I’m able to write this today, without the fear of censorship, without the fear of futile efforts and with the confidence that it will be read by at least one pair of eyes that were entitled to the same freedoms.
Today, Hosni Mubarak stepped down as president of Egypt after 30 long years of oppression that encompassed aspects of life that we take for granted everyday.
The Egyptian people have faced spirit-stifling oppression, from political and economic corruption to the simple entitlements, like the right to assemble – which they defied quite extraordinarily in the last 17 days.
Using tools like Facebook, Twitter and blogging, the Egyptian youth initiated a revolution that brought down a regime in just 17 days. To put it in perspective, it is what the U.S. could not do in Iraq for almost 10 years now. Egypt’s example of peaceful demands by the people will surely go down in history and change the way in which the calls for change are heard and carried out.
The high-leveled organization and resilience of the protesters throughout Egypt (and those in support around the globe) has showed the world a different face of political reform, lead and fueled by the desire to be free and carried out by simple tools of communication.
Egypt did not only win it’s freedom today; it fought on behalf of you and me for the sanctity of our God-given freedoms. The iconic picture of a elderly woman kissing a soldier on the cheek so as to welcome his support of the people was immensely moving and demonstrated, in a single frame, the genuine source from which the demands of change were born from. Only time can tell what will come next for Egypt’s political trajectory and many will wisely hold their breaths in being so optimistic. Nonetheless, today’s feat is enough to deserve a sigh in relief that, on the path to a more peaceful and just world, Egypt just took a big one for the team.
This is not about Egyptians or about Arabs – this was oppression felt by individuals, just like you, me, that were muffled by oppression for decades. If you can imagine the pain of a life with limited freedoms, then today, you will have felt the elation of those freedoms redeemed.
After the announcement that Mubarak stepped down from power, tens of thousands of demonstrators in the streets of Egypt chanted, “Egypt is Free!” Forging the road to a peaceful, just and free society for all, the Egyptian people have allowed hearts around the globe to revisit the deep gratitude of what it means to be free.