Interviews with Syrian Americans: Mohamad Hishmeh
this is part of a series of interviews with Syrians and Syrian Americans that identify with either (or neither) side of the conflict in Syria
Mohamad Hishmeh: Syrian American, Professor of Electronics at Lone Star College, Peace and Human Rights activist
Do you stand on the side of the Assad regime, the anti-Assad forces, neither, other?
I stand with peace for Syria, I don’t see war as the only answer for Syria. I wish the opposition or the government could initiate a peace process through an international sponsorship like the US and Russia where each side pressures his allies to make compromises and start a dialogue. We have to stop the fighting first. When I present this to my opposition friends, they see it as too soft of a position, they will not accept anything less than public execution of Assad!!!
What do you want to say to Syrians who support the other side?
I want my Syrian brothers and sisters to find a way to reach out and seek other solutions instead of focusing on the war… Each side is so busy with assuring his crowd of a guarranteed victory. Nobody wins at war, we all lose. Their argument is “We have lost 100,000 people and it is not fair for all these people to go without someone getting punished” … My answer is “How much is the price that needs to be paid for 100,000 people, another 100,000?”
Who do you believe conducted the August missile attack? Why did they do it?
I am not sure who did the chemical attack. But it is very suspecious to me for such attack to happen on the day the inspectors arrive in Damascus. When the government forces are making all these gains on the ground, why would they risk getting caught in the act?
What has Assad’s rule meant in your life, the lives of your friends, family, community, members of your religion or ethnic group, etc.?
Assad rule (the father) allowed me to go to school and live a normal life, poverty was very common in the social class I belong to, I could say that my family was a middle class. We never owned a car, lived in the suburb of Damascus where I saw much poorer people, which kept me content. All my sisters were school teachers, my brothers always wanted to have their own business, but only one made it barely and then the uprising began, he lost everything, his business and his home, one of my sisters lost her house already and another one refused to leave… I lost two extended family members in this cycle of violence…
Do you support missile strikes by Obama?
I am totally opposed to the strike on Syria, I have family members in the army and I hope this senseless war ends today. The strike will give a boost the opposition where they will feel that they can achieve their goals, the violence will continue a bit longer. Also, the extremists are gaining the most from such attacks.
What would the government be that you would like to see in Syria? What are the steps / the path towards that government?
I would like to see Syria with a government that is not linked to one person. Assad will go, but Syria needs to stay. The case should never be keeping Assad or removing him, it is Syria that matters.
