2012 Salute to Nurses Breakfast
2012 Cincinnati Reds
Dancing With The Stars finale
Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2011 > February > 24 > Entry
Looking for Libya…
Millions of people all over the world have been watching these amazing scenes from the Arab world, the fall of governments. First Tunisia, then Egypt. Now Libya appears to be on the verge of liberation from 4 decades of a bizarre dictatorship.
I have always wanted to visit Libya. Like Cuba, it has been virtually shut off from the world for years. Sure, you could visit these countries but you were often under state security surveillance if you did.
Libya has ancient Roman ruins, pristine beaches, and very few tourists. That was always an attraction for me. Libya, land of mystery.
I knew a guy in high school who grew up there. His dad worked for a major oil company there during the 1960’s. His family had to leave when “The Colonel” took over Libya and nationalized the oil industry.
About 8 years ago I was waiting to catch a plane to Lithuania. I was in an obscure terminal in the Frankfurt (Germany) airport. There were a number of gates there for departing flights. The one next to ours was for a flight to Tripoli, Libya. I couldn’t help but notice the passenger who was waiting for that plane. There was only one, a woman who looked like she was in her fifties. She was dressed very conservatively; veiled, dark sunglasses.
When I’m waiting for a plane I will usually allow my mind to wander, watching people, imagining their life stories. I observed this woman out of the corner of my eye for several hours. And I wondered, what is her story??
Eight years ago you couldn’t freely travel in and out of Libya without major hassles. So who was she? Was she related to “The Colonel?” I was intrigued.
And I keep checking the news for new developments in this revolution unfolding in Libya. “The Colonel” is at war with his own people. And information is hard to come by. The internet has gone dark over there. What’s really going on there?
I checked Amazon.com to look for recent books about Libya. The most current one came out in August 2007. It’s a tourist guide; “Lonely Planet”s Libya (Country Guide) [Paperback]”.
You can bet there will be a flood of books about Libya very soon….
Fascinating.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Tweet
Comments
By downsized
February 27, 2011 1:25 PM | Link to this
We give more money to Israel than we ever did to Egypt, with less results. Prose is mocking us by using FDR lines like ” happy days are here again”. Until the liberals are finally stopped from spending money on anything but, jobs and liberty we are doomed. We have troops abroad to protect American citizens and investment. These markets are a vital key to me never being “downsized” again. All is not well in America, yet. We must dismantle the liberal programs and chokehold effect they have on education, churches and government. Their peculiar form of secularism has gone too far, and now real Americans are just starting to restore our nation to greatness. The courage shown by the Governor of Wisconsin is just the beginning. Lewd, obnoxious union toadyism will not stop “We the People” from their theft of taxpayer funds. Since, I started watching FOX news the real truth has changed me into a true believer. Wealthy people create jobs. Not whining, over paid so called “workers”, who appear to have lots of time to chant on our dime.
By Irishguy
February 26, 2011 11:14 PM | Link to this
Wow, looks like Downsized and Prose are on the same page. I just hope Egypt and Libya don’t turn into a repeat of the Iranian revolution.
By downsized
February 26, 2011 8:06 PM | Link to this
Libya, like Egypt, is a glorious success story of American investment. After only $2 billion a year annually since 1978 we have a great story on the Nile. Kicking out the leader of Libya’s arrogance has led to further democratic gains. The Bush wars are finally reaping success in Iraq and elsewhere. The winning strategies for Afghans, Iraqis, Yemen, Tunisia and across the world have convinced me that Rumsfeld, Rice, Cheney and Bush were accurate in their assessment of what needed to be done. Now, we finally have a Republican Congress who is breaking the bondage of union tyranny, gay rights, and shameless environmental restrictions. We can count on true Republicans, inspired by the tea bag revolt, to stop the endless over taxation of corporations, the bleeding of precious tax payer dollars by unions and public workers, and senseless, socialist hand-outs programs like Medicaid. Across America we’re seeing our founding fathers’ influence to strike down gun laws preventing citizens to openly purchase and carry weapons to protect us. The closing of “killing field” abortion clinics, casinos, supposed “medical” marijuana clinics, socialist make-work infrastructure spending is coming to an end at last. Healthcare “reform”, properly labeled, socialist Obamacare will end. The tax cuts for true job creating wealthy Americans, which needed a lot longer than 10 years, can finally be allowed to work for us. Socialist unions, teachers, elitists, MSM and public employees can at last live in the real world, just like the rest of us. Our heroic soldiers, fighting for our honor in over 170 countries deserve our unending support to spread the word of democracy and Christ worldwide. We are now becoming the “Shining City On The Hill” which is our destiny. The world loves us, as they should. Without the Godless, socialist Democrats and elitists we have the opportunity to restore our great country. God Bless Libya, Egypt, Iraq and the United States of America.
By prose
February 26, 2011 6:13 PM | Link to this
Egypt will flourish because of the over $2 BILLION dollars we have given them annually since 1978. They love us. As do all the countries, over 170, which we occupy with our heroic citzen soldiers. The Bush wars and dream of democracy throughout the world. America is a shining light on a hill once more, because we had the courage to invade these countries and spread the word of Christianity and democracy. Iraq is free to grow under our guidance. They and the Afghanis understand how we have nurtured them. Other countries too, are now following our founding fathers dream of freedom. Now, thanks to the heroic efforts of conservatives and tea party advocates we are finally destroying the unions, allowing unbridled gun ownership, cutting useless pre-school funding and freeloading government workers who have brought our country to its knees. It’s a new day in our country, when we can rid ourselves of gay rights, give much needed tax relief to corporations, allow Wall Street executives the bonuses needed to preserve their loyalty and a Republican Congress which will free us from the bondage of healthcare reform and government intervention with useless environmental restrictions. All is well in America. Libya, Yemen, and others will follow the path we have shown them. Happy Days are truly here again!
By H. Lee
February 26, 2011 1:06 PM | Link to this
When I see this amazing stuff in Egypt and Libya, on television and the internet, I allow myself a little bit of hope for humanity. Just a little bit. I also remember some enigmatic lines of Rudyard Kipling — he’s not my favorite poet, but sometimes … Living in the early 20th century, in British-controlled India, he wrote: “The West shall shake the East awake/When ye have the night for morn.” We sure did shake ‘em, didn’t we? And now that they’re awake, most of the “West” has little to no idea of what to do about it.
By David Robinow
February 24, 2011 12:43 PM | Link to this
Vick, check out the Dec 20, 2010 issue of Fortune. Near the back is a 12 page promotion sponsored by the Libyan owners. Fascinating.