Presidential Elections

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Al Sisi, candidates, Christians, circus, euphoria, excitement, fourth generation war, Hamdeen Sabahy, jokes, Morsi, security, songs, Voting

Tomorrow is the first of two days set for voting in our upcoming Presidential elections. The two people running this year are, the famous General Al Sisi, and the third runner up in the previous Presidential elections, Mr. Hamdeen Sabahi. Each of the candidates has had enough opportunities to show their strong points and to try to persuade the voting public to choose them. Yesterday and today are the two days of complete silence from both parties, to give the public enough quiet time to finally make up their minds.
I shall not talk about the pros and cons of each candidate, but will talk about what I see is happening in Egypt now. We are at the zenith of the war waged against us. The fourth generation war. The war where brother is set against brother. The war where Egyptians are recruited to kill Egyptians. The war where the Egyptian media through some who have been either persuaded or bought, work on planting the seeds of doubt and contention among the public.
Despite the fact that there are attempts at making trouble between Christians and Moslems through some very naive posters that were plastered on the cathedral’s walls, and although there are very strong attempts at splintering the vote, at persuading, especially the youth, to abstain; although there are huge amounts of money exchanging hands to ensure the success of these plans, yet, strangely enough, the general feeling in town, and seemingly all over the country, is one of euphoria. It has been a very long time since the Egyptian public has felt happy. These days people on the street are grinning from ear to ear. Music is blaring everywhere, especially the new, fast-beat song called, appropriately, “Good Omen”! The current running joke is that all women must start a crash diet to lose enough weight to enable them keep up with this much faster beat than that of the previous song “Teslam el Ayady” which meant “bless the hands” (of the army). Another joke is that queues for women will be divided into two, those over 35 dancing to Teslam el Ayady, and those under, dancing to Boshret Kheir (Good Omen). With a P.S. At the end that they should not forget to vote too!!
This feeling of happiness, of optimism, has nothing to do with the actual state of the country. Things could not have been worse, economically and even security wise. The continuous threat by the MB and actual assassination of police and army personnel, as well as the random threats of bombs and a few that actually go off, make for a rather insecure feeling, a threat to life and limb. The economy is at a very low ebb and unemployment is on the rise. The whole aspect is bleak. And yet, individuals that make up the whole, are inexplicably cheerful. The only explanation lies in the soaring hope aroused in the people by Al Sisi. The more the man talks, the more popular he becomes. A highly intelligent man, he is strongly tuned to the mood of the people. Very empathetic, cleverly demonstrative, he gives the people what they need. He gives, in turn, reassurance, protection, strength, tenderness, piety, common sense and pride. He strives, through his own behavior to set a precedent of good manners, integrity and respect. So many elements that have been missing in our public figures for so long. Also the last year of the MB rule was one where we hit rock bottom where all the above were concerned. Not only were flagrant lies the norm, but the very essence of integrity was inconceivable. Principles were a thing of the past and good behavior was laughed at. These were very dark days indeed, they left their imprint on the Egyptian psyche and caused a great deal of depression, both individual and collective. The very fact that we are now rid of these people from the government of Egypt, despite the fact that they still exist in the form of terrorists, this fact has lightened people’s depression. More importantly, that the people are about to go, vote in, the man whom they deemed saved them from the dark ages, is infusing excitement and happiness all over.
If these elections are anything like the referendum on the constitution which took place mid January, then I expect to find a circus. I am assigned to the same school where I cast my ballot last time. It is in a rather poor area but full of people and those adorable little Tok-Tok three-wheeled cars used in lieu of public transportation. So I expect again a cacophony of sound, a rainbow of colors and a roller coaster of movement and traffic. I shall try to go early to finish early so as not to have to stand in a queue in the sun and the heat.
Tomorrow we will probably be inundated by people holding up their fingers which have been immersed into the phosphoric indelible ink, denoting having cast your ballot, now a sign of proud patriotism. Then starting the day after, if voting is not prolonged one more day, the excitement of the exit polls, the counting, and finally, though not officially, an assessment of who won and by how large a margin. We shall not get the official results in till, I think June 5, giving enough time for any complaints to be investigated and reviewed. But a few hours after the end of voting we would be able yo have a pretty good idea how things went.
I am looking forward to casting my ballot tomorrow, and hope that my candidate wins.
25 May 2014

