09/09/2013
AS WE APPROACH TH FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA, CHRIS STEVENS 9/11/2012, we need to remember his life and death and honor and carry on his legacy.
Most of our almost 10,000 members were not here in the initial months of the group’s existence. The experiences the charter members had during the first three months are significant to what this group is today. I am one of the charter members and many of the administrators are charter members. I would like to share a “comment to a post” I made in December 2012. It sums up how I reacted to my experiences and how I developed the love and respect I have for this group during the first three months of its existence that endure to this day – compounded by hundreds more experiences!
December 2012 – From Dee Mikesell Higuera
As to the question about fewer questions being asked about Libya and Islam: I am going to be blatantly honest and that’s uncomfortable for me, but I think it’s important….and I am only speaking for myself. I am emotionally overwhelmed with my experiences with this group since I joined almost three months ago.
In those almost three months, I read of deep sorrows from those who have almost always lived in a war-torn country and who lived with death and destruction under an insane dictator who r***d Libya in every way possible over a 42 year period. I sobbed when I learned so many of you had lost all or several friends and relatives. I watched live stream on September 21st as so many of you bravely marched in peace over your sorrow for the loss of Chris Stevens and the other Americans and Libyans who were with him or tried to save him. I was online with you when eight young Libyan men were slain the evening of the peace march and I saw photos of their dead bodies. I ached with you over how painful it is to be judged as a nation for what a few crazy people did -- for whatever reasons. I read your poetry, saw photos of your beautiful country, and learned about Islam and Libya’s culture and history. I saw photos of bloodied, dead children and had to go vomit. I read the pain in between the lines of intense discussions and light-hearted jokes. I read about “G’s” soldiers ra**ng and torturing entire families in front of each other while videotaping them, then putting the videos on the internet….an act of deliberate cultural genocide, in my opinion. I read about those Libyans who were exiled from Libya and who are still not totally welcome to return. I read posts from both sides of the Israel/Palestine issue and was totally shocked and surprised at some of the hateful posts. I reached a point (before the separate Israel/Palestine discussion group was formed) where I knew the Libyan/American group had reached a turning point and I mourned over the loss of the original group.
When I joined this group, my main focus was to learn about Libya and Libyans and to see if I could be helpful, even if just as a cheerleader, in the ongoing process of Libya’s rebuilding of their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual infrastructure. I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten to know and love a group of people so quickly in my entire 66 years and I still have a lot more I want to know and learn about all of you. However, right now, I am trying to process three months of information and emotions and renew my spirit so I can continue to be constructively supportive of this group.
Ms.Dee Mikesell
