It is a long time since I wrote. In this time I have been growing my second baby, and I guess that is the reason that I have not been busy with other things. There are still 3 months to go, but I cannot avoid what is going on in the area where I kind of originate from, i.e. Mid East/North Africa. This is especially true as I was in Israel for a visit just a month ago.

My first thoughts as I got on my Lufthansa flight back to Germany were "The people here are all mad". And I of course did not mean any individual, but the systems that make the region a troublesome one. Even the democratic Israel has many internal problems, which make living there also far below the European standards.

So, these thoughts obviously did not affect only me. The people of so many countries are finally rising. It is the first time that they are standing up to their own countrymen and not colonialists for many of them. Well done to them first of all. It is tragic and high prices are being paid, but WELL DONE. I am so far removed that I can do almost nothing but to watch in awe.

I do not really know how best to even start on this subject and tackle my blog. I will just let my stream of consciousness take over. It usually knows best. I will first mention my first and foremost thought.

All the Arab lands that are revolting should hope the big father moves as it is behind many issues and problems. That is the big rich father, Saudi Arabia. Nothing is happening there yet, and why not? Not because life is great, but because the ruling family is rich and POWERFUL. It supports many radical groups (officially and not) and has paid for wars (Iraq v Iran) and would do so again. IT is the problem to tackle before anyone else like waanabe Iran. I have a list of countries to make it easier to handle writing the thoughts.

Egypt
This ancient land is seen as Arabic of course, but is where much of the world's civilisation comes from. It enjoyed some time of pro-Egyptian and national thinking until Hosni Mobarak came. HM was rather worried about the Islamic movement and made it his excuse to suppress the people and succeeded. He and his regime persecuted gays, but did not do much to increase education among the masses of their huge population. He had to go, let us hope the military will not simply keep people suppressed, but will allow them freedom. And I mean ALL of the people, although the name Muslim brotherhood sends shudders down my spine. But, if that is what the people want, not allowing them it will cause more long term problems. Just look at not far away Algeria!

Tunisia
They started the revolution - for all the right reasons. After the colonialists went, why should a fellow countrymen colonise them? The corrupt head of state has gone, but where to? Haha, Saudi. Yes, my theory warms up. Tunisia had some golden moments and can have them again. Democracy is what they want and should get. Without oil wealth to spoil things, they should do well.

Algeria
Oh, dear oh dear. What has Algeria not tried in the last 50 years? Monarchy. Otherwise, colonialism, revolution, nationalism, communism/socialism, semi-democracy, islamism, militarism, democracy, semi-democracy and now again semi-revolution. Sadly, lots of wealth (not for the individual people) corrupts all at the top. The winners stay the same, an elite connected to the army.

Libya
As I write the most tragic of the cases. Gaddafi the first and his son are quashing every protest extremely violently. Where will it end? Even the police in Algeria was a bit less brutal. Again the national income corrupts and disrupts. Is there hope? I think Gaddafi will go soon, but what will become of the country? Chaos I think.

Morocco
Still only minimal protests. The king is the head of everything and along with his father has managed to quash many voices, from islamic to democratic to ex-friends'. Nothing much will change here in the near future.

Bahrain
Uprisings are not new, just newly widely reported. The structure is in need of great upgrade if Bahrain wants to survive. The majority needs a voice. The king will have to give in.

Iran
Long and complex issues. But, the end of this regime is near. Democracy can be the replacement. The people are ready for that.

Yemen
The president has already said he is going, but the neighbour Saudi has far too much influence here.

The list I have not tackled includes Oman, UAE, Lebanon and Syria. They are themselves lots of other stories, with probably little change coming soon.