We are the people. We have a right to object and accept. We are the ones who never settle for any less for their motherland. We waited and waited for the motherland to live with pride. We are most entitled to have every official kneel before us, asking for our satisfaction and acceptance. We will not turn our backs on our motherland; we would rather erupt, if we find a good outlet for our rage. We will not turn our backs on the motherland, but we will change those who have been trying to separate us from our liberties for decades. Whatever happens, will not lose faith in our motherland, as we have the ability to change whenever change is possible.
Egyptian history holds great tales of our people’s ability to endure, bear, and revolt for change since the eras of occupation forces, who exploited some of our people as a cover for confrontation. Our people then revolted against the traitors, and those who sold their motherland. We ended an occupation that hovered over the remains of the country for nearly a century, thinking that we could never be resurrected. We are the people who refused to lose even a single grain of Sinai’s sand. We stood in everyone’s face and challenged everybody, even those who ruled the country, until we achieved the impossible, and regained our land and dignity. We are the people who rose up and rebelled to keep our dignity – once we felt our freedom had been derailed. We are the people who almost became the victims of religious fascism, so we came out, unafraid of the consequences, and brought Egypt back its tolerant spirit.
We are all of these things. Is our government and its “legislative tailors” aware of that, or is there a cloud over their minds? What is it with all this rush to issue extraordinary laws that offer nothing more to the current laws that already cripple our freedoms? What is it with provoking local and global opinion at a time when we are most in need for calm and focus in our war against our common enemy?
Those who think for the president definitely do not wish him good. Whenever he gets closer to his people with a benevolent and influential speech, some of those people put forth ideas that only provoke Egyptians and widen the gap between him and them. Those who think for the president definitely do not know anything about the nature of Egyptians. They do not know to what extent the Egyptian youth’s awareness has increased. The police state, even if recommended, will not create stability; on the contrary, it will increase the opportunity to provoke angry people. What a disaster it would be if those angry people were to form a coalition of treachery and desperation.
Rage is a blind emotion that leads to foolishness, but it’s the people who cause it are the most ignorant, stupid and idiotic. Their rush issue laws against freedom will not protect Egypt’s stability. Our current laws have sufficient punishments. Adding more will only add more corruption and corrupt people, who in fact are the ones who deserve to be punished.
More of these laws give the opportunity to those who want to terrorise the people to commit more terrorist acts, which will not inspire more love for the country among the people. In fact, it will place the people in confrontation with the regime, and this is definitely not of the regime’s goal; however, its actions are pushing it into that direction.
Those who think for the regime are not modernising their mentalities, and are not paying attention to any changes on the Egyptian streets or in the youth’s awareness. They are thinking with an outdated mentality. So for those who seek to turn back the clock, do not wait for us to lose faith in our homeland and escape it running like some of you did in the past. We will not repeat their mistakes. We are well aware of history. You, in turn, should be aware that rage is blind; it does not distinguish between good and bad intentions.
Emad El-Sayed is an Egyptian journalist and the Editor of Daily News Egypt
