Thanks to social networking sites like Facebook, young Egyptians have been able to identify like-minded people and recently, bring them out onto the streets in protest against the regime of Hosni Mubarak. The courage they've shown is obviously motivated by a desire for a better future. Is it also possible that some of that courage comes from being exposed, also via the internet, to millions of people who are living every day with freedom and economic opportunity? Or maybe from sitting in a Western institution like Cinnabons in Cairo, eating sweet rolls and fantisizing about a different life?
Almost exactly two years ago the New York Times ran an article about how Facebook opened up communication for young Egyptians. As one activist explained:
“Facebook revealed a liberal undercurrent in Egyptian society...In general, there’s this kind of apathy, a sense that there is nothing we can do to change the situation. But with Facebook you realize there are others who think alike and share the same ideals. You can find Islamists there, but it is really dominated by liberal voices.”
While many in the West are worried that the radical Muslim Brotherhood will replace the current regime, there are signs that at least a portion of the protesters are looking for secular values ~ freedom and economic opportunity. The Wall Street Journal ran an eyewitness account of the early days of the protest. He writes:
"Cheers emphasized the unity of Egyptians—Muslims and Christians—against the regime...It made us feel that only our own hands can bring change...The streets are the place to protest...Mr. Mubarak may hang on...But Egypt will never be the same.
Roger L. Simon interviewed the infamous self-named Sandmonkey, long-time, freedom loving Egyptian blogger. The interview is interesting; Sandmonkey's posts about the demonstrations are even better. Including this observation:
"This protest is not one made or sustained by the Muslim Brotherhood, it's one that had people from all social classes and religious background in Egypt...This is a revolution without leaders. Three Million individuals choosing hope instead of fear and braving death on hourly basis to keep their dream of freedom alive. Imagine that."
I do hope Sandmonkey is correct ~ that the Muslim Brotherhood doesn't have the support necessary to form a new government. The ultra-courageous Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes about the Muslim Brotherhood in her compelling book Infidel, following her journey from a childhood directed by strict Islamic law, to joining the Muslim Brotherhood, to (fast forward) living in America working to protect and defend the rights of women against militant Islam. She offers her views on the advantage the Muslim Brotherhood has over secular protesters, and explains what course the secular groups should follow. Scott Atran, writing in the New York Times, believes there is little chance the Brotherhood will gain traction.
It's not our fight though, especially after supporting the tyranical target of the protesters for 30 years. But we can support the secular protesters with words and information. The Atlas Economic Research Foundation and its Global Initiative works around the world (just read Tom Palmer's, in essence, a travel blog) educating and supporting people who embrace individual freedom.
Global Voices offers a forum for communication around the world in multiple languages. While they do not post every blogger who sends them links, according to their manifesto they do believe in free and open speech:
"We believe in free speech: in protecting the right to speak — and the right to listen. We believe in universal access to the tools of speech.
To that end, we seek to enable everyone who wants to speak to have the means to speak — and everyone who wants to hear that speech, the means to listen to it.
Thanks to new tools, speech need no longer be controlled by those who own the means of publishing and distribution, or by governments that would restrict thought and communication. Now, anyone can wield the power of the press. Everyone can tell their stories to the world."
As far as I can tell, Global Voices doesn't seem to have a hidden agenda. Right now the main page features a lot of blogging from Egypt, including this one.
Although I still believe that Western influences as silly as Cinnabon franchises in Cairo play their small part in making the West more familiar and less frightening, it's social media that, as Deborah Wheeler said on C-Span this morning, is the game changer.
Social media (and growing numbers of people joining in) is the protest movement's strongest weapon and, although the Egyptian government shut down the internet for a couple of days, they were forced to put it back up ~ it's the Cute Cat Theory of Digital Activism.
This post is a spaghetti bowl of stuff having to do with what is happening in Egypt. This video distills everything down to what is really important, beautifully expressed by the man a minute or so into it.
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