Gadhafi Is Dead

Around the world, many rejoiced the end of the Libyan ruler. On campus, students reactby Rosemaira De La Cruz.When Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi was shot and killed on October 20, many people felt flooded relief--especially those who had been victimized by his brutal reign. “One of my friends told me that Gadhafi killed her uncle and tortured another member of her of her family,” says Muaad Alody, 21, from Yemen, a political science major at CCNY. “He deserved to die because he had tortured and killed many people.”After years of atrocities, Libyans finally had enough of Gadhafi’s regime and revolted in early 2011. The killer, Ahmed Al Shebani, found Gadhafi hiding in a hole in Sirte holding onto a golden pistol. A violent, bloody video made its way around the internet confirming his death. His body was then out in display in Misrata for people to view. This was the moment that many Libyans and those from the Middle East had been waiting for since the beginning of his time in power.“He killed many innocent people because of his greed of absolute power,” says Mai Sabour, 20, an English major at CCNY who is Egyptian. According to reports, Gadhafi’s assets and investments total $200 billion.“His death was the best end for Libya. If he was still alive and put in trial he will find many ways to escape and the people of Libya will suffer again,” adds Sabour.Some take a more even-handed view. “My family views his death as sad being that he was a human being,” says Wayel Ali, 19, a CCNY student who is also from Yemen.Others saw some good qualities in Gadhafi’s regime. “The only thing that I liked about him is that he was nationalist,” says Alody.Even students who feel mixed about Gadhafi’s death are looking toward the future. “His death marked a new beginning for Libyan democracy,” says Ali. “In other words, a fresh start--definitely needed.”