THANK YOU EGYPT ~ THE WORLD LOVES YOU!

In a sea of revellers, a girl on her father's shoulder

waves the Egyptian flag and sings with joy and pride.

Oh my God…

It’s hard to type through the tears. 

Egypt, you did it! 

Egypt, I love you!

You are celebrating right now.  Flags are waving, tanks are gone, people and their children are celebrating possibly one of the greatest events in history.

And so are all of us all over the world who’ve been glued to Al Jazeera‘s livestream for the past three weeks in stunned admiration, in anxiety and exhilaration, our hearts in our mouths, humbled by the sheer courage and determination of every single Egyptian who risked imprisonment, torture, and (for over 300 people) death.

Until now, only Palestine captured my heart and soul so deeply. During the past weeks, my thoughts and care began to change and embrace the people of Egypt. My heart is large and there is room for both Palestinians and Egyptians.

Thank you, Egypt.  

The world needed to be reminded of this.  

We needed to see that the desire for freedom and justice cannot be squelched.  

That it can prevail against the most horrendous odds.  

That it can stand up to guns and tanks, to thugs and torturers.  

That the power of ideas is stronger than the power of weapons.  

That democracy really is the will of the people.

That a people united can accomplish what divided folk have no hope of bringing about.

That peace can be the way.

For bringing this old political cynic the joy of knowing great change can be brought about despite all obstacles.

Your dancing and cheering and singing fly around the world, heartening downtrodden spirits, bringing  fragile hope to so very many who may have given up.

I have no more idea than anyone else what happens from here on.  No idea if the ‘Supreme Military Council’ really does intend to hand over power to an interim civilian government.

But I do suspect that the generals may not have a choice.   Faced with such huge numbers of protesters ~ even if accounts of 20 million Egyptians demonstrating in the streets today were exaggerated, even if it was “only” 10 million ~  those numbers are doubling, even tripling, as people flood outside in jubilation.  

In the face of such numbers, and such international widespread support for genuine, total reform, I very much doubt that the military would even dare try to pull a double-cross.

All that is for the usual pundits, however.  

For today, Egyptians celebrate.  

And most of the world celebrates with them and for them.   

Bravo Tunisia!  

Bravo Egypt! 

You have given notice to all dictatorial regimes ~ in the Middle East, and indeed worldwide.   

You have renewed our faith in our own principles.  

You have, literally, encouraged us ~ filled us with the courage so often lacking in our wavering liberal convictions.

Egyptians, there is only one word for what you have done:  magnificent! 

No longer is Egypt merely the cradle of Western civilization ~ Egypt now is a shining example of change, the power of the people.

I, for one, love you all.

In the "city of Tahrir" this was the media station. 

As can be seen, they have taken a few blows for their bravery.

As you see in the photos below, 
all Egyptians are brothers and sisters,

regardless of religious belief,
soldier or civilian,
colour of skin, gender, social standing.

The joy is equally shared by all ~ 

they are one and have discovered the power of unity.