This is the place on the World Wide Web where the Voices 4 Libya project soon will publish over 60 short stories from people all over the world who have supported the epic struggle of that country as it overthrew its dictator.
Most of the stories come from all corners of Libya, from freedom fighters, wounded FF ["FF" == thuwar, that means freedom fighters; western media called them rebels instead of revolutionaries], martyrs’ loved ones, family members, doctors and nurses who healed the wounded FF, every day Libyans and their national heroes. We have the stories from Masoud, the epic Libyan guitar hero, who became famous for playing his songs on a guitar in battle. We have the story from Madhi Zew’s daughter and cousin; Madhi Zew gave his life to breach Benghazi Katiba on Feb 20th. We have the story about Mo Nabbous from someone in his family, and many more …
All stories will be available in both Arabic and English language. The latter as printed book, too, where all earnings will be split between the families of the martyred heroes and the children/orphans of the war. There will be no shortage of good causes in Libya.
Please stay tuned, and add this page to your bookmarks (CTRL+D).
Thank you!
I wonder if you would be interested in my contribution. I have lived abroad, and travelled. I first visited Libya in 06, and fell in love with the place. I kept returning vowing it would be my “last” visit. I formed close friendships and became adopted by one family. Went to weddings etc.
One of my adopted family was living here in the UK (reading history….it’s odd…even now that automatic response to not give out any information that might put a loved one in danger is still present!!). On Febuary 19th I offered to help the as best I could to free Libya.
Like all Libyans not within the elite Ghadaffi (I used the term gDaffi Duck) circle I had no idea what was happening to those I had grown to love. The Libyans here in the UK didn’t know what to do…and neither did I. I could have walked away…but I couldn’t.
I was asked if I could go to a demonstration by a Libyan friend. He was going to be busy trying to drum up support from the British press. And so I found myself the next day sitting in a London cafe trying to think, knowing I was about to do something I had never done in my life. I was so terrified I couldn’t even hold a glass of water, let alone drink the cappuccino now going cold. I was holding back tears of pure fear. Then I got up.
As I approached Downing Street I imagined me and 10 Libyans standing alone. But I could not believe my eyes. There must have been at least a thousand there….And so this was the start for me.. The start of an exhausting battle to free Libya. Raising petitions, writting on FB and bloggs, going to meetings, vigils, demonstrations. Not sleeping because, like many, a lot of the time I had no idea how my family and friends were doing in Libya.
A lot of friends deserted me but a few stood by me. My marriage suffered. But I was totally focused, even when I thought I had lost two Libyan brothers. Even when it looked like I would never see or feel Libya again…And…I discovered a courage I never thought I had…a steely determination to do what was right by Libya.
The hardest thing was facing the fact that most Europeans were simply not interested, a shocking apathy.
Hello Allison. This is truly touching and expresses what most of us Libyans felt at the time. We too discovered courage we never thought we had and saw the true metal of our people that was covered with 40 years of mud and fealth. We rediscovered an inate courage and we also discovered each other. Thank you…and I believe you are as much a libyan as any of us.
Hello Abdallah and Allison
Thank you both for your comments. The stories for “Voices 4 Libya” have been gathered and collated etc., but we are very glad that you have both shared something of your own stories here on our website. Here, they will be read by others just as stories in the book will be read. Every story helps to spread knowledge about the ways in which people in Libya and around the world stood up for ideals of justice and freedom in order to help make Libya a better place for everyone.
On behalf of the Voices 4 Libya Project team, I thank you.