A Day for Change

Congratulations to the Egyptian people for their new freedom and for having the willpower and foresight to resist the use of violence.

A reader of the Daily Dish insightfully observes...

I think [Mubarak's] speech last night was a "Hail Mary," possibly with the intent of so enraging the protesters that they would get violent. Then the military could have felt justified in stepping in to suppress them. Thus, the pivotal moment was last night, when the protesters, despite their profound and understandable disappointment and anger, resisted the impulse to react with violence. At this point, most of the military leaders must have realized that, even if they themselves were willing to stand by Mubarak, the rank and file would not turn on the protesters if any attempt was made to disperse them or otherwise break up the demonstrations. Hence, a military coup ensued.

Days, months or even years from now, I would predict that the demonstrators' peaceful response to Mubarak's refusal to step down on the night of Feb. 10, 2011 will be viewed as the turning point in this revolution.

Coincidentally, this date has seen significant change on at least two other occasions as the Guardian (UK) notes...

Mubarak picked an auspicious date to resign. On this day 32 years ago the Iranian revolution took place when the Shah's forces were overwhelmed. And 21 years ago today Nelson Mandela was freed by the apartheid regime in South Africa.