Tah-rir-iene (s) = citizen of Tahrir Square. Revolution – the greatest manifestation of change – is the genuine locomotive of history. Again the epicenter is our Tahrir- and again the world will revert its startled gaze on our illuminating presence, a cry that will not accept compromise. Five months after the revolution and Egypt at large has continued at the same rhythm as it did Pre-February 11, 2011 – which explains the clutch our elders have on the status quo. Parallel to this are news reports of kidnappings, rape, acts of violence, thievery, and murder- although these unfortunate events occurred long before the revolution-and for the chronically cutoff- in every nation in the world and since the beginning of time; but because the context is different, it's hold is much more harrowing. Egypt, under the control of the Supreme Council for the Armed Forces, have released tyrants, while others have been impervious to the law- and overall justice has not been fully met, only red-runny headlines amped with rhetoric, and lacking substance, heralding violence that keeps shivering palms over terrified mouths, abysmally viewing the world with no return ticket to security. But the Tahririenes know better than that. The return to Tahrir shows that the Middle East has awoken out of its stupor and the wheels have shifted. Safety in exchange for control is no longer acceptable, wealth in exchange for dignity is not an option. “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” I Have a Dream, Martin Luther King Jr. 1963. But the Tahrir of Summer is not the same as that of the Winter: the five months of unveiling this sedition has matured the protesters, they make it no secret that that there will be power hungry protesters who are there with an insidious agenda: political, religious, anarchic, armed with leaflets, rhetoric, money and conviction. That there will be thugs who will try and destabilize the harmony of the peaceful revolution with curses, threats and blood-as the have done on the fourth day of the standstill. And of course there are those whose demands have been met, and just want “everyone to go home so we can move on with our lives”. But real Tahririenes will be ready for this change- they will be able to turn them away with dignity, resist their attacks without resorting to weapons that can be used against them. This is a new, smarter gathering. Tahrir has become a public space for exchange par excellence, their intelligence grows as the numbers swell. The Tahririene know that there is a different guilty party that needs to be reprimanded, and will not leave until their requests have been met and does not fear their violence-and they know that their lives are on the line-but what greater reason to risk your life for the dignity of your nation while the whole world watches your wonders. The return to Tahrir is a reminder, that this nation will not accept compromise, that they are smarter than that. “I have a Dream Today” and like Martin Luther King, we do too: and we are living it. ** Sabry is a Freelance Writer and Master of Arts Candidate in the Department of English and Comparative Literature, American University in Cairo. BM
