Egypt's Black Mirror

Abdel Moneim Mahmoud represents a new wrinkle in a long-time threat to the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

He's young, passionate about democracy, and well educated. Perhaps most alarming to Egypt's autocratic ruler, he's a technologically savvy member of the main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mr. Mahmoud and other like-minded 20-somethings have been pushing the Brotherhood to change from within, focusing on the Internet to recruit young Egyptians and to build alliances with secular activists in the fight for reform.

The journalist and human rights lawyer is spreading the word on his Arab-language blog, "I am a Brother." But while attracting new interest in the Brotherhood, he's drawn the attention of security services, too.

Mahmoud now languishes in Egypt's feared Tora prison, though he has not yet been charged with or convicted of any crime.

Egypt is about to blow. Political oppression has accelerated rapidly in the past couple of years and is getting worse. Those of us who have paid attention to anything in the past several years can see where this is leading. Boom go the country!

Egyptians, tired of 30 years of dictatorship, have in recent years been pushing for political and economic reform. They were getting too close to real reform, however, inciting Mubarak's recent crackdown riot. The latest target of oppression? Bloggers.

What does the great United States, land of the free, have to say about this?

Referring to Egypt's constitutional reforms passed in late March, which make it harder for opposition groups to organize politically and enshrined the use of military courts against civilians, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack noted criticisms, but added that "when you are able to at some point look back … you will see a general trend toward greater political reform."

Yeah, sure, it's political reform - they've reformed the constitution to enshrine dictatorship! Decades of supporting regimes like Mubarak's have led to the current explosive situation across the entire region, and the State Department just dismisses the crackdowns?

Since I scored a ticket to tonight's show and have Arcade Fire on the brain, I thought I'd dedicate the lyrics to the latest album's first track Black Mirror to those who suffer from political oppression in all its forms.

I walked down to the ocean
After waking from a nightmare.
No moon no pale reflection.
Black Mirror, Black Mirror

Shot by a security camera
You can't watch your own image
And also look yourself in the eye
Black Mirror, Black Mirror, Black Mirror

I know a time is coming
All words will lose their meaning
Please show me something that isn’t mine
But mine is the only kind that I relate to.
Le miroir casse,
The mirror casts mon reflet partout
Black Mirror, Black Mirror, Black Mirror

The Black Mirror knows no reflection,
It knows not pride or vanity.
It cares not about your dreams.
It cares not for your pyramid schemes
Their names are never spoken.
The curse is never broken.
The curse is never broken.
Un! Deux! Trois! Dis: Miroir Noir
Black Mirror!
Un! Deux! Trois! Dis: Miroir Noir
Black Mirror!

Black Mirror, Black Mirror
Their names are never spoken, The curse is never broken,
Their names are never spoken, The curse is never broken,
Mirror mirror on the wall, show me where them bombs will fall
Mirror mirror on the wall, show me where them bombs will fall
Black Mirror