In Our World: Egypt

Mubarak Leaves and Egypt Celebrates

February 11th, 2011 @ 4:18pm

By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI and SARAH EL DEEB
Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) - One Egyptian kissed the ground. Another rolled in ecstasy in the grass outside a presidential palace. People wept, jumped, screamed and hugged each other with a shared joy they had never known. Cairo erupted in a cacophony of celebration: fireworks and car horns and gunshots in the air.
President Hosni Mubarak resigned and handed power to the military on Friday, and Egypt held its biggest party in decades.
"The people have toppled the regime," chanted protesters, whose 18 days of swelling protests tipped Egypt into a crisis that the autocratic government could not undo.
"This is the happiest day in my generation," said Ali al-Tayab, a demonstrator who paid tribute to those who died in clashes with police and Mubarak supporters. "To the martyrs, this is your day."
At a presidential palace in Cairo, where demonstrators had gathered in the thousands, people flashed the V-for-victory sign and shouted, "Be happy, Egyptians, today is a feast" and "He stepped down."
They handed out candy. Many prayed and declared: "God is great."
Crowds packed Tahrir Square, the scene of massive protests against Mubarak that began on Jan. 25. The celebrations continued early Saturday, with throngs of people milling around in downtown Cairo.
A huge poster hanging in the square read, "Breaking news: The people have brought down the regime."
"Egypt is free," shouted Mahmoud Elhetta, a protest organizer. "We are a great people and we did something great. This is the expected end for every dictator."

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My main goal in doing a blog is to keep a record of not only what is happening in our family but also what kind of a world we live in at this time.
I will occassionally be posting news articles or stories if I feel they are relevant.

What has happened in Egypt is truly amazing and proves the strength of  a determined people.
Mubarack was an evil, oppressive dictator and in my view the people of Egypt had every right to begin their revolution.  I am very concerned about what kind of government will be established in Egypt now.
I hope that the people can take this chance to put righteous people above them and form a true demoracy.
Unfortunantly I worry that this might not happen.  I am concerned about a militant Islamic radical influence taking control and inforcing Sharia Law in Egypt.  I hope that for the sake of the Egyptians, the people of Isreal, and the rest of the world that this does not happen.

And that is my 2 cents on this bit of history on the making.