Profiles In Courage

 

I've been paying particular attention to one Egyptian who's been tweeting about events, whose Twitter ID is Sandmonkey. I don't know about you, but when I start following somebody via blogs or twitter and they are expressing what matters to them, I feel a bit like I know them. I start to care about them. Here are his most recent tweets (skipping the ones I can't read because they're in Arabic, and the ones that only link to another page):

Sandmonkey 
Anti-Mubarak protesters are descending on downton in the thousands. They are not giving up Tahrir. #JAN25
16 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Sandmonkey 
I hear reports of Army evacuating the Square from Protesters. Is this true? #jan25
5 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Sandmonkey 
Either way, I am heading there with medical supplies. They better not block my entrance. #jan25
5 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Then somebody telling him how to get into Tahrir:

ahmada2 
@Sandmonkey it's open. Kasr el Nile or talaat harb.
5 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Then…

SorayaBahgat 
Reports about my dear friend @Sandmonkey being arrested in#Tahrir. So worried can anyone give me more info? @bencnn#Egypt
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply

and a number of other tweets from different people reporting the same thing, including:

lisang Lisa Goldman

[email protected] was arrested today & his blog has been suspended. Read his very important final post about #jan25 here: http://bit.ly/hqIJ2b

That post ends:

"This is a losing battle and they have all the weapons, but we will continue fighting until we can’t. I am heading to Tahrir right now with supplies for the hundreds injured, knowing that today the attacks will intensify, because they can’t allow us to stay there come Friday, which is supposed to be the game changer. We are bringing everybody out, and we will refuse to be anything else than peaceful. If you are in Egypt, I am calling on all of you to head down to Tahrir today and Friday. It is imperative to show them that the battle for the soul of Egypt isn’t over and done with. I am calling you to bring your friends, to bring medical supplies, to go and see what Mubarak’s gurantees look like in real life. Egypt needs you. Be Heroes."

Update: He is out of jail now. "He was roughed up, but is fine." Sitting here in Bangor, Maine, enjoying the peaceful, beautiful snow, I'm in awe of this kind of courage.

Later update:

Sandmonkey Sandmonkey

I am ok. I got out. I was ambushed & beaten by the police, my phone confiscated , my car ripped apar& supplies taken #jan25

28 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Sandmonkey Sandmonkey

will tell the story later . Thank you all. I just need to rest now. #jan25

16 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

 

Last update, Feb 11:

The courage of Sandmonkey and all the protestors has paid off. Unbelievable to have been privileged to watch this history unfold in real time. Here's the last tweet from Sandmonkey I'll post here:

 

Sandmonkey Sandmonkey

 

To everyone who rediculed us, opposed us, wanted us to compromise, i say: YOU ARE WELCOME :) TODAY WE ALL CELEBRATE!!! #JAN25

 

Now, let's hope that the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces doesn't turn out to just enable a continuation of the same type of authoritarian regime...