Dear Tomorrow

Dear Tomorrow
I know I can not rush you to come any faster, but please don't let us down. All we are asking is justice in Egypt. Mubarak's trial is tomorrow, will it actually happen? will it take place? will he turn up? will anything really happen? or will it be another frustrating step?

We want to see real change, we want the military trails to civilians to stop, we want to know what happened to the 2000 people who are still missing since the start of the revolution. We want justice to those who lost their lives at the hands of the government's snipers. We want fair society and a real, strong and fair government - not puppets. We want an end to the military rule and fair elections. Too many have died already and many more are still in hospitals across the country nursing their wounds since January 2011. We are tasting freedom but we still want more.
All we can say is, we can't wait.
Yours

A Battered Wife

Imagine the scene … a dim light in small house, a woman sitting down crying with her hands covering her face. In comes a big guy into the room and looks at her and ask her to stop crying. She does not want to listen to him. She tells him it is over between them, as she removes her hands from her face; the light is shinning on the marks on her face of the fight they had.

But he sits down and try and talk to her, he tells her that he loves her and that she is the one for him, he says that she pushed his buttons and made him so angry that he had to hit her, he tells her that he wants the family to stay together and for the sake of the kids she must stay with him. He tells her that he is not like other guys who beat their wives so badly that they end up in hospital when their men are angry, and it is only few bruises on her face and it will heal very quickly. He tells her that he knows best and she is better leaving all the decisions for him and not to interfere in the future.

Now….this is what is happening in Egypt at the moment, A battered and helpless wife's relation with the one who is in charge, the one the wife used to love. Look at the army arresting and killing innocent civilians, “but we are not like the Syrian or the Libyan armies” you hear them say. “We know best and for the sake of stability of the country we need to rule with an iron fist”. “Some people are protesting so much and stopping normal life and so we had to intervene by force” the “you pushed me to do it” story. So many excuses and while the battered wife used to be able to call for her neighbours for help, at the moment the world is watching and getting more immune to the numbers who are getting killed each day. The majority respond by saying: “but at least it is not like Syria”. True, but how do you feel if I say to the people of Norway after the killings last week, “ah at least it is not like the twin towers in USA” This will be the most inappropriate thing to say.

A life is a life; injustice hurts whether it is against 10 people or 1000 people. The whole police force in the UK was under huge, long and expensive investigation for the unlawful death of a newspaper seller in London during a protest last year. What is happening in Syria, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Palestine and many other places is not acceptable on any level. However, brutal force in one place does not excuse extreme force in another.

One thing about battered wives, they may believe the lies first, but they soon learn to stand up and defend themselves. I believe that Egypt will.

A Rabbit or a Tortoise...You decide

You know the story, the race between the rabbit and the tortoise, where the rabbit decided to sleep most of the race thinking that he can jump in last minute and win while the tortoise steady and slow progress made it the actual winner at the end.

We were told the story many times with the emphasis on the laziness of the rabbit and the hard work of the tortoise. This is true but there is another element I think to this great story.

Look around you and see so many people acting like the rabbit, at work, in high positions and even as they treat each other and they have the rabbit attitude which is: “I can get up at any moment of this race, jump two huge jumps and win the race; I can do it because I am THE RABBIT”. It is true that the rabbit could have won the race in two big jumps, the problem was his timing. Look at the middle eastern governments; offering reforms to issues after things reached the point of no return, thinking that they can at any point offer a big gesture and HOORAY, problem solved. Or look at relationships, some people take others for granted thinking, “I can always come back with a big promise, a nice gift or a huge change and I can win them back”. It is the rabbit all over again, two big jumps and I will be the winner.

However, no matter how clever you are or how fast you are you need to jump at the right time otherwise you will be left alone on the sidelines wondering “how did it all go wrong?”

Just remember ..... The plan is in HIS hands

I am never tired of seeing Tahrir Square in Cairo looking like this. This photo is taken today 29 July, in a 42C heat with people from all backgrounds gathering to voice their anger about the delay and the lack of progress after the revolution.

There are lots of problems still and so many rumors and stories from every direction. Some are worried about the Islamic influence and some of the extremists voices and some are concerned about normal, poor people who are still suffering in silence.

