Stealthy Tunisia

When the Tunisian Revolution unfurled, it was the spark that ignited the Middle East. But before the follow-up revolutions that no-one believed in, Egypt especially, but also Bahrain and Syria today. Before the less farfetched overthrow of regimes such as that of the universally recognized madman in Lybia and Saleh (much more cunning, yet much shakier). Before all that and right after Ben Ali ran, there was Tunisia: the epicenter. Tunisia the unstable, where prisoners set free roamed the street and where bunrt-out cars marred highway entrances (also used as exits, because of the standardized corruption that was involved in every government contract) and Tunisia the unruly. Where 'islamists', aligned with no religion but the desire for money distributed by Ben Ali's cronies, were bussed into demonstrations to force upon the West and the Tunisians visions of the escalation soon-to-be. From Lybia infiltrations were taking place aimed at destabilizing the country, while police officers that had fired at the crowds were extracted by boats or over especially the Lybian border. There was little question of Khadafi's alignment against the revolution. I learned of many shady dealings that were taking place in the country, where the ruling elite was still much entrenched, when I visited in early February 2011.

And the whole world was looking at this tiny desert nation, putting immense pressure on it. Conservative forces all over the Middle East knew not what to make of it. But then Mubarak was ousted. And Bahrain was set ablaze. And Lybia followed suit. And now Syria and the tension with Iran, the realignment of Hamas, all this is demanding the attention of countries that are looking for a status quo. Countries that would not have accepted change in Tunisia. If Egypt fails, if Bahrain will only engage in cosmetic changes, if Lybia becomes anything at all, apart from a new Somalia (it will not, there is too much oil), if Syria becomes subdued by the self-proclaimed 'lion' family (Asad means lion. Bashar, father of, specifically changed his name for that reason). If all else fails, I often think: grant Tunisia its stealthy transition into a stable democracy. Into a place where Islam and modern values can align and mutually benefit each other. Let the Tunisian youth that I have met: educated, progressive and eager to embrace modernity and technology, let them foster an Arab success story. Let them work in silence, as the world looks at more dramatic scenery. Not like Turkey, that has always been an outsider. Not like the Gulf States, every one a hopelessly outdated society propped up by artificial wealth. Not like Lebanon, always on the verge of collapse. A stable, democratic, open and prosperous crowbar for every Arab to look at and admire. An example of what things could be like.