Egypt defied destruction as pre-condition for democracy
The most unforgettable headline from Egypt dazzled brightly:
‘Democratic path ushered in sans violence.’ The dogma of invasions, wars
or massacre of people as a pre-condition for inducting democracy fell by
the wayside.
The youth of Cairo, armed with nothing but Facebook and the power of
their convictions started laying the groundwork for change that they
viewed as inevitable driven by a zealous belief in democratic ideals.
Peaceful Revolution
* No invasion
* No war or massacre
* Power of youth
* Facebook - main weapon
* Calm, intelligent activists
*Orchestrated by disciplined youth
*Egyptians determine own destiny |
|
Mubarak
resignation celebrations in Egypt. Picture courtesy: Google |
The yearning for a better future was non violent. Mubarak’ exodus
from Egypt was anti-climatic. Most analysts commented on the satisfying
scene in Cairo as relatively young leaders emerged. Their posture of
calmness as intelligent activists disgusted with promises being long
unfulfilled and settling for nothing less than the departure of the old
regime was heroic.
The singularity of purpose that characterized the uprising seemed
unprecedented in the annals off Egypt’s history.
The parallel universe borne out of the bedrock issue of kicking
Mubarak out and transferring power ended, opening a new page in Egypt’s
history. That was theatre of unprecedented genre.
Punditry feared Muslims voting
Punditry in Western media repeated the Mubarak regime’s mantra that a
democratic Egypt will turn into chaos or a religious state, abrogate the
fragile peace with Israel and become hostile to the agenda inflicted on
them from outside. But billions watched on TV the spectacle of the
grandmothers in veils who had dared to share Tahrir Square with army
tanks, and the disciplined young people who had risked their lives for
their first taste of these new freedoms -were not so easily fooled-some
were toddlers when Mubarak assumed power.
Their resolve never diminished amidst Mubarak’s barefaced deceit
trying to hang on obsessively to power that was no longer his to keep.
The much vaunted dogma spending billions and expending countless
lives through bitter wars to plant democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan
looked outrageous after the Egyptian experience.
Westerners would soon know that Egypt represents the hope of a new
era in which Arab society, Muslim culture and the Middle East should no
longer be viewed through the lens of war and radicalism.
Their contribution to the forward march of humanity, modernized by
advanced science and technology, enriched by their diversity of art and
culture and united by shared universal values must be recognized.
Egyptians have nothing to fear but the shadow of a repressive past
hurled at them with ruthless meticulousness.
Precept and practice
Egypt was the first Muslim State Obama visited after becoming
President. He spoke of Egypt as an emerging power in the region. Obama’s
slogan seemed “No one should be scared of Muslims voting.” The precept
must now be followed by letting Egyptians determine their own destiny.
There has to be a departure from the institutionalized memory of
taking the Muslim citizenry for granted while venerating the Middle
East’s potentates. Many felt that Obama should take the Egypt situation
seriously trusting his own persona of deliberative discourse and not
shoot from the hip-something different from the George W Bush legacy.
Yet defending the status quo ensued as positions were calibrated
which Egyptians saw through and rejected. It is becoming clear that many
in USA seemed to believe that the Muslim Brotherhood could be inspired
by a democratic process to bring about secular governance.
They were confident that a quick transition into elections may not
bring any particular religious distinction to surface in Egypt- a
predominantly Sunni majority state where the clerical hierarchy is less
pronounced. The Muslin Brotherhood had attracted many intellectuals
amenable to secular democracy.
Sustaining pro-democracy movement
The era of autocratic governance used to suppress and imprison
dissenters is over. Egypt’s readiness for democracy as demonstrated by
the youth must be sustained.
There was growing concern on the streets of Cairo and elsewhere that
the Westerners seemed to put stability ahead of democratic ideals. That
proved to be inherently flawed.
It is a fact that Egyptian uprising had been dominated by the working
class-the average citizenry-demanding an end to mass unemployment,
persistent poverty and monstrous social inequality that defined the core
features of Mubarak’s Egypt.
Mubarak’s fate has deeply shaken one of Washington’s most valued and
long-standing clientele in the geo-strategically critical region of the
Middle East. We watched the transfer of power from the undeserving to
the rightful owners. That seemed to be contagious in the Middle East.
|