Egypt reawakens Arab dreams Wednesday, 09 February 2011 01:11

A famous proverb says: “Luck sleeps but never dies.” People may also become numb but erupt like a volcano without a moment’s notice, and execute an uprising until achieving victory. Without Egypt, the “Mother of all Civilization”, we would not have taken back our pride and dignity, which we had cast away, buried, and thrown with them our old, tear-soaked handkerchiefs, and pillows holding our dreams of a long-forgotten past and our missing pride. That feeling has been revived today. It glistens and shines with vibrant youth, and says what it desires without holding back until crowning itself a victorious master.

What did you start, oh green Tunisia? You’ve ignited avalanches of anger and deep valleys of awakening. You’ve given voice to the people. My, how long the nights of darkness, deception, and deceit; the fraudulent feelings and false wills and fabricated consciences.

Is our identification, attachment, and fusion with Egypt exaggerated? That we feel like it is our country, our land, and our people, even though we are strangers? Or is it a reality that we ignore?  We have been pained so deeply for Egypt, have risen to its revolution, responded to its calls and attached to its cheers. We did not know that as fellow Arabs that we would hold this special and unique feeling for Egypt. We feel connected to it. Somewhere deep within our souls, water from the Nile is still damp, quenching our thirst, and channels our fate as it may.

Oh beautiful Egypt, we’ve grown up watching your films, studied at the hands of your teachers, healed at the hands of your doctors and nurses. Oh majestic Egypt, our minds were enlightened through your books, intellectuals, and thinkers. Oh great Egypt, we were encompassed by your classrooms and lecture halls, where our minds were filled and our hearts were taken by the bravery of your forefathers who deposed colonialists, tyrants, counterfeiters, sold your pride, and soiled the sanctity and purity of your simplest people.

Oh Egypt, our attachment to you draws portraits of your streets in our memories, and threads recollections of your cultural symbols in our minds. Oh Egypt, you were the shelter for Arabs when their systems expelled them. You were the compassionate refuge for intellectuals and great minds in exile. You were the oasis that engulfed, drew them together, and gave and opportunity for their imprints to remain longer in the sand. This link we have with you has made us melt with the events currently taking place, kneeling on our knees for you and your distress. You are not alone. We are all with your people, and as always, reflecting on your people with respect and love because they continue to teach us patriotism, love for the nation, and how to make history.

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