The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

As we watch these events in Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Libya and Yemen (and there are rumblings in other areas as well) unfold it is, to my mind, at least, incredible to trace it back to the one literal spark that, when fanned by the instant wind of the internet and texting, has set the Arabic world afire.

These tottering oppressive regimes depend on secrecy and ignorance to survive. Lift that veil ever so slightly and the subjects suddenly find the conditions of poverty and squalor much less tolerable.

4 Responses to “The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back”

1. JeffS says:

   February 21, 2011 at 8:34 am

   These tottering oppressive regimes depend on secrecy and ignorance to survive.

   Which, no doubt, is why wannabe oppressive regimes want to clamp down on the INTERNET.

2. Ave says:

   February 21, 2011 at 9:07 am

   May that poor man’s soul forever rest in peace.

   Below is a link to a brief, excellent commentary from Fareed Zakaria (GPS on CNN) on factors fueling formation of new social contracts throughout the Middle East in the coming decade.

   http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/02/20/gps.fareed.take.02.20.cnn

   I hope the link works for you – my apologies if it does not – I’m a bit of a technodolt.

3. tree hugging sister says:

   February 21, 2011 at 9:27 am

   Amen to that, Ave. (And an added fervent prayer that it’s not all for naught, with a plunge into Sharia darkness.)

4. ricki says:

   February 21, 2011 at 1:09 pm

   I really pray that all this leads to new democracies. But like ths, I fear that this will lead to worse dictatorships…