Danish Cartoons are not the End As Long As Undemocratic Governments Are in Power

Posting my story about the Danish cartoons that were re-printed in Egypt on October 17, 2005 by Al Fagr newspaper, I came to a very important understanding that there are millions around the world who want to listen, talk and learn about the truth. In a troubled region like the Middle East where many values including truth is on the verge of decay, I find it incumbent upon me to be a voice even if faint. I am using my blog, as an Egyptian citizen or woman who lived her entire life in Egypt, to speak if not to shout loud to draw the attention to a country and people in crisis. I am ready to talk and let others learn about my country, region and politics. I am fed up with the government media that rule and manipulate our lives until further notice. This media talk on behalf of all Egyptians all the time, giving no chance for anyone to express himself/herself unless they belong to their stream, in the case of Egypt either regime or Muslim Brotherhood figures. But media outlets are like everything in Egypt, no true democractic representation. I am calling for the freedom that can transform me into a full-fledged citizen not a humiliated guest in a country that I grew up to believe it is mine. Thanks to technology revolution and indeed it is a revolution in the true sense of the word. I was capable of connecting my frustration for the lack of freedom in my country to thousands around the globe through my little tiny blog.

Learning that the Danish Ambassador confirmed the re-publication of the Danish cartoons in the Egyptian paper Al Fagr in the news made me believe that we can beat oppression and tyranny by speaking the truth and the world is ready to listen.

The magnitude of destruction of anti-Danish protests and boycott is just a small bite in comparison to the amount of destruction those undemocratic governments are causing to our lives in Egypt and everywhere in the world. They play their people very well. In a country like Egypt, where illiteracy percentage reaches around 40%, it is very easy to play the people who do not know whether Denmark is a country or a company.

The cartoon rampage is but a long living technique that dictators use to absent their peoples from standing on the critical issues that determine the course of their lives. However, this time those undemocratic governments used the cartoons to intimidate the western world; due to the continuous pressures to apply reform polices and bring democracy and freedom into the Middle East. I accuse all government newspapers of trying to incite hatred and riot in Egypt. There is no doubt that the cartoons were of a very bad taste. But in a country like Egypt where press institutions get orders from the State Security, I do not expect Egyptians to understand that any paper in Europe can publish anything. Europeans take pride in their freedom of expression, something peoples under totalitarian regimes have never experienced. I am proud that the Egyptian Al Fagr published the cartoons and Egyptians did not react at the time they were published. I find publishing them normal and I find that not reacting is also normal because our faith is hung on a bunch of cartoons. I am proud to see an Egyptian paper expressing itself freely that was able to publish the cartoons. I am sure that Alfagr sales will increase tremendously however I am not surprised because it is run by a veteran Egyptian Journalist, Adel Hammouda.
I am also so frustrated at the government media that want to sell the idea that the Egyptian opposition is only the Muslim Brotherhood who are known for their long term deals with the regime. The Egyptian regime is trying to convince the whole world that it is either the regime stays in power or the Muslim Brotherhood will take over. I want to say that there is a big majority of silent liberals that are looking for a hand to extend support.

My friends all over the world, I want to thank you all for your supportive messages and also fellow bloggers forums and media everywhere that linked to my story on the cartoons. And because they were too many, I lost count, but they know themselves. I can tell you now that I see the light at the end of the tunnel for a free democratic Egypt because of you and your believe in truth! There were so many nice complimentary emails that I received expressing that they like my picture. My picture was taken in Aswan, Upper Egypt last November:)

• Wikipedia included me as a witness and the original source for the timeline of the Danish Cartoon story. I am documented for mentioning my genius story of the re-print of the cartoons in an Egyptian newspaper! Check the timeline of the story, I believe it also comes in Dutch and Danish.
• Assyrian News agency
• The Brussels Journal
• World Net Daily
• Denmark Online
• Sean Hannity: Tuned in to America forum
• BT Fokus
• L'Union des Patrons et Professionnels Juifs de France
• Le Monde forum (France)
• American Coptic Association
• ThreatsWatch.org
• European Democracy
• P.I.D Radio
• Islam.no forum (Norway)
• Die Welt.de Germany
• Spiegel Online forum (Germany)
• Wadinet.de Iraq/Germany
• TV2 Channel forum (Norway)
• Elsevier By Dutch Writer/Novelist Leon de Winter (The Netherlands)
• Nana News Israel (with a screen shot to my blog)
• Dagens Nyheter Sweden
• New York Times forum (United States)
• Washington Post Opinion/blogs (United States)
• msnbc Blog
• occidentalis France
• Varlden Idag Sweden