My Personal Look Back on the Anniversary of the Egypt Uprising

“The world is flat,”—a term used by Thomas Friedman.  To me, this means that we are all connected via instant communication.  In 2011, one example of this was global instant connect.  Young people discovered a flat world and found a global voice that said, “This is not okay.”  Of course, the local agendas had different twists, but the overall outcry was touched-off by the same phenomena—unemployment.  2011 was historically marked by the highest rates of unemployment among youth—(24% in Egypt, 50% in Greece, and 18% in the US)—according to Bloomberg Business Week, January 8, 2011.  There was a loss of faith in the system that used to promise our youth good employment after graduation from college.

Last year, I realized the impact of unemployment throughout the world while traveling in Egypt.  On January 27, 2011, I was caught in the middle of the revolt in Egypt. I was shocked by the violence and scared to death that I would be a victim to it.  I was stuck in my hotel, heard gunfire and smelled the smoke of the burning building all while huddled with my colleagues plotting our escape.  I was cut-off from the world.  I got to spend some time with the hotel staff and was equally as shocked at what I discovered.  ALL of the hotel staff—(I’m not talking about management. I’m talking about the people carrying bags to rooms, serving food in the restaurant and assisting behind the desk.)—not only had undergraduate and graduate degrees and spoke several languages, but ALL had two things in common: they couldn’t find any other jobs and they were thrilled to have these jobs.  By the way, they were sympathetic with the revolutionaries, but scared to take part.

What do these people in Egypt, California, New York and Greece have in common?  A crisis of faith in the system.  Listen up, Washington—Republicans and Democrats!  We won’t settle for the death of the American Dream.  We need jobs—NOW!