
BIZERTE — Tunisia’s youth are posting videos on social networks of themselves dancing to Pharrell William’s song “Happy” as a kind of gleeful response to post-Arab spring tensions that the country still faces.
The first video appeared in early January, and was approaching 200,000 views on YouTube. "We're happy in spite of everything," said Fairouz, who supervised the original video from Bizerte.
"Citizens were disappointed after the revolution because of the uncertain landscape and vague future, especially young people, who believe that nothing has changed in their condition," 45-year-old teacher Mohamed Naceri told Magharebia. "This is one form of self-expression and an outlet so they don't explode. I personally prefer this to extremism and terrorism.”
Still, there was hope last month with the approval of a new constitution that includes several articles that guarantee the freedom of opinion, belief, expression and conscience.
Still, some religious groups were not pleased with these public expressions of glee to an American pop song, deeming it “debauchery and moral decay that can't continue.”
The videos were not restricted to Bizerte, as others quickly emerged from many Tunisian cities. Here’s the equally joyful edition from Tunis — we dare you not to be happy after watching it.