Firstly, I express solidarity and empathy with all those who have experienced tyranny from the Mubarak regime over the last thirty years. The Ballet that now ensues is complicated by layers of political intent and history. Supposedly 'pro Mubarak' demonstrators are being bused in from suburbs with the promise of permanent jobs and payoffs. Fighting as proxy for police they have ridden through the square on horses and camels wielding sticks and whips- all in a sea of obelisk like tanks standing watch. In this chaos there are reports of petrol bombs, snipers picking people off from long distances, and police id's discovered on pro Mubarak demonstrators. Yet the protesters hold ground. To start there was an impressive cross section of class and cultural backgrounds in the street, and I wonder if only the most maligned and afflicted are left for this portion of the drama to play out. In my opinion this can best be watched on aljazeera or democracy now.
What does this mean for Israel if Jordan is next? If a revolution can be sparked in Tunisia by a poor vegetable vendor setting himself ablaze, what were the surrounding circumstances and information circulating at the time? What do these revolutions gain? Does Ben Ali & wife make off with a gdps worth of gold only to be replaced with another tyrant? 'Inside Egypt' by John Bradley predicted these events because something similar has happened here every thirty years; more recently being the bread revolt, and Sadat's deposing. All these instances ended with more of the same. Is there corollary that can be drawn to the United States, or does our relative comfort placate all but those most passionate? Would you give everything up for a very very slim shot at change? What other examples are there of a working reform? Haiti, the first to end imperialism in their country? Ethiopia? Iran? The United States? If you set aside Native Americans, slavery, and a Santa's bag of other contradictions, then yes! Even in its chipped and worn state, we have a constitution that offers opportunity and equal protection. So, the last question is, where is your energy and time best used?
