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KEEFAYA
We can learn a great deal from the Egyptians, have already. Now Tahrir square is being occupied again and a million will be demonstrating and occupying against the military rule there. It has even made American news.
Keefaya is Arabic for “enough!” Another word is “Bahss”, also Arabic for “Enough,” but Keefaya is the word used in the Egyptian version or dialect. We reprint a report from Sherif Koudous below. (Actually, I’m reposting a twitter capture and his link is there near the top – transcript will come later).
Readers have been wondering about what is going on here, so here goes: at the California campus at Davis (Agriculture) students had a sit in and there is a viral video on you tube showing the police calmly pepper spraying the seated students with pepper spray, spraying so deliberately and calmly as if someone watering the lawn or a bored person spraying so many cockroaches. As the Chancellor left her office, the path was lined with students standing in silence, a long walk of shame. A brilliant display of disgust and contempt for her and the police.
At the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York, the tents were destroyed, people evicted, and brutally, and so ten to twent times the number came out to join them occupying the Brooklyn Bridge, just about everywhere else, including Mayor Bloomberg’s house (he is a babtist, you know, no need to be anti-semitic), until he had it closed off and had the most insane press conference imaginable about arresting a “terrorist” on a Sunday evening – I mean, it was truly outlandish, outdoing old Dick Daley and Mike Ditka, and that is saying some. I’ll summarize the details later.
Just a small question arises from the destruction of tents: Why is it so evil to camp out in “Freedom Square” (the original name of the site in New York but perfectly OK to pitch a ten outside Best But or Wal-Mart in anticipation of “Black Friday”? If you can answer this, you understand all that is wrong and what is being protested.
KEFAYA!
We will set our translator at the blog to whatever country’s language when that country is in second place in the stats now.
Now, on to the press conference. (Parenthesis mine). Bloomberg called a major press conference, along with Kelley (Chief of Police) and the Attorney General and whomever he could arouse to announce the arrest of a know Al_Quaeda sympathizer! (Oh, geeze, we still have those evil people around?). The Synagogues were not safe! His name was Pimento and he was a great threat! (Thanks for saving us, Mayor). He was known to go to Home Depot! He talked about Mujhadeen and Jihad! (Oh help, us!) However, Policeman Roy Keller rose to the challenge (what a brave guy!). Pimento read an online publication titled “How to build a bomb in the kitchen of your mom” (sounds like the title of a Tom Lehrer song). So, now we know where to look it up. Thanks, Bloomingdale, er, Bloomberg. He read a magazine called “Inspire” – (shit, that’s worse than reading Marx, right?). He was charged with “Conspiring to build a pipe bomb.” Wow!
We found out soon after that our FBI says he is a hopeless case, couldn’t ever build a bomb, and was no danger. Well, what does the FBI know? After all, the CIA says Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, but Obama knows better, you bet.
Keefaya!
Another great bit of information: in Pakistan a list of 1,600 words you can not use in text messages was published. It is really strange, I mean, strange. Maybe one can understand the word “Utereus” being banned, but Athlete’s Foot? Imagine having to text “Was in men’s shower at Penn State. Now suffer from [expletive deleted].”
This reminds me of one of the most fun nights I ever had on the air. It was in the 70s. I got a phone call from a friend at the station and he said “Get over here fast, I really got something and I want you on the air with it.” He would not tell me what it was. Well, it was a list of words from the FCC that as of “Midnight, may no longer be used on the air.” Wow! That means they can be used on the air now, for another two hours! Shit, fucking right I’ll go on the air with it. Never heard of some of the words before. It was a great evening.
Keefaya!
Here is a recent almost real time capture from #tahrir on Twitter:
sharifkouddous Sharif Kouddous
This has become a war. One side has gas and guns and the other has numbers and will. #Tahrir http://pic.twitter.com/ozSF81XZ
Retweeted 100+ times
ganzeer Ganzeer
Booo. Opinion outside #Tahrir has turned pro-military again. Yalla, 2 more speeches and another salute to more martyrs to go.
