الصفحة الرئيسية

Thursday, September 15, 2011

ANALYSIS OF THE PERSONALITY OF GADDAFI BY OMAR IHWAINISH 1

Gaddafi’s Personality
The mention of the Gaddafi name draws mixed reactions all over the world. A man who bounced to power on a platform of change through a revolution in 1969 has turned on his fellow citizens, keeling “rats” with vengeance. Literally, he confessed: “People who hate me are not worth living.” A recognizable evil icon, Gaddafi kills anybody who appears to cross his path. He has been in every corner of Libya through active informers scattered in all sectors including preparatory education quarters. His message was spread everywhere, right from the newborn to the oldest; all alike have learnt the benefits of the “taming of the tongue.” His style of leadership, the posturing and the remarks from the time of his crowning to date draws an image of a despot, a dictator with no kind words to people who would want to oppose “Brother Leader’s” half a century iron fisted rule (Tremlett, 1993).
To cultivate his personality among his people’s minds, he has never hesitated to use anything from photographic shoots, clothing, to flamboyant window-dressings, which would build a strong conspicuous image of a leader with long arms. The cancellation of school vacations in 1973 just to teach Gaddafi’s thoughts was clearly a pointer to his standard modus operandi that was to be applied throughout his reign in power. The recent utterances some made, standing in front of a gold statue portraying a gold fist crushing a United States fighter jet, reveals a cynic character ready to hold on to power through whatever means. Having the broader picture of a watching world, he did project an illusionary victory via carefully crafted images.
His reign has been characterized by forceful orders commissioning even the abstract to become a reality. The infamous ridiculous and forceful inclusion of the Green Book into the curriculum showed how hell bent he is to pouring his thoughts and other ramblings concerning everything starting from society ending with religion on his poor countrymen. Needless to say, many Libyans hate the book, but none dared to speak out, not when in the country. George Tremlett, a British author and former GLC member, reported to us that Libyan children spend at least two hours per week studying the book to complete curriculum coverage (Tremlett, 1993). Some extracts are broadcasted live every day on television channels and radio stations. The slogans are found on huge billboards and are extended to building paintings. Indeed, the ruler does not care how the thoughts are delivered to the subjects, as long as they reach the targets. He argues that “freedom of expression” is a fundamental right of every natural being whether he or she chooses to behave irrationally while expressing his or her insanity (Qaddafi, 1975). For over decades, the Green Book has been a symbol of oppression and public policing, and everyone with opposing views faced execution. Political space has become increasingly thin, as political parties are nonexistent. Importation of political thoughts is strictly prohibited and is punishable by three years imprisonment. Foreign languages were banned from school curricula.
To crown his overblown sense of importance, the self made King of kings of Africa’s appearances in public in the last few years have been a show of style that not only involve velvet and sequins but also black hat, dark sunglasses with shiny robes draped over his arms. He occasionally wears military outfits that marked his early years. These outfits more or less portray the mightiness that none seem to be recognizing unless forced to think so. Israeli Shimon Peres once remarked that no one needs him and he is better off working for Dior instead.
His obsession with power has prompted him to maintain a group of female bodyguards, always forty in number, and all supplied with military uniforms and make-up. The young women are trained just like the military men in all sorts of combat, and do keep him company wherever he goes. To show how insecure he is The Brother Leader handpicks these women by himself, most are virgins and reportedly never marry. His oppressive nature has been so dire that none could ever imagine starting a revolution if not only for the recent wave that apparently swept across the Arab world beginning from Tunisia.
Omar Ihwainish 
NY-USA
عمر أحوينش 
نيويورك - امريكا 

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