Where have all the Egyptians Gone?

For months, Egypt was on the front page of every news source available to mankind as the people watched a great fight for their democratic freedom. Everyday, the world turned to this great country of great history to see what would happen next and whether democracy really would win out in the end over dictatorship. Then one day, he left! It seemed practically insane to say "Mubarak stepped down" that day as people wondered whether this was some sort of political hoax. However, the speech came and the helicopter took off and he had really stepped down, Egypt was now on it's way to becoming a democratic country where freedom of speech reigns and government reps are held accountable for all their actions and corruption is hidden like in normal government offices. So where did everyone go? The throngs of people that were marching in the streets chanting slogans of freedom and democracy and down with the government seem to have all gone home and Tahrir Square is back to its normal vehicular traffic as opposed to the foot traffic it saw for months.

Seriously though, where is everyone?

President Morsi was elected to represent the egyptian people in the first ever democratic elections to take place. I remember my parents excitedly filling out the ballots and casting their votes with pride thinking how lucky they were to have lived long enough to see the day when they could vote in such an election in their beloved home country. Morsi came with with big promises and very long speeches, he came carrying hope and honesty and integrity with him into the presidential palace and we are still waiting to see any of these characteristics come from him.

Dear God, why does this always happen? We were so close, we could feel the democracy with our fingertips and we still got stuck with a dictator.

Instead of a democracy we ended up with a bottomless pit of material to use for political satire purposes and a country that deteriorates day by day. Whether it's petty theft or abductions that take place on the daily, Egypt has reached a new low economically and politically and ex-president Mubarak is sitting in his cell pointing his finger saying "I told you so".

So whether this was a plan that he had in mind, or history repeating itself or simply a transition period, Egypt has definitely seen better days. President Morsi seems to be enjoying the perks of being the leader of 80 million people without putting in much of the necessary work other than asking for money from different countries thus incurring a ridiculous debt on an already economically shot Egypt. All the while, egyptians have simply given up and gone home and frankly I don't blame them. A people can only fight against the current so much until they realize that it just isn't worth the loss, we're stuck with him until the end of his term, we might as well enjoy the jokes he inspires.

Who Am I?

Lives need structure, people need definitions and guidelines in order to be able to properly judge whether someone is overstepping their boundaries or not, we need to able to distinguish between normal and not-so-normal. The question is, who created these guidelines? Who defined words such as terrorist and extremist? Who defined my religion and my people as being driven by crimes against humanity? I walk the streets of the city I've called home since the day I came to life in one of its local hospitals. I speak the language better than I do my own native language and relate to this culture more than my own sometimes. These streets contain more memories than any other place in the world, first days of school, first driving lessons, first tree to climb, so many firsts and yet such a stranger. In light of recent events, people look to my people and see anger and hate, they see someone that is oppressed and wants to get revenge on his oppressors, they see a lion locked in his cage. Am I such a case? Not at all. I am merely a victim of the a heinous attack that took place because of someone's misguidance from my beautiful religion. I'm a victim of the outlier which you assumed was the norm. I'm the norm not him.

However, because you choose to focus on him and his attacks you assume that each and every one of us is the same. Such judgement causes those who wish to live in peace and tranquility in their homes to suffer because you won't listen. You see darker skin and you assume that it covers the scars of an oppressed victim in her house. You see humility walk by you and take for someone living without the right to an opinion or a life outside the house. You understand sayings of peace and sayings of extremism. Suddenly, the neighbours you've loved are seen as enemies, your classmates are terrorists, everyone is out to get you all because of some kid that decided to do something stupid in the name of my religion.

He highjacked my religion, that's what he did. He doesn't represent it, he's the reason the world misunderstands us. He is the outlier not the norm and I have no association to this person or anyone that believes that his crimes are okay. My religion never preached such acts as acts of worship or ones that are worthy of Paradise. If only you knew what my religion told me, you would know it's true beauty and you would come to love it as I have. If only you would give me a chance and bring down the barriers you've created. Take the time to understand that which you don't know and I promise it will be worth it in the end.

She's Not Alone. (A small break from politics!)

To the world she’s lonely, actually she’s the definition of lonely. She’s gotten used to her solitude and reached a point where she actively searches for silence when things get too loud around her. She enjoys the silence and the ability that it gives her mind to wander off into a world where her dreams come true. She lives vicariously through the books she always carries with her, yesterday she was part of Wikileaks and today she’s writing to the canadian Prime Minister. Her bubble is intact and sometimes impenetrable  But, that’s just the world’s perspective of her. 

There’s a light inside her, one that can never be extinguished. It grows constantly with every effort she puts to hang onto the only constant lifeline the world has to offer. The only life vest that will never break or be lost, she hangs onto the connection with her Creator. She’s not depressed, not desperate, not suicidal, she’s only been hurt one too many times by the people that weren’t supposed to do that. She’s believed in the promises that she watched break, she’s dreamt the dreams that suddenly evaporated with one conversation that took that turn. She’s lived the real world and now she knows better. She knows where to put her hopes and dreams, she knows who to trust and who go to in times of need and contentment, she will turn to Him with tears and a nervous breakdown and know that He will help her. He will never let her down, He loves her and knows what’s best. He watches her as she walks the road of life, sometimes most ungracefully tackling the obstacles that come in her way, and promises that He will never leave her side. He is the light inside of her and He will always be there for her. He doesn’t break His promises, He promises. 

Don’t feel sorry for her, it’s her solitude that saved her and opened her eyes, it’s this solitude that is the reward for having sacrificed for Him. He is now the only concern, the only One she turns to. Be happy for she found the secret to a successful and happy life, rejoice in her newfound lifeline and know that she is happy even if she still longs for worldly things sometimes. She knows that His is the only plan she wants and that His is the only plan that should be followed.

Rejoice… rejoice… rejoice in the face of complete surrender and submission.

She places her forehead on the floor and begs during prayer. 

She finally figured it out. Rejoice.