The March to Victory: Honouring the Dead
By Hwaa Irfan
‘S’ could also be found in the kitchen it was the domain that she had confined herself to since obtaining her degree in Social Work. She had little love of the outside world, and for her cooking was the only means by which she could create something. There were times she would send her children packing off to her mothers, when life for her seemed meaningless, and her husband did the best he could like all conscientious husbands to improve what in fact is a continually demanding factor of Cairo lifestyle, the fact that every little thing required money.
This monotonous lifestyle was to finally meet its end with the January 25th Youth Revolution. Now would not recognize ‘S’ – her home now full of life and zest as many Egyptian homes now are as a result of the youth to re-set the direction of their country on a more humane path. Neigbors who were once strangers, who hardly really communicated beyond the polite enquiries are now talking. ‘S’ testifies to this like waking to a dream – a dream of belonging.
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Meanwhile, the youth have been busy, cleaning up the streets in various localities including Tahrir/Revolution Square, re-painting worn out road signs, and seeing that the fuse does not burn out.
Since the state official end to the protests that changed Egyptian history, the youth have been busy in their lives. On the streets reawakening the masses as to how to treat each other, the Egyptian way – the Muslim way, and despite the call of the Armed Forces for everything to return back to normal, normalcy as it was is the last thing on the minds of many.
Yes, the country has to get back on its feet, but not the same feet walking the same walk. The lull, or slip back to that normalcy is what I feared. It was destructive, numbing, and turning a people upon themselves. Far too many were developing social anxiety disorders, refusing to go out, frightened to go out, as well as common ailments shared by far too many due to the accumulative stress of living.
Prior to the physical march of February 18th 2011, laying the foundations has been put in motion.
Statement after Statement from the Armed Forces were heard, but the taste of what could be has been strong as communities organize area committees to take responsibility for cleaning up their areas, and any other improvements that could be made for the greater good, while the proactive youth are now aware of and have implemented a community awareness campaign.
With no legitimacy parliamentary speaking, experts both legislative and non-legislative rejected the measures espoused by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. That rejection included the Committee for constitutional amendments instead rightfully requiring a new constitution, which would go beyond the mandated expiry date of September 2011 (the elections), and beyond the wishes of the Armed Forces who wish the temporary control of power to be with them as short as possible – a wise decision given the nature of their funding.
The youth have realized that the protests were just the beginning, as visitors (mainly Egyptian) from outside Cairo visited Tahrir Square where a memorial had been established for those who died/murdered during the protests. The youth intend to keep up the momentum until their goals have been realized, an all-consuming but essential task if forces are not to re-establish control. The separate youth groups that had mushroomed since the January 25th Revolution have flourished into one wholesome entity from the 6th of April Movement, the Freedom and Justice Movement, The Youth Movement in Support of El-Baradei, the Youth of the National Association for Change, and the youth of the much maligned Muslim Brotherhood, to merge with the Revolution Youth Coalition. From the 18th February there was talk amongst them and their various groups as to how to maintain the momentum despite the Armed Forces. This is the virtue of not expecting from others what one can do for one’s self.
The youth of the January 25th Revolution have now formed a charter detailing values they believe will move the country forward under the name of Union of Progressive Revolutionary, but it would be more beneficial to the country if all the youth organized as one.
The March of Victory, February 18th, a Friday like all Fridays is a good day to come together in Muslim societies. The Million man march of the 18th Feb 2011 was beaten with a conservative estimate of two million, like the endless Nile, the people flowed into the Square. Commemorating and honouring the dead the respected Sheikh Qaradawi who had lived in exile, returned to his homeland as a result of Qatari politricks in 2009-2010, involving a takeover of Islamonline.net. Not many would have known about the struggles of Sheikh Qaradawi who has been active behind the scenes before and during the protests. Born in Egypt in 1926, and highly educated Islamically (including at Al Azhar), Qaradawi had the good fortune to be imprisoned by the regime that the youth brought down. Head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Qaradawi’s sermon faced the doubting Thomas’s who have little regard for the state control Al Azharite scholars. The crowd was silent for the du’aa leading up to the congregational prayers, but talked much through Qaradawi’s actual sermon.
The crowd became attentive with the Prayer of Absence, as they were informed that of the 356 dead, not all bodies had been claimed. Qaradawi called on the Armed Forces to open the Rafah border so that Gazans could get their desperately needed supplies. He also called on Egyptians to persevere with the Revolution in order to build a new Egypt, and he noted the unity of both Christians (who raised large crucifixes) and Muslims in the Square.
Meanwhile, in the upper middle-class area of Mohandesin, a pro-Mubarak protest of 2,000 took place asking for Mubarak to be honoured for all what he has done though agreement with the call for democracy. We are all prey to weaknesses, and in that sense no better than the other, but given the millions in Mubarak’s overseas accounts, that call will fall on deaf ears as a move to reclaim that wealth on behalf of Egyptians is in motion.
After Qaradawi’s departure a call for purification of the land was made, though the response was not as expressive as in the Prayer of Absence, but the atmosphere was one of belonging, all belonging to insha’Allah, the same dream! The crowds persist late into the night inhaling the life force that permeates the air they breathe…
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