There is a story from nine months ago, when in the midst of the worldwide celebration of the triumph of Tahrir Square, an Egyptian was in an airport going through customs. When the official she was dealing with alerted those around them that she was in fact an Egyptian, everyone, EVERYONE began cheering and congratulating her. As word spread throughout the airport as to what was happening, it is believed the entire airport stopped and cheered. Tears of joy flowed. It was a scene that had never been seen or heard of before. Or since.
So here we sit – the day before elections to determine a parliament that is going to create a constitution to move the country forward. This is the result of those triumphant days in Tahrir Square. It should be a day of excitement and anticipation full possibilities and dreams of a better future to come. Instead, it feels anxious and even dangerous, full of possibilities and dark days ahead.
See in this country, for the past 30 years, people have been so wary of elections that most did not participate. They worried at being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Showing up to a polling station that one group or another had staked as ‘theirs’. Now…no one’s sure. The feeling is everyone wants this to work but no one believes it will. Who, or what, is this underlying sense of helplessness? Not a person I have spoken with wants to see this get ugly, but not a single person believes it can be avoided. Too much history. Too much at stake. Too much.
And yet, this revolution, that started some 10 months ago (but simmering for years before), began with fear, exploded into elation, saw moments of violence and brilliance, and then seemed to build on frustration, continues to inspire many of these same people. The belief that freedom is worth fighting for. The belief that Egypt is capable of so much more. The belief that the will of people will ultimately rule the day. They just don’t seem to believe that tomorrow is the day. Or the next. They are prepared for a long, bloody battle they see as inevitable.
And so I sit here on the eve of this historic day as a somewhat ignorant ex-pat and hope that the impossible will happen. That people will realize the potential of free and fair elections. That people will be able to sift through the dizzying array of candidates and parties – my best guess is 47 parties in some 17 or so coalitions with thousands of candidates running the gauntlet of the political spectrum – and be satisfied with what they choose. That the military will continue to live up to its mandate as the protectors of Egypt, and not the rulers. That when we wake up Tuesday morning, or Wednesday morning, or some morning soon, the Egyptian sun that always shines will shine a little brighter because Egypt has once again set the example of what is possible when the will of the people chooses peace.
We are watching. The world is watching. And we hope we have reason to stand and cheer for Egypt once more.
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