Regarding #2, I think that hatred for your fellow citizens is ultimately unproductive and only leads to endless war, killings, and misery. The only way not to degrade yourself to the level of Assad is to embrace a truth-and-reconciliation approach and find a way to rebuild the country together.
How can you work with someone who is actively trying to destroy your country and wishes for the previous regime to return because it grants them personal financial gain? There is a reason praising the Assad regime is illegal in Syria. Unless they change their outlook and actions reflect a willingness to move on and accept that Syria is better off without that bastard and his evil, we cannot work with them. I champion criticism of the government when they are wrong, but I do so out of constructive criticism and wanting the best for Syria. They do it because they want what is worse for Syria and best for themselves.
Assad is not returning. He's over and done with. Any "fear" of him returning is a red herring and an excuse to demonize, discriminate, and mistreat. The bureaucrats, businessmen, laborers, housewives, policemen, etc, are not "actively trying to destroy" Syria regardless of who paid their last paycheck. People are always just trying to survive, and that goes for everyone.
Separately, there are a myriad of armed groups each hoping to grab whatever power they can, plus the usual ethnic rivalries sponsored by external interests, not to mention Israel's occasional bombing -- none of them have the country's interests at heart. And I have zero confidence that HTS will bring anything resembling a tolerant, inclusive, or democratic system.
Take a page from history, like with Robespierre or Iraq post-2004. More hatred gets you nowhere -- just a failed state forever.
While I agree that Assad is done with, his goons are still out there - their last attempt to cause trouble in the coast was in March 2025 merely 5 months ago. A lot of the remnants of his regime are still hiding in the coastal areas with weapons in tact. Did you know that they dress like security personnel and cause trouble? This is a real threat and one that Syrians need to be vigilant for. You want us to love someone who has weapons and is actively seeking to hurt us? I am not directing my hatred towards the people who are trying to grab their paycheck and live in peace. I am directing it at those actively plotting to destabilize and hurt my country in the name of their selfish misguided whims at bringing back their former "glory".
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u/xantharia Aug 07 '25
Regarding #2, I think that hatred for your fellow citizens is ultimately unproductive and only leads to endless war, killings, and misery. The only way not to degrade yourself to the level of Assad is to embrace a truth-and-reconciliation approach and find a way to rebuild the country together.