Year of the Arabs

Arab dawn of freedom and democracy, Berlin Wall of the Arabs cracking here and collapsing there (21 years later, but down it goes!), no more Arab fear from the oppressors, Arab Facebook revolution, Arab Youth Intifada, Yasmin revolution, Arab democracy Now! These and so many other slogans are dazzling. 

Can you keep up with the pace of events from Morocco to Iraq and from Yemen to Syria? I sometimes forget a country or dictator when discussing events in the region, or when checking the numerous action groups on Facebook. Ya3ni shu hayda? Nazmuha, ya shabeb! (What is this? Organize it!)

The catalyst for distress among all Arab rulers is no doubt Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire on December 17, 2010, in protest of the harassment and humiliation that was inflicted on him by authorities. Anger and rage and violence from that day on spilled over from one Arab state to the other. 


Yemeni dictator Ali Abdallah Saleh called it an "influenza", Libya's Moammar Gaddafi blames his uprising on al-Qaeda and youth popping "hallucinating pills". Tunisian dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak saw on their streets only criminals and agents of dark powers. The first fled to Saudi Arabia, the other retired in Sinai. Both are in deserts. More dictators to follow their humiliating fates: As-sha3eb yurid az-za3im bis-sa7ra (the people want the leader in the desert)!


In Syria, dictator Bashar Assad sees on the streets only criminal gangs financed by Lebanese and Saudi politicians. 

Meanwhile, Arabs demonstrate and fight AGAINST corruption, dictatorship, human rights abuses and FOR social justice and freedom. History unfolding in Tunisia (Premier Mohammed Ghannouchi, a former ally of Ben Ali, resign! Done after weeks of protests), Iraq (serious warning shot to a corrupt and incompetent government), Yemen (time out, dictator!), Bahrain (equality and constitutional monarchy, dear king, or bust!), Egypt (dear army, watch it, you need to protect and not steal the revolution!), Jordan (helloo, king! are you listening?), Libya (final bloody hours for the 'king of African kings').

Demos and intifadas took place in March 2011 in Saudi Arabia (beware al-Saud dynasty, reform soon or else), are growing in Syria since March (Dictator Assad, take a plane to Tehran), in Palestine in March (unite, hold elections!) and in Lebanon since February (pull down the sectarian system!). Mercury rising in Bahrain, Oman, Morocco and Algeria.

Dictators still ruling (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and others) or on the verge of collapse (Yemen, Libya) tried many tactics to quell protests. They ignored for a while, then threatened, arrested and tortured, they tear-gassed, used paid thugs or mercenaries to beat and kill. 

What they all without exception hurried to do is distribute money to their peoples in the form of higher salaries for state employees, food subsidies and/or scholarships. Top of the pops was King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia with billions of dollars - hoping that massive money quells massive demands for democratic change.


Tells you about the mentality prevailing on the top: Shu si3rak, ya habibi? (What is your price, darling?). 7aram (Shame), they all are not grasping how humiliating this is and what boomerang effect they are unleashing.

It's about dignity, stupid (Arab dictator)! 

Thank you, Mohamed Bouazizi! You made Arabs re-discover their pride. You are alive in the heart of every Arab on the streets, blogging, twitting or on Facebook. Dictators cannot patronize, terrorize, oppress or humiliate anymore. And we Arabs do not fear dictators anymore. Khalas. Kifayah (over, enough).


2011 is the year of the Arabs and Arab democracy!


 
One after the other will fall. Inevitable.