Written by Michelle Tingler, Opinionated MAMA   

The people of Egypt have delivered a powerful message to the region and the world.  They found their voice and the entire world has heard their demands for change.  The 30 year authoritarian rule of Hosni Mubarak is over. Young people banded together and accomplished the seemingly impossible in 18 days.  Their solidarity and voices toppled the strong man of the largest country in the Middle East.  The people of Egypt have demanded democracy.  They have achieved it. Let’s soak that in for a minute.  The Middle East is changed forever.

It is a new day in Egypt.  Now what?  A generation hungry for freedom, fairness and dignity is now free to chose their own path.  But, tomorrow is not going to be dramatically different than today, until they make it that way.  They might feel differently – more hopeful, more relieved, more inspired - but, it won’t really be different yet, because the hard work is still to come.  They are forging their own path.  Leaders will emerge, power struggles will happen, process will develop, a new constitution will be formed, elections will take place, policies will be implemented and real change will happen...eventually.  All of that is very hard, especially finding the patience.

The Egyptian people have learned that together they can accomplish a brighter future. Together, they are more powerful than one man.  They have achieved something MOMentous. They should be so proud.  The whole world is watching in awe. But, as American MAMAs, we want to remind them to be patient.  Persistent, but patient. True democracy is a process that requires work every day, every year, every decade, every century, toward liberty and justice for all.  Not for the people they agree with – but, for all the people.  It is not easy. And, they are going to have to keep working at it.

My mother-in-law loves a poem called The Station.  The essence of it is that “life is not about the destination, but about the journey.”  The same-ish can be said about democracy.  It is about the process, not just about the outcome.

As a symbol of democracy, the USA encouraged the voice of the people, but it is the Egyptian people who are defining their future and fulfilling their quest for true democracy - freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to peacefully assemble, tolerance, peace, etc. They must reject any form of oppression, because now they are a new symbol of freedom and they have a responsibility to themselves and the world to live up to those expectations.  They have created a new path to freedom.  We hope they take it.

Change begins at home.
O-MAMA.com