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Socialism and the Spirit of Tahrir Square by Andrea Pason and Billy Wharton, co-chairs Socialist Party USA- February 11, 2011  We send greetings to the working
people of Egypt on the day of their victorious struggle to depose the
dictator Hosni Mubarak. Their grassroots movement provides
definitive proof to the world that radical political activity can
change the course of history. The activities of the protesters in
Tahrir Square transformed the idea of democracy from a stale ritual
that occurs every few years to an open ended struggle for
freedom. We are inspired by the example provided by this mass
revolt of the Egyptian people.It is particularly important to recognize the central contribution made by the working class to the defeat of the dictator. While the occupation of the square and the street demonstrations in several cities galvanized the resistance, it was the mass strikes carried out by the workers that broke the back of the regime. On February 9th thousands of workers demonstrated the ability to shutdown the entire society and economy until their demands were met. After these mass strikes, the regime understood that surrender was its only option. The victory of Tahrir Square need not be an isolated one – limited only to the removal of one dictatorial regime. The revolt was as much about the conditions imposed on Egyptians by capitalism – the lack of food, the unemployment, the poor housing, the declining environment – as it was about Mubarak. We can all join in the spirit of struggle initiated in Cairo by demanding a democratic socialist society where the needs of human beings are placed ahead of those of corporations. See Tahrir Square for what it is – an open-ended struggle for freedom. And what the dissident voices in Egypt and many others parts of world are demanding are things that capitalism cannot deliver. In Egypt, the reorganization of an independent trade union movement, the experiences of direct democracy in the protests and the revitalization of a socialist left in the country offer greatest hope for advancing the political agenda for economic freedom developed in Tahrir Square. As socialists located in the US, we pledge to continue to do our part in the international struggle for socialism. We see our own political activity as a part of the larger international movement for jobs, peace and freedom. As a part of a Socialism for the 21st Century! - |
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