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Lesson from Egypt echoes for freedom
(by Sali McSherry - March 03, 2011)
Lesson from Egypt echoes for freedom
By SALI McSHERRY
Rachel Estafanous told her fourth-grade class at Moreland Hills Elementary School last week about the Egyptian revolution that began Jan. 25 and about her Egyptian family. Fourth-grader Ahmed Abouelsoud, draped in an Egyptian flag, also gave a presentation about the revolution.
Teacher Diane Smith told her class, "History is happening as we speak, and you must remember what's going on in the world. The people of Egypt peacefully protested for their freedom," including children.
Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak stepped down from power on Feb. 12.
Rachel and her family, who are Coptic American, said the Coptics in Egypt are a Christian minority who represent about 10 percent of the country's population of 80 million. She and her family visited Egypt earlier this year, prior to the revolution, and there was terrorist bombing at a Coptic Orthodox church in Alexandria.
Rachel and her mother, Kathy, told how her family and Christian friends received calls of concern and support from their Muslim friends, neighbors and colleagues. On Jan. 6, they said, many Muslims went to Coptic churches all over Egypt to form a protective shield against potential attacks. On Feb. 4, Christians in Liberation Square joined together to form a human shield to protect Muslim protesters from violent gangs supporting Mr. Mubarak, Mrs. Estafanous said.
Ahmed told his classmates, "There were 10 million people singing and dancing in the streets, a moment nobody will forget."
Asked why the Egyptians hated Mr. Mubarak, Ahmed said the former president took all the land and all the money for himself, and many people had no homes or food. "They want a new president who will be fair to everyone," he said.
In 1981, Mr. Mubarak declared an "emergency law," which gave him greater powers to deal with a security crisis and maintained it for 30 years, Mrs. Estafanous said.
Elections were fixed, and the Egyptian people have had no freedom of speech, no freedom of press, no freedom to form political parties, limited freedom of religion and very limited economic opportunity, according to the report by Rachel and her family. The people endured police brutality and other human-rights violations and government corruption, they said.
Ahmed gave a slide show with photographs of life on Liberation Square during the revolution, including one of a couple getting married amid the turmoil.
When a student asked why they would do that, Mrs. Smith said love is a part of who the Egyptians are. They felt like there was a huge family celebrating with them, she said.
Another photograph depicted a small child showing off his muscles to the police, Ahmed said.
There also were protesters with posters of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his famous quote, "I have a dream."
Egyptian women were the backbone of the protest, Ahmed's father, Dr. Mahmoud Abouelsoud said. They played a leading role, something that had never happened before, he said.
Like Coptics, women have been under strict Islamic law and historically have been subject to widespread discrimination, said Mrs. Estafanous, who is an attorney. "The Egyptian constitution provides that the government will regulate and decide to what extent a woman may participate in activities outside the home without interfering with her duties as a wife and mother," she said.
The dramatic events that unfolded have helped to renew the bonds of citizenship and community between many Coptic and Muslim Egyptians, she said.
Mrs. Smith told her class, "You can make history. Stand up for what's right. As it has been said, 'If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything.'"
After the presentations, Mrs. Smith prompted the children to stand up on the chairs and say, "Freedom is calling from everywhere, and we are part of it."
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