As I write this I am watching several videos on the Al Jazeera English network and I am overcome with feelings of solidarity for this political movement. I could write a wonderful text on proletarian struggle and the power of the multitude within this Egyptian revolution but that might just be self-serving to my agenda so I will refrain from that, even though I believe it to be true.
The multitude of the Egyptian protestors is made up of mostly young peoples who share one common idea: they are disillusioned with autocratic power and are ready for a realized democracy in both name and deed. The time has come for this multitude to realize their role in history. The outcome is not for sure at this point but the intent is: radical democratic change. The old regime and its authoritarian control are preparing their own death knell. And as Slavoj Zizek states: ‘Mubarak and his party elites are like a Tom and Jerry cartoon, in that when one of the characters runs of a cliff they are suspended in air and it is not until they realize they have no solid foundation that they drop off the cliff’. Mubarak has yet to look down and see that he has no foundation to stand upon and when he does he too will drop off the cliff.
Real ‘democracy’ is being won in the streets against the ruling ‘National Democratic Party’, in which Hosni Mubarak is the leader. ‘National democracy’ is the chicken that has finally come home to roost; the irony is beautiful.
It is amazing how this movement has spread so quickly and with serious intent for radical change. Egypt is proving all the Western sceptics wrong in terms of the Muslim understanding of modern democracy. Egypt is a contagion of democratic hope in this day and age. The Egyptian protestors are proving that their collective belief in the power of democratic change is much more actual and potent than any of the major proponents who claim to be the ideological bearers of democracy, i.e. Israel, Europe, and the US.
It was quite shocking seeing the approach that US political power has taken in regard to an actual home-grown Egyptian democratic revolution. Fear was the first response rather than support. Israel and its outright support for Mubarak accompanied by taunts of those that support the protestors, has been deplorable. Israel holds Mubarak as an ally and the leadership of Israel are tremendously frightened to witness what true Egyptian democracy will foster in the years to come; they are completely in fear of true democracy. Fear is the ruling ideology among those ‘true bearers’ of democracy and this demonstrates their contempt for the actualization of democracy.
This revolution is based upon the very simple ideological thought of ’freedom’. Is this not the realization of true democracy?
Here is a great video of the protests and the responses from power. It is called “Egypt Burning” and it is beautifully shot and it tells a wonderful story with its images.
People Be Trippin'