Imagine no internet access, no television news channels, no cell phone service, and the launch of a national curfew. Although

this may seem a bit daunting, this is just a fragment of what Egypt is facing right now.

Motivated by Tunisian protesters who called for more freedom by successfully driving out President Zine al-Abidine Ben-Ali, Egypt is looking to fix their country plagued by poverty, government corruption, police brutality, inequality, and human rights issues. Number one on their agenda is to oust President Hosni Mubarak who has served thirty years as dictator.

Prior to media outlets being cut off, people had taken to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to express unity in expelling Mubarak from presidency. With communication of a revolution rampant, Mubarak ordered the obstruction of media in order to blindside rebels and civilians alike. Eight million protesters later in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, this mass anarchy became a pledge for freedom.

But even with armed forces being sent to quell the uprisings, protesters insist on more than just Mubarak’s removal to meet their needs. They want democracy, a new legislative body, and an entire resurgence for a nation that has been deprived of its liberties. University of California-Davis Professor Nora Radwan elaborates: “The Egyptians understand that there is no guarantee that Mubarak and his government can deliver any constitutional reform or any meaningful change in Egypt.”

Since 1967 and following former President Anwar Sadat’s death, Egypt has been in a “state of emergency” which has been aided by billions of dollars from the United States. However, according to the people of Egypt, the issue of jobs, healthcare, and food goes overlooked while Mubarak has lived luxuriously and operating on abuse of power. Criticized for manipulating elections, prohibiting political parties, swindling money, controlling the content and quantity of media coverage and information in Egypt, and imprisoning individuals without trials under the Emergency Law, it is no wonder Hosni Mubarak is the most hated man in Egypt.

As of yet, Mubarak has refused to step down, even amid pleas from U.S. President Barack Obama, out of fear that Egypt will lose any foothold in stability: “You don’t understand the Egyptian culture and what would happen if I step down now.” Although he has expressed no desire to continue his presidency, the probability that Mubarak’s son, Gamal, will succeed him is another matter of dissent within Egypt, because people fear he will maintain his father’s policies and lead the nation into further desolation.

The Egyptian protests that sparked off national frenzy beginning Jan. 25 led to recent international support in the form of protests in Chicago and New York City’s Times Square, calling for Mubarak to resign. One of the U.S. protesters, Nader Elrashidy, understands that the risks and potential danger involved with protesters in Egypt is a sacrifice for freedom: “The immediate desire is to regain stability, but there’s an understanding that they need to endure this hopefully short-term suffering to achieve a greater benefit that generations will enjoy.”