Tomorrow Change will Happen 

Let us cheer everyone, finally there are protests everywhere in Egypt, there could be some land distribution among farmers, prices might even be lowered, home provided and along with working opportunities.
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Abdel Dayem from Awlad Ghanem village in Sharqeya governorate. I'm a graduate of the educational college. My father sold 4 carats of land of the half acre (faddan) that owns, he and my family had tough living in order for me to finish my education. When I finished my education, I tried so hard to find a job, but you know the result. Anyway, I found a an opportunity to work by piece in a school in the city, which mean that there is no salary.
Of course, I'm an educated person, I read every newspapers that I could get my hands on, I don't like America, I like what the resistance is doing in both Iraq and Palestine and I refuse the government's policy in Egypt, I don't believe anything they say, as I have believed them before when they said that they will only implement the emergency law on real criminal, but 8 years ago, they have arrested my cousin Feteih, who doesn't have anything to do with anyone, he doesn't even play cards, it was just his bad luck, as he was a friend to a bearded person in high school and he went once or twice with him to the Gom'a prayer, since then he was detained and no one knows anything about him, his mother got blind because crying too much on him. That is why I hate the government and I don't believe anything they say.
We have some relative in Cairo, I travel and spend the weekend with them and help their children in their studies. When I hear about any symposia or conference, I go there and listen, and sometimes I talk, as it would be a good chance to talk about Feteih. I was so pleased when I found a group of people called "Kefaya", as they call for change and make a lot of protests and demonstrations. That has encouraged me, any change would be good. I joined these protests, we exclaimed hard against the President.
When there was an amendment to the constitution, I was so pleased and I thought that surely he is afraid of us, but then they said that this amendment is false, then we stared exclaiming against it, but the amendment was implemented anyway although judges also weren't satisfied with it. Protests have started to increase everywhere, security forces couldn't do anything about it, the Muslim Brothers have made an alliance with socialists and made join protests. At first I didn't understand this, but later I thought, why not? We don't need left nor right, we are all united as Egyptians. Even Aziz Sidqy "a former minister" made a movement of rich people called "the people's movement for change", and I said that this very good, the rich and the poor are united, we are all Egyptians and we have a common goal "change". Then I thought that the President will surely change now, we hav awakened the people. Newspapers are writing about these protests everyday including the rest of the media means. On the day of the elections, I went to a very big protest, security forces were afraid to get near it, and everyone was witnessing this with joy. I don't know what happened in the elections, but the President has won and continued ruling the country. This was very confusing, as some people say that there was forgery and falsification, while others say that there weren't any of that, but the people were actually calm and quiet, I don't know why? We thought that surely he will have revenge and detain us all, but nothing like that has happened, is he still afraid of us? We made other protests, but no one stopped us. I think that they are still afraid of us, because of the many movements that demand change, "laborers for change, farmers for change, youth and even children for change".
When I got back to my village, I decided to make something for change there. I started talking with the people telling them about what is happening in Cairo of protests and movements, and that we also have to make something. Some of them nod their heads and say "what a wonderful thing", others say "that is none of our business, leave us alone", others say "we don't have the time for that", there were many opinions, till I met "Gad El Haq El Sharqawy", he listened to me with a friendly smile and said "why not? That is right, we need some change around here, I will gather the people in my house tomorrow after sunset, please come to have a cup of tea and speak about this issue", I accepted immediately. Finally we will make some change in my village, I started thinking and arranging my thoughts, what can we call this movement, let's leave it till tomorrow, then we will decide any name, the important thing is that there be something, and of course, I will be their coordinator.
Gad El Haq as an agrarian worker till he went to Saudi Arabia for few years and came back and bought a small piece of land, he has two sons, one of them went to law school and the other is helping him in farming the land, everyone in the village love and respect him, he always tries to help the people in solving their problems. When I went to his house, I found about 15 people there "farmers, grocers, workers and even students", I said "not bad at all, they will do nicely as a start".
Gad El Haq told the people that I will speaking with them a little about he change issue, they were astonished "what change? Is there something wrong?". I started explaining to them all about the issue, the protests, conferences and the media in Cairo, and I have reminded them of Feteih so that everyone like him could get out of detention. When I mentioned that word, they feared a little and stood quietly for a few minutes. Then one of them asked me "are you going to nominate yourself in the elections?" I said "no, not everybody can do that". I started explaining to them about the elections, the new amendment in the constitution and the binds made by the state to prevent other people from nominating themselves for Presidency. One of them said "what do we have to do with the political parties, we only see them during the elections, none of them give a damn about us, why should we nominate them?" I replied "let us start doing the right thing and trust and support them in the course of change" I noticed a strange smile on the face of Gad El Haq and wonderment on the faces of the rest of the people, looks like that my words didn't convince them. I thought, it is not their fault, they don't know much about politics. Then I said that we want to establish a national association so that the people could participate through their representatives in the association. I think that I made it worse, as I thought that I was speaking hieroglyphic, they were all looking at me with extreme wonderment. I said listen everyone, we want to establish an association called "Sharqeya for change" to demand a new President, "like who?" one of them asked. I replied "it doesn't matter who, the important thing is that we choose him". One of them said "what do you mean by anyone? You call that change?" another farmer said "if it was like that, then those who we know are better than those who we don't, how could we know what will the new President do? Will he take care of us after he succeeds? Anyway, the existing one had enough and he doesn't need anything more, while the new President will be hungry for money". I replied with nervousness, 25 years are enough, we must try a new one, and if we didn't like him, then we will change him, and maybe the new president will be a good and fair one, we have had enough of injustice and detentions. When I mentioned that word again, they stood quietly in their places.
