A note on the planned demonstrations this past Sunday

Someone asked me to comment on the political commotion that has taken place in Egypt over the past week, and more specifically on the planned demonstrations this past Sunday. I did not go downtown that day, but my husband did, and he could confirm Ms. Four’s observation that it was very calm, and to his dismay, very few students showed up to his classes.

When I was a teenager, I was very active in a European political youth organization, and in the spring of 1989, we went to Berlin to help organize the German youth and talk to them about unity, democracy and freedom. As this was not allowed in what was then East Germany, our work had to be clandestine. Had people at the time had access to cell phones, Twitter or Facebook, then we probably would have used those means, but word-of-mouth, printed invitations and regular phone lines were what we relied on to get people together. Nothing major happened while we were there, at least not on the surface, but after we left, the people kept mobilizing, other groups helped, and a few months later, in November to be precise, the tension culminated in the coming down of the Berlin wall.

I can tell you all this, because in hindsight I know we did the right thing. All people have a right to political freedom and democracy, and Europe needed a united Germany. But at the time, although my gut told me that the situation in Eastern Europe was not right, I felt bad doing something that wasn’t allowed. It was all very peaceful and quiet in a way though, and when people finally gathered around the Brandenburg Tor and started pushing the wall down, it was as if all of Germany was ready to let go. (I realize this is a very simplified picture – it really wasn’t THAT smooth or easy – but hey, I’m trying to make a point here!). I’m not suggesting that sitting down quietly and waiting for better times is the right thing to do, but I will never promote violence as a solution to political problems; at this point, if people are this angry and hungry, and the government this intolerant when it comes to demonstrations, as peacefully intended as they may be, a physical confrontation will most certainly make the situation worse.

All this said; I haven’t lived here that long, but it seems that Egypt is changing, and I’m glad I’m able to be here and learn about his beautiful ancient culture and its strive. If you think my opinion seems uninformed or biases you're probably right; I still have a lot to learn.

One more thing; it was interesting to observe the reactions in the international community. As usual, a lot of things were blown out of proportion – people were talking about violent battles downtown, public transportation ceasing to function, the closing of Maadi with food- and water shortage as a consequence, but with the water incidence a while back in mind, I knew to take rumors with a grain of salt, and as we all know, the day passed without incidence; at least as far as I know, and at least on the surface.