Katie Couric's Notebook: Bahrain

In Arabic, "Bahrain" means "two seas."

Since that country gained independence from the British in 1971, the two seas have been an appropriate metaphor for a sectarian divide there between the ruling Sunnis and the Shia majority.

But it seems those two seas are flowing as one today and a tidal wave may be rolling toward the palace of yet another Middle Eastern leader.

King Al Khalifa's family has ruled Bahrain since the 18th century. His uncle has been the Prime Minister there for 40 years.

While Bahrain is rich in oil and pearls, and widely considered a playground for the wealthy - most of its inhabitants say they've not been invited to the party.

And so another square in another Arabic nation is overflowing with calls for jobs, democracy and change.

Only after the wave has ebbed will we see what's left behind on the land and what form democracy will take in the Middle East.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.