Egyptian Revolution and the Inner Egyptian

February 6,, 2011
Cairo Egypt
www.myeyeonegypt.net

Muslim sheiks held hands with Christian priests in Tahrir Square today; the sheik raised his other hand, holding a Qu’ran, to the sky; the priest, a large gold cross. Both prayed for the Egyptian people.

A sixty-something, notably talkative friend of mine went to deliver food. She returned almost speechless. “Awe-inspiring” was all she could say.

But things are quieting down

• Committees of the Wise, members of the Muslim Brotherhood, and representatives of the demonstrators are meeting with Vice-President Omar Suleiman trying (so far unsuccessfully) to make a transition plan.
• Stores have reopened; ATMs restocked with money; people are back to work.
• School starts up again next week.
• Demonstrators take turns holding down the square and going home or to work. They bring back water, food and first aid supplies.

Who are these Egyptians?

In this calmer moment, I think about what the revolution is revealing about the Egyptian people.  Crises, I’ve learned as a psychologist, are perfect opportunities for observing an individual’s basic structure.  Similarly, I imagine, crises reveals a people’s nature.

So, what describes Egyptians?

• Communal and cooperative.

In Iraq, after Saddam Hussein was toppled, ethnic divisions surfaced. Here in Egypt, the crisis is bringing people together. Demonstrators manage problems organically–-creating  neighborhood watches, setting aside security zones, getting food, making space for medical professionals to work.

If you move from group to group in the Square, the conversations are different; so are the points of view; somehow decisions emerge.

• Abhor violence

Over 300 people have been killed in the last 14 days, but the people themselves can hardly be held responsible. The police and the thugs – who come from a different cultural category – attacked an essentially non-violent demonstration who managed to bring together people (once up to1.5 million in peaceful demonstrations for almost two weeks)

•  Enduring

I mentioned this in an earlier blog and so note only that the protesters themselves say, “If we could tolerate this Mubarak for all these years, we can easily stand fast in the Square as long as we need to.

• Joking

I wish I could translate the jokes but we all know that rarely works. Take my word: Egyptians have a hysterically funny perception of themselves. They’ve long been known for their sense of humor; apparently the revolution is sharpening it.

• Changing

Who would have guessed that this long enduring, non-confrontational people would get it into their heads that the old hierarchy doesn’t suit them anymore?

Unfortunately, the “Committees of the Wise” may not really understand the transformation of the Egyptian personality either. They’ve been buffered by their elite status.

Mubarak hasn’t got a glimmer; Suleiman is foggy.  He returned from a visit to Tahrir Square frustrated.  He told the people – these are adults - to go home; he even told their parents to make them go home.

He was baffled, “Why wouldn’t they listen?”

 

Tomorrow: The role of the Muslim Brotherhood in the transition.

Amal Sedky Winter PHD
www.myeyeonegypt.net

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Susan]

Thanks--very helpful outline.