The video: An 8-year-old Saudi girl, identified only as Juju, has some tough-minded advice for embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak: "Let the people of Egypt vote," or "they're just going to make problems for you." Her 51-second videotaped message has gone viral, so even if Mubarak's constituents can't see it, due to his internet blackout, plenty of people around the world have now watched the young girl's "common sense" lecture.
The reaction: Maybe it takes a "precocious 8-year-old" to "make sense of the violence and upheaval in Egypt," says Charlie White in Mashable. Juju's "innate sense of fairness" — let someone else have a turn, Mubarak — well, "didn't we all learn this in kindergarten?" That's what makes the video so effective, say the editors of The Huffington Post. A powerful leader being "schooled by an 8-year-old? Ouch." The advice is great, and spot-on, says Tannara Yelland in The Sheaf. But "the 'secret' she tells him at the end is an awesome throwdown." Watch the video:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Test driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black BadgeThe Week Recommends We take the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built for a spin in Barcelona
-
Tuberculosis is seeing a resurgence, and it's only going to get worseUnder the radar The spread of the deadly infection is buoyed by global unrest
-
Crossword: April 3, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to goThe Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala HarrisThe Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
