Egypt, Hope in the New Generation.

This morning I watched the Al Jazeera news on my computer. The screen was filled with earnest faces both young and old. Women and children were present. Predominantly, the crowd was made up  of young men whose faces told a story of hope, courage and idealism.

One leader, a Google executive, wept. The pictures of the fresh faces of the young men who recently died are part of his reality now. He said he has transferred all he has into the name of his wife and given her power of attorney because he is ready to die to help bring fairness to all in Egypt, a country he loves.  There is a real possibilty he may die. Wael Ghonim made clear he has everything to live for - a wonderful wife, wonderful children, a job with the best company in the world and the financial ability to embrace life. He is one of the leaders in the struggle to bring about a New Egypt of poor and rich, those who have the advantages of higher education and those without, Christians amongst the many differing Muslims, people from all walks of life.

When I was ten, I slipped a transitor radio into the trunk being packed for camp. My childhood was lived under the relatively new shadow of the nuclear bomb. The threat of another Suez War seemed possible. I was terrified and did not want to be surprised. From my present perspective, it seems an odd thing for a little girl to be consumed by such horrible worries.

My family subscribed to the three city papers, one came in the morning and the other two came in the evening. It is still somewhat perplexing why the most conservative paper, The Telegram, was printed on pink paper. My parents were interested in many points of view.

The British empire was waning. The American Empire was waxing. Canada was placing its great hope with the United Nations. This time war was averted by the work for a just peace through the United Nations. My little self didn't hear news of a new war from the radio hidden under my pillow at camp.

This morning I have access to news from all over the world on my computer, Al Jazeera. Fox News, BBC, MSNBC, newspapers from everywhere, and my good old friend and personal favourite the CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The amazing thing is that now the news of the world is instantly brought to and from all corners of the world, through computers.

Perhaps more importantly, people are communicating person to person,  group to group. The doors of the internet open minds to fresh ways of thinking. The keys to this new world are held by the new generation. There is no reason to believe the future is not in good hands. There is hope for the future. A new world is already a reality.