Awareness of wide sectors of people is
the guarantee to achieve the nation’s cohesion, balance and strength and to
fulfill its role regionally and internationally… such awareness is what pushes
people to respond to the challenges faced by the nation on all levels… as it
was already proved in the two revolutions of January 25, 2011 and June 30,
2013… and long before that in history… I believe that started at the two Cairo I
and II revolutions against Bonaparte’s campaign known as the French Campaign in
Egypt at the end of the 18th century.
However, there are more details to say
in this regard… first is that the Egyptian case is distinguished… here I don’t
mean that Egypt is immuned against decline and deterioration… and not that
Egypt don’t have the aptitude to be a strong nation and to achieve progress
politically, economically and socially like all other nations… actually, I
meant we should pay attention to the historical circumstances in Egypt… and
analyze how the Egyptian people dealt with them accordingly… as it certainly differs
with time… we cannot compare circumstances of the 18th century to
those of the 21st.
So here I say that the regime head must
be deeply aware of the crises and challenges facing the nation, and in
connection with both intellectuals and the people… and even more; he must be
more aware and vigilant… not because the ruler is genius or inspired… but
because he has more information, visions and counseling that are not available
for others due to his position and responsibilities… also, he is more capable
of forming a comprehensive view of everything on all levels.
We cannot depend on the people’s
awareness alone without guaranteeing that decision makers are fully aware as
well… in order for Egypt to go forward in the way we chose after June 30, 2013…
also, in order to be able to stand in the face of our domestic and foreign
crises and overcome all of them.
We have to avoid what happened in the
pre-January 25, 2011 era when the ruler; meaning the decision maker, insisted on
surrounding himself with a bunch of aides who were not aware of the importance
to cope with people’s ambitions and sufferings… simply, they were not aware… also,
then-ruler did not pay attention to that serious issue of awareness… on the
contrary, he used to mock those who had fear their beloved country may fall due
to his ignorance and his shallow regime figures… and so they advised and criticized
him more than once but it seemed he didn’t see or respect them.
In my opinion, the ruler should be
first of all aware of his nation’s circumstances and should guarantee accurate information
are available for his decision makers’ circle… also, he should be aware of the
decline and deterioration factors that brought him to power as an alternative
chosen by people when they felt they are threatened in their own existence…
either politically, economically or socially.
Then he should work not to repeat the
same mistakes… for example, Mubarak and his regime figures used to emphasize
the idea that he does the opposite of what people want… and so his famous word “you
say what you want and I do what I want” was known to everyone… like the famous
word his predecessor used to say; “I give sign to turn left and then I go right”…
we also heard Mubarak affirming many times he enjoys being stubborn that he
once said “I have a PhD in stubbornness”.
He chose not to burden himself with
worries… and so he refused to meet parties’ leaders or welcome a single thinker
or expert… and at the end, he used to delegate his son to play the role of the
president groundless of any constitutional or legal basis… and so his regime
figures – meaning in the presidential palace and the National Democratic Party (NDP)
– started to behave and cope with this reality… we used to sit with some of them
– some were members of policies committee; most important committee in the NDP
at that time – and hear them complaining…
The ruler is not asked to be a
scientist or expert in everything… however, he shall be acquainted with an accepted
level of knowledge in order to be able to form an opinion and be capable of
sorting our things… and in doing so, he shall have a positive effect on his
circle of aides, regime figures and decision makers.
Like ignorance, disregard and
shallowness are contagious… so are science, knowledge and awareness… so, away
of what hypocrites may say; as they have and will always do… let that awareness
at the regime head be interpreted into statements, decisions and real work
opening the way for deep public awareness nationwide.. Let this awareness help
those who believe this regime is a national one capable of responding to
challenges… let it help them develop their vision and provide right logic for
their support for the current regime.
In this regard, it’s important to
mention some details like the active Egyptian efforts exerted in the domain of foreign
affairs; in the Arab, African and international circles… we could witness
positive results that could be accumulated… adding to this what was
accomplished on the domestic level in economy and services… one can say there
is a proper response to the challenges faced.
Some believe these efforts and achievements
represent good sign the regime has a vision and program… not necessarily this
vision should be written in fancy book with golden-framed pages… however, it
could be seen through achievements on the ground.
It’s exactly what happened – despite the
difference – at July 23 revolution, when Gamal Abdel-Nasser chose actions
instead of written vision… and so his first decision was setting the minimum
and maximum wages… followed this the first law of agricultural reform… that was
while some of his young-aged aides were working in silence to strengthen Egypt
relations with African, Islamic and Third world countries.
Awareness is a phenomenon like many
other ones; subject to the law of communicating vessels… when it exists at the
regime head and figures, then definitely it will reach the rest of the society
and balance at the same level.
Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar
Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar
This article
was published in Al Ahram newspaper on December 4, 2014.
To see the
original article, go to:
#alahram
#ahmed_elgammal
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