The anniversary of the 25 January Revolution and the Cairo International Book Fair captured the attention of the media this week. Farouk Guweida wrote that the state of division over 25 January Revolution will last for a long time. But, Guweida emphasised, on 25 January 2011 we were before a group of youth who took to the streets to ask for their right to freedom, justice and a dignified life. In short, he added, the revolution that some are trying to tarnish is a dear part in the memory of Egyptians no matter how they view it. “Differences over the revolution will not overrule the fact that it was a bright spot in the life of youth whether or not they realised their dream of justice, freedom and a dignified life,” Guweida wrote in the official daily Al-Ahram. Ahmed Al-Doreini said queues in front of the book fair this year was an indication that a big sector of Egyptians are in need of a secure space in which they gather as families or meet friends. Perhaps, as Al-Doreini wrote in the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, part of the joy of the 2011 revolution lied in the Egyptians' ability to meet and express themselves at ease. “Some of the fair's visitors could have gone there to stroll around under the protection of the state or peep at the world of books and knowledge, while others, who in practicing their right to read, regained their humanity that is wasted throughout the year in a densely-populated country that does not have enough public libraries to satisfy the cultural needs of the people,” Al-Doreini wrote. Thus, the writer concluded, the book fair, which receives millions of visitors, is a good opportunity to understand ourselves instead of resorting to social media as the sole indicator of understanding Egyptians. Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Sherif pointed to preliminary indicators in this year's book fair, such as providing transportation for visitors, a fact that made the fair's new venue more accessible. The long queues, Al-Sherif added, is another indicator that people are keen to visit the fair. “I also noted the organisation and discipline of the fair that most people noticed. I would not say that it reached an exemplary level that we desire, but I assume that it will one day. Generally speaking, it is the most organised fair in the last 20 years,” Al-Sherif wrote in the daily Al-Youm Al-Sabei. 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The anniversary of 25 January Revolution By Amr Selim, Al-Masry Al-Youm
