{الفكر القومي العربي} Fwd: I have a dream

Sent: Monday, January 20, 2014 8:52:14 AM
Subject: Fwd: I have a dream

In thinking on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's dream for equality and justice in the United States, it occurs to me that what Egypt is going through right now also has a lot to do with the dreams of its people and how to make them a reality.

First we identify our dreams, and qualify them so they are understandable and clear to all. Our dreams were so simply stated during the January 25th Revolution.  Food, freedom, social justice.  Yet these dreams were also supposed to have been goals and objectives, and they have not yet been achieved, and have no clear path or plans to make them happen.  

What went wrong, and how did we get so lost?  It was not for a lack of work or effort on our part; God knows all those who have been participating in this struggle are exhausted--the youth, who put their bodies on the line in Egypt, and those of us outside our homeland who put our collective mental efforts together with whatever resources we have, have all been trying hard.  Do we then declare defeat, throw in the towel and say we tried and failed?  Or do we find ways to see that Egypt's dreams--our dreams--become reality?

Learning from history, from the great Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, we know that a truly worthy and just struggle takes years to bear fruit.  Are we then so impatient as to believe that we should have achieved our dreams in a mere three years?  Were we just exhausted before this struggle started?  

Yet our struggles ARE different, because Egyptian society cannot function or provide for its people anymore.  We must find solutions now--for are we not on the brink of something truly dangerous if we do not come up with answers for Egypt quickly at this point?

It is fair to say that a combination of reasons has brought us to the point where we now face an immediate need to achieve the goals of the revolution, to make them a reality in the very near future.  We will not meet these serious and ambitious goals without specific steps taken, honest evaluation of what went wrong, and, especially, holding ourselves accountable for what has gone wrong so far.  All who have played a part in the revolution so far must accept their own faults so we can move on together.

Let's start with we Egyptians living abroad.  We have not been prepared to act as a big lobbying group, even though our number in the US (to take just one country in which you'll find Egyptians) is between 1 and 1.5 million.  We are so fragmented that we have been unable to come together under one umbrella, and have been weak in representing Egypt's interests to the US administration.  This of course leaves the door wide open for a group like the MBC to find their way to Congress and the White House, which negatively affects policy in Egypt.  This happened during the Mubarak regine, and it is repeated now in the call for the military ruling to be legitimized. 

What about what is happening within Egypt's borders?  Too many thieves and robbers and dishonest people, certainly.  But why did the youth fail thus far in their efforts to achieve the goals of the revolution?  Until the wonderful youth--and I mean everyone who participated every step of the way--until they face their lack of success so far, and face it logically, no real change will take place.

I remember meeting an active journalist in Egypt not long ago.  During his interview with me, he got so upset that I claimed a role for Egyptian abroad in the revolution, and noted that we have been working for Democracy in Egypt for ten years, that we had been wondering what was taking so long.  He got so offended by my statements, and the notion that Egyptians abroad had any part to play in the revolution.  Yet denying a role to those who would stand by your side has not been so helpful for Egypt.  For the youth, we undoubtedly need the energy which is characteristic of their age, but we also need them to listen to the wisdom of more mature leaders who are Egyptians with consciences.  I wish that the youth would listen to voices of wisdom and maturity to guide them through, that they need a leader, that they should have operated with one voice, one body.  They should not seek the spotlight, which is short-lived.  But then how do we expect them to have known all this in advance, after living in the dim light all through their lives?

We return to what is happening now.  There is no need to rehash the failure of SCAF and MBC and the Mubarak Regime.

The hunger revolution is just around the corner, and the hunger for justice is even stronger.  It is perhaps time to retreat and recharge in order to come back stronger.  We don't need TV starts at this time--true leaders never ask for the spotlight, but it comes to them anyway because they accept leadership and responsibility.  The youth need leaders.  These leaders should be people who never gained financially from the old or current regime; they should be people who do not want to build their wealth from Egypt, but rather people who want to serve because they love Egypt and want to preserve it for all the generations to come.  When you find those people, put your arms around them, share your ideas, and let them lead you through this time of need.  While you search for these leaders, ask for experts to build sound strategic plans in all areas--education, economics, health and well being, housing, law, water and natural resources--all the areas that Egypt needs rebuilt immediately.

Let us step away from the daily distractions of who is insulting whom, who has been arrested, who took money, etc.  The media machine is deliberately wasting our time and energy, and splitting our focus on the goals of the revolution.  We must plan, and then execute those plans meticulously.  This is the only way I can envision our dreams becoming reality.

God bless Almahrowsa and God bless the youth--the hope--of Egypt.

Samia Harris

Democracy for Egypt

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