Thanks Stephen for Mohammed's report.
It is good to hear this kind of solidarity from a "westernized"
professional with connections into the wealthy/upper class. Also that
this is not overtly religious or political. I have my own hopes, not
just for Egypt or North Africa or the Muslim middle east, but for all
humanity.
It seems to me it has been a long time since such a populist, relatively
non-violent ousting has happened and it seems to set a precedent of
sorts that might transcend the middle east.
I'm wondering if there is a "complexity science" perspective on this,
and if it somehow looks like a movement into a new "basin of attraction"
for some subset of the world's current cultural/national mix? Certainly
a subset of the Muslim middle-east and North Africa... maybe more of
Africa. I have lots of (relatively unfounded but hopeful) opinions
about this. I wonder if there are any compelling arguments amongst
this group.
I also wonder if there are any other first-hand or near first-hand
accounts from the broad cross section here.
While I'm sympathetic with those hurt and killed in the disturbances and
the damage done to the cultural assets there (e.g. national museum), I'm
feeling pretty positive about what is happening there for the future of
the modern world. The interface (contemporary and historical) between
Euro-American world and the middle east and the 3rd world has been
painful and awkward for a long time (has it ever not been?).
- Steve
>From last week: http://perfectionatic.blogspot.com/
Recent events that have been going on Egypt have thrown many experts
of-guard. People are still struggling to understand what is really
happening. Even those how are now participating in it have difficulty
articulating what this Revolution is about. What I endeavor to do here
is but a humble attempt to shed some light on what it means and the
events surrounding it. One thing for sure, this revolution can not be
summed up as being about the Muslim brotherhood, economic justice, or
political freedom. Something far more profound is going on. Something
that I dare to say is wholly unprecedented in the history of Egypt and
perhaps the history of the world.
It all started started few weeks prior to the 25^th of January, when
I received a facebook event invitation from my younger cousin for a
day of “revolution”. I though it silly and that those are organizing
such events have no clue what revolutions are about. Little did I know.
In their deceleration of demands the “revolutionaries” asked for:
setting up and implementing standards for minimum wage (they even
declared that is should be EGP 1200 [about $210] per month), revoking
the emergency law (Egypt has been in state of emergency for the past
30 years, and under that law anyone can be incarcerated without
cause), and firing the police chief (a man notorious for his brutality
and ultimately responsible for torture, injustice, and cover-ups).
Although I full heartily agreed with the last two demands, I found
there first demand as very revealing of their naiveté. To my mind such
minimum levels of income should be first studied by able economist,
who would gauge their impact on the economy and see if such a level is
feasible. I dismissed it as plan silly, and warned my cousin not to
attend. I lectured him on the difference between a revolution and a
demonstration and warned that large gatherings are potentially
dangerous. My biggest fear at the time was that the Muslim brotherhood
might exploit to it to do something very damaging to stability and
security of the country and that violence may ensue. I was very
fearful for their safety.
A miracle happened on the January 25^th that shook me very
profoundly. Coming from an upper class background with plenty of
“connections” to the rich and powerful, being well traveled with many
friends Europe and United Sates, and with a relatively secular
outlook, I was living in one of many cultural bubbles that have come
to characterize Egyptian society in recent year. That social and
culture fragmentation has been picking up pace recently and seemed
congruent with economic growth. Suddenly all of these bubbles were
burst and the barriers were removed. A certain bond was realized, a
bound that must have been always there but we didn't know it. We were
experiencing ourselves for first time as Egyptians. That nature of
that bond can not be put in rational terms, whatever I say now it is
but a poor attempt to describe the feeling that I had. There was a
birth of new realization that Egypt is much more than our country of
residence, or a national soccer team that we cheer for in
international events. Egypt is being resurrected again through us,
Egypt is now experienced as a living being, and we are but elements in
it's living consciousness. The spirit of Egypt lives and we are part
of it. This is something that I felt through what my cousins relayed
to me and many others who took part in the demonstration. That spirit
wants to be free, it wants to grow and break the shackles of
tyranny.For the first time people from all walks of life were
discovering profound sympathy and love for each other. The Marxist was
feeling a strong bond with the Islamist, the intellectual with the
poor illiterate, and the millionaire to the pauper. There were no
culture wars, the fragmentation and distance was no more. That spirit
was making its presence felt and the consciousness was still
struggling with a language to express itself. What started out as a
“revolution” on facebook turned out to be a Revolution of the spirit
of the land, with no ideology or definite leadership.
Having felt glimpses of that, I wanted to taste and experience it
first hand and I went out on the January 28 demonstration. I saw
people from all walks of life and different age groups marching
together. I saw whole families walk together in a festive atmosphere.
That was until we encountered the vicious security forces, who were
adamant on dispersing the rally. We braved a barrage of rubber bullets
under a cloud of tear gas, the police didn't show the slightest hint
of concern for our safety. Although the demonstrators would cry out
“selmia” (meaning we are “peaceful”), the security forces would fire
rubber bullets on the protesters. I have saw many youth and even an
old lady with ghastly head wounds. I witnessed fear and panic, but for
the most part the protesters kept driving forward. That courage was a
thing of beauty, they are crying out for freedom from tyranny, they
were reaching out to hope and their determination was solid.
Much later on that day one of the largest state security apparatus in
the middle east and Africa disappeared. People were left to fend for
themselves and as if by magic or coincidences thousands of hardened
criminals managed to escape prison. With an internet blackout and the
absence of security, fear and panic was palpable in every home. At
that point it was well know that economy has come to a grinding halt.
