Reflection on my visit to Egypt during the anticipation of Dr.Elbaradei’s arrival. By Samia Harris

I spent ten days visiting Egypt between Cairo and Alexandria during the shortage of the gas containers which makes it possible for the mothers to cook the food for their children, I heard numerous versions of why there is a shortage and how come there is a gouging on the price .This in my opinion is a reoccurring case in the Egyptian Society, either it is done deliberately to keep every one busy to talk about it and to try to deal w. the situation or it is for the lack of planning and prevention. If it is a matter of throwing an obstacle to the common population then fixing it so the government looks busy and caring, that is very similar to Soccer issues and Moslem verses Coptic issues., artificial and deliberate yet timely .

I noticed there are a lot of groups that deals w. democratic issues in Egypt, with political agenda. I think we should get the female perspective into the mix. When the moms and grand mothers can not cook for their families they do get upset. When I conversed w. a few of them they talk about the daily issues that frustrate them. One of them asked if Doctor Baradie will get a job for her daughter. When I explained to her that Dr. Baradie is asking for a change in the Constitution to allow any person who qualify to run to be a president, and that it will be up to the people to vote for this person, and that if he did not meet the majority of the people’s expectations then he can be changed then she decided she should support Dr.Elbaradei’s ideas.

I think this is the forgotten population which can make a difference in the Egyptian Society. Unleash the angry moms that can not find food for their children , medicine for their  Diabetes or Hepatitis, or can not pay the new phone bill, or pay the new price for the gas, then you have waken a sleeping Giant. Wake them up and let them hit the street to ask for their simple human rights, I would like to see the Egyptian Police beating their moms and grand mothers! See what will happen?

I am not asking for people to Support Dr. Elbaradei for presidency. Just for the change of the Constitution to give equal opportunity and equal Rights for all Egyptians, Copts and Moslems, young and old.

In the other hand, I know now that Egypt and the Egyptian people will prevail because of the Unsung Heroes. They are the ones that keep Egypt going, keep a glimpse of hope and work quietly toward a better civil Society w. better living circumstances. I visited two Rotarian Clubs that do amazing work. One of them created a full wing of surgery to deal with babies which would otherwise die, the other have delivered water for a whole village which would other wise have Hepatitis for the lack of clean water. These people work tirelessly to provide for the underprivileged but with the absence of government planning and caring it is an uphill battle.

Change is immanent in Egypt; these circumstances can not go on much longer. I pry that it happens peacefully. We support the process for change toward democracy; there fore we support the calling to change the Egyptian Constitution.