This is a post that was written & published on the 4th of April 2011
From the climax of voting in the referendum I rapidly moved into a state of depression that overtook me for over 2 weeks. I believe other people went through a similar phase and I can claim some are still there. Too many questions unanswered and too many obvious steps not taken. I could not attribute my depression to the result of the referendum because I had promised myself to act as a civilized person in a democracy and accept the majority vote (that is usually a very tough commitment for a very sore and bad loser like me). Why was I being taken over by those depressing feelings when having lived the revolution and seen a regime I loathed topple I had thought it can never be worse and I can only be optimistic.
Were the following reasons/observations the reason?
1. General slowness and lack of action from the Military Council?
2. The general rise of anti revolution sentiment and the higher share of voice of those who longed for the pre 25 January status quo to be back?
3. The fact that the 3 musketeers/stooges (Sherif, Sorrour & Azmy) were still at large and living happily ever after?
4. Why did we vote when we ended up with a constitutional declaration anyway; were we being played?
5. Why have the editors of Ahram and the other national newspapers been kept for so long?
6. Where were the rest of the million protestors I am used to see in Tahrir last Friday? Why have they not shown up?
7. And finally the ugly scene we all witnessed in the infamous Zamalek match?
All reasons for depression; right? And all lead to an ugly thought:
We seem to have been robbed from our revolution!!! And it all plays in tune with the grand picture of the “conspiracy theory” we all seem to religiously believe in these days. Whoever he may be and wherever he is the “puppet master” seems to be doing a perfect job and he is heading full speed towards achieving his goals!!
But I started pulling back on the positivity I learnt from Tahrir and how the young men and woman who stood there had taught me not to give up at every turn. Cause had they allowed themselves this they would have gone home after the first second or even the third “feeling less” speeches of the ex- president. Well then here is an assessment I wish to share may be it would help others suffering from what I have now got over:
- Yes the military council is slow. Basically because these are extremely difficult times and they cannot be rash or our reasons for depression would be worse and a lot more injuring. They are also not political by default and therefore are taking more time than expected from us (with revolution pumping in our veins) to deliver what we see as the obvious. And you know what they may be covering some tracks as part of some sort of a deal they had to made on their way to protecting this revolution and making it achieve its primary goals. A small price to be paid for a bigger achievement.
2. We asked for freedom and democracy so we cannot really ask for certain voices to be shut up now. That is part of the ticket price. They (the Mary Antoinette’s with a severe case of Stockholm/Mustafa Mahmud syndrome) are very easily put to rest though; not by yelling back at them but by simply showing them and walking them through the atrocities their preferred regime had us live under. Just put their arguments to shame and their voices start faltering. Once you see it this way it becomes an elevating rather than depressing option to hear them because one can just confirm and believe more how right this revolution is (not was!!!!!!!).
3. I couldn’t find a logic why the 3 stooges are left free till now so I won’t require any applause from any readers of this note on this one. However as we proceed I now firmly believe they won’t enjoy their freedom for long. They may not be caught on what we wish them to be locked up for but I think they will be paying some dues soon.
4.Why the referendum? Why the 50% farmers and laborers in the new constitutional declaration? Why? Why? Why? One thing that dawned on me here was the fact that those posing the “Why’s” above were mostly from the adamant “NO” voters and advocates! Hold on there for a minute: wasn’t one of our (the NO’s) basic demands that a constitutional declaration be made? Well guys and gals; it is done: why are we sulking? Oh yes because they left the 50% clause in there. Well imagine they took it out; a right (right or wrong) given to the majority of Egyptians (systematically misused I agree) is taken out at this interim period; may be it would have intimidated others among a more silent portion of the population. Is it the time for intimidation? Are we now giving the military council the right to rule and make changes we need to ponder on when we want them quickly back to their barracks? Are we being Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Are we considering our opinions should prevail because we know better; isn’t that as patronizing as the regime we threw away?
You know what on the final count and to my books both the Yes’s and No’s got their way. And you know what is even better we got it through a very civilized referendum that made us all very proud. Presidential council; we have a similar mechanism called the military council instead that anyway rids us from the burden of choosing who is on the presidential council. May be we should just focus our energy on making sure they listen to our needs and demands. And may be also give them some space to work.
5.They eventually changed the editors and it is heart warming not to have to wake up to Ossama Saraya and the gang’s names and opinions. A bit delayed but well done finally cause having checked with a lot of reporters I know they all cheer the new choices and agree they are all good men (sorry ladies!!). And that was soon followed by the change in state TV management. So I guess better late than never and now that it is done I don’t want to worry about why there was a delay. I just want to enjoy the fact that we won’t see the likes of Tamer Amin, Saraya and Qut (the akhbar cat) for the time to come.
6.Walking into Tahrir last Friday I was hoping to reenergize and actually re-live the days of the revolution. I sort of needed that but unfortunately the numbers that showed up hit me: about 250000 to 300000 stood with me. Greed had me lament the poor showing when these numbers were a mere dream on the 24th of January 2011!!!!!
Walking out I thought it was a bit premature to call for it in the first place. We need to find better channels now to have our voices heard. We need to save and savor Tahrir for when it is really needed. We cannot dilute it and we cannot allow Shafiq be vanquished by Tahrir becoming a Hyde Park. May be that the million threshold was not reached because we have become a bit pompous and vain being sure every time a call for a million is made they will show up. In the US it took them a year to organize the million freedom march and they came short of it according to some. In Egypt we have done multi million people marches and stands several times in 18 days or less
7.Then came the Zamalek match (and am keeping my Ahly sentiments out of the formula). I claim I know the sports business and I am a veteran spectator at the Cairo stadium. Having established that I can categorically tell you that this would not have happened without help. It is almost impossible to raid the pitch in Cairo stadium without a helping hand… STOP…. That’s conspiracy theory again. Let me tell you instead what I saw on that day: I saw 3 to 5 thousand people on the pitch a lot of them trying to take pictures with their players or even memorabilia (yes being a football fan is sometimes a synonym for moron!!!!). But you know what I think I am the only one to see what I believe none of you saw: I saw 35000 decent fans stay in their places and not join the fanfare. I saw those 35000 go home ashamed of what they have witnessed. Have you noticed that? Well my anti- revolution friends these are the majority of Egypt and Egyptians: decent and shameful when need be. So please spare us the rhetoric of “it is no use” and that Egyptians are simply all “thugs”. We are not; and we will not be. We are going through growing pains and we need to hold on tight because we will come through.
My depression became a memory when Dr. Yehia Al Gamal was removed from leading the “national debate”; you know why: because as part of change the revolution has now introduced “accountability” to our dictionary. Feels good doesn’t it!!! And I have nothing but respect for the old wise Dr. Gamal but he screwed up in choosing to invite ex NDP secretary general and suggesting reconcilation with old regime as a point on the agenda!!! He screwed up and paid for his mistake: welcome to post revolution Egypt.
Here is what I would love to end up this note with: yesterday I met an upper class highly educated Copt who is lobbying with a group of Copts of similar background about joining the Muslim Brotherhood party. Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!! How smart and creative and liberal and secular (all the magic words) is that? If he succeeds he wishes to be part in joining forces with them and at least pitching into shaping their ideology and approaches in a more favorable way. You know what I think; the MB will give them a hero’s welcome and will put them forward in the ranks. Welcome to the real Egypt.
I am totally positive and over energized; Egypt will do well. Let us keep the faith and work hard and with heart towards a nation we are proud of and love so much.
Hold your heads uo high; you are Egyptian!!!!!! ارفع رأسك فوق ... انت مصري
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