "Government forces attacked the bakery when local residents were waiting in line. That they gave no warning. The bakeries were in neighbourhoods or towns were no fighting was taking place. These repeated attacks are either deliberate attacks on civilians or they are reckless indiscriminate attacks, both of which are war crimes."

    The world is watching, so when this is finally over, it would be nice to know you are among its survivors. Stay safe. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Big Al - I haven't seen any new postings and hope all is ok with you and your family. I hope you keep up with the posts - I enjoy your stories and writings - I can almost visualize where you live and what you are doing. Be safe.
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot B! I've been having some hard time writing.. But I eventually wrote two articles and I'll post the links when they come out :)
      Thank you.

      Delete
  18. Hello, Al:

    I wrote you an email a while back and I check this blog every week to see how you're doing. I can tell by all these comments that I'm not the only one who checks in on you. I'm glad to see you're still posting and writing. I hope your family is as good as they can be in these circumstances. As I said in my email, I can't offer much, but you and the Syrian people are in my thoughts, prayers, and heart.

    Desiree

    ReplyDelete
  19. I just wanted to say I checked in to see if you are doing okay. I pray that the violence ends over in Syria soon even if the US does nothing you do have people over here praying that something puts an end to these senseless killings of innocent people by the Syrian government.
    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  20. Greetings from Canada Al,

    Have always loved your words, and love your bravery even more. I pray for you, and Syria always. I wanted to let you know your words make more of a difference than you may ever know. I am an Emergency and Critical Care nurse from Canada, and have decided to start a medical mission in Lebanon next month to help the Syrian Refugees who are injured. I arrive at the end of October, I will give you my contact information if you like... Please take care.

    Melissa

    ReplyDelete
  21. Salam from Texas, Big Al.

    You are a remarkable human being for doing this under such a difficult circumstances.

    None of us on the outside can truly appreciate your situation But please know that there are many people around the world of different faiths praying for you and sending you their best wishes.

    Too bad their governments do not do more to help you and the people of Syria.

    We can all only hope that these dark times will end soon.

    Please write more when you can.

    Best wishes

    John in Texas

    ReplyDelete
  22. Big Al, thankyou for sharing your thoughts and feelings with the online community. It is a truly brave and amazing that that you're doing. I am a student, learning about this conflict within Syria, and as the younger generation I pray that mercy and freedom may be bestowed upon Syria. May the future be full of hope and light. Hang in there, the whole world is watching Syria and its government, because people care. There are people from all over the world reading your posts, keep it up! If it's out there, people will find it. Good luck, take care and I wish the best for you.
    please reply!

    From: Esther in Australia


    ReplyDelete
  23. It's amazing how I heard about your blog here in Germany.
    I'm gonna make a presentation about Syria and I'm gonna include some of your poems, because they are so strong and really show what's going on there. More people here need to realize that we can't forget! We need to help.
    I hope you're okay, I really do! Let's hope for positiv news.
    Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thinking of you. First time writing, but I've been here many times to read. My thoughts and prayers for you.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Big Al!! It's been a while since you've posted. I hope you and your family are doing well. I will continue to check daily for an update from you!! Sending lots of love and good thoughts your way.

    ReplyDelete
  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow, the juxtaposition of these photos is intense. On a lighter note, have you heard about Syrians turning bombs into bicycles and flower pots? It's amazing. http://feed.vocativ.com/this-bike-is-the-bomb-repurposed-tools-of-death-in-syria/

    ReplyDelete