After 18 days of revolution against the long-time President Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian people made a statement. Tahrir Square became the centre for a nation making history, a tale of patriotism, resistance and a dream come true. The uprising took three weeks and the loss of over 300 lives to achieve victory. However, some are now planning to attend a farewell ceremony to show respect for Egypt's former president Mubarak on Friday February 18 at 2 pm, in front of his Heliopolis residence. The final farewell Nelly Said, a 24 year-old Egyptian studying film-making in London, is one of the masterminds behind the final farewell. She created a group under the name “Respect… The final farewell” on the social network facebook, the same network that united people to demand their rights and speak up against corruption and injustice. Now the new facebook group is asking Egyptians to unite once again, but this time to show their respect to Mubarak and all the martyrs. Said claims that although she is pro-revolution, she created the group to ask people to show the world the “true” character of Egyptians. “Although I was for the revolution due to the evident corruption Egypt witnessed in the past, I was upset when Mubarak was insulted, especially as it was all over the international news,” Said told Ahram Online She argues that even if he did mistakes, there is no reason to insult a president or a “figure”. She wanted Mubarak to stay in office until September. Step down with dignity “I wanted him to step down with dignity, but he was “kicked out,” Said stated. The group has 13,854 members, however only 851 will join the initiative. Rana El-Molla, 21, a university student believes in the group's mission saying “Mubarak has made fatal mistakes, yet we all contributed in the corruption, from breaking traffic laws to not voting in the elections”. El-Molla feels that it is time for us all to pay the bill, not only Mubarak. She adds “Bush was a murderer yet stepped down in an honourable way so the least we can do to our former leader is to show respect.” Some of the protesters will also join the farewell. Emotional reasons Habiba El-Husseiny, 18, AUC student took part in the revolution yet will join due to emotional reasons. “I am anti-Mubarak, but after he stepped down I sympathised with him. I saw him as a grandfather and I would never show disrespect in such a manner.” El-Husseiny said. The majority of Egyptians disagree with the idea of a farewell and some perceive it as insulting. Karim Reda, a leader in the 6th of April's youth movement and one of the masterminds behind the 25 January uprising is offended by the farewell. Parents of the martyrs “This is disrespectful to the Egyptian revolution, Instead of feeling sorry for Mubarak, we should sympathise with the parents of the martyrs that lost their loved ones for us to have the change we have always waited for,” Reda said adding that the attendees doesn't represent Egypt. The farewell has few supporters and many opponents, yet some Egyptians are confused. Nadia Lotfy, 58 and a banker, states that she is bewildered and can't decide whether she is supportive of the farewell or despises it. Dug his own grave “I'm having mixed feelings. Mubarak was the “best” Egyptian leader in his first 15 years, but he dug his own grave in the last 15 years as soon as he started to create the illegal Mubarak empire.” Lotfy said She added that although he was the leader during war and peace, she can't say he did Egypt a favour as it was his duty. She is still uncertain whether she will attend or not. Egyptians abroad are proud of the uprising yet are more open to the idea of the farewell. True meaning of peace Sally Soliman, 32, a physician living in the United States believes that Egyptians have impressed the world and shown the true meaning of peace throughout the demonstrations. They have displayed respect to other opinions, people and property and let the world see that Egyptians have earned their right to a democracy. Therefore, “holding a farewell march to recognise Mubarak's departure is one way to show respect, dignity and pride.” Soliman maintains. A decent and silent farewell Nelly Said has promised that she'll return to visit Egypt and join her group members in a decent and silent farewell to Mubarak. They will also stand for a minute of silence for every martyr. She believes that many Egyptians would like to participate but they fear clashes with the anti-Mubarak protesters.
