Popularity or Fear

More Beards, Less Political Talk in Gaza


Still, many people are apprehensive, their fears stoked by Hamas hard-liners like Mahmoud Zahar, who said this week that he envisions a time when "with God's help, Islam will be in every home."

Not making enemies is a preferred survival tactic two weeks after Hamas militiamen defeated Fatah fighters loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"It's not safe to say anything," said Samir Filfel, 42, a school guard who spent Friday with his wife and 10 children at Gaza City's beach. Reflecting his caution, he erected a tent made of Hamas, Fatah and PLO flags as a sunshade.



Hmmm... if you read this , the barber shop is selling flags , and mugs and stuff in support of the defacto ruling Hamas because these people are afraid of them. Not because they are poplular. What an odd switch from a western democracy.

I remember once a member of parliment , I forgot his name , was going door to door canvasing to get re-elected, and he had a group of guys with him to prevent trouble. (This is canada , no one has guns except the cops) When he came to my door I looked at him and then slambed the door shut on him , as I would any door to door salesman. I was drunk at the time and thought it was pretty funny.
Do that in the Gaza strip, they'll probably kick down the door and shoot everyone in the place.

Next time you see a crowd of people with flags cheering and supporting someone or other in the middle east or a third world banana repoublic, remember. They don't really support him. They're just afraid they'll get shot if they don't cheer loud enough.