The winter of Middle East's discontent could be compared with Europe's Spring of Nations way back when.
Garibaldi was defending the republic of Roma even as Venetians and Sicilians were playing out their drama from the top of the boot to its heel, inspiring its people to push and plead for unity, for freedom, for better or worse.
The second French Republic was founded, driven by nationalists thinking the people should rule just as Germany finally found a way to unite.
There was the Hungarian revolution, then the Swiss were mixing with major internal struggles, eventually forging a new constitution into a Federal state taking power away from the individual Cantons.
Poland was mounting insurrection while parts of Romania had their young intellectuals rising to the tops while Ireland had the potato famine revolution.
Belgium had its own revolution and parts of Europe rose only to fall with the father of anarchy Pierre Joseph Proudhom stating, "we have been beaten and humiliated, gassed and gagged." Many thought it all a failure...
in 1848 they struggled, but they eventually persevered....
History repeats itself.... today, the Arab world stands on the same cusp... a truly new world not so far from their hands. One in which they may potentially choose which direction to go. They have the power of the people to sweep out the old order... what they need, is a Garibaldi, perhaps.
Someone of their own to make sure the promise of their revolution will not get hijacked by special interests, someone willing to die for the people. Maybe, with luck, they will create a truly free society, Inshallah.
In this modern time, they seem to have remembered the truth that living in liberty and dignity is worth risking life over, they appear to have absolutely no fear.
Saw Gigi Ibrahim on the Beeb last night, this young women is so articulate, so fierce, so much more authentic than the other panelists, this is all about the internet, about freedom, like every other night... 
I watch in absolute awe....