A couple of nights back, my dad shocks me with the news that my dearest government is considering (with much agree ability) to place certain restrictions on internet access and satellite channels.
As usual, I run back into my room to check this out:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/27/MNUV10CJGV.DTL

I’m at loss for words...the simplest freedom now most countries enjoy; cable..will be altered and censored by the system.
Ok fine, take cable away from us, I don’t really care, sure its contradicting to every element of globalization, sure it’s pathetic and piteous, sure you’re making your self look really bad and you’ll give them all the more reason to dis you, but hey, take cable, I don’t care.

But that’s not where the bad news for me is, honestly, it’s not facebook either,
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-mansour2-2008jun02,0,323158.story, although that is really a new level to stoop too when it comes to inhibiting freedom of expression! (Facebook? Now you look like a joke!)

The bad news are all the blogs and news websites they want to shut down, http://www.menassat.com/?q=en/news-articles/3973-egypt-s-courts-inundated-media-trials-week.

Now amidst all the moves towards globalization, democracy, freedom and liberty, here they are, the Egyptian government, shutting it all down for us! The most basic of all human rights, self expression, will now be more censored than ever.

What will happen to the cynical bloggers who toyed with fearless criticisms, or the very few objective, (or amusing) news websites than we can still check out for more interesting news than currently available on our front pages, and worst of all, what will happen to the readers? the ones who felt like there was still room to breathe, like there was still something allowed.

I cried, I cried when I heard this is going to happen. I am not sure where it will take us, after all, no one in Egypt is ever sure where such decision take us.

I have lost faith in the international community and the pressure they can allegedly place on the government to sway...
I have lost faith in the people, who can demonstrate and walk out on the streets and ask for a change...I mean hey, they didn’t do it when there was no bread, I’m not sure Facebook will get that anger going!

It’s quite sad, because a big part of me does wish we do something about it. The most affected by these decisions are youth, and we are the dominating bulk of the population, why don’t we do something?

( On a side note, I can’t believe Facebook hasn’t been added to the Microsoft dictionary yet! Come on! tsk tsk)

Anyway, I know I’m considered part of the youth too...But I am definitely not going out into the streets to picket for them to leave us facebook, (OK i’ll drop the facebook thing, as the saying in Egypt goes “Ham yebaky we ham yedahak = Some troubles make you cry, and some make you laugh ).

Secretly I’m hoping someone else will so I can join them. I’m hoping those active bloggers will fight for their word, for the right to communicate and tell the entire world how it goes down here...

On the other hand...I’m pretty sure we’ll find a way around this one too!