Egyptian Blogger Ethar El-Katatney Tells Parker-Spitzer “We Got Punked”

The individuals who book guests on CNN’s Parker-Spitzer deserve a good deal of credit for booking Egyptian blogger Ethar El-Katatney last night, who provided a spirited account of the current upheaval in Egypt via Skype. El-Katatney described the reaction among social media watchers and activists to Mubarak’s apparent head fake in which he did not resign as widely expected by saying “we got punked.”

TimesUnion provides interesting commentary to the El-Katatney interview:

The sheer will of the Egyptian youth to prevent violence and remain peaceful, even in the face of such disappointment and oppression. Immediately after the speech, people camped out at Tahrir Square started building showers and latrines. They’re not going anywhere. You guys, this hardly ever happens during a people’s uprising. They’re singing songs. They’re holding Friday prayers and Sunday Mass, ALL at Freedom Square. There’s usually much more rage by now (like more looting, shooting. Yes, people are angry and willing to die and are marching to the Presidential Palace, but hey, that’s expected, too). But singing songs? sharing food? getting married in the middle of the square? Masha’Allah, that’s Egypt. In Doha, Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi (Egyptian cleric exiled from Egypt for decades) has been asking Muslims and clergy to stand up and protect churches in Egypt – he may have a feeling the regime is up to no good (again, understatement).

Watch the interview below courtesy of CNN:

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