Pathfinders in Pandemonium

            From the dawn of human civilization, mankind has sought a solution to the problem of boredom. The advent of media was just that. Historically, media has its roots in what is known as the fertile crescent – the area in and around ancient Mesopotamia. It was just southwest of this region where the first defining steps were made in man’s search of knowledge and entertainment. Egypt has achieved much of these pioneering strides that started man on his incredible journey to the present.

            In prehistoric times, man was known to record stories on cavern walls. These drawings were a precursor to written language that the ancient Egyptians helped establish. Hieroglyphs – symbols that represent phonetic sounds - came into being around 3200 BC. At first these symbols were carved into the walls of temples and tombs, painting a picture of what life was like for the pharaohs and the kingdoms they ruled over. As the budding kingdom of artisans and merchants grew, it became apparent that their works of religious and trade documents needed to be easily transported.

            The solution to this problem was found in papyrus, a forerunner to modern paper. Circa 3000 BC, this media revolution allowed authors a place to plant their ink. Works of religious literature suddenly rose from obscurity. In 1450 BC, a collection of funerary spells dubbed the Book of the Dead were written on sheets of papyrus. Papyrus was commonly used as a sail on ships, aiding the Egyptians in exploration and trade. As Egypt stepped out its doorstep, it found a neighbor in Greece.

            In order to speak to the one another, Egyptians and Greeks colluded to translate their languages. Proof of this friendship came to fruition in 300 BC, as a temple contained in its walls the Rosetta stone. The Rosetta stone was a smaller fragment of a larger obelisk. Inscribed on its obsidian surface was 3 nearly identical texts written in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, Egyptian demotics, and ancient Greek. Once again Egypt proved itself to be groundbreaking in language, paving the way for other civilizations to make and trade translations of their own.

            Communicating with the outside world has been a part of Egypt’s history for centuries, and today the nation finds that tradition interrupted. As in ancient times when the common people rose up against a despot king, Egypt’s modern leader is being overthrown. The common folk have always been the backbone behind Egypt’s accomplishments.

            From constructing the first dam on the Nile to building the pyramids of Giza, the working Egyptian has unquestioningly followed the Pharaoh’s commands. No longer is this the case, as cell phones and internet-connected computers grow ever ubiquitous. As citizens of this interconnected world, Egyptians saw flaws in their nation’s leadership. They saw other nations employ democracy and the civil liberties their citizens enjoyed. Egyptians knew they deserved better for themselves and their future, and decided to get back on the saddle. But the saddle was occupied by a stubborn dictator that has governed for 30 years, and planned to pass his dynastic rule to his son.

            The leader of Egypt found that the worldwide media opened his people’s eyes. Social networks and instant messaging came to be the enemy of this president. In a recent phone conversation, President Obama urged Mubarak to show restraint in using military force against the some hundred-thousand protestors. Mubarak agreed, but a day later his supporters began physically beating the protestors. His supporters quelled the protests by a show of force and Mubarak himself responded to the media in much the same way. By pulling the plug on his entire nation, President Mubarak may have hoped to hide his people’s thoughts from the world. But in doing so, he has only proven himself a paranoid tyrant desperately holding onto his power.

            President Mubarak has announced that he will step down in September, but many of his people say this is too late. Whether he is forced out early or remains in the president’s palace, January 2011 will be known as the beginning of the end of his rule. Egypt has found it doesn’t need a leader that suppresses the media. The people of Egypt have decided it is time to seize their future and regain the glory of their past. It remains unknown whether they will find a lasting democratic government or fall into more civil unrest. It is known that Egypt will be closely watched by the world, despite President Mubarak’s best effort.