Since Jan. 25, 2011 I have been glued to Al-Jazeera, my heart beating intensely knowing that what I see before me will be forever noted as an uprising that defied all odds. The Mubarak regime, known for its iron fisted governance, which jailed and tortured those who stood for the most basic of human freedoms, is losing its grip over Egypt, but more importantly, over the psyche of the Egyptian people.
My parents left Egypt close to 30 years ago, shortly after Mubarak came to power. As a child, visiting Egypt meant staying with my grandparents and close relatives, enjoying mango juice in the dripping humidity, and of course, getting over one or two stomach bugs during my stay. As an adult, traveling for the purpose of study, my perception of Egypt broadened: my interaction with activists increased and my awareness of their plight became embedded into my very being. Studying at a prestigious Arabic language institute, I went up to the director one day and asked him why he was carrying around two cell phones. He replied in his perfect modern standard Arabic, “Hadtha lil hakuma wa hadtha khassi” (This one is for the government, and this one is for my personal use). Another Egyptian activist told me that Facebook was her only platform for free speech, and even that had to be used with caution. The Mubarak regime excelled in implanting fear in the hearts and minds of the people they governed. Even if people were willing to sacrifice their own lives, they would be stopped from fear that their family members would be tortured for their actions. And of course, the need to maintain the low cost of staple foods, such as bread, made people even more worried that if they revolted, even these essential foods would cease to be affordable.
So, what changed? What was the impetus that sparked the uprising, the march of millions on Tahrir (Liberation) Square in Cairo? A Tunisian youth setting himself aflame? Sure. The unjust murder of Khaled Said, an Alexandrian businessman, by security forces? Yes. The use of social media outlets such as Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook to galvanize the masses? Definitely. However, most importantly, the youth of Egypt (those in their late teens and early twenties) stopped being afraid of the regime. Their access to truthful journalism regarding what was happening in Gaza, the role the Egyptian government played in its embargo, the “Yes We Can” attitude of a new American president, and the ability to access information that was not state controlled, played a large part in helping Egyptians endure the onslaught of attacks by the police, state-hired looters, and government paid pro-Mubarak protesters. They grew tired of the corruption and the need to pay police officers a rashwa (bribe) in order to get anything done. This uprising is a symbol of opposition against tyranny and oppression. With young people who are hopeful, determined, confident, educated, faithful, spiritual, and aware, a generation was formed that understands freedom, justice, and dignity.
I am filled with pride for the protesters who have risked their lives to stand for ideals that are often only heard or read but are difficult to find manifested in action. It is my deepest hope that America sides with the Egyptian people and does something beyond deploring the violence that is currently being endorsed by Mubarak to ensure his stay in power. The Obama administration needs to change its approach. Too many times have we have seen our government side with an oppressive dictator. Too many times have we have seen the values, that we hold to be at the core of defining our American identity, fall by the wayside. We established an entire war centered on providing a democracy to the Iraqi people. Now, we cannot even muster the courage to side with a people that have been oppressed by a dictator endorsed and funded by our very government.
I must end this with a lesson in the power of prayer. Throughout the protests we have witnessed Egyptians coming together five times each day to stand before God amidst the excitement, fear, or anger of any given moment. These periods of reflection have served not only to provide the protesters with moments of rest and relative quiet but have also been a means by which to consistently re-energize their efforts against the regime. Perhaps more importantly, prayer has been a reminder for the protesters that solidarity and compassion toward one another are absolutely integral to the success of this movement. They have prayed while being attacked with water canons and rubber bullets. Not knowing where their next meal will come from or when they will get more than a couple of hours of sleep, they are standing firmly against injustice, intent on the truth, bearing witness before God.
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