‘Shame is a revolutionary sentiment’ said Karl Marx.
As 25th January approaches again and an Islamic majority Lower House runs in Egyptian Parliament, few protesters feel ashamed at the outcomes of year long spectacle.
Adopting the subtle yet concrete orientalist point of view, the New York Times has stated how the majority of Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists would harm Israel. Though, I am still awaiting the opinion piece from Thomas Friedman who has been called even more closer friend of Israel.
Gone are the days of Anwar Sadat and Mubarak when the 6-Day-War and domination for Sinai Peninsula and Suez Canal were the mere aims for the patriotic Egyptians.The fights of today are based of simple yet difficult to render, demands. Its employment, medical aid, standard of living, tourism, sanity of mind.
Max Rodenbeck called Cairo -‘the Victorious city’ which always rises from it ashes.
But then what amuses me is the involvement of ‘Shame’.
Is it because the concept of western imported bureaucracy and democracy is not being implemented in Egypt or is it because of Islamophobia?
Alex de Tocqueville states ‘It is not always when things go from bad to worse that a revolution breaks out. It often happens that when people who have out up with an oppressive rule over a long period without revolt suddenly find the government relaxing the pressure, they takes up arms against it. Thus, the social order overthrown by a revolution is always better than the one preceding it.
He also states, ” A grievance comes to appear intolerable once the possibility of removing it crosses the men’s minds.”
One can easily see the words of Frantz Fanon, the author of Wretched of the Earth coming true in the case of Egypt.
He states how when a colonial power implants its colonies and domination in the so-called-uncivilized nations of the world, a very interesting dynamics takes place. When the consciousness and revolution strikes the natives, they revolt. Most often, they start by fighting against themselves. Because, in each, they see the imprint of their colonial master and his ruthlessness. Facing this fact is having the courage of embracing one’s own reflection in the mirror.
The Egyptian Presidential elections would take place in late June. El Baradei has already withdrawn. The dramatic nuisance was more to show how he disliked SCAF and did not think that real democracy is working out.
Well, this is something similar to the case of Pakistan, too. Perhaps, we might find Imran Khan or Gilani trying to complain with the same words by next year.
But one needs to understand that the results of the elections would not be reflected immediately. It would take time. Long time.
Let liberal and secular Islamists rule their country for sometime. Though, I have been quite critical of Muslim Brotherhood for sometime, its high time we do give them a chance.
And perhaps, obliterate the word ‘shame’ from the dictionary. No human spirit deserves it and especially after a revolution like this, the results would not let the country down.
shubhdachaudhary 