Protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Elsewhere

Change will not be stopped at the door. Change demanded entry. And so one Tunisian’s self-immolation on December 28, 2010 and fueled by social media, cell phones and young people sparked a violent uprising of angry fellow citizens. After 23 years of iron-fisted rule, Tunisia’s president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was driven from power on January 14.

Image credit: http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/self-immolation-leads-to-massive-protests-in-tunisia-1.334934 Image credit: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/14/2583344/ap-topics-hindu-festival-makar.html. Image credit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/tunisia-riots-photos-unem_n_808059.html#s222875&title=Politics_ Image credit: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/14/2583344/ap-topics-hindu-festival-makar.html Image credit: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/110114/tunisia-tunis-riots-protest-africa-egypt-arab Image credit: http://newshopper.sulekha.com/aptopix-tunisia-riots_photo_1669068.htm Image credit: http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/ .

Then change knocked on Egypt’s door. When an electronic message first came out that a revolution was being planned for January 25, the Egyptians were skeptical. But people did gather in their thousands and the protests grew so big, so raucous, so unrelenting. What started as a peaceful day with only chants for change, unfolded, into a day, and subsequent ones, with unprecedented widespread brutality at the hands of police and their thugs – until the Army stepped in and took control. As a result of continued popular protest and pressure, Mubarak finally resigned from office, quietly leaving Cairo on February 11.

Image credit: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Anti-government-protests-Egypt/ss/events/wl/012511egyptprotest;_ylt=AhyFQsUzfFhRdt4OAHNHwOgUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTE3OW44Nm4xBHBvcwMyMwRzZWMDeW5fZmVhdHVyZWQEc2xrA3NsaWRlc2hvd19saQ--#photoViewer=/110204/ids_photos_wl/r206466483.jpg Image credit: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Anti-government-protests-Egypt/ss/events/wl/012511egyptprotest;_ylt=AhyFQsUzfFhRdt4OAHNHwOgUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTE3OW44Nm4xBHBvcwMyMwRzZWMDeW5fZmVhdHVyZWQEc2xrA3NsaWRlc2hvd19saQ--#photoViewer=/110204/481/urn_publicid_ap_org62ffa6d348a24f62a111d1ba16d23d0a Image credit: http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/ Image credit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/26/egypt-protest-mubarak_n_814423.html#230285 Image credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350459/Egypt-Lebanon-protests-Thousands-clash-police-streets.html Image credit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12306373, January 28, 2011 Image credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350459/Egypt-Lebanon-protests-Thousands-clash-police-streets.html

And citizens in other countries have become emboldened too and similarly took to the streets. Algeria. Bahrain. Jordan. Libya. Morocco. Yemen. The media writes that there is genuine anger on the streets. 

I wonder if this is really the unleashing of people power for democracy. Or if there is a sinister motive. Suddenly, in quick succession, we're seeing protests flare up in so many Arab countries!