Egyptians are finally back online after being shut down for almost a week in order to prevent them from assembling and demonstrating against Mubarak. Some Egyptians, however, took advantage of the “Speak to Tweet” service powered by Google in the last two days. That technology gave Egyptians the opportunity to dial a number and leave a voicemail. That voicemail was then converted into a Tweet with the tag #Egypt.
But as of this afternoon, most Internet lines are reopened and most of the Egyptians are not blocked from using their Facebook and Twitter accounts anymore. These are early Tweets after the Internet block was lifted.
Twitter enables us to get the news when it happens as it happens. One of the biggest stories this afternoon was probably when CNN 360 host Anderson Cooper tweeted: “Got roughed up by thugs in pro-mubarak crowd..punched and kicked repeatedly. Had to escape. Safe now.” The story unfolded right in front of our eyes. Cooper is safe and sound, and posted the events in a video on CNN.com.
Another heartbreaking Tweet I read was posted by exiledsurfer; I couldn’t find his original source from this tweet, but I still found this one heartbreaking: “‘i am 33 years old, i have never experienced democracy, i have read about it in books’ Selma Al Tarzi, eyewitness in #tahrir#egypt.”
The violence is brought to our homes via our monitors, and it gives me a stomach egg.
mosaaberizing’s Twitter account details the story of Tahrir Square as it happens from the Army taking shots in the air, the relief of being safe for now to this heartbreaking tweet: “The martyr at Abd El Meneim Reyad was carried and passed in front of me about 15 minutes ago. #Tahrir.”
This user even found a little humor in all of the tragedy when he/she posted: “On a lovely note, a young guy is walking in Tahrir square, inviting all of us to his wedding right after Mubarak falls :) #Tahrir”
Sbelg tweets that she believes the Internet was turned back on so Egyptians would run and be scared away by the violence. She also reveals that machine guns are used: “RT @weddady: RT @BloggerSeif: I am Lebanese, I know the sound of machine guns. Those are machine guns, NOT pistols being used #Jan25”
Then there are question about the Egyptian Army. Ayyachomsky asked: “Where is the Egyptian Army???? the military forces are cuffed with silence and shame in #Tahrir”
Since the Internet is again available, it seems that the violence has taken a turn for the worst between the anti-Mubarak protesters and the ones who support Mubarak. Tahrir Square doesn’t seem the place I want to be right now. My heart aches for those people who risk their lives so Egyptians can live in freedom. I am hoping as I watch the stories unfold that the violence hasn’t taken a turn for the worst, but it just simply seems that way since Twitter brings them to my home while I can do little but only absorb the news in agony.