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First Day of Morsi’s Trial

Tags

adjourn, Cairo, jokes, judge, Morsi, police line, sheep, Tension, terrorism, the Brotherhood

Where is the logic? All last week the Brotherhood has been threatening to burn Cairo to the ground to ensure that Morsi does not stand in the dock before a judge and be accused and tried. All of us have been bracing for today. Offices took the day off. Some schools closed. All entrances to Cairo were very strictly monitored for any Brotherhood members coming from outside Cairo. Trains into Cairo were suspended, and so were buses.
The police had a very strong presence all over Cairo, but more to the point, they announced that any attempt at violence or use of weapons will be met very firmly and live ammunition will be used. This was very highly publicized, citing American use of firearms against any citizen who crosses a police line, witness the woman with a baby in the car who was shot dead because she crossed a police cordon in Washington.
Still, most Egyptians opted for staying at home. It was a decision taken for two reasons. First for fear of any violence on the streets, and second because it was announced that the trial will be broadcast live on television. So we all opted to stay in and watch TV. My friends came over and we made a party of it. Beautiful weather, great food, but no TV coverage. So we ended up having a whale of a time, and every so often one of us would check in on either Facebook or Twitter to see if there were any updates.
The biggest surprise of all was the state of the streets in Cairo. EMPTY! TOTALLY EMPTY! Those curious, or courageous souls who ventured out reported a beautiful Cairo without ANY traffic whatsoever. Some took a drive from the north of Cairo to its south, which in normal days might take up to two hours, took it in ten minutes. Poor souls, they are still in shock.
To be fair, there were two spots where there was a gathering of the Sheep (Egyptian nickname for the Brotherhood members). The first gathering was outside the Supreme Court, thus closing off the route to one of Cairo’s residential suburbs. The numbers were very low. The other gathering was in front of the court holding tHe trial. The numbers there were also rather poor.
So it looks like this is the straw that broke the Carmel’s back. Looks like the Sheep have given up on their Morsi, that it is now useless trying to stop or derail the trial.
Morsi was brought in on a helicopter. He had refused to wear the obligatory white suit all those standing accused of crimes are obliged to wear. (Joke: He preferred to keep his pelt – another Sheep joke). The Judge took umbrage at that, as previously Mubarak had adhered to the rules and wore the prescribed suit. He ordered him to wear the white suit or else would have to be brought in handcuffed. The session was adjourned. Morsi was taken out, when Court resumed, Morsi was in the white suit. Then all the other prisoners started shouting slogans against the court and the three Judges presiding. Again court was adjourned. When it resumed things were more under control. This time the procedures were started. This first session is a very formal one where the accused is read what he is accused of, and asked for his plea. In the space of a few minutes Morsi managed to reiterate that he is the democratically elected, legal President, over ten times!! He even sulked a bit when he demanded that he be given a microphone like the one the judge was using, but was turned down! At the end of the session, court was adjourned to be reconvened on January 8, 2014, and Morsi was flown out to a jail near Alexandria.
There is general great resentment now on Facebook and in all sorts of tweets at whoever made the decision not to broadcast the session, as we all seemed to have missed quite a few entertaining and rather farcical situations. As we are desperately in need of entertainment, this is deeply resented, but imagination is now on fire and the made up jokes far exceed anything that could have really taken place. We were so looking forward to one of Morsi’s rambling speeches, but alas, we got nothing. One of those jokes is that now that the first session for Morsi’s trial took place on the day of Egyptian Valentine, November 4, then the second session should have been adjourned to February 14 of next year! Another is of several pictures in a row showing the Judge growing older and older by the minute while Morsi’s opening statement, delivered by him, is still going on!
A great sense of relief is the predominant feeling now, and some hope that the sheep have now finally faced the fact that they have managed to alienate the majority of Egyptians and have no chance whatsoever of coming back into power. Of course this does not mean that we are rid of all terrorist acts as yet. But I think that November 4, 2013 is really a red-letter day, it is the day they begin to admit to themselves at least, their defeat, though they would never do that publicly.
And the jokes continue.