One of the student said "does Kefaya know anything about our village and did they say how they will change Sharqeya?". I replied with determination, Kefaya wasn't established for Sharqeya only, we are not just talking about one government, we are talking about the whole country, we will change the constitution itself. Some of hem said "what will we benefit of that? Many constitutions have been changed, and yet, the big people are still big and we are as you see". I said to myself, these people really don't know anything. I started telling them about the protests and movements ance more, and how brave these people are, I even told them about the "children for change" and said "are we less than these children?". At that point Gad El Haq asked for permission to speak, I said to myself "good, no he will help me". He said "one minute Mr. What children are you talking about? We didn't see a class of school children for example, make a protest or demonstration for change. Did any of these children that you talk about read just one word of the constitution txts in order for them to call for the change of the government and the constitution. I thought that you were going to talk with us about helping you in solving some of our problems, like the development and agrarian trust bank, the lands that the big owners have taken from us, the deteriorated agriculture because of bad chemicals or about the children who work so hard from the age of six. These are the children that we have, unlike the educated children of the city. Nobody has asked us or even thinking about the change that we want. For instance, you are a teacher, why didn't you think about the education problems and how to solve them? The parents who need their children to help them at work, don't send them to school, and there are many poor people who can't afford to educate their children, we heard that there are about 20 million homeless children roaming the streets. We didn't hear you or the educated children that talk about say anything about that. Of course not, these ae the problems of poor prople not problems of educated people who talk about the elections and the constitution. Many constitutions have been changed and our conditions are still the same. Nothing happens, big people replace others, new speeches and new songs, that is all what we get. You are exaggerating Mr. Abdel Dayem, you are talking about these protests as if all the people have joined them and they were going to change the world, I have a satellite TV and I have followed up these protests that you are talking about, they are not that much, as they only include about 2 thousand people who will not scare the government like you told us. These are just names, where is the movement called farmers for change? Why didn't they come and speak with us or with anyone else for that matter? If that was true, we would have heard of them and supported them. These are not the people who know and feel our problems".
I replied, these are tactics to overthrow (topple) the existing rule. Gad El Haq said "what tactics are you talking about?, we don't understand such bullshit, who can overthrow these people? They will ally with each other once again and we will be the losers at the end.
I replied, but there are people who talk about the problems of farmers, workers and the poor people.
He said, they are talking with each other, none of them came and asked us about what we need.
I replied, but the people who you are talking about and you want them to defend you, are terrified and can't speak. Did you see how the people reacted when I mentioned the name of Feteih and detention? The important thing is that fear ends and that people make something, at least these movements have encouraged us to exclaim against the government and shake the ground underneath he big people, these movements have imposed themselves and made thw whole world talk about them.
Mahroos the cousin of Gad El Haq asked for permission to speak, he said, I'm sure that Kefaya are sincere people, but sincerity alone is not enough, as the government has gained benefit of their existence, to prove that there is change and democracy. Till now the government is detaining thousands of people, security forces are in complete control of all universities and not one student can hang a piece of paper to express his opinion, the emergency status exists in many laws not just one law, all the people are suffering, as prices are high, there aren't enough home available, young people can't afford to get married, the people are really choked up, so don't say that protests have taken the fear our of the people's hearts, it is not that simple. People in Cairo have political parties and syndicates, there are people in high positions who can protect themselves, but the people here are poor and vulnerable, they fear the smallest police officer, as they get beaten, tortured and maybe killed for no reason and nobody gives a damn, it is not the same as in the city. The people here are poor, afraid, depressed and have lost their faith in everything. The government is letting these protests spread without any interference in order to satisfy America and let it know that there is democracy in the country so that the ruling system continues to run. Can we just think about it a little bit? Is the government unable to stop a few educated people from speaking? Of course not, it can stop them with many ways, but the government wants this scene of democracy to continue, none of these movements was able to impose something on the government.
I shouted replying, does that mean that have to shut up and do nothing?
Gad El Haq said, no one said that we must shut up, but it is not about the protests, in order to make real change, we must start with the problems and demands of the people, and step by step, the whole people will move and act for real change. How can that be achieved? As you said, you can establish parties, syndicates, organizations, associations or anything else, but you will have to do that from and with the people. Work with the people in order for you to understand them and for them to trust you.
Frankly, I felt that two big buckets of cold water have been poured over my head. This guy is not ignorant, he understands more than I do. I was so excited with all of the protests and exclamation. He speaks the truth, it is not enough that you want change, but if you want to make something for the poor, you must do that with them. If we want change, we must search for the people and walk with them step by step. We know that each of us has a role, but the important thing is how can we achieve the best of it? Which is of course by talking to the people, knowing their real problems and demands and letting them take part in managing their own affairs.