Sandmonkey Mahmoud Salem
Spoke to many people outside #tahrir , the majority liked the #tantawispeech. Just an fyi.
kikhote Pierre Sioufi
leloveluck Louisa Loveluck
My Expert Comment for @CH_MENAP on the strength of #Egypt's state media: chathamhouse.org/media/comment/… #Tahrir
AalamWassef Aalam Wassef
Referendum announcement & Maspero investigation transferred to civilian court sound exactly like General Roueny's tricks to "calm" #tahrir
AalamWassef Aalam Wassef
Expect many viewers to buy #Tantawi's speech. The effective antidote is to broadcast his violence. Footage, footage, footage. #tahrir
AJELive AJELive
AJE's Mike Hanna: Those in #Tahrir know exactly what they don't want, but what's unclear is what they do want. What is viable alternative?
Bassem_Sabry Bassem Sabry
I have never seen so many people unafraid to die... #Tahrir
AalamWassef Aalam Wassef
nytjim Jim Roberts
RT @ShababLibya: RT @acarvin AJE: The crisis in Egypt might've just deepened with that speech by Tantawi. #tahrir
AJEnglish Al Jazeera English
sharifkouddous Sharif Kouddous
“@Beltrew: Huge screams on #Tahrir ' Leave Leave Leave!' as a reaction to Tantawi's speech. #Tahrir.”
FatennMostafa Fatenn Mostafa
So Tantawi needed 4 days of major protests, 30+ killed and hundred thousands in the street to accept Sharraf resignation?? #tahrir
jmalsin Jared Malsin
Live on Al Jazeera: 100,000 Egyptians in #Tahrir, reject #SCAF concessions, urge end of military rule: aljazeera.com/watch_now/
nytjim Jim Roberts
Updated @nytimes report on Tantawi agreeing to speed transition to civilian rule in #Egypt. nyti.ms/vfVCeh #tahrir
Sarahngb Sarahngb
Step outside the #tahrir bubble and realize that this speech was a successful one that will win majority of Egypt over
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
Everyone shouting in #Tahrir "ir7al ir7al" or "Go Go!" ---> Still a very clear message to #Tantawi despite his very defensive speech.
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
After #Tantawispeech crowds in #Tahrir are booing and chants grow even louder *Never underestimate resolve of the Egyptian people*
AlArabiya_Eng Al Arabiya English
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
"#SCAF is not interested in the presidency or in power, we put the interest of Egypt above everything else." - Tantawi #Tahrir
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
"I decided to accept the resignation of Essam Sharaf and his gov...Were committed to parliamentary elections as scheduled" - Tantawi #Tahrir
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
"We don't care who will win the elections, it is up to the people to decide, we care about interests of the ppl" - Tantawi #Tahrir
jonjensen Jon Jensen
AJEnglish Al Jazeera English
Warchadi Ahmed Nasri
URGENT: Reports about reaching an agreement between the protesters and CSF majors to stop the clashes in #MohamedMahmoud st #tahrir
jonjensen Jon Jensen
Extreme violence on Mohamed Mahmoud. Police firing heavily, from the shadows on an unlit street. #Egypt #Tahrir
BBCNews BBC News (UK)
RT @WyreDavies: The feeling here in #Tahrir is that the Generals may be too late with this. Protestors want them out of politics altogether
Monasosh Mona Seif
Nothing more beautiful than this #tahrir :) yfrog.com/ode24vj
TheBigPharaoh The Big Pharaoh
I don't think #tahrir will accept SCAF's concessions. Tahrir wants to do to SCAF what it did to Mubarak.
