Today, I packed my bag full of supplies and headed towards Tahrir Square in Egypt. The day was cloudy and grim, reminding us of our purpose today. Along the way, I was joined by many fellow Egyptians, young and old alike, marching alongside me with the same sense of purpose. We were the poor and repressed Egyptians, on our way to the square to protest for our rights. We had been marginalized for years and this was our chance. Mass protests would happen simultaneously today, in cities in Egypt. As I strode with resolve, i recalled the very words that had been posted on Facebook just a few days ago that had sparked this patriotic flame within me:
"Egypt deserves a better future. On 25 January we will change our country. Nobody will stop us if we are united. Young people must speak now."
"Why must we?" Someone had posted in reply.
"We have poor living conditions, absolutely no economy at all due to global recession, leading to no employment at all! Furthermore, our president Mubarak has done nothing to alleviate our suffering! Corruption... rigging the national polls... Talk of him letting his son succeed him as president! He has not even allowed the emergency law enacted since 20 years ago to suspend constitutional rights, extend police powers, prohibit free speech to be lifted. We want to be heard and this is enough! The police have become cruel and merciless, torturing others who have dared to stand up for rights!"
With that in mind, we started our protests on this date. Let this be the date that the whole world witnessed our suffering and pain and we, the determined peasants revolting against the corrupt regime!
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