Egypt - the side I didn't know, sob!

After 18 days of street protests by the people of Egypt, and about 300 deaths, on 11 February 2011, the president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, relinquishes his post. On hearing the announcement the people of Egypt scream in joy, jump about in ecstasy, cry out in happiness, wave the Egyptian flag frantically, kneel on the ground and express gratitude to the God Almighty, and generally have a generous feeling of relief, excitement and anticipation!

Why? Have I missed something? Have sinister and nasty events been happening all this while in Egypt, that I have not read in the papers, and also missed seeing in the visual media? Have the Egyptian people being suffering that much? To such an extent, that some were even moved to shave off their head, and offer the hair to the heavens above, as a sign of gratefulness? These are the questions that nudge in my mind ever since the over throw of President Mubarak by people power.

To me, the local and international media have not sufficiently, if not at all, portrayed the Egyptian people as suffering greatly under Mubarak’s rule. Only now, I see the word ‘dictator’ being mentioned everywhere regarding the president.

My mind has always been tuned up to think about Mubarak as a strong ally of USA in the Middle East, a great dignitary who is flexible in regards to relationship with Israel and a man well respected by his people.

Oh, how could I be so wrong!