On January 25.2011 and January 28.2011, bravery won out over fear when a people oppressed and controlled 
What will happen next???
The elation of this incredible moment in Egyptian and world history will be followed by lots of hard work. If the transition from dictatorship to democracy is to be a success, the Egyptian people will need to hold on to the UNITY and PATRIOTISM they are showing today in Liberation Square UNTIL there is a stable democracy in Egypt. President Mubarak stepping down is a huge victory for the Egyptian people who deserve democracy, just as every other person living under tyranny deserves freedom. It is one thing for stable democracies to have political party infighting. When you know there will a peaceful transition of power, a system can handle that but a nascent democracy needs many people willing to compromise and do the right thing and work for the good to the country and not for themselves. This is what I am wishing for Egypt over the next year. I know elections are supposed to take place in September but I am secretly hoping that new laws for political parties and elections will be drafted during the interim government period and the new election date will be February 10th onward every four to five years.
There are a great deal of decisions to be made.
Who will rule Egypt in the interim? If Omar Suleiman , will the people accept this? I don’t think so. He will be rightly considered simply part of the regime responsible for murder and corruption.
If the military takes over, will it act responsibly or engage in a coup and refuse to cede to civilian control? Certainly some senior members are very much in bed with the present regime and inseparable from them.
How will the Egyptians get to the point of free an fair elections? The Egyptians may not want any international help. If they don’t we must respect that but I hope genuine offers of support will be made to help Egypt. And I do mean support NOT control. The first offer that comes to mind is one of election monitoring, not running the elections but monitoring to provide a third party opinion on whether they were free and fair.
I am betting even after Mubarak steps down that he will never come to believe that the “people” are qualified to govern themselves.
The only reason, if there is one, that Egyptians would be in any way incapable of making this transition smoothly is because when you have been living under oppression and control for decades, it can take time to find your voice and find your way.
This is why the international community must OFFER support.
This could have turned out very differently. The state implied clear threats that they would stop the protests eventually if they did not cede on their own. I think if there were not cameras in Tahrir square and social networks streaming truth across the world that at another time and place, the people may have failed. Dictators like secrecy to maintain their power.
Whatever happens tonight, the people have been clear:
- Mubarak must step down.
- The Mubarak regime must go.
- The state police must go.
- Corruption must end.
- And, an interim government must lead to free and fair elections.
My hopes tonight are that a secular peaceful democracy is coming to Egypt. God Bless Egyptians on this great day that THEY brought to pass. They are an inspiration to the world on this day.
Egypt writes a new chapter in its history and tonight begins again!
It took 17 days to take down a 30 year dictator. I bet every leader in the Middle East is quaking in their boots today. Who is next to go?
Next Blogum: March 2011
Sage Spencer
Postscript February 11.2011:
It took 18 days to take down a 3o year dictator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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