Those who don't exercise their right to govern will always be governed.
As an American, I'm realizing so much more about my own culture than the one here in Egypt. This week Egyptians held the largest protest since 1977, voicing out against a variety of issues. They were rallying against the Emergency Law which has been implemented for decades, calling for higher minimum wages, demanding that presidency be limited to two terms, among other issues. The news reported that President Mubarak and his family fled to the U.K., signifying a success for protesters.
Facebook, Twitter, independent news, and livestreams have all been blocked. Police are arresting random people on the streets, and have been permitted to use force and violence against the protesters. Our program managers informed us of what will happen should Egypt become unstable to the point that we have to be evacuated, though this is quite unlikely. The chance that Egyptians can overthrow their government the way Tunisia did is very slim since Egypt is larger, more powerful, and the U.S. wants to uphold the current regime. But Egyptians have much to gain and it's heartening to see their solidarity in pushing for their rights, inspired to fight for their democracy the way Tunisians did.
Democracy is not about the lack of laws, but rather the implementation and upholding of them. Being here makes me realize what a thriving democracy we have in the U.S., with differences in opinions, the right to assemble and the right to free speech. We have a truly unique system of checks and balances that limits powers and prevents America from becoming a bureaucracy.
While politics in America can certainly be disheartening at times, it is nothing compared to Egypt, where the opportunity to create change is so much harder than it is in States, where we are privileged with so many rights as citizens. As Americans, we know our rights, and if they are hindered, we turn to the legal system to defend them for us, which they usually do. The people in power are kept in check by the freedom of opinions in politics and the branches of government that consist of different political views. The media acts as a watchdog of democracy, and public officials are subject to elections every few years. Social networks can't legally be blocked and our voices can't be silenced. As citizens, we are free to support or oppose public policies as we please.
While money usually has an influence on everything, corruption and bribery have far more severe legal consequences in the U.S. than it does in Egypt, where it is so prevalent that it has become the norm. Here in Egypt, judges can be bought, ballots can be changed, people can be prevented from voting, the media can be censored, and one individual can rule the country for 30 years. And while certain laws may exist that deem such practices as illegal, they are not enforced and more than often, people aren't even aware that they exist.
The most important role of being a citizen in any country is knowing your rights. Only when you can defend these rights and keep fighting for them can a true democracy exist. So keep fighting Egypt, we're rooting for you.
