Maysaloon - ميسلون

Today was the second time that I heard somebody using paternalistic arguments to support Assad. The idea is that Assad does not want his thugs and security services to harm the Syrian people, but in order to fight the conspiracy that is fanning the flames of this unrest, he is forced to do so out of sheer frustration. The analogy of an irate father who smacks their child out of concern for them is drawn.

Is there really anything more insulting than such a comparison? That the entire people of Syria are nothing more than insolent brats who do not know what is good for them, and that a good natured father figure is killing them because that is for their own good? I feel so sad because even the absurdity of such an argument is lost on such people who resort to it.