I never really thought anything of Iran or Iranians. For some reason we're not supposed to like them, something about their Shah, Sadat and some fall out? One day when I'm bored at work I'll educate myself 'bout that - but i haven't been bored at work in 3 months so i guess I'll be ignorant for a while.
But really, what they've been doing this last week is pretty darn impressive! They've officially put us - Egyptians - to shame! I thought the protests would die out after day one or day two, but today - 6 days later - they're still going strong. I'm just at awe at these people's courage and determination. Kudos!
I've always thought Iran is one of the countries that has so much potential from the greater middle east (do we still use that now that Bush is gone?). Iran, Iraq and Egypt are in my opinion the main countries in the region who can lead this region and become the respected members of the world community they once were. If only they can just get it right!
It seems like Iranians have finally had enough. As I see all of this unfold I can't help but think just how soulless, selfish and numb Egyptians are. So it is possible to revolt? It is possible to cause major headache for your government and weaken their legality even more? It is possible to make a statement and demand a change?
People are doing it right now, and what do Egyptians do? They settle for the 50 L.E. they get for voting for the very government that has perpetually violated their human rights and have continuously made them poorer, less safe and more miserable over the last 20 something years. Da7na ma3andenaash dam sa7ee7!
Then I start thinking practically, how this could be done.
And right there my hypocrisy - and much hated elitism - makes a grand entrance: Would I storm off to the streets after an election? No, I most definitely would not. Why not? Because i think there are better way for me, and people like me, to make a difference. Jeopardizing my career and future plans is not smart, and I don't feel very guilty because my future plans all involve futile efforts to do my part in developing this country. I believe people like me should not storm the streets and instead apply themselves differently in order to achieve some sort of change.
So who should storm the streets?
I know I should be hung in a public square for saying this - but I expect the poor and prospect-less proportion of our population should do it. That's the main value adding thing they have to offer at this point. The people below poverty lines, who live in slums, beg on the streets, whose rights for a decent living, proper health care, and some sort of social welfare system are ignored.
Even though I expect it, I do feel it's wrong and hypocritical from a moral stand point and in an ideal world it should not happen, all people are equal.
But realistically speaking, people are not equal: I'm lucky. My basic needs are covered, I have no possible motivation to do something that dangerous. Bad traffic, polluted weather and poor infrastructure - the things that affect my life the most - are not exactly reasons strong enough to make me react so strongly. And I do not expect anyone with the same situation to do so either. The day I start losing those basic needs, is the day I start taking more drastic action.
It doesn't make sense to expect the educated productive working class to storm the streets given the current conditions they live in right now in Egypt. What is necessary though is more efforts to develop this country, more political presence, more use of the media to call the government on their actions and demand a change. A different kind of headache for the government, something we are very slowly getting better at - but no where near good enough.
I expect those people whose basic needs are not covered to do something more than what they are doing right now, much like I would have done myself if I were one of them. And I do not understand why these people are silent. They can't work and develop the economy, they're uneducated, they can't write in the papers and defend their opinions, they are illiterate. The main thing they can do is storm the streets and cause a riot. But here in Egypt they don't! I wonder why.
Moral grey - even black area - yes, but realistic.
The world is not fair, each person has a different capacity to make a difference, some more dangerous than others, but each equally important. Sad, but true.
I'd like to think that I'm not just another arrogant yuppie, and that if my luck turns against me and I end up living in a slum somewhere then I'd have the courage to stand up and do what Iranians are doing.
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