They’ll Call Me Freedom, Just Like a Wavin’ Flag
February 12, 2011 | 9 Comments
I’ve always loved living in Ottawa. It’s not the biggest city, but there’s generally something worthwhile going on. Right now, it’s Winterlude, and so I bundled up the daughter and headed out to look at ice sculptures and munch on Beaver Tails. Afterwards, as we went for a walk through downtown, we approached Parliament Hill. Coming down Metcalfe St. was the sound of a rally (another great aspect of living in Ottawa) and chants of Egypt, Egypt.
It was wonderful to be on the Hill, celebrating the bloodless Egyptian revolution. It was a powerful moment, as so many reveled in the newfound freedom of Egypt. There were cheers and tears of joy. There were speeches and there was music. This song was played shortly after my daughter and I arrived; the moment, not the brisk February wind, gave me chills, as the crowd waved flags and danced in celebration of freedom:
I can’t offer any insight into what is in store for Egypt. I do not know if the Egyptians’ dreams of freedom will be realized. The next government could, for all I know, be just as bad as the last one. I pray that it won’t. I pray that Egypt has started on its path to freedom, whatever form Egyptian freedom will eventually take.
So for today, all I can really do is offer my love and moral support for Egyptians here in Canada and throughout the world. I can only hope that the freedom Egypt is on verge of embracing can be realized by so many other countries and so many other people.
Yes, I’m thankful for living in Ottawa. I’m thankful for the freedom that we have in Canada and for the opportunity to celebrate the freedom of others.
And I’m especially thankful that I was able to share this special moment with my daughter.
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9 Responses to “They’ll Call Me Freedom, Just Like a Wavin’ Flag”
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February 13th, 2011 @ 9:30 pm
I shared a link to this post on my facebook page and interestingly, the phrase “bloodless Egyptian revolution” has generated a lot of debate. Several people have argued that such a phrase is inappropriate because, truly, blood has been shed, lives have been lost and time will only tell what violence may be yet to come.
But I think it’s a fitting phrase. I think that it properly acknowledges and praises the accomplishment of the Egyptian protesters. For eighteen days they held their capital in their grasp and held the world captivated. They raised their voices in anger, in outrage, in protest and indeed, in prayer, but not their fists. Not weapons. Not rocks or clubs or bottles. They stood up in the street and stood up for what they believed in.
And when shots were fired they were fired into – and not out of – the crowd. And they knelt in prayer, knowing they were vulnerable to the armed police and military and government supporters. Christian Egyptians formed human chains of protection around their praying Muslim brothers and sisters, just as Muslim Egyptians had done in January to protect Coptic Christian churches throughout the country.
What is yet to come is yet to be seen and it may be bloody still, but what the citizens have done through shear show of will – not force – is very well worthy of being called bloodless.
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February 14th, 2011 @ 10:53 am
Wael Ghonim has emerged, as the face of this movement; he was jailed and tortured two days after the protests started.
He was subsequently released twelve days later, due to efforts by numerous groups including Google – his employer.
During his interview yesterday with 60 Minutes, Wael stated that Egyptians simply desire the opportunity to forge a path that is free from the manipulation of Western governments.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7346812n
I truly admire Wael’s passion, but the army reeks of foreign elements. The army by virtue was an extension of Mubarak’s brutal policies, and it rarely questioned the directives it received.
Egypt’s armed forces receive substantial aid from the U.S., which is only surpassed by Israel; therefore, this enables American interests to supersede those of Egypt’s.
It can be argued that the U.S. has expressed a genuine interest towards Egypt’s fulfilment of a pluralist and democratic system of governance; however, that can only be measured by the breadth and depth of the actors in Egypt’s election.
Mohamed ElBaradei is a potential presidential candidate; his extensive tenure outside of Egypt does not aptly suit him to lead Egyptians through these tumultuous times.
Also his extensive ties to American think tanks – International Crisis Group, pose a severe risk concerning his ability to solemnly serve the needs of Egyptians.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/about/board.aspx
Bloodless or not the events that have been unfolding in the Arab world demonstrate the region yearns for a representational government, which does not heed the wishes of its foreign masters.
[Reply]
darlene Reply:
February 14th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I remember reading some American news coverage about the revolution in Egypt which was openly criticizing the US government’s lack of involvement in “managing” (literally, the word that was used) these events. It turned my stomach. Let the people be self-determining, in so far as they can. If there is a nation that should understand the importance of a citizenry standing up for themselves, it’s the US.
But will they? I wait with bated breath.
And interestingly, all the objections I’ve heard/read to the use of the phrase “bloodless” have come from American acquaintances. I find it extremely confusing.
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February 14th, 2011 @ 12:42 pm
[...] other parents thinking about these days, see Jonathan McLeod’s posting at the commons. tags: 1 Corinthians 13, Egypt, Katie Munnik, prayer, protest, the messy [...]
February 16th, 2011 @ 1:15 pm
Nothing like a little Bob to spur people on ;)
I am very happy for the Egyptian people. But as someone said above, this change has not been bloodless. I would also caution against the use of the word ‘revolution.’ Let’s see what happens in the elections.
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
February 16th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
By ‘revolution’ I was just talking about the change of the government, which has certainly happened. And, yes, definitely, I do not know what will happen in the future. I really hope that Egyptians will experience peace and freedom.
By ‘bloodless’, I meant that the uprising that changed the government was not on of bloodshed. People took to the streets; they chanted; they prayed; they protested, but they did not take up arms to change the government.
There was a lot of violence, pain and death, far too much, certainly. I was using my terms narrowly; I wasn’t trying to ignore what had happened.
And, yeah, we all need some Bob sometimes.
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Astley Henry Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 1:47 am
I take your point on ‘bloodless.’ I suppose I tend to think of ‘revolution’ in terms of the political science literature – a much sharper, more sudden and far more drastic change in government. In fact, had there been no popular will for the army to take over, it would have been called a coup!
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Jonathan McLeod Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 7:27 am
Fair point.
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February 16th, 2011 @ 2:13 pm
[...] other parents’ thinking about these days, see Jonathan McLeod ‘s post on the commons. tags: Ahdaf Soueif, Egypt, Katie Munnik, prayer, the messy table [...]