Songs and Tanks

Last month, a singer named Ibrahim Kashush was leading crowds in Syria. They were demonstrating against the dictatorship and for democracy and freedom. Kashush entertained, inspired, and delighted them with his songs and slogans. With his jokes, too. He was absolutely fearless — recklessly fearless — in challenging and mocking the dictatorship. The dictatorship, of course, was not amused. They slit his throat.

The singer’s friends set up a Facebook group in his honor. Fearless themselves, they vowed to “sing for freedom in Syria’s squares, even if the price is slaughter.”