Egyptians and Elections

My perception of the presidential elections in Egypt is not unique. I like several others have our doubts and opinions that many object to. But I am writing this to neither question the integrity of the election nor convince people with my perspective of the candidates for I agree it is likely sordid, but I am writing this to reflect what I would like to think of as the mirror image many of my fellow Egyptians in my eyes, and what a sad image do I see.

We claim we want democracy; and surely we do, yet when we were faced with what we consider as the worst possible scenario in the elections we fell apart. I saw many of my fellow Egyptians using multiple arguments that verges on the limits of disrespect and sometimes completely disrespecting the different opinion and trying in every possible way to convince others that the are ill opinioned. What democracy are we calling for when we can not respect other peoples opinion and line of thought.

It is the peak of democracy when people of different opinions can sit together and discuss a topic they disagree about with mutual respect and without prejudice, sticking only to facts and logical deduction and even agreeing to disagree. What I saw from too many a person is total prejudice that makes me concerned about the future of democracy in our country. Simply because you can not build a colossal structure on a weak foundation, and how weak do I see our foundation.

What saddens me further is seeing the presumably most intellectual minds of our country reverting to expressing their opinion in the most indecorous ways and using imprudent wording that they should alleviate themselves from using. For the knowledge of a man's true nature is how he behaves when infuriated, and infuriated indeed we are. Our brethren back home started the revolution, that can not be denied. But with the current structure of our country, our voices represent only the few.

We may very well have lost the battle, but we shall not lose the war. Our next and may yet prove the hardest battle is within ourselves and among our own. Our next battle is a battle to hone ourselves; and what a great battle it is, and help our brethren rise from the ashes of the old structure and together build the foundation for future generations.

Hear the call, heed the warning. Do not give up, Do not surrender. Choose your battles wisely and know where your true battle now lies. It lies in the hearts and minds of the people. It lies within us. Many times in history a battle or two were lost but in the end the war was won. Like at Islam, Look at Troy, Look at Prophet Muhammad, Look at Gandhi, Look at Alexander the great. And remember remember the 25th of January, the Friday of Anger. I know of no reason why the Friday of Anger should ever be forgot.