President Hosni Mubarak has stepped down from his position in Egypt due to the protests of the people. Like a hunted fox he has ran away in exile to another part of Egypt with his tail between his legs. Does this mean other countries will be inspired to pressure other dictators out of power? 


In my humble opinion, what happened in Egypt was as a result of events in Tunisia. In that country the people also stood up against dictatorship. This indicates that if the people are united effective change can occur. Therefore the events in Egypt may trigger other people to protests against dictatorships. We may even find that countries that are 'so called democratic states' will also be under the spotlight.


Whenever people feel that their rights have been trampled, the events in Egypt will eventually be a reality. The protests in Egypt were for the most part peaceful, but there was loss of life. It is typical in cases where the people rise up that there will be human casualty. This is the price that many a hero had to pay for the prize of the freedom that different people enjoy today. Do not believe for a second that freedom is without a price.


Many have been indicating that maybe countries like Jamaica, Saudi Arabia and China should follow suit, but the fact is that it is not an easy road. How many people are willing to be non-violent in their approach to freedom of rights and justice. In Jamaica, during a full scale hurricane people were looting stores. Even in a gas strike, people used that opportunity to loot. You see for things to change everyone has to buy into the fact that their rights are being trampled. That is what happened in Egypt. The people were united for one cause, to topple the powers that be and their oppression. The pressure had swelled in the pipe and the people could bear it no more.


In Jamaica people have been suffering for years, but it seems that they have not reached their breaking point. They continue to put up with political parties that have not protected their rights since independence. They continue to watch as their country is devastated by bad decision after bad decision. They continue to forget that they are a great people and that they deserve better. Everyone is so into themselves that they have no regard for their neighbors.


In my estimation, Jamaica is about 50 years from making a decision to change the course they are on. That may change with the next generation, but for now it looks dismal. The Egyptian people have done what Bob Marley was preaching for years, that we should stand up for our rights. Bob Marley is a product of Jamaica, yet many nations have followed his words, except the country of his birth. Isn't that amazing?


If Jamaicans continue to sit on their hands, and think that change will come, then their hands will eventually be numb and useless. The Egyptians have taken the lead, what will others do now.