There are moments in the history of nations that do not permit return. Syria has entered one of those moments. What has happened over the past years – from collective bleeding, displacement, destruction to social fractures – has left only one clear lesson: there is no going back.
The issue today is not merely a struggle between political factions or intersections of private interests; it is a battle between those who want to exploit the desire to return to old methods of governance, and a popular majority that has decided not to allow that.
To speak of any group, no matter its size, being able to turn back the clock is a dangerous illusion. The reality is that whoever thinks of this option will collide with a strong popular stance that prefers stability, justice, and moving towards building institutions capable of protecting everyone, not stripping away rights.
The fatal mistake is to think that the battle will be only against a government or a specific political faction. This time the battle is wider: it is with the majority of the Syrian people who will not accept an assault on collective achievements, and will not tolerate any attempt to abolish rights or restore the logic of fear. Whoever wishes to play with the future of Syria will face a popular will that cannot be easily defeated.
Let us draw a clear line: defending the principle of not returning to the past does not mean excluding anyone. Whoever tries to justify their interests with nostalgia for an unjust era will fail, because society today does not operate solely with emotion, but with reason and future calculations. True progress births institutions that guarantee the rights of both majority and minority alike – and protecting these rights is what prevents any attempt to turn back the clock.
[by Faisal Alkasim in Al-Quds Al-Arabi]