This assignment is due by Monday, March 26 at NOON. No exceptions for late assignments, except by permission of Dr. Williams.
Please read and blog THREE specific observations from the Prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. What do you learn about Egypt, social media, and grassroots activism?
-Ghonim says that his understanding of the markets and the internet led to his success in "selling" the egyptian revolution through social media. While considering himself a personal introvert, he is very extroverted on the internet.
ReplyDelete-Ghonim speaks of the intimidation of the people by the police forces. Ghonim said that the government should've been more concerned about his internet experience rather than his political and religious values.
CH 2
-Ghonim speaks about Egypt’s history of repressive regimes. From the political dynasty of Mohammed Ali to the military coups of the 1950s to the autocratic regimes of Sadat and Nasser, Egypt was facing a major democracy deficit and ordinary Egyptians took no part in choosing the country’s leaders.
-Mubarak’s regime had been in power since 1981 and has been “reelected” with token opposition and rigged polling places. While Mubarak technically shared power with the parliament, they were essentially a rubber stamp for his policies. Mubarak started grooming his son as a successor while presenting him as somewhat of a reformer, even though his son didn’t differ substantially from Mubarak sr. in any way. Mubarak used the muslim brotherhood in order to scare the public into providing support for his regime.
-In the late 2000s, people began to organize in opposition to the regime. As internet use grew tenfold over the decade, it became easier to speak out anonymously. This began to undermine the unchallenged power of the regime. Several labor strikes and protests against the regime began to challenge the obedient culture and young people began getting more involved. When ElBaradei, a well respected nuclear security diplomat, announced his decision to seek the presidency in 2011, Ghonim helped to organize a facebook page and petition in favor of political reforms that allowed more freedom and transparency.
The prologue serves as a reminder of my blessings. Yes, #Occupy has definite meaning and reason for existence, however I would argue that the causes of the Arab Spring were, at least in my opinion, much more base and profound, and deserve more spotlight time than #Occupy. That fact that a majority of these revolutions were done non-violent is way more historical than we realize.
ReplyDeleteChapter one further serves this reminder. As an activist in Egypt, you have a massive file at State Security, and this file is used as blackmail. Anyone empowering the 'poor and unfortunate' were also looked at under a microscope. However, as Ghonim's last sentence states, if the people in power "had spent more time thinking about the Internet than classifying Egyptians by type of religious belief, they might have been better prepared for the digital tsunami" coming their way.
The explosion of privately owned print and the spread of satellite television was the main catalyst for the significant shift in media, both in usage and the way the public perceived it. As private media are not controlled by the State, they have slightly less overhead from the government. But that never meant that they didn't have to watch their backs.
The prologue gives a raw look into the brutality of the State Security. The people who they capture have no rights, and are tortured to divulge information.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Ghonim was extremely advanced in his experience of the internet for his time. He was intent on making a difference from the start with his website, IslamWay. He talks about how he dearly hoped that State Security didn't know about this site when they captured him, because any sort of strong religious or political activist involvement was threatening to them.
Although Egypt has had presidents, the government structure was far from the "democracy" that we know in the United States. The country was in a constant state of fear to speak against the government. The Egyptian Movement for Change, also known as Kefaya ("enough" in Arabic), "was the first group to openly and explicitly express opposition to Mubarak's presidency as well as to his son's candidacy." Kefaya was was a very diverse group, which was probably why they were so influential - they reached more demographics than the Brotherhood.
The prologue is a jump straight into action, as we have a brief account of Ghonim while incarcerated by the Egyptian State Security. It sets a dark, danger filled mood and leaves the reader hoping Ghonim does see his kids again, though obviously he must escape his captors to write this book.
ReplyDeleteChapter One is primarily a look into Ghonim’s education and work career, ending with his long awaited appointment to a position at Google, a career goal he pursued doggedly for some years. Toward the end of the chapter, Ghonim remarks that if the State Security, who released him after questioning, had known how the Internet could be used for revolutionary purposes, would have been asking different questions. This is the main point he is making: it’s all about listening to what people want and making decisions based off this information, a tactic Ghonim learns from Google.
