Did You Know...
...Today (September 1st) is Uzbekistan's Independence Day? I didn't think so.
I had intended to write something at this juncture, celebrating the fall of Soviet tyranny, bemoaning the country's failure to achieve democracy, criticising the support of the West for Karimov's dictatorial regime and expressing hope that it will not have to wait much longer before its peoples hopes for freedom are realised. Unfortunately it's late, I'm tired and it is difficult to think of much I haven't already said on various occasions before. That being the case it might perhaps be better if I encouraged interested readers to look back at some of the things I've written previously:
I should stress that I don't think the situation is hopeless. Tyrants throughout history, many of them even worse than Islam Karimov have been removed from power. The collapse of the Soviet Union shows just how fragile even seemingly omnipotent, all-powerful governments can be. It is easy to be disillusioned (believe me, I know!), but dreams do not die and we dreamers may yet inherit the earth.
I had intended to write something at this juncture, celebrating the fall of Soviet tyranny, bemoaning the country's failure to achieve democracy, criticising the support of the West for Karimov's dictatorial regime and expressing hope that it will not have to wait much longer before its peoples hopes for freedom are realised. Unfortunately it's late, I'm tired and it is difficult to think of much I haven't already said on various occasions before. That being the case it might perhaps be better if I encouraged interested readers to look back at some of the things I've written previously:
The picture I paint is not a bright one, but is, I believe, essentially accurate.Back in the spotlight (2/4/04) Powder Keg that is about to explode (7/4/04) The SCO Get Together (19/6/04) What's Happening in Uzbekistan? (28/7/04) Explosions in Tashkent (30/7/04) Explosions in Tashkent, Part 2 (30/7/04)
I should stress that I don't think the situation is hopeless. Tyrants throughout history, many of them even worse than Islam Karimov have been removed from power. The collapse of the Soviet Union shows just how fragile even seemingly omnipotent, all-powerful governments can be. It is easy to be disillusioned (believe me, I know!), but dreams do not die and we dreamers may yet inherit the earth.
Posted by Disillusioned kid at Wednesday, September 01, 2004
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