The government then started a vicious campaign in government run media
that portrayed the anti-government protesters as responsible for their
hardship. That campaign at some point shied from calling the
protesters criminals but it was giving many hints that there actions
were destroying the country. This was combined with fuel shortages and
food shortages. There was mass looting going on and that was also
blamed on the protesters. My impression is that it was the national
Democratic party thugs who were responsible... it is no secrete that
there are many thousands of those, but up to this point they were put
to use to intimidate government opposition.
Things were getting desperate in the next few days and many were
gripped with fear and a desire to return to normalcy. Many people were
bleary eyed and tired from having to do neighborhood watch. Everybody
felt that they could not go on like that much longer. This situation
was even more critical for the many Egyptians who earn their living
through daily wage. Those have no reserves or savings and their
children must have been starting to grow hungry. Dread and fear was
thick in the air, and for many that sense of isolation was growing.
Not just isolation from the outside world due an Internet blackout,
but also from each other. Whole neighborhoods were locked down and
only neighborhood residence were not allowed passage during curfew
hours, which ran daily from 3pm to 8am. Fragmentation was on the rise
again.
Word spread that on the first of February there will be a million
person march to Tahrir square. The government orchestrated a campaign
of fear and fragmentation did not deter the protester from showing on
that day. That is despite the fact that many were still fearful for
their family and property. Many criminals are still out of the loose.
Yet after a massive show up and cries for “the people want bring down
the president” rocked the whole of Tahrir square, that voice seemed
unheard to Mubark and his coterie. Later in the day he made that
announcement that he will not be running for another term, that was
too little and too late for the protesters. Mubarak had at this point
due to the security vacuum and slow action proven untrustworthy and
not fit to rule if one were to describe it in generously. The
consensus however amongst those in Tahrir is that he is criminal thug
of the worst kind. My view was that this man is determined to maintain
his grip on power, even if it mean the total destruction of his
country. However, many Egyptians who had not witnessed first hand the
spirit and events on the 25^th and 28^th of January were at that
point in time scared and starved into submission, for them the return
to “normalcy” was paramount. Moreover, some of those who were not
directly involved felt that this was a significant achievement and we
should just stop here and deal with the rest through other political
methods. Their fear made them lose sight of the fact that it was
Mubark who ordered a telecommunication black out, it was Mubarak or
his police chief who was responsible for the security breakout and the
loss of life and limb during the demonstration. It was his tyrannical
arrogance and gross inhumanity to the death of many of Egypt's finest
youth that outraged the protesters the most. He made no apology, not
even a hint, and not a promises that those responsible will be held
accountable. He had proven completely untrustworthy to the protesters,
and we were determined to stay in Tahrir until Mubarak leaves. The
Egyptian government media and even most privately owned ones started
to present the view that the protesters had achieved a great deal of
what they had wanted and that further protest at Tahrir would only
send the country into chaos. They blamed all the hunger and fear they
have been experiencing on the protesters. Furthermore Mubark made a
statement that brought several Egyptians to tears. Here was an elderly
president reminding Egyptian of his services to the country through
times of war and peace and telling that he intends to die in his
country and never flee it. Mubark has for many years maintained a
father figure status amongst many Egyptians and few would doubt that
he has indeed done good things for the country, and there was a
complex love-fear-hate relationship that he had with his people. A
feeling grew amongst many Egyptians that such a man was worthy of more
dignified exit than the president of Tunisia. That feeling was not
shared by those who experience first hand the demonstration on the
28^th and saw many of their “brothers” maimed or killed for freedom.
Freedom to us is none negotiable, Mubark has shown his true face as a
tyrant and there was no doubting his phony democracy.
We held our ground at Tahrir and we were adamant that our demands must
be met. When I joined them on the following day, it was clear that
their numbers have dwindled. Many, it seemed could not stomach further
disruption to normalcy. Many had to go out and work to feed their
families. It was a very sad sight with a great deal of tension in the
air. The national democratic party started to slip in agents into
Tahrir to play on the protester fears. Many had a sad countenance,
fearing the loss of the spirit that they managed to bring about. The
protester had heard the Mubarak's people are organizing a
demonstration to support him that will be marching to Tahrir square,
we were determined to hold our Revolution to the highest ideals and no
let any weapon into Tahrir. We were often chanting “selmia” in
reference to our desire to keep it peaceful. Around noon we were
attacked from several sides by the pro-Mubarak protesters. It was a
vicious and organized attack, something that was cleary planned. In
the beginning we tried to simply push the pro-Mubarak protesters away
and then many fell under a hail of rocks. It is clear that the
pro-Mubarak protesters were going the way of violence. That noble
flame and spirit of the revolution was fading away. The dream was
almost dying. Just when all seemed lost, the noble posters had to
resort to violence for self defense. It was sad to see a peaceful and
innocent protest turn very violent in the face of thuggery. We held
strong against armies of payed thugs and members of Mubark's police
force in plain clothes.
This Revolution is NOT about politics. It does not have an agenda or
an ideology. It is about the awakening of a new spirit in Egypt. For
it to grow it must breath the clean and fresh air of freedom. When it
is born it was gasping for air and had hence to almost instinctively,
as a baby would, try to remove the dirty old rag of pseudo-democracy
and tyranny from its face. I pray that the beautiful spirit will
survive with minimum scars after the violence on the 2^nd and 3^rd
of February.
Mohammed El-Beltagy
The writer is a professor of Operations Research at Cairo University
and co-founder of Peerialism, a Stockholm based Software company
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Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
