The Egyptian Revolution

[poliphilo]

Mubarak did everything he could to stay in power. He played nasty, he played nice, he sent in the heavies, he made concessions, he negotiated. The people in Tahrir Square took it all, never changed their demands and everything he threw at them broke on their resolve.  Last night he appeared in the character of father of his country, waxed sentimental over himself and said he was staying. Today he went.

Governments everywhere- of every stripe- have been reminded they exist only by permission of the people.

Comments

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

I really don't think we have anything to complain about or worth having a revolution for; we at least have a vote. Our problem is not having anyone decent to vote for.

To equate us with Egypt is to totally misunderstand what it is like to live under a totalitarian dictatorship.

[wolfshift.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I think the issues in Egypt are of a different order altogether from those in Britain or North America. poliphilo's original point stands (that governments exist by permission of the people), but I don't think the ferocity of the Egyptian protests translates to our situations.

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

But what has happened in Egypt does remind us that we are capable of ousting a government if that government continues to break its promises. I never mentioned reveloution or totalitarian dictatorship, but the comparisons are only a question of scale.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't predict a full scale revolution for any of the western democracies, but I believe we've just had an object lesson in what can be achieved when protesters stick to their guns.