The events in Egypt hold lessons for other nations

Feb 13, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
There is a saying that goes like this: “Unity is strength and strength is power”. On Friday afternoon (11-02-11) the world witnessed the powerful effect of Egyptian unity when their dictator Mr. Hosni Mubarak stepped down.
It is important to note that at the best of times, Egyptians are a divided people. This division is either by religion, tribe, or just geographical location.
Egyptians from Cairo often snob their Alexandrian bothers, Muslims and Christians are often at odds with each other. But over the last 18 days, all these differences were put aside as together Egyptians stood shoulder to shoulder in Tahrir square and demanded that there be an end to their three-decade dictatorship. Over the last three weeks, Egyptians had one enemy and that was Hosni Mubarak the Dictator!
One of the many moving scenes from the Egyptian protests was the number of young people present. All these Egyptian youth know is dictatorial rule.
The older protester can probably relate to the 60s and 70s when Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar el-Sadat ruled respectively.
But the concentration of the crowds was young people who could not be dissuaded by Mubarak’s excuses for wanting to hold on to power. They had enough of him and wanted him gone.
As the cries of Egypt is free, Egypt is free rose from Tahrir square and other parts of the country, great expectation grows in the hearts and minds of all. What will be the future of Egypt now that dictatorship has fallen and fled? Egyptians have demanded democracy, they have fought for change.
The events from the last few weeks carry lessons that can be learnt by other nation-states around the world. There are serious implications for some political leaders who believe the tyranny of their rule will continue forever.
Oppressed masses need to be inspired by the events in Egypt and recognise that together much can be achieved.
Political change cannot come from the feeble voice(s) of one, two or five lone individuals. There needs to be an awakening where hundreds and thousands of people can unite around a common issue like elected dictatorship for example and work together to bring about change.
Those who suffer under regimes that exercise blatant, brutal power to intimidate, silence and punish citizens who dare to criticise the corrupt and incompetence governance under which they struggle must be inspired by the events of Egypt.
After winter must come spring. The wintry days of dictatorship are over for Egyptians.
As the spring of democracy blossoms, Egyptians will be living the change they fought desperately for with a unity never seen before.
Richard Francois

Latest News

The events in Egypt hold lessons for other nations

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport endorses Mashramani Street...

Guyanese boxers shine in IBA World Rankings ahead...

Motie returns for Day/Night affair, as fired-up...

Daniel Singh pockets East Bank Pool crown

Khalil, Pollard and Barker reign supreme as BCQS...

Cricket West Indies passes historic governance...

Features/Columnists

Guyana’s silence represents a shocking neglect of its national interest

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Corruption – at epidemic proportion

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

The events in Egypt hold lessons for other nations

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]