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I'm sorry I can't find the source now as I heard this on the radio a few days ago, but there was a recent independent poll where over 50% of the polled Syrian c

I'm sorry I can't find the source now as I heard this on the radio a few days ago, but there was a recent independent poll where over 50% of the polled Syrian citizens were in favour of Assad remaining in power. In fact the poll was specific enough to indicate that this did not mean that these people were strong Assad supporters. But that they merely feared the instability that would arise if Assad the the government surrounding him was dismantled. Clearly he's not the most popular guy in school and his methods of staying in power are very manipulative and unfair, but any support he might have is real. And if we're counting years-in-power, the Queen just celebrated her 60th jubilee yesterday. Is her power legitimate? How popular is she in the commonwealth?

noarchy 15y ago
You've said elsewhere that you live in Canada. Then you should know that this is far from an apples-to-apples comparison. The Queen has little real power in Canada. Where I happen to live (Québec), she is quite unpopular, but at the same time, she is not the head of government, merely the head of state. The distinction is vital, and is why people rightly focus on the Prime Minister and the Parliament when talking about policy and governance in this country.
pooriaazimi 15y ago
> ...a recent independent poll where over 50% of the polled Syrian citizens were in favour of Assad remaining in power. My dear friend... When you're living in a country that the leaders use frickin' TANKS to kill the opposition, if someone called you at home and asked you whether you're in favor of the government, unless you're a very brave man who is ready for the consequences, you say 'Yes sir, I am' - not because you like the ruling regime, but you think that this might be a trap set by the government to catch more rebels. I think you've had the luxury of living in a free country and can't imagine the fear that people feel under totalitarian regimes. Please, understand the fact that things are different in free countries that what they are in Syria, North Korea and Iran (where I live). You can start by reading '1984', by George Orwell to get a feeling of how dictatorships work.
- pooriaazimi 15y ago
  Another point about your 'poll': Did you know that Saddam Hussein received[1] a %99.96 approval in a referendum held in 1995?! That means only 3600 Iraqis did not approve of him! I think that gives you a better idea about how 'polls' work in other countries :-) I doubt that even Steve Jobs (who turned Apple from a $1B company to a $400B one) would've received a 99.96% approval from Apple board... [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/16/world/threats-responses-support-for-hussein-show-loyalty-just-say-yes-iraq-vote-for.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/16/world/threats-responses-su...
- mladenkovacevic 15y ago
  You definitely have a point there. I haven't had to protest, fight with riot police, bang on pots and pans, walk for miles squeezed between 500,000 other protesters for over a decade now so I have become rather sheltered and philosophical here in Canada. Sometimes nothing quite works like the sheer force of people united with a single cause and a thirst for freedom of mind and body. I hope for nothing but the best for your nation as well as Syria in the future. I have a lot of Persian friends here and I know how fun/awesome they are and how depressing it would be if they had to hold their true opinions secret. I need to stop posting here or I will be down-voted into oblivion lol but just wanted to let you know that I hope we can all party someday in your city or mine without fear of anyone. Cheers.
desas 15y ago
What power does the queen actually hold?

noarchy 15y ago

You've said elsewhere that you live in Canada. Then you should know that this is far from an apples-to-apples comparison. The Queen has little real power in Canada. Where I happen to live (Québec), she is quite unpopular, but at the same time, she is not the head of government, merely the head of state. The distinction is vital, and is why people rightly focus on the Prime Minister and the Parliament when talking about policy and governance in this country.

pooriaazimi 15y ago

> ...a recent independent poll where over 50% of the polled Syrian citizens were in favour of Assad remaining in power. My dear friend... When you're living in a country that the leaders use frickin' TANKS to kill the opposition, if someone called you at home and asked you whether you're in favor of the government, unless you're a very brave man who is ready for the consequences, you say 'Yes sir, I am' - not because you like the ruling regime, but you think that this might be a trap set by the government to catch more rebels. I think you've had the luxury of living in a free country and can't imagine the fear that people feel under totalitarian regimes. Please, understand the fact that things are different in free countries that what they are in Syria, North Korea and Iran (where I live). You can start by reading '1984', by George Orwell to get a feeling of how dictatorships work.

pooriaazimi 15y ago
Another point about your 'poll': Did you know that Saddam Hussein received[1] a %99.96 approval in a referendum held in 1995?! That means only 3600 Iraqis did not approve of him! I think that gives you a better idea about how 'polls' work in other countries :-) I doubt that even Steve Jobs (who turned Apple from a $1B company to a $400B one) would've received a 99.96% approval from Apple board... [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/16/world/threats-responses-support-for-hussein-show-loyalty-just-say-yes-iraq-vote-for.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/16/world/threats-responses-su...
mladenkovacevic 15y ago
You definitely have a point there. I haven't had to protest, fight with riot police, bang on pots and pans, walk for miles squeezed between 500,000 other protesters for over a decade now so I have become rather sheltered and philosophical here in Canada. Sometimes nothing quite works like the sheer force of people united with a single cause and a thirst for freedom of mind and body. I hope for nothing but the best for your nation as well as Syria in the future. I have a lot of Persian friends here and I know how fun/awesome they are and how depressing it would be if they had to hold their true opinions secret. I need to stop posting here or I will be down-voted into oblivion lol but just wanted to let you know that I hope we can all party someday in your city or mine without fear of anyone. Cheers.

desas 15y ago

What power does the queen actually hold?