Friday, January 28, 2011

Egypt protests: 'Something has changed in the Egyptian psyche '


The demonstrations this week against the Mubarak regime have gripped Egypt – while the world has looked on. We asked local bloggers and photographers for their frontline reports

The Guardian, Friday 28 January 2011

".... Thousands were calling for one thing: the end of Mubarak rule. There is no part of Egypt that is not suffering from the corruption of that dying old regime. The scene in Tahrir Square was like a new hope for millions of Egyptians. When the news came that the police had attacked the protests, ending them violently, I was so sad. But next day hope was revived as people again began to protest across the country, defying all expectations. The arrest of the protesters did not make people scared, but angrier than before. At this moment there are several protests in Egypt; people are not going to leave the street except when their demands are met.
Egyptians are patient people, but as the old Arab proverb says: Beware the patient man's anger.....

The protests have drawn Egyptians from all walks of life, many of whom have never participated in demonstrations and feel they need to voice their opinion. Listening to the protesters, one gets the feeling that they have not been deterred by the severity of the beatings; rather, their resolve has been hardened. Before they head to another day of protests, they will have exchanged stories of heroism and courage, humanity and unity......

'Egypt is in the midst of true change'

The last two days have been momentous for Egypt and Egyptians, unlike anything we have seen in decades. Less than a year ago, when 1,000 people took to the streets, it was considered a "large demonstration". Today, that number seems almost insignificant.
We all should be, on some level, proud of what Egyptians are doing. For the last six years we have seen hope rise and dwindle as one opposition "leader" after another comes into the fray, only to be as ineffective as their predecessor. This time, as tens of thousands of Egyptians pour on to the streets of Cairo and across the country, we are witnessing a true revolution of tactics and mindset as a result of Tunisia's success in bringing down its dictator....."

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