Brick By Brick

Salam @ Pioneer Place

Saturday, February 12th, 2011:  Portland's Egyptian population, as well as many other Middle Eastern and North African immigrants congregated downtown at Pioneer Square to celebrate the resignation of Hosni Mubarek, the U.S. backed strongman who has acted as Egypt's president since 1981.  Despite the cold winter afternoon, the atmosphere was electric:  Egyptian flags waved in the fierce wind while young men played doumbeks and djembes.  A crowd of Egyptian transplant heralded the "new Egypt" with Arabic tinged anthems and chants such as "Shah-- Go home, as-salam Islam" and "Brick by brick, wall by wall, we saw Mubarek fall".  There was celebration food:  Sugar glazed treats called Meshabek and the traditional dessert Knafeh, as well as cupcakes and Amaretti cookies.  Children ran around playing tag with bands of red, white and black painted on their face while an elderly hippie lady personally commended every single flag-bearer for the courage of their nation.  There was an admixture of nationalities and beliefs there in solidarity, especially transplants from the Middle East.  The variety of people in attendance lends credence to the wave of dissatisfaction sweeping the world right now.  

Salam's family is from Syria.  Her father brought her to the rally to lend support and praise for the people of Egypt and their new-found liberty.  I assume that in expressing solidarity with the protestors, her family was also expressing their own discontent with the authoritarian regime of Syrian President Bashar al Asad, although Salam did not speak to that directly.  "It's not free like America," she explained, "Arab states are tired of their leaders.  There are some good ones, but it's not like America".  And herein lies the paradox:  While America is seen as a bastion of freedom in the eyes of the oppressed, the American government supports (or at least tolerates) oppressive regimes to ensure a stable supply chain of cheap oil or strategic opportunities.  The exploitation is palpable and it's boiling over:  Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Yemen, Oman, Wisconsin-- the days of rage are here, freedom's on the march.