The Libyan Experience

Communications professor Jaballa Hassan spoke with students about his rebellion and dislike for Muammar Qaddafi.

Imagine living in a country full of injustice and a corrupt leader. That is what the people of Libya live everyday and have been living for the past 42 years.

Jaballa Hassan is a Libyan National who has lived in the United since 1996. Hassan escaped from Libya after being imprisoned for five days for refusing to teach Muammar el Qaddafi's Green Book.

The Green Book is a three-part collection of political thoughts, social and economic theories and day to day how to guides of Libya's Muammar Qaddafi. The book sums up Qaddafi's" Third Universal Theory" designed to be an alternative to capitalism and aesthetic communism. It is required reading in Libya.

"How could I reach common ground with my audience when I talk about this thing" Hassan said.

"I was in solitary confinement for five days in total darkness psychological torture, they thought I was in the CIA" Hassan said.

Being forced to teach something you do not believe in is torture in its self. Co-workers told him to just back down and tell the government he was nothing but Hassan refused.

He managed to escape Libya, many are not as fortunate as he was.

"My relatives smuggled me in a car to Egypt that is how I escaped" Hassan said.

At the time of the escape Hassan escaped with his wife and two children who were 3 and 5 at the time.

"My children were too young to remember, I remember the date April 7th but I try to put it out of my mind" Hassan said.

"I stay up late at night watching the Arabic news channel Alhora online and CNN it's horrible" Hassan said.

Qaddafi has been in office for 42 years the Libyan people want change. There is no communication right now in Libya, the phones and internet are down.

Many Arabic nations are for removing Qaddafi out of office but they want to remain nameless. This is the first time that an Arabic country has called on the United Nations for help.

At the hands of the Qaddafi reign in 1976 25 students were hanged at the local university and in 1996 1200 prisoners were massacred in Abualen Prison.

As a native of Libya Hassan witnessed and lived some of the horrors of Qaddafi's reign. Even though the country is having a major crisis Hassan remains hopeful about the future.

"Only seven percent of the country supports Qaddafi I believe we will have a Democratic and united country" Hassan said.

The Libyan people are suffering right now hopefully one day the country will be united and Qaddafi is removed from office.

Barbara Jordan Lunch Discussion

Texas Southern University recently honored the late great TSU Alumnus Barabara Jordan at a lunch discussion at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs in the Walter J. McCoyAuditorium.

Special panel guest included Otis King her former debate team member and long time friend, Lestine Leakes her executive assistant of 14 years , and her older sister Rosemary McGowan.

The event honored Barbara Jordan's 75th birthday. The panel relived some of their fondest memories of the Diamond Jubilee. Otis King in particular shared stories of traveling across the country for debate competitions.

"Barbara was the only female traveling with us and she could out drive all the men" King said.

"I was with her at the beginning of her career and I was a pallbearer at her funeral" King said.

Barbara Jordan led an extraordinary career. Pioneering for the little people that did not have a voice.

When asked the question how would Ms. Jordan feel about immigration reform if she were alive Lestine Leakes responed proudly.

"Barbara was a fair person she would have been right their campaigning for immigration rights, she was a joy to work for" Leakes said.

Growing up in a house full of girls, Barbara and her sisters formed a singing group singing Gospel songs and she taught herself to play the guitar.

"My sister was always in the fore front, my father wanted her to become a teacher but she had other plans" McGowan said.

In fact Barbara did teach, she taught social Studies at the University of Texas in Austin. It was one of the most popular classes UT has ever had. The most notable memory is her President Nixon impeachment speech. Known for her powerful voice Barbara Jordan will forever be remembered.