Today in Tahrir Square, there are at least 100,000 demonstrators gathered to protest President Morsi, who was elected one year ago today. The Egyptians have discovered “Power to the People!” There is reporting of a possible new revolution beginning. According to the demonstrators, Morsi has failed to tackle economic and security issues while putting the agenda of Muslim Brotherhood before the country’s wider interests.
Last night, demonstrators camped out
in the square which brought back images of protectors who brought about the fall of ex-president Hosni Mubark, in February 2012.
It seems the same demonstration with only the picture of the leader that has changed. Mubarak lived and ruled as an absolute ruler for 30 years. He seemed a reincarnation of the ancient pharaohs. There is a story of him riding through the streets of Cairo and remarking that “There is no traffic problem in Cairo!” after his aides had stopped the traffic for his limousine to pass unimpeded through the streets. I have experienced the Cairo traffic where people actually hang on the outside of lowered bus windows to travel by bus. Buses that never actually come to a halt…people just roll off of on at their own peril. As much a challenge as India’s traffic was, I never saw a bus as crowed and covered as I did in Cairo quite a few years ago.
I have been to Tahrir Square, not at a huge demonstration but to visit the Cairo Museum.
Here are housed the most beautiful and amazing treasures from antiquity including King Tut’s treasures.
This is a rather startling picture , but actually not in Egypt. Just as there is religions co-existence in India, there is a long record of tolerance between the Islamic majority and the minority of Coptic Christians. During the last year, persecution and even executions have taken place against one of the oldest Christian sects lead by Christ’s disciple Mark who brought the Christian story to Egypt. My heart and prayers are with the Egyptians demonstrating for freedom both political and religious. These are freedoms I hold dear and believe are God given for all of humanity.
My thoughts and prayers are also with my Indian friends and the challenges they face daily with lack of food, sanitation, crowding, meaningful work and safety for women and girls. I pray the leaders will listen to the concerns of the people and work to solve these problems, all without violence. A dream? Yes, but also a possibility.
TalesAlongTheWay 
Yes, it is a possibility Anne, that India doesn’t behave like India. That will happen when education doesn’t mean ancient scriptures and when school and university is not a ritual or a mode of employment. And that can happen when the stomach is full. And that in turn can happen when all is shared, when a tiny minority doesn’t rule when it isn’t representative.
So where do we start?
With governance – but that is a much abused word, as abused as ‘growth’ and ‘development’. So let us say we start with the fundamentals – the people who represent, genuinely represent. Today in India, a politician is of three types and only three types:
1. The shameless inheritor – Rahul Gandhi, Akilesh Yadav (UP), Punjab, Haryana, the list goes on.
2. The criminal or quasi criminal – all political parties full of them – history sheeters with records of murder, rape, extortion etc. What are quasi criminals, you might ask – people who incite and lead communal violence, like one name you mentioned earlier!
3. Articulate and wealthy psychophants who enter through the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) – they become stylish underlings to their political masters.
So we are back to square one. We are not a democracy yet for we are not ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’
In a nutshell, we are seeking azaadi – independence. All over again. And like for any such objective, for the non violent path, it needs a Gandhi, else it will be a bloody revolution. Which is already spilling from Maoists hinterland into cities.
The trouble is politicians are all businessmen and businessmen are politicians.
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Oh Nirbhaya, I always learn so much from your sharing. Yes, a Gandhi and not Rahul but Mahatma. Thank you! Namaste. . . .Anne
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And so yet again Maoist violence erupted in India and another scam this time involving the Prime Minister’s Office has surfaced. Now it’s the civil aviation ministry
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I hadn’t heard that. Oh the corruption is insidious
Namaste. . .. Anne
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Thanks for putting this up. I’ve been trying to get more information about what’s going on
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You are most welcome. I have always had a love for Egypt as I found the people warm and welcoming like the Indians.There are lots of problems there as well. We saw half built tower buildings in Cairo and the US gives them so much money. Someone said they don’t finish buildings because they don’t want to pay taxes. So sad to see conditions in Egypt and know about the wonderful advanced civilization 5000 years or so ago! Oh, I go on and on. Thanks for liking and commenting. Namaste. . . Anne
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Anne, not a problem.
Your concern for the place shows through. I hope they’re able to make the most of what they’ve got.
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Go to word press and type in Egypt in the space on the right and click on it. Current posts on the whatever subject you click on or type it will appear. Interesting one I just read on Egyptian Streets. Namaste. . . Anne
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i’m a Egyptian girl
thank u 4 ur pray to us
and i want make sure for something
we make this revolution to make our country better than any one that is not a selfish that is a thing anyone want it for his country
Now we are united military council , the police and the people
like what we said we are one hand now
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Inshallah!
Anne
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Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
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