Throughout Egypt’s history, modern and ancient, Egyptian women have participated in all revolutions, including the January 25 revolution. Hence, women should not be expected to seek “protection” or rely on the “gallantry and chivalry” of men to acquire their public and personal rights. Egyptian women are inherently entitled to all such rights, in accordance to principles of justice, freedom and dignity, which were the main three objectives of the Egyptian revolution.
However, people need to be trained to exercise their right to freedom, justice, and dignity from early childhood in order to establish these principles in reality. Such principles should be imbued in the people’s minds, psyche, soul and spirit until they become one with the individual’s character. Then, people would spontaneously embrace these values not out of fear of punishment nor in the pursuit of a reward.
This could only be achieved through an overall process to renovate the laws, values, education and the diction that reflects discrimination based on religion, race, etc…
As a child, my parents did not differentiate between boys and girls. Their only criteria were good work and being able to shoulder responsibility. I outshined my brother at school and in carrying out my share of chores at home. Hence, I was more privileged than him. One day, my brother wanted to prevent me from going out alone under the pretext of protecting me. I refused to obey him and insisted to go out alone. My father took sides with me and told my brother: “Your sister is brave enough to protect herself.” My parents had also taught me to be forthright in debate and criticism. My father used to tell us: “Obedience is a vice not a virtue because it is based on fear and submission.
I learned to protect myself. I would slap anyone who dared attempt to sexually harass me. I have exercised all my life, at school, during my years at med school and until today. We need to teach our children, boys and girls alike, that a healthy brain depends on a healthy body.
Intellectual and literary courage is not different from bodily courage. Such courage stems from self-confidence. The “self” is the body and the brain. Courage leads to freedom, justice and dignity. Without courage there is no revolution. A girl who protects herself is a brave and free girl who has dignity. The same goes for boys and men. Also, a free courageous judge cannot fear prison or death. He will uphold justice regardless of any threats.
Therefore, I demand the new president of Egypt to forego the word “protect” in his speeches when talking about women and Copts. Placing Egypt under the protection of Britain as a British protectorate meant nothing but the Brits hegemony and the usurpation and humiliation of Egypt. Men’s protection for women is based on exactly the same principles, and so is the Muslims’ protection for Copts. Women and Copts in Egypt don’t want “protection” but a new constitution, laws, values and education to instill respect for freedom, justice and dignity.
I hope the President can also omit the archaic term he uses with reference to his mandate (welaya) as a ruler (Wali). In the early ages of Islam, the Wali used to act as the judge as well as the legislative and the executive power. We don’t want this system in the new post-revolution Egypt.
Intellectual courage allows us to “doubt” what we are told. Thus, we do not blindly obey but we investigate and discuss facts to accept them through free debate in all scientific, political, ideological and ethical issues.
The republic’s president needs to purge his discourse (and all political addresses) from holy verses of the Quran or any other holy books. Religious faith repudiates the right to doubt and criticize, and therefore, it prohibits free discussions and political, scientific, social and ethical debate. If the President proclaims himself a president for all Egyptians he would be expected not to favor Muslims or all those whose holy book is the Quran. Millions of people in Egypt believe in other holy books and belong to different schools of thought and philosophy other than Islam. The contradiction was obvious in Egypt’s new president’s speeches as he repeatedly quoted verses from the Quran.
I would like also to suggest effective and thorough modification of all basic principles of the educational process in Egypt. Egyptians, starting from childhood, need to learn to freely “doubt.” They need to learn to freely discuss and debate without worrying about their teachers punishing them or fearing that they might end up in hell. Children need to be taught the higher values of humanity such as honesty, freedom, dignity and justice away from any particular religion. Children belong to different faiths and they must not be subjected to religious discrimination. This is the most important lesson to learn about true citizenship.
Translated by CS; originally published by Al Masry Al Youm, 7/1/2012