TIME TIME.com
Our reporter in Cairo RT @ahauslohner: #Tahrir is shoulder to shoulder. #Egypt yfrog.com/nvt6unjj
sabrykhaled Sabry M. خaled
For those who didn't join the revolution till now, Join us and you will have something to say to your kids, participate in history #Tahrir
Zeinobia Zeinobia
BBCBreaking BBC Breaking News
hadeelalsh Hadeel Al-Shalchi
sharifkouddous Sharif Kouddous
My interview today on @democracynow is online here: owl.li/7BKON #Tahrir
AJELive AJELive
White House calls #Tahrir violence "deplorable," says elections must go forward. aje.me/ruz2TK #Egypt
richardengelnbc Richard Engel
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
[SCREENSHOT] of the military man in #Tahrir that defected and joined the crowds in #Egypt. yfrog.com/nxzkbip
AJELive AJELive
We've collected statements from three politicians who attended SCAF crisis meeting. aje.me/ruz2TK #Egypt #Tahrir
PostWorldNews Post World News
Live coverage: Tens of thousands protest in #Tahrir Square wapo.st/uXaJZ2 Also, follow @londonoe and @LeilaFadel for #Egypt updates
leloveluck Louisa Loveluck
For an institution with such a long memory, surprised SCAf failing to remember fate of the last speechmaker who offer #Tahrir a compromise.
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
foreignoffice Foreign Office (FCO)
See our list of Ambassadors on twitter ow.ly/7BIi6 Today Deputy Ambassador @ThomReilly is tweeting live from #Tahrir Square, #Egypt
AP The Associated Press
BREAKING: Egyptian politician: Military pledges to transfer power to civilian government by July 1, 2012. -EC #Tahrir #Cairo
tarekshalaby Tarek Shalaby
No stages, no political flags. There's no chance any of those parties will exploit us. We are Egypt. #Tahrir
AalamWassef Aalam Wassef
ضابط حر في التحرير - youtu.be/-NQn4Nyr-6w - A free officer waves the Egyptian flag from a balcony in #Tahrir
AJELive AJELive
Image of an army-backed police barricade on Mansour Street near the Interior Ministry. #Egypt #Tahrir aje.me/ruz2TK
bencnn benwedeman
Photo: #tahrir filling up fast. #egypt pic.twitter.com/mTw9c8VN
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
[PHOTO] This is a photo from Mohamed Mahmoud street just outside of #Tahrir twitpic.com/7gu1hx
bbclysedoucet lyse doucet
hadeelalsh Hadeel Al-Shalchi
Just now: thousands flooding into #tahrir, men, women chanting "Freedom" from asr al nil
bencnn benwedeman
Photo: spent tear gas canister with name and address of manufacturer. Thousands have been fired around #tahrir #egypt pic.twitter.com/WCACE4ZS
AalamWassef Aalam Wassef
FANTASTIC! A Free Egyptian Officer - ضابط مصري حر youtube.com/watch?v=-NQn4N… - An army officer defects to join Egypt's peaceful revolution #tahrir
bbclysedoucet lyse doucet
1700 #Tahrir almost full. From rooftop can still c protestors approaching from all roads. yfrog.com/nv2hkiuj
hadeelalsh Hadeel Al-Shalchi
richardengelnbc Richard Engel
Biggest demo in cairo since mubarak toppled #egypt #tahrir yfrog.com/obtwtnlj
nytjim Jim Roberts
We have new video from NYT's David Kirkpatrick in #Tahrir Square today. On @nytimes homepage. nyti.ms/11nAuO
ASE Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
RT @Egypreneur: Al-Qasr Al-Ainy Hospital declares "Disaster Plan" to contain #Tahrir injuries "Critical Ops Only" AR bit.ly/sVDI3M
blogdiva Liza Sabater
RT @bencnn: Egyptian ingenuity: homemade gas mask. Tube leads from mouth to bottle with vinegar-soaked cotton #tahrir is.gd/AuUff0
hadeelalsh Hadeel Al-Shalchi
Many walking along bridge to #Tahrir carrying supplies, blankets, flags.
nytjim Jim Roberts
3 US students arrested in Cairo; accused of throwing flaming canisters at #Egypt security. wapo.st/w0rL1g #tahrir
