I Look Like the Libyan Dictator: Perhaps I Can Be His Double!

I Look Like The Libyan Dictator: Perhaps I Can Be His Double!

Take a look at these two pictures above. The one of me on the left and the other of the Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. His name is spelled a hundred different ways! We kind of look alike, right? Well I recently met a Libyan student in Toronto that thought Gaddafi and I looked alike! My roots are in North Africa (Jewish Moroccan), like the Libyan autocrat. The Libyan told me that in current pictures of Gaddafi, we don't look alike and that the authoritarian leader is looking crazier than ever! I guess that if Gaddafi was younger (he has been in power since a 1969 coup d'etat), I could have been his double. In popular lore that is sometimes hard to distinguish from political truth, did not Tito or Saddam Hussein have many doubles?

Gaddafi is a man in search of a role. The anniversary of his birthday is coming up on June 7, 1942. To add to the Gaddafi connections, I was also born in June! His upcoming anniversary has made me reflect about this enigmatic figure, the author of Green and White books, the Brother Guide and Leader of the Revolution, the man that has penned short stories, and proposed a one-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a recent New York Times op-ed (April 1, 2009). He has gone from outright terrorist supporter (remember Pan-Am and arming the PLO) to a fighter against international terrorism. From pan-Arab socialist agitator he became a critic of the Arabs and longed for pan-African unity. He has stated that he is allegedly willing to compensate Jews that were officially expelled from Libya after the Six-Day War in 1967.

Gaddafi, of course, is known for his theatrical performances on the international stage. Here is a recent gem:

"I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa and the imam (leader) of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lower level."

And a second Gaddafi gem:

"Whenever I ask about Pepsi Cola or Coca Cola, people immediately say it is an American or European drink ... this is not true, the cola is African! They have taken the cheap raw material from us and produced it into a drink [that] they sell [back]for an exorbitant price! Why are Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola expensive? Because they have taken our cola and cheated us! We should produce it ourselves!"

Gaddafi clearly wants to leave his mark on history. His ideological migrations have been all over the map. What remains is the authoritarianism. Despite the direct democracy calls, Libyan consultative popular assemblies, and the blistering rhetoric, authoritarianism has remained since 1969. The attacks on any opposition, the jailing of dissidents (including the recent death of democracy activist Fathi Eljhami), the arbitrary arrests, and the lack of press freedoms remain. There have been numerous assassination attempts and even riots against his rule. Gaddafi is the model of the Arab world: Whether secular, monarchical, or religious, the region has remained thoroughly authoritarian. Democracy is a dead letter. Popular democratic participation, mass education, and power-sharing are all fictions. This is detrimental to peace for Arabs internally and in respect of conflicts with Israel and the wider world.

Tribe, faith (pan-Islam), nation, pan-Arabism (the political unity of Arabs from Morocco to Iraq), and socialism have all struggled for political ascendancy in Libya and the wider Arab world. Democracy has made few inroads, despite elections in Iraq. Pan-Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise, socialism in rapid decline. Pan-Arab unity had its heyday with Nasser, but is now a fading mirage. Tribalism, nationalism, and authoritarianism are the embedded realities in Libya and the Arab world.

Which ideology Gaddafi will gravitate towards next all depends on where he can make his mark in history. When Gaddafi exits the stage of history, perhaps I can be his double in a play about his life! My acting skills need help, but I have been watching his videos on his personal site to get ready to showcase my theatrical skills to the world! Check out the site below:

http://www.algathafi.org/html-english/index.htm

In the meantime, may Libyans and Arabs find ways to abolish antiquated systems of authoritarian governance! It will truly help the struggle for global peace.

Tamir Bar-On