By Jessica Elsayed
Senior Reporter
GRANVILLE, Ohio, U.S.A. – You just
don’t make the same movie twice, especially since you will know the ending.
don’t make the same movie twice, especially since you will know the ending.
Starting Friday, Nov. 18th
till this very moment today on Tuesday, Nov. 22nd, the people of
Egypt have once again taken to the streets, after much patience had slowly
developed into much anger.
till this very moment today on Tuesday, Nov. 22nd, the people of
Egypt have once again taken to the streets, after much patience had slowly
developed into much anger.
Many people don’t know about theprotests that have taken place almost every other Friday after the January 25 revolution
in Egypt as it is rarely televised in the United States. The demonstrations
were also considerably non-violent on the side of the police.
Recently, however, the military and
police have used more violence than ever, at least since the revolution ended,
with the excuse of practicing restraint.
police have used more violence than ever, at least since the revolution ended,
with the excuse of practicing restraint.
Hundreds of people were injured on
Friday and Saturday and more than 25 people are dead. The warm neighborhoods of
Cairo, Alexandria, Suwes and Ismaeleya have turned into what looks like a war
zone.
Friday and Saturday and more than 25 people are dead. The warm neighborhoods of
Cairo, Alexandria, Suwes and Ismaeleya have turned into what looks like a war
zone.
More than a million people again took
themselves to the squares in their cities and, more vital yet, the military
headquarters, to protest against the Supreme Council for Armed Forces.
themselves to the squares in their cities and, more vital yet, the military
headquarters, to protest against the Supreme Council for Armed Forces.
Now their chant is, “The people
demand the removal of the Mosheer (the top general of SCAF).”
demand the removal of the Mosheer (the top general of SCAF).”
The people of Egypt are not
frightened by death or plastic bullet injuries. Thousands suffered from the tear
gas that was so abundant that it seeped from the streets into people’s homes.
frightened by death or plastic bullet injuries. Thousands suffered from the tear
gas that was so abundant that it seeped from the streets into people’s homes.
The SCAF, like Mubarak “back in the
day,” doesn’t understand.
day,” doesn’t understand.
Only a few moments ago, Field Marshal
Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, the head of SCAF, addressed the people in the same
aggravating way Mubarak used to do.
Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, the head of SCAF, addressed the people in the same
aggravating way Mubarak used to do.
Ignoring completely the deaths and
people in the streets, he told the country that all he wants is what’s good for
them and that his own reputation and that of the military has been stained by
outside forces.
people in the streets, he told the country that all he wants is what’s good for
them and that his own reputation and that of the military has been stained by
outside forces.
If this is a repeated movie, we all
know Tantawi has two more speeches and a few more days before the people once
again prevail.
know Tantawi has two more speeches and a few more days before the people once
again prevail.
The government handed in its
resignation, including the once hopeful but now disappointing Essam Sharaf, and
Tantawi has accepted.
resignation, including the once hopeful but now disappointing Essam Sharaf, and
Tantawi has accepted.
After Tantawi’s speech, people are
now angrier and more united than ever.
now angrier and more united than ever.
Unlike other ‘mini’ post-revolution
protests, this demonstration does not belong to one specific party, mentality
or religion.
protests, this demonstration does not belong to one specific party, mentality
or religion.
Instead, it is one by Egyptians –
pure, brave, youth, women, children, men and elders who will not stand by to
see what they worked so hard for destroyed.
pure, brave, youth, women, children, men and elders who will not stand by to
see what they worked so hard for destroyed.
The martyrs’ blood from last January
and February will not go to waste – and neither will that spilled this
November.
and February will not go to waste – and neither will that spilled this
November.
For the past four days, we’ve heard
stories like that of Ahmad Harrah, a dentist, one of many January
revolutionaries who lost his right eye from a bullet on Jan. 28 and now his
left on Nov. 19.
stories like that of Ahmad Harrah, a dentist, one of many January
revolutionaries who lost his right eye from a bullet on Jan. 28 and now his
left on Nov. 19.
Afterward, he said, “To live
blind with dignity is better than living with sight and defeated.”
blind with dignity is better than living with sight and defeated.”
Stories like these made people who may have not been
to the first revolution leave their homes in the midst of the danger and take
to the streets in protest.
to the first revolution leave their homes in the midst of the danger and take
to the streets in protest.
There are more people in the demonstration than
ever before and they are ready to sacrifice anything and everything to keep
their freedom.
ever before and they are ready to sacrifice anything and everything to keep
their freedom.
There is no other solution or demand now except
for the leaders of the armed forces to back down.
for the leaders of the armed forces to back down.
The people are not satisfied with Tantawi’s
solution to simply have a referendum asking if the people want the SCAF to remain
in control because they know the idea is meant to divide the people.
solution to simply have a referendum asking if the people want the SCAF to remain
in control because they know the idea is meant to divide the people.
Once trusted, the SCAF initially fooled the
people into believing that it was the guardian of the revolution, but it turned
out to consist of power hungry hypocrites who do not care for the people of
Egypt.
people into believing that it was the guardian of the revolution, but it turned
out to consist of power hungry hypocrites who do not care for the people of
Egypt.
Despite being scared, insecure and living under
constant tension, people can smell revolution in the air again and they are
determined to prevail. Millions are still in the street and will stay there until
their demands are met.
constant tension, people can smell revolution in the air again and they are
determined to prevail. Millions are still in the street and will stay there until
their demands are met.
Revolution 2.0 has only just begun.
God bless the people of Egypt and keep them safe.
Jessica Elsayed, who is from Alexandria, Egypt, is a freshman at Denison University.
