Tahrir Square. Living up to its name, which means "Liberation Square," it's become the symbol of the "Arab Spring" - the movement of popular protests in several Arab countries that began at the end of last year.
In Egypt, mass protests against the 30-year Mubarak regime began on January 25, a little over a month after I returned from studying abroad in Cairo. My group had the chance to get a glimpse into what life was like just prior to these protests that, together with the urging of high-ranking military officials, eventually convinced President Mubarak to step down.
For me, news stories often feel very far away and separate from my own life, even big ones like 9/11, Katrina, or the more recent tsunami/earthquake in Japan. It was a much different experience to have recently returned from Cairo, where I lived ten minutes from Tahrir Square, and to be in contact with ordinary Egyptians during this extraordinary time for their nation. I got to feel their frustration when it seemed like Mubarak would hang on - one friend passed on a joke about "Mubarak" becoming a new word meaning "to stick to like glue" - and I got to celebrate with them when he finally stepped down and a new chapter began for them.
I'm excited because at the end of this week I get to return to Cairo for a couple weeks. I'll be working with the very same study abroad program I went on last year, MESP, as a Program Assistant. While the program is going to be based in Israel this semester, my partner and I will be meeting up and preparing with the staff in Cairo. I got to witness Egypt before the Arab Spring, and I will hopefully have the opportunity to get a fuller picture of what's going on there now.
The future in Egypt and the Middle East is far from certain - in the last few days there have been renewed protests against the military leadership that has taken charge; some of these mass rallies have ended up provoking violence. There has been tons of media speculation about the economic problems Egypt faces, the possibility of the Muslim Brotherhood taking over large swaths of the Parliament in the upcoming elections, and the lack of strong political organizations and institutions. Also, the military leadership seems to be cranking out Mubarak-style statements and actions on a regular basis, which has led to the renewed protests and calls for change.
On the other hand, I've heard reasons to be hopeful, and some of these are intangibles; for instance, a renewed sense of hope and pride in Egypt. I'll be interested to see if anything like that is discernible from a two-week visit. I'm not an expert on Egyptian politics, and I still won't be after my second visit, but I'll be keeping my eyes open.
Here's an editorial on the recent protests, plus a link for more information on the situation.
