Niagara Joins World In Celebrating Egypt’s Crusade For Democracy And Freedom

By Susan Howard-Azzeh

We Are Free!

Celebrating freedom in the streets of Cairo.

Thunderous cheering. Joyful shouts of “Egypt is free”! Flags waving. Prayers. Dancing. Tears of relief. Fireworks. Jubilation and celebration exploded across Tahrir Square and Egypt as Omar Suleiman grimly announced, “President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave his position as president of the republic“.

A short time earlier a helicopter was seen leaving the Presidential palace. Soon we learned the “iron-fisted” Mubarak was already deposited in Sharm el Sheik near the Red Sea. To await trail for corruption?

It is absolutely amazing. Young peaceful men and women of Egypt have toppled a 30-year repressive regime in the world’s largest Arab country! The most peaceful revolution of our time.

Friday, January 11, 2011 is now a pivotal date in world history and in the Arab drive for self-determination and freedom. A drive that will now very likely spread across the Arab world.

It has been a wild three weeks. Surprise and excitement in the first few days of the popular uprising. Fear when F-16s flew over protesters, when Al Jazeera Cairo was shut down and international journalists detained and beaten.
Admiration for the thousands of peaceful protesters who came out January 25th and for days to come. Terror for Mubarak’s possible revenge on pro-democracy leaders after his arrogant and threatening speech February 1st. No surprise when paid thugs and secret police attacked anti-Mubarak protesters, public buildings and private homes. Astonishment when camels and horses dashed into Tahrir Square whipping the demonstrators. Horror when a police van and a long white diplomatic car drove right over people in the streets. Incredulous shock when Thursday January 10 Mubarak still clung to power as if his seat was crazy-glued to his throne. Great pride in the bravery, determination and perseverance of the young men and women of Egypt fighting for free and fair elections and a secular pluralistic democracy. Admiration and sadness for the martyrs who died to bring freedom to their nation. Elation at Mubarak’s resignation.

News of Egypt has had to be pieced together from stories of Canadian Egyptians across the Niagara Region, from friends here and overseas, through traditional news services, and Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Al Jazeera. Amazing how technology has enabled a revolution!

The biggest emotion of these weeks was shock and disbelief that Mubarak clung to power when he knew full well “his people” didn’t want him. In 1952 King Farouk resigned after only three days of protests and no bloodshed.

Why was the West so hesitant to call Mubarak a dictator? Why look for a graceful exit for him? His regime was corrupt, after 30 years of martial law and oppression there are at least 30,000 political prisoners and opposition leaders in Egyptians jails.

While Mubarak’s personal wealth is estimated at up to 70 billion, with homes in the US, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid and Dubai, 60% of Egyptians barely survive on $2 a day, and 40% of Egyptian young people are unemployed with no unemployment insurance. Were 80 million Egyptians supposed to suppress their own chances for prosperity and freedom below that of American and Israeli interests?

The U.S. has long financed dictators like Mubarak in exchange for “stability”, obedience to US foreign policy interests and for turning a blind eye to the injustices of Israel.

Enough. Let Israel feel nervous, as they have declared. But there is no need for now. It will take months for Egyptians to make the transition to a functioning democracy. And their own re-birth is their focus, not Israel. Once established, if a people’s government of Egypt wants to assist in bringing some justice, freedom and economic prosperity to their neighbour, it is Palestine’s blessing.

What now for Egypt? Has the torturer Omar Suleiman also stepped down? We can only assume so. The Armed Forces Council has been appointed to run the state and the transition period before elections. Will elections really be free of fraud? We can only keep faith with the young people who have brought Egypt this far.

Susan Howard-Azzeh is a Niagara, Ontario resident and peace activist with family and friends in the Middle East.

(Visit Niagara At Large at http://www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary of interest and concern to residents in our greater Niagara region and beyond.)