Toronto for a Free Libya - www.libyatoronto.com

My connection with Libya comes from two vacation trips my wife and I made to Libya. 

We first went there in March, 2006 to see a solar eclipse. We had seen a few eclipses in the past, and although not hard-core "eclipse chasers", looked into the best places to see this one. It seemd that the best location was Libya.

Like many others, I knew little about the country other than desert and Gaddafi. "Why would anyone want to go to Libya?" I asked myself. A little research into the spectacular beauty of the Sahara, the riches of its historic sites convinced us.

After two weeks there (see my journal of that trip), we were ovewhelmed with all those things, but also discovered the real treasure of Libya: the people.

We returned again the next year to see other parts of Libya, but also to be able to spend time with the many friends we had met. On that second trip, we had time to learn more about the people there and life in Libya. We got to know a number of Libyans, their familes and friends; saw some of everyday life. We were equally moved by our experences on that trip.

And we were even more convinced about the untold damage Gaddafi has done to the country and the people. It was clear what people thought of him, and the harm he had done to their lives. How he profited from the oil wealth of Libya, but they still had poor health care, education and other basic services.

However, given the reign of terror he held over people and his tight security apparatus, we were not hopeful that anything would change soon.

When this year, the popular uprisings overthrew governments in Tunisia and Egypt, we of course wondered about the country between them, but could not forsee a successful uprising. As word first came that there were calls for a day of protest ("Day of  rage") on Feb. 17, we knew that unlike Tunisia and Egypt, it would be met with brutal repression.

Within a day or two, the scope was obvious, and it was equally clear that despite the overwhelming opposition to Gaddafi, the Libyans would need some kind of outside help.

Since the Libyan revolution began, our emotions have gone from fear, to exhilaration, to horror. It's been truly awe-inspiring to see what the Libyans are capable of. It's bravery, but it is also evidence of just how much abuse and terror Gaddafi has put them through.

Look at the joy in people as they finally get to express the disgust and hatred they feel for the tyrant who has terrorized them for forty years. Watch the shoes (about 10 seconds into the clip) sailing toward the giant television screen showing Gaddafi's lunatic speech of Feb. 22; look at the many videos of people tearing down Gaddafi billboards, burning his posters, and ripping up his ludicrous "Green Book". It will warm your heart.

We have one very close friend in Benghazi who has been alive 14 years less than Gaddafi has been in powerr. He had, until recently, been disgusted with the state of his country, and was determined to leave it. The day after the uprisings began in that city, I spoke with him on the phone and he told me that they would win. I didn't have the heart to tell him I didn't think it was possible. Soon, I changed my mind, but it is still going to be very difficult.

Most notably on that call, I sensed that perhaps for the first time, he was proud of his country, and he told me more than once that he was ready to die for it. (We have another friend in Benghazi who was shot, but is doing well).

When I got off that phone call, I was extremely emotional... filled with fear (for him and other Libyans), pride in what they were doing, and extreme frustration that we couldn't be there to help. However, I decided that, while Libyans were risking their lives and dying for their long-denied freedoms, I had to do something; I had to do whatever I could do.

A few minutes later, I picked up the phone and called my MP's office. I wrote an email to Canada's Foreign Minster and the Prime Minister. I emailed the Libyan embassy. Two days later, we were at Yonge-Dundas Square at a large rally for Libya. I went up to some of the TV stations covering the event, and talked about what the Libyans were going through.

It is clear to anyone watching is that the people will not be defeated. There is no reason for them to surrender after all this. As many of them have said, in one way or the other... even if they surrender, he'll kill them.

Inshallah, the next time we see our friends it will be in a free Libya. If we see any billboards there of Gaddafi clasping his hands in the air, it will be with handcuffs around his wrists.