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By Mohamed Bughrara.

A decade on from Libyas 17 February 2011 revolution: from joy, to heartbreak, to hope again (Photo: Artistic imprints on the walls of Free Libya Facebook page).

17 February 2021:

February 17th, 2011 was a monumental moment in every Libyans heart. The eight-month revolution was filled with joy, tears, and optimism. As an 18-year-old kid, I felt more powerful and represented than ever before. Ten years later, that feeling is replaced with heartbreak, pain, and held by an Achilles heel. Although our voices are no longer occupied by the iron fist, it seems like that closed fist has opened up and is now covering our mouths, silencing our voices. The injustice were witnessing in Libya has amounted to so much corruption, that the concept of right and wrong is questioned.

Nevertheless, with all this chaos Libya remains still. Libya patiently waits for the countrys internal division to become solely unified. Libya remains patient as all its civilians come together as one merged voice, from the kids playing on the streets of Tripoli to the mothers preparing meals for their families in Benghazi, and every person in the country. Libya has provided every resource for its people to excel, however, we continued to take more than we give, this ultimately tilted the scale of peace and justice. However, Libya remains patient and still.

Even with a decade full of shortcomings, hope and optimism will remain strong. Once were able to take a hard look in the mirror and start incorporating healthy and progressive habits towards Libya, only then, will we grow socially, politically, and economically. Libya and its people have the opportunity to influence the continent and the Arab member states. Its up to our voices to combat the diaspora within Libya.

A Libyan, born in Alexandria, Egypt, Mohamed Bughrara migrated with his family to the United States at a young age. He was heavily involved in Libya during the 2011 revolution and started multiple social media outlets helping families reconnect and reporting credible information. He also organized charity events before experiencing the front lines. That experience propelled him to continue aiding the region. He was featured in published stories such as Voice 4 Libya and had local media exposure after the fall of Qaddafi due to his organizations work. He has participated in multiple international conferences including the World Youth Forum. His recent project was with Global Scholars where he was stationed in Lebanon working at refugee camps with displaced civilians from Syria and Palestine. In Washington State, Mohamed has worked with the Washington State Legislature and contributed with multiple local and national political campaigns. Currently, Mohamed is a Foreign Affairs Analyst for Libyan American Alliance and pursuing a Masters in Policy with a focus on Decolonization methods in Libya.

The views in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Libya Herald.

This article was contributed by the writer as part of a series of pieces by a number of female and male youth, in and outside Libya, invited by Libya Herald to reflect on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 17 February 2011 Libyan Revolution.

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Op-Ed: Libya's 17 February Revolution Joy, heartbreak, and hope | - Libya Herald