To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

Why I didn’t ask?

As I was reading into my Twitter feed, I saw a re-tweet from one of the most interesting Tweeps I follow, Alexander McNabb. I first saw Alexander in the first digital summit series, ArabNet, in Beirut back in 2009. He was a panelist in a session and a moderator in another. He didn't only take my attention but the whole hall of more 600 people there at the time. He did bring positive energy and got everyone on the same board.

So @AlexanderMcNabb re-tweeted an event hosted in one of my favorite business hub locations in Dubai, The Pavilion Downtown. Name of event was “To Tweet or Not to Tweet” and he was one of the three speakers there along side with @danishfarhan & @whoisubik . It’s time was just perfect for me. At least for the first session.

@PavilionDubai: TODAY: ‘ToTweet or NotToTweet’ with @danishfarhan @AlexanderMcNabb & @whoisubik | The Social Web, 4PM #PavilionSocial http://bit.ly/17poI1X 

I had all the reasons to be there. I wanted to develop my Twitter skills. I felt all those blog posts, lists and tutorials are not enough. There must be more to dig out of the specialists in the small event. I also needed to expand my network of people I know. I moved to Dubai just few months ago after I had to abandon Syria. I also have been to The Pavilion Downtown at least twice weekly. It is just a walking distance from where I live. 

I took the ten minutes walk, arrived on time, the talks started. Alexander, who I attended his sessions three or four times in Beirut, remained energetic among the other two speakers where they all were discussing the powers of social media and Twitter. Alexander shared his finding the Arab Spring all started inspired by Lebanese Tweeps. I started disagreeing with him. Although I also believe in the powers of social media, but the Arab Spring wasn't just the product of social media activism. 

Later Alexander brought on the table one of the topics that made me start sharing hate with the world. To be more specific, major media governance. He talked about the Boston Marathon bombing. He said at the day the bombings in Boston happened 4 people died that day. “Did you know that 80 people died at the same day in Iraq?” he continued. BUT he never continued sharing numbers! 

At that moment the world around me paused. I was the only one moving. There was no talking or sounds anymore. I only saw the flashbacks of how I felt as the Boston Marathon bombing. The whole world was sympathetic. The story trended worldwide on Twitter in just two minutes. There were bloodshed. Families lost their beloved members. Dreams and ambitions wiped off by a terrorist act. People started praying for Boston. I did too, but I also cried out the 140 people who also died in Syria the very same day. Yes, the same number of the maximum characters in a single tweet. But they were not just characters nor only numbers. They were human beings, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children, husbands, wives, and grandparents. They loved people and had people loving them back. Some of them supported families, most of them were innocent. Most importantly, they all wanted one thing: FREEDOM.

I remembered several YouTube & Facebook videos, stories people I know who were still detained by Syrian government’s basements and friends killed. I also remembered the faces and stories of over 500 people I lived with for over 3 months as I volunteered in a refugees camp run by Farah Development Association.

When people over Twitter went nuts about the Boston incident, I tried to grab attention to Syria. It’s the minimum I can do to draw global demand to stop the innocence from being buried for the sake of humanity. Meaning for no return price. Syria’s 2 years has made the whole world’s leaders tons of deals and successful business transactions. Enough is enough!

My flashbacks suddenly stopped. The world resumed running. Alexander and the other panelists resumed talking. My grief didn’t end, although my tears rarely touch my face, they did that day.

I was just sitting at the center of the medium size hall, closer to the back. I looked around the faces of the scattered audience. I wondered, “most of them were old! Like over 40s & 50s year olds!” I had questions to ask, but not before I remind the folks of Syria. But, and but, those people seem like having tourism, having their retirement in Dubai. Should I ruin their moods and put them into some of my grief? Is it worth it? Can they help? “For God’s sake, they are only here wondering if they ought to Tweet or Not to Tweet!” I thought to myself.

The session quickly came to an end afterwards. Panelists asked the audience for feedback and questions. No one raised a hand or spoke a word. Not even me. I had my reason, and I focus on impact. What is the purpose of shouting out questions raising up what is happening in Syria if the oldy audience will only be defected into sadness. I also had to catch up with a group of wonderful Syrians devoting little and much of their time to help their home people by sorting and shipping donations back to Syria.

I went out my favorite place walked only few steps out into the street, lit up a smoke, checked when my ride is picking me up then headed back in. I looked for Alexander to share privately those feelings because I felt I had to. I couldn’t find him, so I mentioned him in a tweet telling him that I will let him know why I didn't ask at the event when I see him in ArabNet event taking place in Dubai later.

@mchebib: @AlexanderMcNabb would you allow me to tell you why I didn’t raise my questions during the event @PavilionDubai on #ArabNetME? 

I went to the warehouse to start working. It was my first participation in such field work since I arrived to the UAE. I was only happy because I could dismiss away all the negativity I had inside me through the only peaceful and impactful activity I could do right now. Those goods will reach those still living but not able to afford a life.

The team was wonderful. All working hard. Laughter and fun was there while we worked. Who doesn't want to enjoy life after all? As I sorted out bags preparing for the container pickup, one bag took me off the world again, shedding my tear for the second time in the very same day! I took the only picture I had that day.

“Akfan” in Arabic was written. This word means coffins in English, but it literally means body bags. Those white covers that a body is put into before it gets buried under the soils. What was in this only one big bag was not enough to the needs of one short day in Syria where one child, woman or man dies every 7 minutes.

I went back home to find out that Alexander asked me to share with him my thoughts at the venue. I was long gone by then. Few days later, he asked again.

@AlexanderMcNabb:@mchebib But of course! @PavilionDubai

@AlexanderMcNabb: @mchebib So why didn’t you ask that question, BTW? :)

140 characters could never be enough to answer and emotions absolutely vague over time. However I dedicated this article to answer Alexander back after two weeks. Well, sorry Alex, but I don’t write often and this is my second blog post I ever written. I now want you and the readers to answer in the comments, “What are the good social media strategies to engage worldwide sympathy to bring life back to Syria?”