Streets Ablaze

After a hearty dinner of meat shawarma plate last night from one of our favorite Turkish restaurants, we went to church to attend a prayer meeting. When we drove past the police fort, we immediately noticed the uncharacteristically huge number of police in the streets. Then, Shaik Isa road, which has always turtle-paced traffic, has slower than the usual slow traffic.

It was only when we reached the part of the road in front of NEC that we realized that the street that separates NEC from the Ibn Haytham Islamic School was closed to traffic. not only was the road closed, but it was also where a truck and several other police vehicles are parked and around fifty policemen in battle gear are stationed. Above us, we realized the usual surveillance helicopter.

All this because a tiny minority was taking advantage of peaceful demonstrations, of legitimate opposition moves, and of legal redress of people's sentiments.

I consider myself militant. I am an activist. But, I am never an extremist. I value civil liberties and I would stand for freedom but I will never see the wisdom of using violence to drive my point.

What this rowdy minority (Extremists will always be in the minority) are doing is to sabotage, not only government, not only the legitimate opposition but the people in general. They are fomenting violence to escalate conflict and justify their course of action.

I still have faith in the peace and order situation in Bahrain. Certainly, this is not Iraq. I don't even believe that the recent spate of violence comes close to the civil unrest of the 1990's.

However, if the silent majority among the friendly and sensible Bahrain will not speak up, things may go awry. And the scene of fiery Daih Road in Jidhafs can become a regular occurrence.