Category: Facebook & Twitter

Selections of Status Updates, Notes, Comments and Tweets made since 2009, a year which coincided with the gradual discovery by Arab and Middle Eastern activists of the potential of Facebook and Twitter as tools for social and political activism.

Secularism and the Barometer for Democracy

Facebook | May 25, 2013

This statement by Ed Hussein makes absolutely no sense:

“If the barometer for democracy is France or Britain, then Muslim countries are not on that trajectory. Why should they be? Theirs is a different culture rooted in scripture, unlike that of secular Europe. The freedom to blaspheme or “insult the prophets and God” is not acceptable to most Muslims or even Christians living in Palestine, Pakistan, Egypt, or Lebanon. This tension between Western and other approaches to democracy will remain a cause for ongoing struggle.” Continue reading “Secularism and the Barometer for Democracy” →

Time for Revolution, and Planning

Yeah, this is the time for revolutions and change: the peaceful variety. This is both exciting and exhausting. And since I am an advocate of patience and careful planning, and of leaving things in the hands of grassroots activists on the ground to guide us and decide on the right time for the move, I have to put up with all different sorts of accusations coming from my more hotheaded colleagues, those who champion revolutionary rhetoric but think that revolutionary action is nothing more than spontaneous social combustion instigated by repeated shouts of Allahu Akbar and Down With the Regime.

Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (4)

A selection of tweets related to the Egyptian Revolution, I have excluded most retweets as well as tweets in Arabic or tweets that simply link to articles and news reports. Most tweets reflect personal thoughts of information obtained from monitoring reports from the ground sent by in-country activists and journalists.

  1. What’s Behind Demonstrations in #Egypt? http://goo.gl/tqa12 – Desire 4 Freedom 4 Dignity 4 Better Future than they’re preparing 4 us #jan25 2011-01-28T00:00:54Z
  2. They want power. We want freedom. They have guns. We have cellphones. They’re ready 2 kill. We’re willing 2 die 4 better tomorrow #jan25 2011-01-28T00:05:21Z
  3. #Egyptian unrest may set off vicious economic cycle http://goo.gl/5vxlu – Little price 2 pay 4 ppl willing 2 shed own blood 4 freedom #jan25 2011-01-28T00:20:05Z
  4. Egyptian authorities seem to be encouraging thugs 2 burn cars loot shops in order 2 smear protesters decrease potential turnout tmrrw #jan25 2011-01-28T00:25:54Z
  5. Reports of videos, pictures, status updates getting deleted from Facebook pages supporting protesters, FB new battle front now #jan25 2011-01-28T00:29:33Z Continue reading “Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (4)” →

Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (3)

A selection of tweets related to the Egyptian Revolution, I have excluded most retweets as well as tweets in Arabic or tweets that simply link to articles and news reports. Most tweets reflect personal thoughts of information obtained from monitoring reports from the ground sent by in-country activists and journalists.

  1. Egypt’s Protests Turn Ugly as the Regime Changes Tactics http://goo.gl/uOupa By trying 2 corner protesters they cornered themselves #jan25 2011-01-27T00:03:48Z
  2. Protests still taking place in #Cairo, reports now protesters succeed in breaking through gate of Foreign Ministry #jan25 2011-01-27T00:16:20Z
  3. #Suez: reports indicate that funeral processions of martyrs will take place tomorrow after noon prayers. Expect heavy police presence #jan25 2011-01-27T00:18:34Z
  4. #Egypt: Rage against the Mubaraks | http://goo.gl/LWW35 Rage on against the dying of the light, only thing Mubaraks ever delivered #jan25 2011-01-27T00:26:02Z
  5. Will US support call for reform in Egypt? http://goo.gl/0xtd5 Whether they do or don’t, end of Mubarak looming. It’s change we want #jan25 2011-01-27T00:29:41Z
  6. Mockline: ME Continues 2 Witness Popular Crackdowns Against Ailing Regimes By Hordes of Unarmed Protesters Bent On Freedom, Justice #jan25 2011-01-27T00:56:50Z Continue reading “Tweeting the Egyptian Revolution (3)” →