The Alliance of Egyptian Americans(AEA)
1^st National Founders Meeting
Woodbridge, VA.
September 10-11  2005
Opening Remarks By:
Safei-Eldin A. Hamed, Ph.D., AEA President

Dear Egyptian American colleagues, respectful guests and friends
1.      For more than 30 years, the Egyptian American community witnessed first hand an alarming decline in the conditions of our homeland. Most of us go back and forth to visit Egypt. Over there, we usually watch and listen carefully to our friends and family as they report to us on what really goes on in Egypt. The more we hear from them the more the picture of Egypt appears grim and it future sounds gloomy.

2.      Numbers do not lie: over half of the Egyptian population today is under 20 years of age. These young men and women are growing up in environments of poverty, despair, violence, corruption, lawlessness, and oppression. The majority of the population is below the poverty line, while 1-2% of the people own over 90% of the country’s wealth, many of these through illegal means. Unemployment is very high and growing at an alarming rate. The situation is dangerous not only for Egypt, but for the whole Middle East. The only way to avoid the crisis is to end tyranny and corruption, and replace them with democracy, social justice, and balanced development, and that is why AEA has been established

3.      For many, many years, most Egyptian Americans that they can help and that it is their obligation to help their birth place. Some thought that offering professional opportunities to Egyptians may help, financial investing in Egypt may help, advising the Egyptian Embassy or other governmental officials may help, sending our charity and Zakaha may help, bringing our relatives here to study or get training may help, work and consult through USAID projects or any other American agencies to help Egypt may help. Name it and I am sure you will find one of us in this hall who have tried. The approaches were diverse, but the result was almost the same – very little was achieved. The obstacles may appear to vary, but the underpinning cause is clear: the system of governing is wrong … the way Egypt is managed is flawed. We, Egyptian Americans did not fail to help Egypt, it is the ruling regime in Egypt who failed us and failed the Egyptians. It made it close to impossible for sincere, honest Egyptian expatriates to help their homeland as all other immigrants have done that before in many countries around world.

4.      We, Egyptian Americans should take some of the blame as well. How naïve and simplistic were we when we assumed that a regime that maintained the emergency laws for decades, that captured and tortured hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens and political opponents, that restricted the establishment or the functioning of political parties, labor unions, professional associations, that violated the sanctity of the judicial system, that rigged elections on all levels, that sold or destroyed the industrial base of its economy, that mismanaged the agricultural sector and threatened the food security of its people, that allowed corruption to creep through the fabric of the government and then prevail and continue unpunished, that weakened public education & health services, that stifled the freedom of the Press, that  pressured higher education institutions, that tolerated bribes and diversion of public funds, we were naïve to think that a government with this kind of record can be reformed from within or from without.

5.      Worst than all of the previously mentioned failures, was the impact on the Egyptian man and woman. The culture of oppression, fear, secrecy, disrespect of the law, favoritism, corruption and lack of accountability produced an individual who is selfish, distrustful, passive, irrational, irresponsible, cynical, terrified, unable to take initiative, and mostly helpless or fatalistic. Apathy, extremism, and intellectual stagnation thrive when an entire nation is deprived of its basic rights, dignity and hope for a better future. You observe these examples everywhere when you visit Egypt or when you meet Egyptians visiting America. All these social ills must be cured in order for Egypt to reach its potentials. However, we have many reasons to be optimistic today, because for the last year, Egypt is becoming a vibrant frontier in the struggle for human decency, freedom and dignity. Brave men and women are standing tall and challenging the illegitimate authoritarian regime of Mubarak and his cronies.

6.    Who are we? And what do we want?

The Alliance of Egyptian Americans (AEA) aims at empowering Egyptian Americans here in the USA and abroad. It comprise of different groups:
v Americans from Egyptian origin and their families,
v American citizens who are interested in Egypt, its culture, its people and its future, and
v All other Americans who believe in promoting true democracy, social justices and sustainable development around the world.
7.      We envision better days for Egypt and its people,
v we will work for better relations between Egyptian Americans and its homeland, and
v we aspire to be the strong link between the two great nations of Egypt and America.

8.      The Alliance of Egyptian Americans (AEA) is an educational organization registered in the State of Florida.
9.      Although AEA is a non-governmental organization, but we are open to dialogue with any governmental agency here in the USA.
10.  Although we are a non-partisan organization, but we are willing to cooperate with any party that supports our goals.
11.  Although we are a non-religious organization, but we are proud of and celebrate the diversity of religions among our members.
12.  Finally, AEA is a charitable organization. In due time we should be able to lend a hand to others in need in our community here in the USA, and back in Egypt. The Egyptian Americans should never again be forced to send their charity in times of disaster through an embassy, which represents a government that none of us trust its competence or integrity.

13.  As members of AEA, we believe that it is our duty to educate ourselves and others about the state of democracy, social justice and development in Egypt. These may include governmental officers, elected officials, and the members of the press here and abroad.

14.  Our ultimate objective will not stop at diagnosing the problems and the threats facing Egypt. With the thousands of intellectuals, scientists, scholars, and professionals in our community, we should be able to produce solutions and generate alternative scenarios for a better future for Egypt and for a better status for our community here in the USA. This will be carried out under the umbrella of AEA Think Tank.  We have within the Egyptian American community an immense brain power, impressive human and the financial resources, and enormous professional experience that could and should contribute to a  blueprint of a strong, prosperous, and democratic Egypt. AEA is committed to mobilizing the extra ordinary power of this community to help us here and help Egyptians back home. Therefore, AEA will develop a think tank to organize and help its members identify, analyze, and diagnose relevant issues about Egypt and Egyptian Americans. We will share these studies with decision makers, academic institutions, elected officials, and all interested parties in the USA and abroad. Information is power and we intend to convert our reservoir of Egyptian American human resources and expertise into intellectual energy, brain power, and social influence.

15.  We do not want to impose our vision or ideas on the people of Egypt. Those people are our families and friends whom we care about and highly respect. AEA has maintained the lines of communications open with them. We will help them achieve their legitimate dreams and allow their demands and aspirations to be heard and attained here in USA and abroad if needed.

16.  No one among us seeks political power in Egypt or is interested in financial favors from the current or the future governments of Egypt. No one is interested in holding a governmental post or will run for elected office in Egypt. In brief, no Ahmed Jalaby, Ayad Alawi, or Jalal Talbany exists among AEA members.

17.  The Alliance of Egyptian Americans will work in the open, we have no hidden agenda, our operation should remain transparent, and our goals should remain altruistic. We believe in a pluralistic society.  We value wide participation of our members in all decisions. And we insist on full accountability of our board of directors.

18.  Finally, AEA intends to stand firmly and defend its members if the Egyptian government attempts to harass or intimidate them here or abroad. We will not sit back, we will not keep our distance, we will not remain cynical about any devious tactics used against us or any member of the Egyptian American community

19.  The Alliance of Egyptian Americans aspires to become a beacon of freedom, integrity, decency and achievements.  The journey ahead is long and the road will not be smooth. Each of us should be convinced that our goals are noble. Ultimately, however, our success will depend on our commitment to these goals, our willingness to sacrifice something of our time, money, and energy to plan and implement our projects and programs, and our ability to persevere in patience and constancy.

God bless America, and God bless Egypt and its people.