Chapter Two picks apart the political structure of Egypt for the reader, beginning with a highlight of the countries dismal presidential history. While there were referendums to “legitimize” the President’s rule, no political leader, no matter how well liked, receives more than 90% of the vote. This sham government is led, at Ghonim’s time, by the now infamous Mubarak. Through careful propaganda and control, the Mubarak regime maintained an enemy in the Muslim Broterhood; allowing the leading class to have a reason to promote “stability” and inflict their absolute rule on the people.
The prologue begins with Ghonim describing the fear he felt when he was disappeared by State Security forces. While showing the fear that State Security has imbedded into the Egyptian people over time, the prologue also gets to two core beliefs that are important to Ghonim. First, he wishes that somebody changes the password for the Facebook page he has been running, second he hopes he can see his kids again.
ReplyDeleteThe first chapter laid out Ghonim’s basic background leading up to his involvement in the Arab Spring. It touches on his obsessions with working at Google, which he saw as “a company that I thought embodied who I was as a person,” (Ghonim, 25) to running of IslamWay.com, a religious website. He also smartly points out that State Security had no idea of the capabilities for revolution the internet held otherwise, they would have looked at people like Ghonim, much differently when he was held.
Chapter Two has Ghonim leading us through a brief history of politics in Egypt. He points out that in his life time there have been only two “president” both continually re-elected through referendums that were illegitimate elections. Ghonim finishes the chapter talking about his involvement in running a Facebook page in support of ElBaradei’s run for president and it was this involvement that encouraged him to try and create more internet safe sports for the people of Egypt to communicate.
Chapter 1
ReplyDelete“the regime sought to plant fear in the hearts of Egyptians from an early age. Fear was embodied in local proverbs, such as “Walk quietly by the wall (where you cannot be noticed.)” page 3
I could not imagine living in a country that intentionally made its people live in fear. Using fear to keep people in line seems like such an obvious tactic. When people are tired of the oppression a revolution is sure to come.
“Very cynically, he replied, “And what is it exactly that you like about Egypt?” page 5
This a person of great power in Egypt, and he is basically saying there is nothing in Egypt for civilians to like. A person in power should love their country and do what they can to improve it, not instill fear in them and oppress them. Egypt had a clearly corrupt government for a long time!
“I was in awe of the quality of education, the respect for citizens’ rights, and the democratic process that gave people voices and allowed them to be active players in the political process.” Page 17
I think we have lost our appreciation for our rights in this country. We take these rights for granted and never think about how different things would be in another country. However it is important that we continue to push for more freedoms, and never give up our rights as U.S. citizens because we have something that other countries can only dream of.
Chapter 2
“The Egyptians who grew up in the fifties and sixties endured the worst repression in our modern history, including arrests, torture, military trials, and other forms of repression.”
Meanwhile in the U.S.A. our people were going through some of the most drastic culture changes. The sixties in America was quite different than what was going on in Egypt. It amazes me that other cultures in the world are still under the rule of such corrupt leaders.
“Mubarak, like the presidents before him, held almost all the reins of power in the nation.” Page 30
This is quite different compared to the roll of our president does not have full control. Their presidents sound more like dictators disguising themselves as democratic leaders.
“we were ripe for revolution, even when we were terrified by the idea.” Page 31
The Idea of a revolution in a country is scary because it is necessary for all the people to feel the same way, and would have to give up their fears all at once. I hope that within my lifetime I get to see a revolution of sorts in this country. Many people feel like there needs to be a change.
Chapter 1:
ReplyDelete-Egyptian State Security is extremely nosey: when the Emergency Law was enacted in 1958 and later enforced after the Six Day War in 1967 gives executive authorities the right to interrogate, arrest, and/or imprison *any* Egyptian up to 6 months without even the right to an attorney. Security can also ban all types of protests and tap into Egyptian phones.
-Ghonim says "All public school teachers in Egypt earn a monthly salary of no more than a few hundred pounds, which does not cover their basic family needs." In result, teachers main source of income comes from private lessons, in which teachers can earn thousands of pounds while also teaching in a much better environment then the actual schools. According to Egyptians Cabinet Information Center, "60% of parents sought private lessons for their children" in 2008.
-Google is so successful because of their alternative work culture. When working for Google, statistics and data hold more power than opinions. Google's work is based on philosophy and strategy, as well as communication and sharing amongst employees.
