Mona Eltahawy, in the Guardian: Tunisia: the first Arab revolution
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/16/tunisia-first-arab-revolution-ben-ali
Also in the Guardian: Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution: A flower that could be crushed
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/17/tunisia-jasmine-revolution-editorial
Lamis Andoni, in Al Jazeera: To the tyrants of the Arab world
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/01/2011115135046129936.html
Note that this ends in poetry by Abul-Qasim al-Shabi in his poem To the Tyrants of the World:
Wait, don’t let the spring, the clearness of the sky and the shine of the morning light fool you …
Because the darkness, the thunder’s rumble and the blowing of the wind are coming toward you from the horizon
Beware because there is a fire underneath the ash
Of course, the official line from Hillary Clinton last Wednesday was “We are not taking sides.” Proving, once again, that we are on the wrong side of events in the Arab world. Meanwhile, it seems that the rest of the Arab countries who have tyrannical leadership propped up by Western benefactors (er, isn’t that ALL of them?) are reported to be scared witless, or something that rhymes therewith. I sure hope so, even while I don’t hold out much hope for real change. Food prices have already dropped in a few countries, and that will likely appease the “street” long enough for the usual trouble-makers to be rounded up and disappeared.
– Monsieur d’Nalgar