Only The Egyptian People Will Determine The Future

ibn ra7ju RA7jU 19672The Egyptian opposition, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood, has decided, at least temporarily, to negotiate with the Egyptian regime which only days prior they had condemned and called for the president to resign and no negotiations until then. That principled stance did not last long. But not much is to be said about Arab opposition parties anyway.

The Egyptian uprising, akin to its Tunisian inspiration, is a true movement of the people for democracy, justice and a life with hope and dignity. The Tunisian opposition had nothing to do with orchestrating the Jasmine Revolution. Facebook’s power of connectivity created the “now out of never” moment spoken about by Turkish-American scholar Timur Kuran:

It was Facebook’s power to mobilize a malleable youth which changed the face of history. The Tunisian opposition, which is worthy and noble, are simply the inheritors of that great revolution. They did neither unleash it nor dictate its escalation and eventually outcome. The people did: It was a true revolution of the people!

So that should be kept in mind when the Egyptian opposition, which has not achieved anything for decades, presumptuously claims to speak on behalf of the millions demonstrating on Egyptian streets. This opposition has not been given permission to speak on behalf of the youth. They have slim claim to credibility or leverage with the protesting masses. And some of them are silly opportunists and free riders hoping to pursue their political careers at this moment when nobody is calling for them anyhow.

The Egyptian people will not be deterred, and both the opposition and government are naive and clueless if they think so, by futile and interminable negotiations between a ruthless regime obstinate in the face of popular will and adamant that it will maintain power and a feckless opposition with very little public standing.

The Egyptian people do not care about the opposition, which does not have license to speak on their behalf, and the image of their selling out has not demoralized them since they never relied on them in the first place to do anything constructive as long as the regime remains in power. The Tunisian opposition never negotiated with the regime during the days of uprising. But the Egyptian opposition has decided to go ahead and accept empty promises while the structure of oppression remains in place. The loss in on them.

The Egyptian people are not deterred and only emboldened to see their revolution through. It is a matter of honor and only an act of faith in the future and God.

And neither the U.S., Israel, Mubarak nor the cowardly opposition will stand in the way. Only the people will determine their future, and rightly so. There can be no other way!

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