One thing that keeps me very optimistic.....6 months ago, all safe betting were that Gamal Mubarak, the son of Mubark senior, will be soon in charge and will be the next president. No one could even dream of a different scenario or question the outcome. However, God had a different plan. People were praying for Egypt for years, for delivery from injustice and victory to the poor and oppressed. For the torture to stop and for the corruption to end. The thing was we did not know HOW will God sort it out. We prayed and prayed but never thought that it will be like that. Remember David in the old testament? A young boy coming in with a stone to overcome the giant! NO WAY. When Pharaoh went after God's people in Egypt, God opened a way in the SEA!

There are so many examples, but the problem is, God never comes too early and never does things our way. It is always in a BIG, MARVELOUS AND MAJESTIC WAY. So, plan what you want and fight as you wish, but just remember...God still has the plan is HIS hands.

If at first you don't succeed...try try try again

The Egyptian revolution received great reviews from everyone as if it was a new movie. It was massive, peaceful and quick..no problem then..the world clapped, Mubark left and the media pulled their cameras and back to their comfortable cool studios.

The truth is that the revolution is till going and going strong, people wanted to give the new government a chance to work and make a difference but after 5 months it was clear that nothing has changed. More civilians been tried under military law, all those accused of killing protesters are still in their jobs and Mubark is still getting a nice tan in Sharm El Shik. So, it seems that the motto of the Egyptians now is: If at first you don't success, try try try again.

It is 42 c temperature in Egypt but the weather did not seem to stop anyone from protesting. The latest protest started a week ago and people are now sitting in in Cairo-Tahrir sq and other squares across the country and they are camping out!

WHY...because they want real change and I believe they will get it.

Freedom will not come easy and will not come quickly, but it WILL come as long as people want it and willing to work hard to get it. Long Live Freedom.

Syria....where is it all going?

WHO IS NEXT?

It is Friday but Sunday is coming

Impossible Is Nothing

In the last 2 weeks, Egyptians were back to Tahrir square with their hands up with flags and banners asking for what they have been asking for all along...the fall of the whole regime. Some commentators said that people are board, or those are the unemployed, or people want to make a revolution for every little thing now...but the bottom line was that Mubarak, his sons and some big names from the old regime were still free, under no investigation and people knew that this is not good. People were not happy with the pace in which change was happening. They waited so long and no one can blame them for wanting to see justice in progress.

There were so many voices trying to stop people protesting again. Tahrir square has become a symbol now and not just a place. All over Egypt, in every square in the country, people were out after Friday's prayers protesting and shanting asking for justice for those who died to give us freedom.

Then it was 11/4/11, 60 days to the day when Mubarak stepped down. He left Cairo to be in Sharm El sheikh. People protesting last Friday declared that if he is not brought to justice, they will move the protest to Sharm El Sheikh. A famous busniss man promised to book 1800 tour buses to transport people for free next Friday.

On 12/4/11 the interim government in Egypt declared that an investigation has started with 3 key figures of the old regime, they were later arrested and they are now in custody. This morning the news been flooding in with the arrests of Mubarak sons, Gamal -who was tipped to be the next president- and Alla - who is a business man. Mubarak himself is now under house arrest and been questioned by the police.

As I write these words, I am still in shock and can't believe that this is all happening. People now know the taste of freedom and will not go back to the dark days of being slaves again. They are asking for a fair trails for all those who corrupted the system for so long. The revolution is still going on and the demands are not changing....Clean the system...the whole system from top to bottom.

LONG LIVE EGYPT

Three Big Pigs and Their View On The Revolutions

Only In Egypt

Only In Egypt...

- people get disappointed when they call for a demonstration and only 100.000 turn up!

- people really hate you when you tell them to do something for "the stability of the country"!

- the Nile Hilton rooms overlooking Tahrir square are now more expensive than rooms overlooking the river Nile!

- the formally banned politicians are forming political parties and the previous minister of justice in under arrest!

- people succeeded in toppling their government for corruption but the Italian president is the one who shows up in court to defend himself!

- people clean up after they finish demonstrating!

- and only in Egypt, people know that at last the last Pharaoh has been thrown out for good!

What do you think?

