A month after protests erupted in Tunisia leaving more than 80 people dead, President Ben Ali finally heeded the call of his own people to step down. You wouldn't know this by reading the media in the US, but what's going on in Tunisia today is nothing short of historic. This is the first time that an Arab dictatorship is brought down by street protests. In a region where governance is inherited and the status quo benefits a privileged few, it was only a moment of time before repressed populations took to the streets to demand accountability and an equitable partition of state wealth and resources. It's hard to predict if there will be a domino effect in other Arab states (There have been massive demonstrations in Jordan today), but today a precedent has been set that should put any Arab regime on edge. The Tunisian model of uprising sends a sober message to Arab leaders that police governance is fading and will no longer be tolerated. Ben Ali sounded afraid and was visibly shaken during his last speech on Thursday night. Similar sentiments of frustration over unemployment and rising food prices are brewing in places like Jordan, Algeria, and Egypt where recent elections saw a crushing triumph of the ruling party in a shockingly rigged process that neutralized all opposition. Leaders, including those of Western governments, need to learn to listen to Arab populations who are more educated and more conscious of their rights than ever.

All optimism must be tempered by how Tunisia will handle this political transition. The fact that Gannoushi, prime minister in the ousted government, has taken over the presidency even if temporarily is not a good sign. The success of the Tunisian model of uprising will also be measured against how Tunisians will react to this unique opportunity to start anew and build a true and real democracy.