Wael Ghonim’s “Inside the Egyption Revolution” Tedx 2011
“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be.” -Voltaire
Wael Ghonim is an internet activist and computer engineer at Google. Ghonim, one of the driving forces of the Egyptian revolution, discussed the power of the people and overcoming barriers in a Tedx talk. From how the revolution started with Khaled Saeed and the inspiration of the Tunisian revolution, major parts of the revolution are touched on in the talk. Ghonim highlights how social media and the internet allowed the oppressed citizens of the Egypt to realize they are not alone in their struggles. He explained how this revolution in Egypt brought the people together as one in their struggle along with their power. He then realized that “the power of the people is much stronger than the people in power.
Personally this topic is one that I strongly resonate with since I have had family that has been oppressed today and in the past. His talk is inspiring to those who listen since it is a reminder how even the most powerful few people are no match for the rest combined. Sure it is true that one person alone can not overpower the leaders of a strong country, but these few people are just the spark that can ignite the whole fire as a whole bringing all the power of the people together.
I think this talk is one that can be understood by most and applied to everyday life. Not only gathering people together for a revolution is what this talk is aimed for, but instead for taking these concepts and understanding that this strategy can be utilized in all situations. Whether it’s for work or in school, if a change must happen the people can come together and do it no matter the circumstances. The revolution in Egypt not only brought people together but people of all different kinds. Ghonim saw how the people set aside all their differences in order to achieve a common goal together. It did not matter if you were Christian or Muslim, black or white, or from different countries. When we work together we can see how it all comes down to we are all human and that is what truly matters in the end.
The only negative thing I can say about Ghonim’s talk is that in my opinion it was lacking detail and time. I am not sure if this is because Ted only gave him that much time or is was just that he said all he wanted. I would have liked to hear a little more about events in the revolution and more factors that contributed to the uprising. If you are interested in listening to this talk, it may help to gather knowledge on the revolution before listening to Ghonim.
All in all, Ghonim is a tremendous speaker and guy from what the Tedx talk talls me. He has experienced what I hope many never need to go through and has learned much about life during his struggles. I do indeed recommend this Tedx talk to people of all ages, gender, and background since this is a lesson that everyone can learn. Through this I learned that the Egyptian revolution was more than just an act for political and social freedom, it also acts as a tool of inspiration for all who need it.