We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Have yet to change

Click here to access article by Gihan Shahine from Al-Ahram.

This is the best article I've seen so far on the post-Mubarak state of affairs in Egypt. The author provides a comprehensive view of the changes over time and across the various social classes.

Some things are returning to the past:
...in the wake of the revolution, the spirit of togetherness is starting to give way to negative social aspects. To many, the future remains largely foggy, and this has reflected on the public mood. Mixed feelings of bewilderment, fear, hope, frustration and despondence are producing emotional highs and lows. There is a serious economic problem, sectarian rifts have resurfaced, the unprecedented rise of Islamists is causing social turmoil, and the prevalence of thugs and a marked rise in crime are worrying everybody.
Read also this piece entitled, "Egypt blogger given 3 years for criticizing military" 

But, some things have really changed:
"Egyptians have, forever, broken the barrier of fear, not just of the former regime, but also of all kinds of authority over minds and thought," Naim said. "They proved they have persistence, a sense of patriotism, political awareness and are civil by nature."
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