# Will Tunisian revolution inspire actions in other nations? (Now following Egypt.) \[ed. title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703 "2011-01-15T09:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/221 "2011-01-30T18:46:24Z")
Honestly, I’m having trouble remembering exactly where I read that. But it seems like good practice; the leader of the interim government would have tremendous power to rig the election in his or her own favor. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/222 "2011-01-30T21:08:58Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Get your news from people who are closer to the source, people. CNN is not worth watching anymore. Sadly. We don’t all get al-Jazeera. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/223 "2011-01-30T21:10:47Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > And yes, there is no head. This is a People’s Revolution. They’re mad as hell and they’re not gonna take it anymore. Kind of makes you proud of the human spirit, doesn’t it? That’s the problem. They don’t know **what** they want, only what they don’t. When that happens, what comes next could be **anything.** ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/224 "2011-01-30T21:12:48Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > We don’t all get al-Jazeera. I prefer to follow Israeli news sources. They’re as well-versed in Arab politics as anyone in the world, and frankly, IMHO they’re more reliable than a state-owned outlet like AJ. ---
**Author:** ![freemal2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@freemal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freemal2)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/225 "2011-01-30T21:12:55Z")
Its hard to know how much of the looters found with government issued IDs and weapons are acting under orders. Unemployment in Egypt is very high so many potentially viiolent troublemakers were given jobs as security in the hopes that they would use their inclinations in a constructive way. How many are under orders to loot and create the impression that the mobs are anarchistic thieves and need to be cracked down on and how many are opportunistic thugs looking for a little extra to supplement their woeful wages. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/226 "2011-01-30T21:12:58Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > The Tunisian uprising has by some been given the name “Jasmine Revolution” - in line with all the other colour and flower revolutions. Has the Egyptian been given a colour or flower yet? I dunno, but an ancient traditional name of Egypt is “The Red and Black Land.” (The Red Land being Upper or Nile-Valley Eqypt, the Black Land being Lower or Nile-Delta Egypt.) But “The Red and Black Revolution” sounds **way** too anarcho-syndicalist and there’s no doctrine of that kind on the ground here anyway. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/227 "2011-01-30T21:14:16Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’ll probably end up being something lame like “the Pyramid Revolution.” Nix. Pyramids are stable. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/228 "2011-01-30T21:14:20Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > We don’t all get al-Jazeera. You can watch their live stream here: > **[Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/)** > > News, analysis from the Middle East & worldwide, multimedia & interactives, opinions, documentaries, podcasts, long reads and broadcast schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/229 "2011-01-30T21:17:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Nix. Pyramids are stable. How about “the Reed Revolution”? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/230 "2011-01-30T21:18:36Z")
Why is it that some Egyptian women wear full-face veils and others just wear headscarves? Just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/231 "2011-01-30T21:18:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > We don’t all get al-Jazeera. > **[Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/)** > > News, analysis from the Middle East & worldwide, multimedia & interactives, opinions, documentaries, podcasts, long reads and broadcast schedule. And now you do. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/232 "2011-01-30T21:19:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > How about “the Reed Revolution”? “The Papyrus Revolution” sounds more Egyptian. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/233 "2011-01-30T21:20:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Why is it that some Egyptian women wear full-face veils and others just wear headscarves? Just wondering. I assume it’s because some are more religious than others. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/234 "2011-01-30T21:22:20Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera](http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/) > > And now you do. Enjoy! Right now, it says Egyptians across the country are defying the curfew for the third night in a row and there are sympathetic demonstrations going on all over the world, including the U.S. and Iran. (Only in Iran, I should guess, are the demonstrations state-sponsored.) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/235 "2011-01-30T21:35:05Z")
Heh. You like playing with fire there, Iran? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/236 "2011-01-30T21:36:20Z")
FWIW, this sounds like a slightly clearer step away from Mubarak than I was expecting Obama to give just yet. > [@The White House](#): > > The President reiterated his focus on opposing violence and calling for restraint; supporting universal rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, association, and speech; and **supporting an orderly transition to a government that is responsive** to the aspirations of the Egyptian people. That is, they look for there to definitely _be_ a transition now. I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/237 "2011-01-30T21:41:05Z")
On the other hand, today, > [@Mohamed ElBaradei](#): > > The American government cannot ask the Egyptian people to believe that a dictator who has been in power for 30 years would be the one to implement democracy. This is a farce. The first thing which will calm the situation is for Mubarak to leave, and leave with some dignity. Otherwise, I fear that things will get bloody. And [the US] have to stop the life support to the dictator and root for the people. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/238 "2011-01-30T21:52:12Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Heh. You like playing with fire there, Iran? They’ve been issuing official statements in support of the revolution. Apparently the Iranians think replacing an Israel-friendly government with a government that has Muslim Brotherhood support has got to be an improvement from their POV. I think they may be disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/239 "2011-01-30T22:04:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I think they may be disappointed. I hope they’ll be disappointed. I don’t think, from what I’ve read that MB Egypt has the influence to actually come out on top of any new government, but there’s no love lost between the people of Egypt and Israel. I’m hoping the new government will at least retain a neutral stance toward Israel, but it’s up in the air. Doesn’t mean I don’t support the protesters/revolutionaries…it just means that I’m somewhat wary of the outcome. Mubarak has to go. I think ElBaradei is likely to keep things cool on the border. I just don’t know what happens after the interim gov is replaced by a duly elected slate. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703/240 "2011-01-30T22:12:40Z")
[QUOTE=Mohamed ElBaradei] The American government cannot ask the Egyptian people to believe that a dictator who has been in power for 30 years would be the one to implement democracy. This is a farce. The first thing which will calm the situation is for Mubarak to leave, and leave with some dignity. Otherwise, I fear that things will get bloody. And [the US] have to stop the life support to the dictator and root for the people. [/QUOTE] I guess nothing less would be expected from him. Also one has to wonder if this seminal moment for ME and world stability will open eyes to an average American, will they see that they’ve been brainwashed to the teeth all these years and decades. If there is a chance for Obama to bring US out from the perceived decline in the eyes of the World then it must be this opportunity to back up all this talk about ideals of democracy but, alas, he calls for a rag to act as morning dew. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-tunisian-revolution-inspire-actions-in-other-nations-now-following-egypt-ed-title/567703.md?page=13)