Yes Egypt Yes!

Everyone's been following, to varying degrees, the events taking place in Egypt over the past couple of weeks and  I'm pretty sure everyone has been supporting the protesters in their mission to get rid of the despot that has held power for roughly 30 years. Mubarak was 'supported' by the western governments as a stabilizing influence in a volatile region. However, the force that has removed the regime could prove to be the most beneficial in the long term. Despite the immediate uncertainties (e.g. was this a military coup behind the scenes?), this seems at the moment to be a historic moment. Speaking auspiciously, what has happened in Egypt could be a catalyst for a demand for greater representation across the Middle East.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/politicalcartoons/ig/Egypt-Cartoons/Liberty-Syphnx.htm

There are concerns that this could lead the way for fanatic Islam gaining a strong foothold which would not only force Egypt into the Dark Ages but could have further ramifications on an international level (terrorism, energy etc.) However, based on what I've seen, it looks like the people in the streets of Cairo were a cross section of society as opposed to religious fanatics. And judging from what the people were demanding (freedom, justice and opportunity), I can hardly see them turning to religious extremism which can offer them none of these. So all in all I think this is a very exciting period, and I am proud of the Egyptian people that have managed to pull off something amazing. I'm hoping that this is just the beginning of a transition into a system in which the Egyptian people feel a part of as opposed to an oppressive regime they feel chained to.