The Nation Decides

Today, Egyptians are heading to the ballot box to vote on a referendum about the latest changes made to the constitution. An estimated 40 million people are heading to vote compared to 4 or 5 millions in previous referendums when Mubarak was in power. For the first time in almost 60 years, people don't know the outcome of their vote before hand. The corruption was so bad that everyone knew what will happen in advance. Recently and during the revolution, in one police station people found full ballot boxes from previous elections!

There was a lot of debate on whether to vote "Yes" or "No" to the constitutional changes, but regardless of the outcome, I am so happy to see people waiting to vote and for the first time in a life time, they feel that their vote matter. For the first time they feel they are an important part in shaping the future of the country. The nation is deciding what to do and showing to the world that they ARE ready for democracy. Ques of men and women, young and old, Christians and Muslims, are with one aim....to take part in a step to protect the revolution.

Long Live Egypt.

The Egyptian Revolution in 9 min

One month has gone since Mubarak stepped down. Egypt is debating the amendments of the constitution and the new government is putting its own stamp on the country.
This video is a summery of all the events from 25 Jan until Mubarak stepped down.

How Long?

Inside the Egyptian revolution

This is Wael Ghonim, the google executive in the Middle East who created a Facebook page memorializing a victim of the regime's violence. He was detained by the police for 12 days at the start of the revolution and here in this video he shares his views about how Egypt is changing.

Wael Ghonim: Inside the Egyptian revolution Video on TED.com

A step closer to cleansing the system in Egypt

Late last night, there were some reports coming out from Alexandria, Egypt about large trucks moving confidential official papers from security HQ. Protesters quickly surrounded the building and warned the army. During this time, there was a battle between officers inside the HQ building and protesters outside, some protesters were shot using live ammunition. After a long battle, the army secured the building. This morning, the picture started to repeat itself across the country with flames spotted in various buildings across the country. Protesters in cities like Cairo, Mansora, Sohag, Tanat, Assuit and others started to surround the buildings and throughout the day today, they were able to take control - with the help of the army - to secure the buildings. Some of what they found inside were piles of shredded documents (as you can see in the photo), secret passages and cells for torture under ground and burned documents.

It seems that by the appointment of a new prime minster sent shivers down the spin of a system that was known for its corruption, torture and abuse to human rights for years.
This is a huge step in this revolution. Removing the head of state was one thing, but getting into an organisation that most analysts in Egypt describe as a country within the country is another.
This is just the tip of the iceberg and there are endless amount of documents coming out with shilling details that I am sure will keep the new appointed minster of interior and the whole new government busy for some time to persecute all those responsible.

Long Live Freedom.

The shredded documents inside one of the offices of the security HQ in Cairo

People power

Few days ago, I wrote about the growing public anger in Egypt against Mr Ahmad Shafeek, who was appointed as prime minster by Mubabark 4 days after the start of the revolution. In an another victory step for the revolution and after so much public pressure and demonstrations, Mr Shafeek handed in his resignation early yesterday. Mr Essam Sharaf was appointed as the new prime minster. He is a very respected public figure and joined a march with all his colleges from Cairo university staff in support to the revolution few weeks ago. Mr Sharaf address the public in Tahrir square today and told them: "I am here because I get my legitimacy from you". People are very optimistic with this change and protesters have promised to stop their protest for the next 2 weeks to give the new government a chance to prove that they will listen to people's demands.

Egypt is changing and fast. People tasted freedom and they want those in charge to understand that they are serving the public and it is not the other way round.

All the best to the new prime minster and we wait to see the new cabinet. Long Live Freedom.

Long Live Freedom

Today, news are coming out of Yemen with a big people uprising demanding the change of the political system and for the president, Ali Abdulla Saleh to step down.........

where did we hear that before????

I found this lovely photo for some old friends that I am sure will meet up again soon to compare notes about how they were removed from office.......

In this photo, from left to right

(Ben Ali, previous president of Tunisia fled the country after the Tunisian revolution on 14/1/11, Ali Abdulla Saleh of Yemen-still in charge for now although protesters are marching in demanding change according to AL Jazzera TV, Gaddafi of Libya, lost all credibility inside and outside of Libya and the revolution is near toppling him, Mubarak of Egypt, previous president, stepped down after the Egyptian revolution on 25/1/11)

People's Power.


Long Live Freedom.