Don't Tread on Arabs

I'm just smart enough to know that I don't understand Arabs or their history (hell, like most people, I don't even understand my own), but I like what Sully says here:

I remain stunned both by the courage of this immense younger generation - from Tehran to Tunis - trying to move past their sclerotic elders. But what really amazes is the speed and breadth of the change. Merely what has happened in Egypt would be historic enough - and Egypt, to my mind, remains the indispensable nation here. And yet, from Yemen to Morocco, the spirit of revolution has accelerated. Quite how this became the tipping point will be decided by historians. But one suspects the combination of a huge teen bulge with the communications revolution were central.

I also see some parallels with America. Of course we already had a democracy. But the mass young support for Barack Obama, his vision of a less polarized country and world, his biracial identity, his restraint and inspiration occurred first of all.

I don't really know how much any of this has to do with Obama, but it's surely interesting for a country that spends so much time patting itself on the back for "kicking ass!!!!" in fighting for democracy over 200 years ago to be able to witness these events up close.