Redefining Identities in Revolutionary Eras

Over several cups of steeped tea, friends, activists and social gurus are busy talking about heated Arab revolutions sweeping the political foundations of the Arab region. I've tried not to write about, or go into deep-founded conversations to reflect on the dynamics that confound the current milieu of the regions political sphere. Many reflections, have been quick to break apart the understandings and reasons of "how" and "why" such changes have emerged in such dramatic fashion. It's hard not to get lost in the conversations of who, what and how things will eventually transpire. Inevitable in any political reform or revolution, are the materialized identities manifesting towards deconstructing and constructing the "Arab" man. Western media, attempting to fathom how millions of Arabs came out of their shells in such an erratic nature, questions the theoretical pillars built up for centuries, defining, who we are and who we are "expected" to be.

Only recently, in a discussion with my father, did he finally begin to accept that our voices (as the youth) are no longer scattered thoughts lost in restricted foundations built from repressive and corrupt governments grounded for decades. Rather, that our opinions are beginning to bring forth constructive and powerful changes; and that protests are not merely a bunch of rogue-like individuals attempting to destruct our society. The ideas of who we are, not only to others, but to ourselves, has in itself been revolutionized.

Citizens are precariously scattered to adapt to their new levels of responsibilities. Many bloggers, and writers have noted that millions of people, from Tunisia to Egypt, and inevitably, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen et al... are beginning to grasp the foreseeable control exposed and imposed unto them (responsibilities never expected to transpire into reality). With every demand, people are startled by the abilities to take such orders forward, in profound active actions, that only months earlier would have been dramatically unexpected.

Essentially, today, like tomorrow, we continue to tune in to news-stations, to stay updated to the latest feeds that hurry-in with new information to frame the political puzzle that forms the Arab region today. Without a doubt, our self identities have unconsciously transformed in the light of such events. We are left to time, to watch our Selves evolve with the revolution.