Chapter 2:
-In Egypt, there is a parliament which is supposed to issue laws and divide power with the executive but in actuality they were following the regime. Parliament members stay loyal to system because they recieve priveleges, like immunity from arrests or land or money. The President holds the most power in reality.
- On April 6, 2008, workers at Al-Mahalla Textiles went on strike. Internet activists supported them, one of the strikes Facebook pages drew more than 70,000 members. The strike ended with minimal results but the strike *was* a success in that it was a warning of sorts to the government, and Egyptian people, of what the Internet could help accomplish in Egyptian politics.
-Media has changed dramatically in Egypt over the past 10 years due to the increase of privately owned news papers and magazines, along with the rise of satellite television. Official state-owned media is obviously the most tightly controlled source of news information, but private media is somewhat manipulated as well. This is a similarity I see between the U.S. and Egypt: It is scary that her in the U.S. we can't trust mainstream media, but at least we have many alternative news resources. It must be terrifying to be so kept in the dark about what is taking place in your country.
The prologue is an uncensored anecdote from Wael's experiences with the corrupt Egyptian State Security, with only two wishes going in - that someone changes his facebook password, and to see his kids again.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1:
- "The regime sought to plant fear in the hearts of Egyptians from an early age. Feat was embodied in local proverbs.. "who ever is afraid stays unharmed."" The only reason the government stayed as it was for so long was because of the fear they instilled in each person. Egyptians needed a barrier between them and the government, and they didn't know at the time what the net would evolve to.
- In 1998 Wael created a website, named IslamWay, to help Muslims keep in contact with one another. This site was similar to YouTube, except it was for only audio only, the administrators had to remain anonymous, and all of the content was based around religion. The site rapidly grew, so it was soon expanded to include an english version. This was a very risky move to even create this site, let alone expand it because of the government's surveillance and regulations with religious material. Good thing they don't have any control over the net.
- "If Captain Rafaat and his colleagues had spent more time thinking about the internet than classifying Egyptians by type of religious belief, they might have been better prepared for the digital tsunami under way." Did the government believe that the revolution was happening so rapidly because of religious differences?
Chapter 2
- During the elections, reports would be done and aired on public television. The government had control over all of the public stations and demanded that the reports not in favor of Mubarak must be removed, however, they did not have control over the private companies. These television states were crutial for the few Egyptians who didn't have access to internet.
- "Despite the fact that official NDP candidates won fewer that 40 percent of the seats, the party ended up with 72 percent representation, since many independent candidates joined the party after winning, either because they desired the personal riches associated with each loyal seat or because they were too afraid to decline, or both (page 34)." Everyone who was involved with the government was too afraid to say anything of what they believed. What took so long for Egyptians to realize they can do something for change?
Ghonim’s prologue is super effective. With only this short narrative description of being held captive of state security we as readers are provided a great exposition- we know the state security is brutal (he is being beaten and cursed and is blindfolded), we know the state security is unpredictable (“I wondered what could happen to me next, but I knew the answer:anything.”), we know Ghonim has somewhat secretly acted against the regime (“I wondered what they knew. What had I done that had given me away?”), we know Ghonim is religious (“I prayed to God”), we know he is working with others (at least Najeeb) in online efforts (at least Facebook), and finally we know just how dangerous this all is (“They must not know what I had done. I wanted to see my children again.”) Incredible amount of information in about one page’s length.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter One Ghonim discusses the Egyptian regime’s control over media, calling media Egypt’s “weapons of mass oppression.” The state media instilled great fear in the people and punished those who opposed through televised “character assassination.” It seems that a common theme in countries with unjust governments is control of the media to control its people- and often it works. Ghonim provides us with his background in education and in the internet world, with his early invention of IslamWay and various other passionate online endeavors. He uses his experience, showing us not only why the internet appeals to him personally, but also how the internet rallies support for all kinds of causes.
In Chapter Two, Ghonim describes how he transformed from an internet guru to a major political activist. On page 51 he says, “the internet was going to change politics in Egypt.” Because the citizens felt so oppressed and unable to publicly confront the regime, the internet would give them the strength to communicate, collaborate, coordinate, anonymously. The internet was a forum that was not censored like print media and television. Ghonim, being the tech savvy google man, was able to see these opportunities and seize them wherever possible, helping out candidate ElBaradei in his campaign and encouraging Egyptians to get involved and be proactive in their struggle for democracy and freedom.