From 9/11 to 2/11

After a 30 year dictatorship, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak finally gave in to the demands of the protesters, who called for an end to his agonizing reign over Egypt. Mubarak and his family quickly evacuated their palace to their personal complex in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Although Egypt has seen some economic progress over the years of Mubarak’s control, the masses of poor were left behind to only become poorer and the middle class had actually disappeared. His control left the poor to be forgotten and the few, elite rich to become wealthier. He fell because he could not deliver the prosperity he preached, with over half of Egypt living on $2 a day or less. After an excruciating 18 days protesters waved flags and set off fireworks to celebrate a new and hopefully democratic chapter in Egyptian history.

“If we get Egypt right, it could be the best medicine to get rid of radicalism,”

Within 18 days Egypt has proved to be the solution to the unsettled 9/11 debate. The Muslim world is fighting for democracy, human rights, and a better economy; all of the things we here in North America hold near and dear to our hearts. These protesters only want what we have. Hopefully these cruel cultural stereotypes can be unravelled by the knowledge that Egyptians are people, people with responsibilities, with families, with children just like us. They are not terrorists, only citizens protesting for a better quality of life. If North American society can fathom the idea that they are ordinary people the harsh racial stereotypes of the Middle Eastern population may disappear.

Where Egypt heads from here is unclear. The expectation is that a real democracy will finally emerge, however matters don’t always go as expected. History itself can attest to that one. The past will dictate that it is possible for a country to fall back into a dictatorship after overthrowing the original one. At the moment the army is in control of the country and elections are in September. Nevertheless there is still a possibility that another undesirable party may gain control through elections. 

“This nation has been born again, these people have been born again, and this is a new Egypt,” said Ayman Nour, the only man to ever run against Mubarak in a presidential election.

It is astounding how the citizens constructed a union that overthrew Mubarak. If Egypt transcends into a fully democratic government it proves that there is potential in people power. This development will discontinue oppressing racial stereotypes. It is a precious opportunity for the middle class to be reborn again. It’s an unbelievable demonstration of the possible to additional Middle Eastern countries suffering the equivalent fate, and what can be achieved by communication. But most importantly it is hope. Hope for a brighter future, hope for a new life, but most of all hope for a new Egypt. Now the world will just have to hold its breath and wait.