By Bouthaina Shaaban*

Egypt is back as it once was when millions of Arabs used to turn to the radio to listen to the voice of Egyptian masses. In those days, our parents used to fix themselves in front of old radio sets to hear the magic words charged with freedom, dignity and hope. Today, once again everyone is glued to TV sets this time passionately watching what is happening in Egypt. Everything happening there indicates that a new phase of development is being ushered in for all Arabs; for Egypt’s awakening once meant an awakening for all the Arabs, its fight against colonialism ushered in a phase of freedom for all Arab peoples. Today we hear the thundering voice of its people on the streets and know that they are creating a new era.

Is this the time for Arab masses to go the streets to force their will on governments which have, for decades, imposed their will, slogans, gods, failures, alliances and differences on their peoples without achieving any of their aspirations. Grievances, frustration, betrayal and political, economic and social failure accumulated, while the Arab ruling elites did not feel the simmering anger of the masses?

When the masses filled the streets of Tunisia, Jordan and Yemen, the West did not pay much attention. But when the voice of Egyptian masses rose, the ‘free’ world got into a frenzy; examining growth rates, youth unemployment rates, required growth rates in order to provide jobs for these young people and enable them to get involved in making the future of their countries. Western governments urged Arab governments not to use ‘violence’ or called on them to make ‘political reforms’ which allow for freedom of expression through a free press.

We all know very well that the West is not concerned about corruption or oppression; its only concern is oil and Israel’s security. While Middle East ‘experts’ in Washington, London and Paris try to analyze what is happening and provide answers to their governments and their public opinion, none of them touched on the real causes, maybe because they are invisible to them.

There is no doubt that the needs of millions of young people throughout the Arab world need to be addressed in a manner different to what governments have used so far. This is a generation living in the 21st Century; it needs to get seriously involved in building their country and their future. The reasons for this rage are complicated. They cannot be explained away by unemployment or poor living conditions. Mohammad Bouazizi, who provided the spark to the Tunisian revolution, was a university graduate working on his fruit and vegetable cart until he felt insulted and humiliated by the forces of oppression. His desperation pushed him to set fire to his body which stood for the body of a whole generation. His suicide was the last straw which removed the barrier of fear built between his generation and the might of governments. This is what sparked the call for change throughout the Arab world. So, it is a cry for the dignity of Arab citizens, a dignity humiliated by seeing their people besieged in Gaza and seeing six million Palestinians placed in large prisons inside their occupied country, occupied since 1948 and in refugee camps and being killed on a daily basis amidst Arab impotence.

American reactions to demonstrations in Egypt far exceeded interest in Tunisia, Jordan or Yemen, which is understandable. No American official said anything about the factor of humiliating wars which infuriated people time and again and prevented the Egyptians from standing with their brothers in Gaza, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq.
It is easy to trace the critical moments which accumulated rage in the Arab conscience, particularly as a result of their government impotence and silence regarding the tragedies which befell Iraq and Palestine. This feeling is ignored by American and western decision makers because they actually aim at humiliating the Arabs assisted by the ability of oppressive government forces to quell the voice of Arab masses calling for solidarity.
WikiLeaks contributed by uncovering complicity with the enemy against the brother and getting what was happening behind closed doors into the public. In reality their behavior in secret was shown to be the exact opposite of what they claimed in public. ‘Hakika Leaks’ and ‘Transparency’ came to confirm that those entrusted with the destiny of their peoples have been inciting the enemy against their own brothers. Don’t we all remember how young Arabs in many Arab towns and cities have been prevented even from demonstrating in support of the peoples of Iraq and Palestine? And how those trying to bring food and medicine to their besieged brothers have been tried like criminals, while war criminals in the wars on Lebanon and Gaza, like Tzipi Livni, Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu were received and embraced?

The United States’ concern and monitoring of events is in fact concern for a criminal entity in our region; the real cause of all these wars, destruction and oppression of our people. If anger is directed today against governments and aims are to change rulers and their methods, there is no doubt that the position of these rulers over the question of the liberation of Palestine from Israeli occupation will be a major factor in what is happens over the coming weeks and months.

*Bouthaina Shaaban, PhD, is the political and media advisor to President Bashar al-Assad

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