When I came to study in Cairo, I didn't expect to find myself in the center of the largest revolution Egypt has seen in decades, a movement that may very likely change the future of the country and the rest of the world. But I couldn't have come at at a more momentous time.
First of all, thank you to everyone who has been trying to call and message me and my parents in light of what’s going on. Because all communications were shut off, I haven’t been able to respond or update, but I have just received your messages and am overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you especially to those who called me on my cell phone in Egypt- it was so uplifting to hear your voices when I was cut off from the rest of the world and that helped me get through some very difficult times. To everyone who is wondering, unfortunately I couldn’t attend the protests, but I did learn some good Arabic protest slogans (thanks Jason!)
After an insane week, we just evacuated Cairo earlier today and arrived at Athens, Greece where we’ll stay for a few days until we decide our next steps. Kudos to HTH travel insurance which sent us our own private plane and flew us out of Cairo even when the Egyptian Air Force tried to keep us from leaving. I just arrived an hour ago and am absolutely exhausted, physically and mentally. The past few days have been filled with frustration, excitement, uncertainty, disbelief, many lockdowns, changes of plans, and mostly A LOT of waiting. Waiting at the apartment, waiting at the airport, waiting on the airplane, and now waiting in Athens.
So here’s what been going on. If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve seen that Egypt looks like a full blown war zone right now. Most of the demonstrations in Cairo are taking place downtown in Tahrir Square (Liberation Square) which was two metro stops away from us. Dokki, where I lived, was far less chaotic but even so, protestors and looters passed through our streets, military fighter jets roared above our balconies, and we’ve been falling asleep to the sound of tear gas and gunfire erupting all around the city. Gunshots reverberated on our sidewalks and at times we couldn’t even have our lights on as a safety precaution.
For our safety, our program AMIDEAST prohibited us from leaving our apartments since Tuesday January 25th. On Friday morning we all gathered at the boys’ apartment and remained there because we were instructed to stay together. It was pretty miserable being on constant house arrest, not knowing what’s going to happen next and being cut off from the rest of the world. We had no access to internet at all or even cell phones at times. The tv at least worked and we spent the days camped out in front of al-Jazeera like it was the Superbowl. We watched as protesters set fire to government buildings and police cars, were beat up by police, shot by rubber bullets and smothered by tear gas.
Our program coordinator Salma told us, “This is not your fight,” and she’s right. As Americans, we can only watch and express support for the protesters who are fighting so courageously to end the dictatorship of President Mubarak. The kind of solidarity that Egyptians displayed is something Americans can only hope to achieve one day. After police deserted their posts, looters began extravagating the streets so ordinary citizens took it upon themselves to protect their neighbors by patrolling the streets. Women took to directing traffic during the day (in Cairo, this is a life hazard). Our bowabs (doorman) stayed up all night with rifles, machetes, and swords. Can you imagine Americans doing that for one another? I have never seen such national unity in my life, not even after 9/11. Egyptians were not lead by an individual or a party; they gathered out of popular anti-government expression and kept growing in numbers. They were not divided by religion when Egyptian Christians attended juma prayers and vowed to protect Muslims from the police. It’s a movement of solidarity- their only defining identity is that they are all Egyptian and they're fighting for the country they love.
On Friday around midnight, Mubarak addressed the nation, announcing that he refuses to step down but would replace the government on Saturday. But in Egypt, public power is concentrated by the President and until he’s gone, they won’t see real reform. Mubarak stated that the protests took place because of the political freedom in Egypt- a blatant lie. Hundreds have been arrested, over 150 Egyptians are dead, media has been censored, citizens and journalists have been beat up, communications were shut off, and the government set curfews to keep people off the streets. On Sunday, the army was given the order to open fire on protesters. This isn’t political freedom; it’s political oppression. It’s governmental terrorism.
It’s time for the US to make some tough calls and decide which side of history it will stand on. Mubarak has been a key ally but the US needs to stick up for the values it preaches, including free elections and basic human rights. These do not exist in Egypt and we can’t continue to support a regime that ignores the needs of its people and refuses to move forward. Obama’s presidency is the perfect example of what is achievable when citizens come together and demand change. This is Egypt’s “YES WE CAN” moment. I really believe that we have the best man in power to make changes in its stance with Egypt and I hope Obama will live up to his words. No Muslim has forgotten his powerful speech about improving relations with the Muslim world. Now is the time to do just that.
Personally, it has been amazing to witness the uprising of Egypt. The fact that people all over the entire globe have been protesting to show their support for Egyptians shows the magnitude of what is happening right now and I’ve been incredibly blessed to witness it firsthand.
Life is insane sometimes. When we were in the worst financial recession since the Great Depression, I was working at the New York Stock Exchange. When the most historic healthcare bill in decades was passed, I was working at the White House. And when Egyptians started the largest protests in Egypt’s history, I was living in Cairo, the center of the revolution. Somehow I tend to find myself smack dab in the middle of history throughout my life. No complaints here. More to come soon.
