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'Raise your head high'
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 16 - 02 - 2011

CAIRO - Monday was Valentine's Day and on November 4 we celebrate something called Love Day, on which we express our love for everyone, as well as our country.
The definition of “country” might differ from one person to another. In my case, I think of it as home, sanctuary, identity, security, safety, pride, dignity, support, prosperity and most importantly people and places we love. FINALLY, we are going to have all that.
I lost track of the number of times I've been to Midan El-Tahrir [Al Tahrir Square]. What a name… it means “Liberation Square” and actually the Arabic word “Midan” means both square and field. It is ironic how this place turned from a square to a battlefield… from one side peaceful unarmed demonstrators were attacked by police forces and thugs several times and this resulted in the death of many martyrs, who wanted nothing but basic rights for them and all Egyptians. This will always be remembered and they can now rest in peace.
Last Wednesday I saw a woman dressed in black and walking down in the middle of the crowd in Al Tahrir Square. She looked as if she was hypnotised and the paper she held in her hands had the following words written on it “you coward, you creep, the blood of a martyr isn't cheap”.
She is the mother of a martyr… This sight broke my heart.I also met a man who lost two of his brothers in the past few days. When his mother found out that two of her sons were killed, she ordered the others to go to Al Tahrir Square and never return before the regime is down, or join their martyr brothers. He was screaming “anyone who wants to pay condolences can do it now in Al Tahrir Square. The killing of my brothers didn't go to waste”. Upon saying this, tears were shed by many people around.
I was involved in many minor incidents and some of them jeopardised my safety. For instance, I was accused of being a spy because I asked a taxi driver to take me and some friends to the field hospital close to the square. The man raised his voice and people gathered round and in such cases some would be quite aggressive so I could have been beaten up just for wanting to see the injured!
Speaking of this, an injured IT engineer was having his wound stitched by a doctor and I must say that I admired them both very much. The doctor said “I will not leave this hospital until the regime falls or I die” and the patient got up after the wound was stitched and went straight back to the square.
Another doctor was talking about the help they were getting from people and she said “we have more medicine than we need, which proves how great Egyptians are”. Of course many were giving away free food and drinks to demonstrators and some of those who live in the area let those marchers use their bathrooms. One of them told me that he was standing in the balcony early in the morning of Wednesday, February 2 and saw two men being stabbed then their throats were slit by thugs!
Egypt was really on fire and on Friday, February 11 and on that glorious day history and future were made I was in Al Tahrir Square when we got the news of Mubarak's resignation and I've never seen anything like it. It felt as if the entire square was lifted up and then slammed down several times by an incredible tidal wave. I don't think anything ever united Egyptians as the regime's departure did. It was an unforgettable moment with extreme emotions very loud cheers, laughter and tears of joy. Even men were crying. There was that man standing next to me with tears in his eyes and although we don't know each other we hugged.
Two other men were crying but one of them was weeping his heart out like a baby. I approached him and shook his shoulder and in English he said “I'm sorry but I'm so moved by this…” and I interrupted him saying “I'm Egyptian, like you” so he replied “Egyptian…”, hugged me and cried even more.
His friend came all the way from Alexandria to be in Al Tahrir Square where the centre of the whole revolution is. Earlier on the same day I spoke to many who came from Suez and Upper Egypt as well. Despite the demonstrations that were still taking place there, they said they wanted to represent their cities in Cairo. These are wonderful Egyptians.
But what about foreigners? On Saturday I met an Italian man who stood there and took photos of the demonstrators then smiled and said “I arrived today from London where I work and I'm leaving tomorrow. I just wanted to share this glorious moment with Egyptians and unfortunately I couldn't be here yesterday when it finally happened.
The whole world is watching you now and you have to work hard to make Egypt the brilliant country it used to be”. I didn't know what to tell him! I was just so proud and that's it. Friends and relatives from numerous countries all over the globe called and sent messages saying that they are very happy for us and many Egyptians abroad said that everyone is congratulating them for this brilliant achievement. Just like one of the chants screamed by many people in Al Tahrir Square, they said “raise you head high, you are EGYPTIAN”. I truly feel I'm a giant. An American friend told me that now “everyone wants to be Egyptian” and again I was so flattered.
A simple incident explains the way we all feel one man was holding a sign in his hand saying “I'm free” and when I smiled at him he raised his hand up high with victory sign. We are finally free and it's time to make Egypt a much better country in every possible way.
Countless people, including my cousins, went to the square to clean it after collecting the garbage, which they did themselves. Others were painting the curbs and the atmosphere was… you had to be there to see it.
I want to thank my friend Hossam El-Hady for sharing with us this photo, which he took on Friday, February 4. They say that on that day two million marchers were there and this Friday the number was doubled! That's amazing of course and I believe there was no exaggeration because moving from one place to another on that day was almost impossible.
People were stepping on each other and I bumped my leg into a fence and cut it open… my leg and not the fence! So now I'm back to being my silly self again, which means I'm VERY happy.
Sorry if you can't figure out what I'm talking about but I kept chanting along very loudly till I lost my voice and to top it all I now have a fever so I could hardly speak. I promise that next time we speak I will sound clearer than this.
Send EGYPT your congratulations to: [email protected]


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