"Walk like an Egyptian"

I was hesitant to post on the revolution we're witnessing these days in Egypt. I'd stare at the box where I wanted to express my feelings but words always failed me and I gave up. I wanted to share my feelings, but I didn't know how.
My source to what's happening is Twitter. It's amazing how many people there have dedicated their tweets to update us on what's happening. To compare that to what protesters in Tahrir Square are doing, it seems so insignificant. It's really wonderful to see everybody watching the news, and praying for Egypt.
I just would like to express my deep respect to these people, who're sacrificing so much because they're standing up for their rights. Protesting peacefully. I didn't think Arabs were capable of doing something even much lesser than this, I admit I was gravely mistaken. Look at these people, not only do they give us courage, but they give us hope and reason to believe we have the power to do so much in the world.

I'll leave you with the words of my friend Nema, who wrote a very beautiful and moving post about this.

"To blog or not to blog, and what to actually blog about? That is my serious dilemma. I'm usually 24/7 on my blog(s), if not writing then reading and analyzing my old stuff and trying to improve-either with writing or with a reader's external point of view.
So, since the only thing people, who are home, keep discussing is Egypt and the ongoing crisis, and since it has actually become an international issue. I'll also take my leap and express:

• I'll start off with quoting Amr Salama: على فكرة طول عمري بقول إني بحب مصر، بس عمري ما فهمت و لا حسيت بحبي ليها زي دلوقتي.. أنا فعلا بحب مصر.. قوي

These words awoke this feeling within me; I, too, would have never ever fathomed why I loved this country, not to mention that I spent nearly 12 years abroad, and if you think about it you'd feel like I'm barely Egyptian, but I don't count my years.
I thought it's about friends and family, about its atmosphere in Summer and its hugs in Winter, I still think those are some reasons to love your country, but lets be more realistic here:

1- The people:

1. They made me cry; Christians protecting Muslims while doing their prayer? Seriously? I have never seen such a thing in the ENTIRE history.
2. Protesters beating security forces for having injured someone they don't even know.
3. The comedy-or shall I say black comedy-of the people, even in their darker days.
4. The songs, I would sometimes sing with them in front of the Tv, too bad I couldn't sing in the battlefield.
5. Their ability to fight and stand strong for their rights (sad some people think they're wasting time)..
6. The hospitality, the friendliness and the atmosphere they create, a thing of real beauty, heavenly beauty!

2-The Places:

1. Tahrir: Always and forever will be my favorite place to hang out. Back before the revolution it used to give me a feeling of being home, of "liberation". And now I know soon enough when I revisit it insha'allah, I promise to stand there for a moment with closed eyes and an open heart, and re-play all the videos I have watched on youtube and facebook, and relive the moments myself.
2. Game't Al-dowal, Dokki, Asr Elnile and Elgala2 bridge and Ramsees: I've been seeing all these places covered with heads, only heads and the sound of voices breathing desired freedom- I sometimes wish they'd never stop!

• I believe those people out there made some, who were careless about praying, pray just when seeing the enormous number of people standing there praying even with Security forces trying to drown them in water and distract them.

My country has risen, it has become internationally popular, with the words "Walk like an Egyptian" written everywhere. To have seen the people here become stronger is a thing, and to have seen the whole world asking the sick government to step down for my people is a whole new beautiful thing =)

• For those protesters out there, I'd like to send a message: If the government will keep its ugly conspiracy going for some time, I want you to know this: you have taught us how to speak for our rights, you have made many people politically aware of many things, you have given us faith in our country and strength to love it even more, you have made us speak up our minds like never before, you have made heroes out of yourself and of many people who followed, and you have given us freedom by being there, and freedom by writing this, you and only you!

I do thank Allah for having lived to see these historical days, and I hope the day will come for me to tell my children about you!
الحمد لله


P.S my words are a mere glimpse of my feelings."
Here's a link to the original post: http://haiku--life.blogspot.com/2011/02/child-to-my-feelings.html