Questions...

Everytime I go to downtown Cairo, I get a bit nostalgic. I try to imagine that part of Cairo 50 years ago when it was still shining... and I can't help but wonder what happened to us? When you're downtown the next time, try to imagine the streets without the crowd of cars and people and pollution. Try to imagine the buildings in brand new form, the streets clean, and the air crisp and fresh. For me, this transformation exemplifies what has happened to us as a people.

I can't help but wonder about the so many things I always wonder about. I have so many unanswered questions - and what's worse, I have so many people who feel they're already found the answers.

Why can't we agree, as a people, to bring about positive change?

Why do we accept, as a people, to be humiliated every day in a thousand ways, the least of which the pollution in our air and water?

Why is that the death of thousands in a ship wreck has become something for us to get angry about for a few hours (or even a couple of days) and then forget about completely and go on with our everyday lives as if nothing has happened? (I, too, am guilty).

Why is it ok for us to remain oppressed by a regime that has been refuted by the intelligentia after turning the majority of the country into followers?

Have we become insensitive to oppression? Was that the plan from the start? To get the majority of a nation to get used to being oppressed such that it becomes a fact of life?

Why are we not calling for our rights with enough force to be heard?

When can we get our country back - get our society back?

When will we retain the respect of the world in a manner that prevents abuse and disrespect of our sacred symbols?

When will we accept our responsibility as a people towards others who have been placed in the line of fire while we sleep safely in our homes? When will we be men (in the philosophical sense) to accept our responsibility towards our daughters, sisters and mothers who get raped everyday in those places of the world?

When will we wake up from the opium being fed to us from every direction?

What will it take? What will it take?

I have asked before what can we do - the best reply I got was to shut up and forget about it.

I don't want to remain a cynicist, but when that's the only response I get - I have to remain a cynicist.

I call again upon those who want to make a difference... what can we do for this society?