The slaying of the 21 Egyptians was like a stab to mine and everybody’s heart. Who was able to sleep that night?
I always had hope. In my childhood, I imagined that ousting the King was the beginning of a new era. And when I was at university, I thought Nasser had defeated backwardness. But then I was severely frustrated after the catastrophic defeat in 1967.
When we crossed the canal in 1973, I was very happy and I had hopes for a democratic change that did not happen. And when I grew older, I lived in a nightmare under an unqualified president who turned into a corrupt dictator.
After 25 January, I imagined that we were finally free, but the Muslim Brotherhood hijacked the revolution and I lost my dream of freedom and democracy. Then came 30 June where the Egyptian civilians united to overthrow the Brotherhood, which happened with the help of the army. I was happy that Morsy was ousted.
Then came a hugely popular president who is honorable and loyal to the homeland. We all supported him. Yet he was soon faced by internal and external terrorist forces and by pressure from the West. And instead of relying on all civil spectrums of the Egyptian society for support, he used emotional pleas that only have a temporary effect. For his aides, which were the same aides of Mubarak, convinced him that freedom for Egyptians is a dangerous thing and that we cannot afford democracy.
They suggested some paid youth body instead of the civil, political and partisan bodies that were formed after the damned 25 January revolution. They believed those should be eliminated, which has actually happened when some withdrew from the scene and others made deals with the regime, leaving the rest in a difficult position.
As to the new organization of the state, it included the famous members of the old National Democratic Party, a few believers in reform from within and some optimists.
Everyone is happy with the security agencies that orchestrated this scenario. Everyone believes they saved Egypt from the Egyptians who do not deserve to be citizens or have rights. This pulled us back to the day when King Farouk was deported in 1952.
The internal security and economic risks and the external risks from neighboring countries and super powers lurking us render the political organization that was built away from the people unable to help the president in the serious battles that threaten the nation, even after pressuring some of the corrupt leaders of the National Democratic Party not to run in the parliamentary election and replacing them with lesser ranks.
The blatant interference of the state bodies to form an electoral list that mixes the rich and the infamous with sectarian figures and some respectable personalities is but a disaster that will mar the credibility of the next parliament.
Mr. President, I had hope that all Egyptians help you, but your system chose only those who are loyal to themselves. I am sad and frustrated, and I fear power will make you shortsighted.
Rise you Egyptian, Egypt is calling you.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
