I did my political tourism to Tahrir square yesterday. I went with two older Egyptian women, who wanted to go to support their children. My explanation for their interest lies in what we were watching on TV the night before. A really famous talk show host, Mona Shazly, brought in interesting guests. First Mona brought in Wael Ghuneim, the regional marketing manager for Google in UAE. Wael was the creator of "We are all Khaled Said" on facebook. He was the secret admin that no one knew about. This group was an inspiration to many in exposing the government's injustice. It was created after the torture and killing of a young man called Khaled from Alexandria on the hands of the police. On Jan 27, Wael was kidnapped. Rumors where circulating that google has trained and hired Wael to mobolize revolutions across the Arab world? As soon as he got out from "Government Security"; he went to visit his family for half an hour and directly came to the show. Wael cried for almost the whole half an hour of his and even left the show. He apologized for all the killings and felt some sort of guilt towards all the martyrs of the revolution. Wael reiterated that he does not want to be a leader of the revolution and that everyone else on the streets revolting are heros. I found him sincere but lacks any political depth. He seemed disoriented which seemed logical after being blind folded for 12 days. I personally expected more from him, and if he had that political mind that Egypt is in dire need for then I think he would have performed much better.
Then Mona brought in a heart surgeon, artist, TV anchor, and poet. All these guests insisted that they are "not political" but inspired by the youth. They are participating for their children and attend Tahrir square on daily basis. This made me think, since when is politics and being political such a negative concept?!
Tahrir square reflects this mode. No to politics or being political; just having couple of slogans that almost one million people agree on "Mubarak must leave" (this one is all languages and different forms) and "the people want the regime to fall".
I went in the door where I got searched and ID checked. The question that I got was "why are you here as a Jordanian?" I immediately responded "since I am marrying an Egyptian, I have stake in the future of this country". We both exchanged awkward smiles. This was the first alienating move for being foreigner for me.
The entrance to the square had several tanks with Egypts flag on them and people standing on top of them for pictures. Then there were the burnt down police cars where people were also taking pictures.
We entered into a crowd of people singing the Egyptian national anthem. A female speaker with an accent tried to chant support to Egypt and immediately got booed off "get down, we want Egyptians only". This was another alienating move that made me think. Why are they assuming that their revolution is only for Egyptians and not for the rest of the Arab world and humanity even? This revolution is about freedom of expression, call for democracy, no to poverty, and no to corruption. These are all human slogans that are applicable to possible 80% of the world!
We entered into different crowds; the Al Azhar Sheikhs reciting different prayers for the salvation of the Egyptian people, Oud player singing revolutionary songs, little kids chanting 'Mubarak must fall', poetry readings, and many funny signs. Then there are people selling tea and sandwiches, occasionally you get offered dates for free, and many youngsters picking up trash. The square is full of tents occupied by families from other towns that came in to the capital to the sit-in. Most people are discussing and carrying cameras to take photographs.
This is described by everyone as a festival or carnival that is extremely civilized. That is when I felt like a political tourist. I am not politically involved especially that I am a foreigner. At the same time, most of the Egyptian people are not political either. There is a type of simplified politics; two main streams with different variations within them. You either attend Tahrir square to make a statement that you do support the revolution and demand a change. Or you do not to attend Tahrir since you are satisfied with your life, accept the new government, and possibly support Mubarak. We see these views expressed at businesses even. I was sitting at a coffee shop near my house and it had a sign written on it "the people want the evacuation of Tahrir square".
Then Mona brought in a heart surgeon, artist, TV anchor, and poet. All these guests insisted that they are "not political" but inspired by the youth. They are participating for their children and attend Tahrir square on daily basis. This made me think, since when is politics and being political such a negative concept?!
Tahrir square reflects this mode. No to politics or being political; just having couple of slogans that almost one million people agree on "Mubarak must leave" (this one is all languages and different forms) and "the people want the regime to fall".
I went in the door where I got searched and ID checked. The question that I got was "why are you here as a Jordanian?" I immediately responded "since I am marrying an Egyptian, I have stake in the future of this country". We both exchanged awkward smiles. This was the first alienating move for being foreigner for me.
The entrance to the square had several tanks with Egypts flag on them and people standing on top of them for pictures. Then there were the burnt down police cars where people were also taking pictures.
We entered into a crowd of people singing the Egyptian national anthem. A female speaker with an accent tried to chant support to Egypt and immediately got booed off "get down, we want Egyptians only". This was another alienating move that made me think. Why are they assuming that their revolution is only for Egyptians and not for the rest of the Arab world and humanity even? This revolution is about freedom of expression, call for democracy, no to poverty, and no to corruption. These are all human slogans that are applicable to possible 80% of the world!
We entered into different crowds; the Al Azhar Sheikhs reciting different prayers for the salvation of the Egyptian people, Oud player singing revolutionary songs, little kids chanting 'Mubarak must fall', poetry readings, and many funny signs. Then there are people selling tea and sandwiches, occasionally you get offered dates for free, and many youngsters picking up trash. The square is full of tents occupied by families from other towns that came in to the capital to the sit-in. Most people are discussing and carrying cameras to take photographs.
This is described by everyone as a festival or carnival that is extremely civilized. That is when I felt like a political tourist. I am not politically involved especially that I am a foreigner. At the same time, most of the Egyptian people are not political either. There is a type of simplified politics; two main streams with different variations within them. You either attend Tahrir square to make a statement that you do support the revolution and demand a change. Or you do not to attend Tahrir since you are satisfied with your life, accept the new government, and possibly support Mubarak. We see these views expressed at businesses even. I was sitting at a coffee shop near my house and it had a sign written on it "the people want the evacuation of Tahrir square".
That is great work, keep it up, I'm intrigued to read more, I always believed you had a knack in griping story telling, well done. you had a little story about your hairdresser in your FB wall it could have been in your blog too.
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