@Vic
Indeed. I have nothing but absolute shitloads of respect for each and everyone of those protesters. Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Burma, Jordan and others have all seen governmental change driven by strong grassroots movements and public dissatisfaction with the status quo. People are tired of the rich getting richer and the poor getting dead. This may become a “contagious” movement. Right now, it seems largely contained to the Arab world…but how long until it spreads to central Europe? From there, is it a big step to hop to the western world?
That is with the exception of America, of course. They are a little bass-ackwards; the Tea Party is their grassroots movement and is all about the rich getting richer whilst keeping the burden of taxes on the poor. Excluding the US (and possibly China,) I would not be very comfortable with being in charge of any nation right now. Western countries are like to see some interesting political changes in their next election as the youth of the world get bolder.
Non-western countries might well be in for an Egypt-style revolution. More power to them I say. I would be there right now myself holding up a sign in support, if:
A) I could get a flight in and
B) I didn’t feel like it would be taking something (even if it were a small something) away from the Egyptian people.
There are things in the world worth fighting for. There are things in this world worth dying for. There are things greater than money or power, greater than you, me or any group of people. Those that do not understand what I am talking about likely never will. No explanation will ever be capable of making them comprehend.
We are lucky here in the Western world; we have the pretence of a democratic system. It’s rigged, of course…but we get the polite pretence that what someone out there is looking out for us. That’s really what’s it’s all about; the feeling that you have some control over your own destiny. Every few years we get that flush of hope; “maybe this group of asshats will do slightly less damage to our society than the last!” What’s more, ever now and again, when things look really bleak…
…we can actually bend the buggers to our will.
Go Egypt! Good luck, and for the love of #deity, when you set up your new government, learn from our mistakes! “Of the people, by the people FOR the people.” Remember that. Nowhere in that statement is “big business,” lobbiests, “the rich” or politicians included. :)