NeutralCitizen
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Last year, Egyptians poured into the streets determined to seize a role in governing their future. Their primary goal was to change the constitution in order to ensure free, fair and competitive elections for president toward the end of the year.
The result eighteen days later was far beyond popular expectations. The head of state, head of government and head of parliament were all removed from office.
These results were inspirational. There was a sense of euphoria throughout Egypt. Egypt had achieved its awakening.
There was, however, no clear leader or leadership structure to this uprising. Without a natural leader for the population to coalesce around, it was clear that managing the post-revolutionary phase would be complicated.
The political vacuum that ensued enabled old and new stakeholders to lay claims on the future of Egypt.
Consequently, it has been a bumpy ride. This is particularly so because Egypts roadmap for political reconstruction placed elections for parliament and possibly even president before the establishment of a new constitution.
This was also exacerbated by a general breakdown of authority with the military high commission, the government, the parliament and the street all jockeying for position.
The result one year later is a fierce debate about the composition of the constitutional commission, severe tensions between parliament and the rest of government, anger from all towards the military commission, and an economy suffering from this instability.
I am frustrated. I am worried. But I am not pessimistic.
Egypts challenge is to determine its identity. That is what people are searching for - the face of 21st Century Egypt. It is a daunting challenge, but the search itself is part of the healing process.
The choices before Egypt are not whether to become Islamic or secular. Egyptians are both and have always lived within a civilian society. I expect that to continue.
Egyptians cannot afford to relegate women or minorities - religious, ethnic or political - to second-class status. They constitute half of our society and have always had a prominent role in the public domain from Nefertiti, the first Pharoanic Queen, onwards.
Similarly, Egypt cannot isolate itself from the global community and the vitality of youth when over 56% of its population is today below the age of 25. Egypt, a proud nation, will regain its leadership in the Middle East.
All Egyptians know and understand this. In fact, they share these aspirations even where they differ on how they can be met. Our search for our identity in the 21st Century will thus be challenging but remains on solid ground. Mistakes have been made, challenges remain ahead and the road forward may not always be open and inspiring, but ultimately it is the only one available for Egyptians who share this common aspiration.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Nabil Fahmy.
It's either a Nationalist Egypt or an Islamist Egypt, maybe a mix of both is better.
The result eighteen days later was far beyond popular expectations. The head of state, head of government and head of parliament were all removed from office.
These results were inspirational. There was a sense of euphoria throughout Egypt. Egypt had achieved its awakening.
There was, however, no clear leader or leadership structure to this uprising. Without a natural leader for the population to coalesce around, it was clear that managing the post-revolutionary phase would be complicated.
The political vacuum that ensued enabled old and new stakeholders to lay claims on the future of Egypt.
Consequently, it has been a bumpy ride. This is particularly so because Egypts roadmap for political reconstruction placed elections for parliament and possibly even president before the establishment of a new constitution.
This was also exacerbated by a general breakdown of authority with the military high commission, the government, the parliament and the street all jockeying for position.
The result one year later is a fierce debate about the composition of the constitutional commission, severe tensions between parliament and the rest of government, anger from all towards the military commission, and an economy suffering from this instability.
I am frustrated. I am worried. But I am not pessimistic.
Egypts challenge is to determine its identity. That is what people are searching for - the face of 21st Century Egypt. It is a daunting challenge, but the search itself is part of the healing process.
The choices before Egypt are not whether to become Islamic or secular. Egyptians are both and have always lived within a civilian society. I expect that to continue.
Egyptians cannot afford to relegate women or minorities - religious, ethnic or political - to second-class status. They constitute half of our society and have always had a prominent role in the public domain from Nefertiti, the first Pharoanic Queen, onwards.
Similarly, Egypt cannot isolate itself from the global community and the vitality of youth when over 56% of its population is today below the age of 25. Egypt, a proud nation, will regain its leadership in the Middle East.
All Egyptians know and understand this. In fact, they share these aspirations even where they differ on how they can be met. Our search for our identity in the 21st Century will thus be challenging but remains on solid ground. Mistakes have been made, challenges remain ahead and the road forward may not always be open and inspiring, but ultimately it is the only one available for Egyptians who share this common aspiration.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Nabil Fahmy.
It's either a Nationalist Egypt or an Islamist Egypt, maybe a mix of both is better.
