In the Heart of Tunisia: A Journey to the Epicenter of the New Arab World
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To truly begin to understand the significance of the 3rd Arab Bloggers Meeting that just took place in Tunisia, you first have to make yourself familiar with what happened two years ago in December 2009 during the 2nd Arab Bloggers Meeting in Beirut.
Back then, in the words of the late Steve “Abdulfattah” Jobs, we were “the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.”
We were crazy enough to think we could change the world. Crazy enough to think we could change things in our societies, some things, anything. But as crazy as we were, I don’t think any of us imagined in 2009 that we’d be meeting again in the capital of what then used to be one of the most Internet-restricting dictatorships on the planet.
Fast-forward nearly two years later and that’s precisely what happened. We met in Tunisia, and a lot has indeed changed. So much in fact that it took us all by surprise. And you know what? It’s one of the best damn feelings anyone can experience.
It’s one hell of a powerful validation, because we now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our collective efforts were not in vain. The risks many Arab bloggers and digital activists have taken and in some cases paid a hefty price for were worth it. They played a critical role in mobilizing the masses and in amplifying the events with the assistance of international media, especially Al Jazeera. This is why we’re vowing to continue in whatever shape or form, big or small, direct or indirect.
Critics can say whatever they want. Yes, there are daunting challenges ahead in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Yes, the stories coming out of countries like Bahrain and Syria are heartbreaking. Yes, periphery Arab countries like Mauritania and Sudan haven’t even erupted adequately as they should, and yes not every single hated dictator in the region is going to fall. At least, not anytime soon.