Monday 14 February 2011

The fall of the wall of fear in Egypt on 25 January 2011.


The Egyptians particularly the young ones have inspired the people of the world by their courage to peacefully ignite the light of democracy  in Egypt after almost 60 years of military autocracy. This autocratic regime has infantilized the Egyptian people (I am quoting the term infantilise  from the eminent Middle East expert Robert Fisk in his report in the Independent Newspaper on 6 February 2011) and castrated them politically for 6 decades. The infantilisation of the Egyptians was so apparent after the humiliation of the six days war in 1967, when we rushed into the streets of Cairo feeling completely helpless like children that have lost their parents demanding Nasser to stay in power. A mature nation would have demanded a new regime and the trial of the  old one that caused this national disaster and  the unnecessary death of thousands of innocent soldiers not forgetting the  massive damage of the inspiration and hopes of an entire generation that was looking for a better future.

It is wonderful to see the empowered Egyptians after 25th of January caring about the cleanliness of their country and working together to clean Tahrir square shouting "this is my country, we want to keep it clean, we want Egypt to be the best in the world" these are some of the comments I heard on the different TV channels which covered the events of Egypt over the last 3 weeks. I wished I was in Tahrir square with all these wonderful people of Egypt who went out to claim their country back from those who infantilized and disempowered them all these years.

I left Egypt with a broken heart 38 years ago as I lost my trust in those who ruled us and mislead us with empty slogans that can not be  achieved. Furthermore, I discovered later in life that the  history which we were taught at schools in Egypt was manipulated to fit the  political agenda of the new regime highlighting that Egypt pre 1952  was completely corrupt and useless and the revolution came to rectify all the flaws of the old corrupt society. Nasser has tried to offer some social justice but  abolishing political freedom was a massive price to pay and caused most of the problems that affected Egypt since 1954 when all political parties were banned with the imprisonment of all political opponents. The culture of fear for having a political point of view was inflicted on my generation and caused disempowerment of a whole nation. The Egyptians felt they are helpless observers that have no say on how the country is managed. They were also fully aware that all power belongs to  the military elites under the protection of a ruthless police force.

Under the old culture of fear I would have not dared to write this peace, but thanks to our young brothers and sister in Egypt; they have broken the wall of fear and liberated us from the chains of oppression that silenced us  for many years.

Although I have left Egypt many years ago, Egypt has never left me. I am glad that I have lived to see the day that Egypt became free and the Egyptian people has reconnected with their beloved country after all these years. Egypt the birth of human civilisation at last has regained its status that its history and people deserves.
At this moment of time we should also remember those who have fallen in the past trying to ignite the light of freedom in Egypt with particular reference  to Dr Ahmed Abdallah who was the leader of the students movement in 1972 and sadly died a few years ago with a brocken heart because of  the state of Egypt. Today I salute Ahmed Abdallah and all the martyrs of Egypt who offered their lives without hesitation to liberate Egypt from its oppressors and give us all  a better future.

I know this is the start of a new future with many uncertainties but I hope the current military high council will honour their promise of  a new constitution and  free election to give Egypt a democratic regime that its people rightly deserves. Otherwise, Tahrir square will see all of us again one hand against any new oppression!!

3 comments:

  1. What a triumph, the true Egyptian spirit has been broadcast these past weeks and there is so much to be proud of. I'll always be grateful to you Sameh for showing me your beautiful country, it is a place that I now hold very dear. Here's to a brighter future for the strong, inspired Egyptians who deserve nothing less. Zahida x

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  2. I am grateful to Zahida and Bob's kind and thoughtful comments.

    Free Egypt now needs the support and dedication of all its citizens. At a personal level I commit myself to the service of liberated Egypt in the last phase of my life.

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  3. The road to enlightenment
    Dare to know - Immanuel Kant, (1724-1804))
    The most thought-provoking thing in our thought-provoking time is that we are still not thinking- M Heidegger (1889-1976)
    After the excitement of the revolution of 25th of January there is a concern that the revolution would be undermined by reactionary forces within Egypt. It is the duty of the intellectuals in Egypt at this critical point of time to unite and act to reach the Egyptian people who have been systematically misinformed over the last 60 years through bad education and corrupt media. More recently they were inculcated with wrong dogmas and ideas by fanatic misguided preaching. It is time for the intellectuals of Egypt to wake up and communicate directly with the masses by all available means to counteract these backward forces that damaged our society. It is the duty of those who claim knowledge and wisdom to spare no effort to ensure that the light of enlightenment shines again in Egypt our great homeland.
    Here are some thoughts inspired by eminent philosophers such as John Locke, Thomas Paine, B Russell and Khalil Gibran. They might interest those who appreciate reason and knowledge in shaping their views and believes.
    On Education and Knowledge
    The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge. People who are better informed are more reflective and more likely to be considerate than those who are allowed to remain ignorant, narrow minded, selfish and uncivil in their conduct with others.
    Good education requires freedom to think, question and use of reason publically. It refines the capacity for judgement and evaluation. It produces people who go on learning after their formal education ceased, who think, questions and know how to find answers.
    On Media
    Individuals are not born into a desert; they are inculcated into a tradition and believe. Media in particular which are currently available in many forms have a tremendous power in influencing morality and human perception of reality. Corrupt media therefore, have a massive power in radically undermining knowledge, believes and duties of individuals. There is no doubt that misguided media and some religious satellites have played a substantial role in breeding fundamentalism in Egypt especially amongst those who seek knowledge through the easiest means. Unfortunately, the use of reason and empirical methods in acquiring knowledge are pursued only by the minority.
    On Fundamentalism
    Fundamentalism is uncritical acceptance of doctrine or tradition. It substitutes emotion for evidence. It demands a closed mind and suspension of rational faculties. Its power to reassure is irresistible to its adherents.
    The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts- B Russell (1872 – 1970)
    Religion has two principal enemies, fanaticism and infidelity, or that which is called atheism. The first requires to be combated by reason and morality, the other by natural philosophy- Thomas Paine (1737-1809).
    A message to fundamentalists
    My religion is to do good-Thomas Paine (1737-1809).

    All mankind; being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions- John Locke- (1632-1704).

    Finally, the darkness of ignorance one day will be lifted and the light of knowledge will shine again in Egypt. However, enlightenment requires social justice, individual liberty, pursuit of knowledge, and sense of belonging to human communities.
    Sameh Morcos,
    May 2011

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