FREEDOM!

It was announced an hour ago that President Mubarak has resigned.

Egypt is electric.  I was in Tahrir Square all afternoon speaking to people whose courage and determination was inspiring.  Attached are some photos of amazing people who fought for 18 days for their freedom and won.  More than 300 people have died and many more are still detained because they had the courage to speak out and work for democracy and human rights.   After last night's incredible let-down when the President's speech said he planned to remain President until September, today's news comes as an amazing and wonderful shock.  We are watching history and have had the chance to see and speak to the heroes who broke through 30 years of fear and oppression to bring about this amazing day.   Here are a couple photos of prayers in Tahrir Square. Here is a photo of me and my friend, Mohammed, in Tahrir Square this afternoon.  Mohammed has gone with me to Tahrir Square several times and keeps watch over me. Even though no one expected the President to resign this evening, the feeling in the Square was celebratory for many as they could feel their freedom to speak and express themselves without fear. For some people, like the couple in this next photo, this was their first time to the protests in Tahrir Square.  Today is the day that protesters said millions would demonstrate for freedom... and they did. Many families were in the Square.  The man in the photo below said his son was pleading with him to bring him to Tahrir Square, so today he did.   Here is the story behind the next photo.  I was walking down one of the paths of Tahrir Square when I saw this young man sitting quietly, not trying to get any attention... just sitting in front of a tent while hundreds of thousands of people passed by on the wide path in front of him.  I asked him if he spoke English and he did.  I interviewed him and this is what he told me.  His name is Mohammed and he is a second year college student studying geophysics.  He has been camped out in Tahrir Square since January 25 and said he would remain until the President goes.  He was there the night when pro-Mubarak forces attacked the protesters in the square, but was fortunate not to get hurt that night.  Asked what change he is seeking, he said he wanted to change the President, change the whole government,... freedom... more jobs...a better economy.  He wants to have a job when he gets out of college.    When I asked him how long he could stay there in the square, he said, "God be with us." We are honored to be in Cairo to witness this amazing day and to have seen the courage of Egyptians up close.  This blog is dedicated to: * Mohammed, the young man in the above photo, whose quiet bravery represents the hundreds of thousands of youth who brought about this peaceful revolution; *  the courageous human rights worker and lawyer who allowed me to post the interview with him on my blog last week.  Here is the link to that interview.   http://rotaryincairo.blogspot.com/2011/02/look-at-some-of-people-supporting.html  I was so troubled to hear on a news documentary a few days ago that this man was arrested later in the day after I posted his interview on my blog.  He was arrested with dozens of other human rights workers and journalists during the very scary day of Feburary 3.   Fortunately, the documentary said he had already been released.  *  Lastly, this blog is dedicated to all the people who died in this struggle.  Their ultimate sacrifice was part of this hard and miraculous road to freedom. I've never seen anything like this in my life and probably never will again.  I am just in awe.