Syrian Conflict Escalates, Citizens Forced to Take Sides in Civil War

As it stands right now, the situation in Syria has been getting progressively worse and shows no signs of brightening. The civil war between the Assad regime and the general population of Syria has been raging for about two years now. It’s hard to believe it all started because of political protests led by the citizens, who were spurred on by other Arab countries at the time doing similar things, against the Assad regime. The regime then struck back fiercely with mass arrests and military crackdowns, which led to the current war. There may also have been some religious reasons for the war as well, as the government was represented by a minority Arab sect while the citizens were mainly comprised of another Arab sect. This past week, I sat in on a meeting between members of a small Syrian town discussing the options that would be best for the town. The main options that were discussed in this meeting were to rally the town and flee the country, to join in arms, to protest, whether peacefully or not, or stay in the town and protect each other. Fleeing was one of the first options brought up, and many thought it to be a good idea. However, the more it was discussed, the more flaws were seen in the plan. Where would they go? Would they be safe if they relocated? Is it really worth it to start your life over for something so uncertain? The option was soon discarded after these glaring facts were introduced. Next on the docket was to join in arms, which some were for just so they could be a part of the rebirth of their country. Although not a safe option, it certainly was a popular one, and many believed it would be better if foreign aid arrived, which was being discussed by some major countries. Another popular option was to protest, although after seeing how the Syrian government treated protesters in the beginning, it may be too little too late. However, some argued, if they were able to protest quietly by aiding those taking arms, they may be of more assistance than if they actually fought in the war. The final option discussed was to stay put in their town and wait it out. This was received the worst as many thought it to be too risky. The chance of them being hit with mortars or chemical attacks greatly rose if the government zeroed in on their position and they didn't leave. If I were a citizen of this town, I would have to choose to protest by aiding those taking up arms against the government. This way, I would actually be a part of my country’s rebuild and may have more of a say if it gets completely overhauled. One thing is for certain, the tension in Syria will not let up any time soon, so stay tuned for more coverage.