People of Egypt are fighting hard! It has been very interesting to watch a nation rebel against their dictator. Historic moments have been aired by international news channels, in spite of the Egyptian government’s efforts of keeping the press out. The Mubarak administration has cut off internet connection of the nation and cellular phones in an effort to keep the people from getting informed and connecting with each other.
It has not helped. In spite of all efforts, people of Egypt are protesting against Hosni Mubarak, a President on duty for thirty years. He had been supported by the west, as he has acted as very good ally of the west. His oppressive manner towards his nation has been explicitly exposed to the rest of the world within the last two days.
Even president Obama has called Hosni Mubarak, to re-establish the internet connection, and start working on better human right conditions for the people. Although Mubarak has fired his team and even appointed a vice president for the first time in thirty years, people want him gone.
The world is carefully watching as Egypt has an important strategic role in the Middle East.
The west is concerned that a more Islamic regime might take place if Mubarak steps down. That would clash with western interest in the region.
The people of Egypt want change and they will get it. Arab nations are going through a wave of rebel that started in Tunisia and seems to be catching within the region.
Why now?
Wikileaks helped trigger some unrest. Surely it was not the only cause. It is a new era and people are more informed on what is going on in their nation. Formerly dictators would silence the press, restrict international communication and then simply tell the story as they see fit.
Not in this age and time.
Social media keeps people quickly informed, yet there is no one to silence, as social media is not structured like any other form of media. A news channel owner can be threatened but millions of facebook or twitter users cannot be silenced all together.
Even so, Hosni Mubarak gave it a try!
He cut off the Internet. Trying to figure out why people are restless never occurred to him. His immediate reaction was to get things under control through oppression.
This is an era of technology and people cannot be denied information.
A member of the Mubarak administration was talking to Al Jazeera’s reporter while the protests were full on. When she asked him why Mubarak does not step down, his response was that he was a president chosen by the people.
When she said thousands of protesters are on the street asking him to go, his response was that they are mobs, the real people of Egypt want him. National TV channels were airing a peaceful street claiming that everything is in order while Al Jazeera was showing many places going up in fire at the same moment
This is the old trick, to tell people a story, brand anyone who protests as a “terrorist” or “mob”. Claim that everyone is happy. Act in complete denial. Scare people into wanting to stay clear of the ones who are branded, with fear of going down for having an opposing opinion.
It actually does work in situations where people are not fully aware of facts.
The Internet makes it difficult to keep people in complete darkness. It looks like Arabs will continue rebelling until they reach a people regime. I doubt that strictly Islamic rulings will take over the places of former dictators. These people want freedom.
Their perception of America might not be very good right now but that may change in time.
On Friday while the police was fiercely attacking unarmed protesters, one of them picked up an empty can of tear gas used by their police. He read the label USA and said “Why are the American empowering our Police to use these weapons against us? We are the people of Egypt!”
It was a rather innocent remark. He wants freedom. If the United States has to get involved with their internal events, he wants them to side with the people instead of those who oppress the people.
Hosni Mubarak has been an expert on ruling over the people of Egypt by enforcing fear. He has used the same method against the west, making it look like he is the sole guard against fanatic Islam, which would clash with western agenda.
Hopefully he is wrong, as oppression would clash with the people’s aspirations as well. Looking at this fight, we can only desire that these people will reach a just, functioning democratic system where human rights will be guarded properly.
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