Monday, February 14, 2011

 

To the ramparts, Razorites! Yemen needs slogans!



It appears that Yemenis have now caught the revolutionary fever that is sweeping North Africa, and many have taken to the streets to protest the government in power. It's a fascinating development, and one that could be very good (if it leads to democracy) or very bad (if almost anything else results).

Outcomes aside, here is the part of the story that I found really appalling:

Several people were injured in Sunday's demonstrations, and police detained 23 protesters, witnesses said. The Interior Ministry, which oversees the internal security forces, accused the protesters of "spreading sabotage and chaos" and "threatening security and stability." The crowds took up the protest cry that became famous in Tunisia and then in Egypt, shouting, "The people want to overthrow the regime."

Really, Yemenis? The best you can do for a revolutionary slogan is "the people want to overthrow the regime?"

Please! Is all sense of poetry dead? Please, please, fellow Razorites-- let's send the Yemenis what they need more than anything: A decent slogan.

To help you compose your slogan, here are a few fast facts about Yemen:

1) The current leader there is Ali Abdullah Saleh.
2) Saleh has given his sons key leadership positions
3) Saleh has relied on the support of the U.S. in his three decades of rule
4) As part of a coordinated effort to beat back the protesters, police were armed with... sticks.
5) The chewing of mildly-narcotic khat is popular in Yemen
6) In 1995, Yemen fought a three-day war with Eritrea over the contested island of Hanish.

So, let's get to work!

Comments:
The slogan on that guy's hands is very lame, also-- "go out."
 
Give it a hollah!
We don't want ya, Saleh!
 
"It looks like you are trying to overthrow the government. Would you like some help?"
 
I can't help the Yeminis but Happy Valentine's Day!
 
Maybe he meant "go to the mattresses"
which is probably not a good idea... Ali Abdullah Saleh sounds scary.
 
Sorry no slogan here.

I'm a bit concerned about the cascading unrest in the Middle East. It is a tinder box ready to explode and it is not going to be pretty.
 
A disturbing element of this photo and others from Yemen, is that unlike the photos from Egypt, it does not feature any women.
 
الشعب يريد اسقاط النظام
 
"Smoke 'em if you got 'em"

"Saleh, Saleh, Saleh is on fire. We don't need no water let the mother f'er burn."

"What do we want? Islamic overlords! When do we want them? Now!"

"If you ain't no punk, holla 'we want Sharia law!' (response of crowd). 'We want Sharia law!'"
 
RRL just made my day with no. 2. I can't stop laughing.
 
Yemen, get out now.
We need freedom, we need hope
We need a new leader.
 
حيث سروالي؟
 
Say "so long" Saleh.
 
You khat keep us down!


Yeah, that's all I got. :/
 
It's toasted!
 
and the reason they can't shout any good slogans - wait for it --- the khat got their tongues.
 
OOPS - forgot to sign the last post -

Lee
 
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