CAIRO - "Tunisia has chosen change, while Egypt has chosen shrimp-flavoured crisps." This was a message on the social networking website Facebook that linked the Tunisian public revolt, which toppled former President Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali to an Egyptian commercial for crisps. While Tunisians managed to topple the regime of Bin Ali in a 'surprise' revolt that is still taking shape, Egyptians' remarks are “ironic, sarcastic, [showing a] desperate desire for reform”. Egyptians have been striving for change for a long time, while efforts to effect change have borne fruit in Tunisia. Egyptians have been using Facebook and other Internet websites, such as Twitter, as well as mobile phone SMSs, not just to show their solidarity with the Tunisians' success in enforcing change, but also to express their hopes and dreams that this "successful will for change could extend to their nation". "What is the meaning of 'Koka Zero'?” asked one subscriber on Twitter before answering his own question: "It means ElBaradei called for change in Egypt and the Tunisians, not Egyptians, responded!" referring to political dissident Mohamed ElBaradei "History shows that Egyptians have a good sense of humour that always pops up in hard times," professor of psychology Magdi Badran, told The Egyptian Gazette. However, Badran described the remarks by Egyptians as a serious sign. "The youths who have written such remarks look very desperate for change," he said. Some other categories of young Egyptians, inspired by the Tunisians, expressed their solidarity and vented their spleen in another way, by attempting to set themselves alight, in a bid to strike the spark that ignited a public revolution, but to no avail. "Tunisia is the solution.” This SMS has been forwarded to thousands of mobile phones. In fact, this phrase is a quotation from a comic film by actor Mohamed Heneidi. Some other Egyptian loggers describe Tunisia's Bin Ali, who has fled to Saudi Arabia, as 'the best fugitive' distorting his Arabic name which meant "the best worshipper". "Egyptians are cheerful people, who can smile instead of shedding tears. This is great. However, it's sometimes fatal," professor Badran warned. Some other groups on Facebook and Twitter were deeply sarcastic. "The best change Egypt has made is bringing on Gedo, who scores in the last quarter of international matches.” This comment on a Facebook group refers to popular Egyptian football player Mohamed Naggui Gedo. Last month, the self-immolation of 26-yearold Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi unleashed a wave of street riots across the North African country that culminated in the dramatic ouster of Bin Ali after 23 years in power. Bouazizi's attempt to draw attention to economic hardship and repression has sparked a series of copycat public torchings in Egypt, Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
