The freedoms we take for granted are earned in blood in many parts of the world. Here's the latest example of UN failure rectified by bravery.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- For hundreds of young
men, the promise of a brighter future and the Somali government's
victory over a fundamentalist Islamic movement were symbolized by a
flickering blue screen in a dusty Mogadishu movie theater.
"This is freedom and entertainment," Ahmed Abdi Ali said Tuesday as an Indian movie about a torrid love triangle played _ the kind of film that was banned by the Muslim militants. "The Islamic courts are gone." (...)
Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, when clan-based warlords overthrew Barre and turned on each other. The government was formed two years ago with the help of the United Nations, but was weakened by internal rifts.
The intervention of Ethiopia prompted a military advance that was a stunning turnaround for the government. But many Somalis resent the Ethiopians' presence. Somalia, a Muslim country, and Ethiopia, with its large Christian population, fought a brutal war in 1977.
The Islamic group's strict interpretation of Islam drew comparisons to the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan, although many Somalis credited the council with bringing a semblance of order to the country.
The ouster of the Islamists allowed men like Abdi Ali, who crowded the Mogadishu movie theater Tuesday, at least two hours of letting loose.
"This is a movie about two women chasing one man," he said, his eyes fixed on the screen. "If I couldn't watch this, I'd probably be sleeping right now."
