Organized a group this weekend to head to TaHriir Square today. 8 of us cleaned, socialized, encouraged and PRAYED!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not having good luck with internet service at home since Thursday. I have a short battery life on this computer....but found a free service outside thru one of the cafe's (just not electrical outlets!).
I want to try to tell you the experience thru the senses.
We met at Sakanat Metro Station and rode the crowded metro (on the men's carriage) to Sadat Station. When we exited at Sadat, the smell was overwhelming. Now for those who haven't been to Cairo, you may think anywhere here is overwhelming. I'm telling you that we were gasping for air and put scarves over our mouths. People were walking with tissues over their faces. The stench of human waste was gagging. It permeated even my skin, I swear. Before we exited the station, we were gasping again, eyes were watering and we found ourselves trotting without speaking - TEAR GAS!
That's right! it was still lingering in the underground subway system!!!
Upon exiting into the bright sun, we were welcomed in Arabic, asked if we were journalists or with television. We assured them we were all from Italy. LOL
Why Italy? Well, Britian and the US are big players in the world scene, if someone wants to make up lies about catching us making bad faces or who knows what.....we don't want it associated with a country such as this ;) Italy, on the otherhand, is out of the picture all together.
We purchased flags - something we've wanted to do since arriving more than a year ago actually!
We were greeted by a crowd of young men. Nancy is quite fluent in Arabic, mine's still slow, but impressive to native speakers....we conversed, joked, congratulated etc....and wound up with permission to assist their cleaning crew.
Pride.
If I could sum up everything I felt and saw and try to imagine the largest feeling.....was pride.
Egypt is even dirtier than Mexico. Most of you have seen photos of Guatamala, Mexico, etc....or been there...right? It doesn't hold a candle to here. But these people who were protesting - they organized!
They had created "toilets" - they had found scrap sheet metal, torn down boxes and dug holes, make little walls and kept it separated. Their sleeping quarters were still well guarded (seen photographed) by young men who are skeptical about why we are there.
Pride.
They tell us "we want to clean for ourselves!" and we say "ok, ok, that's great! But we love Egypt, we want to help" "oh, ok, no problem, continue"
Nancy and Liz said to me "well, I guess our charitable work was to allow 1,000,000 photographs! LOL - typically we do not allow photographs with or of our children....but today....we wanted to photograph in return ;) so we were more open!
Pride.
We accidentally happened upon one of the areas where live fire had taken place. The young men there insisted we take no photos. Buildings, restaurants we've eaten at, walked past...riddled with bullets....pcs of clothing.....flooded out.....dead animals floating.....blood on walls.....
They do not want anyone finding amusement. I AGREE! They did allow me to photograph something beautiful I found - grafiti! "I "heart" Egypt"
Pride.
We all stood around and prayed for the angels of the Lord to remove the angels of darkness left in the square, that peace and unity would continue to grow.
Pride.
Millions of young men, young men in a culture where EVERYONE wears their emotions on their sleeves (maybe why I'm at home here, that's me too! lol), everyone is quick to ignite.....however....not one of them initiated violence! When the police stopped attacking, when the former regime supporters were stopped by the military...they stopped as well.....they were persistant wanting a strong, peaceful Egypt.
Pride.
We walked by men who were badly bruised and wrapped up and they saluted us, thanked us and welcomed us.
Pride.
I hate crying in public. But as I spoke to Liz, we confessed that we had them pooling...and when I took a picture of Joshua and Grace with 2 men who'd been beated by police....tears spilled out.
Pride.
We respected their pride and did not stop over the memorials of the dead. It is not welcomed when intentions are unsure.
Pride.
Their homes were well taken care of!
The most surprising things are as follows...
getting off the train at Maadi and sniffing in deeply and saying AAH FRESH AIR!
lolololol
and secondly...the lack of military presence at TaHriir Square!
Lastly - the amount of former regime supporters still picketting.
Pride.
These young men who peacefully protested their tyranically goverment, greet and allow these groups within them - THAT is the beginning of freedom!
Many are still afraid and don't share our enthusaism. Many assume there is no more freedom here now than before, they're not better off, we're not safer.
Thing is....BEFORE THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITIES!! NOW THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR FREEDOM! UNITY!
and foreigners who saw Egyptians as third-world, low class, dirty people...will soon after have to change mindsets to agree they are equals...living in a free society!
Can Egypt be a democratic country? Why not? It will be a bumpy road! They're taught as children not to question why, not to reason and support beliefs, but simply to do it because they are told to do so. Was there not a time we did this to women and people with darker skin tones? And have we now not agreed we are all equal? It will take training and bumps...
but they can decide for themselves IF THEY WANT TO
and that's the key
IF they want to! and the majority has spoken..THEY WANT TO!!
My battery is dying. Pics another time!
Love,
Wendy
No comments:
Post a Comment