Mubarak Steps Down, Facebook is for Democracy! (and lurking)

The world is changing. And I'm not talking about midterms...We awoke on Friday to Egypt's leadership stepping down, and handing power over to the military. The Egyptian people have made their wishes very clear, after 18 days of protests and riots. President Hosni Mubarak has resigned, and fled to his home in Sharm el Sheikh; marking change across the Middle East and displaying the power of a collective people.

The revolution was partially attributed to the spread of information via the Internet. Facebook and Twitter sites helped rally people and spread media attention. Social networks allowed millions of Egyptians to join the protests without any central leader or coalition. So, when your not paying attention in lecture and flipping through Jessica's "Spring Break 09'" photo album on Facebook, just think: You are using a powerful tool of democracy... maybe Facebook is not a colossal time waster after all. maybe not.

In any event, now is the time to celebrate the victory of the Egyptian people as they start to rebuild after the protests. Currently the military is in charge (don't worry guys, it's funded by USA's aid). The Supreme Military Committee is expected to start ushering in a new age of rule, including elections in the fall, and suspending the Emergency Measures Act.

I don't know how the transition will occur. Who knows what tomorrow brings? The only wish I have for Egypt is that the people themselves decide how to be governed. Us folks in the West must support the people's revolution. Egypt is the entrance to the Middle East; it is the social, economic, and political pivot, around which the West gains influence into the Arab world. We must not be quick to throw up assumptions of some fundamentalist Islam group taking power. Egyptian's have lived in secular peace for decades, why must people bring up possible negativity towards Israel? The current young generation of Egyptians, the ones protesting, have never lived in war with Israel. Muslims and Christians, have lived in peace for decades in Egypt, why should we have reason to believe this will change? Please, attached a positive face to Egyptians, I do not believe Egyptians will not tolerate a theocracy. But, I urge you to formulate your own ideas, and get more information. I am by no means an expert on anything.
Will the victory of the Egyptian people spark a domino effect across the world, spreading to the countries with leadership less than democratic? It started with Tunisia, and then spread to Egypt, who is next?

Lastly, while Obama makes a very eloquent speech about Mubarak stepping down, Stephen Harper makes a comparison to toothpaste...

"In my judgment there is no going back, I think the old expression, there not going to put the toothpaste back into the tube on this one..."

here's more context of that quote: Opposition Criticizes Toothpaste Remarks
It's a silly statement, but I don't think it actually means the government is so "out-of-touch" on foreign affairs. For better or worse, the government knows what it's doing. They are pretty smart people, they just may not share your motives...
(P.S. midterms. consume. all. my. time....)

Photo from Associated Press