Men like Yemeni seem to have accomplished much of that, but there's much more still to be done.

Running water in Tripoli is in short supply. Electricity is sporadic. And food for this Eid al Fitr holiday is scant.

"People these days eat what the sheep eats," Yemeni said.

Yemeni understands the current shortages; the uprising has lasted six months. It's more the relative poverty of the past decades that makes him angry. Libya under Gadhafi, he points out, had no shortage of oil wealth.

"This fancy hotel - this big hotel - this hotel is for presidents. And behind us poor people. You can see how the poor people live," he noted.

But what makes him angriest of all was living under a man he believes was crazy.

"It was bad, bad, bad dream for the Libyans," Yemeni explained.

That nightmare, it seems, is likely over, making this first Eid without their longtime leader especially sweet.

"We wake up in the day without Gadhafi! Smell the free! Smell the free!" exclaimed Yemeni.