Taxi adorned with the Egyptian flag

Graffiti by Freedom Painters group in Nasr City

Campaign titled Oum Ya Masry [Rise Up, Egyptian] held by AUC's Help Club to raise awareness of constitutional and voting rights

After the January 25th revolution, a renewed sense of pride and patriotism defined the Egyptian spirit. "You see it on the streets," said James Curiel, assistant professor of sociology. "People were longing for freedom that they didn't have, and they earned it in their own way ––– the Egyptian way."
It's not only pride, but also political engagement and participation. "Instead of having conversations on what they ate for lunch or the movie they went to, youth on Facebook are now talking about politics, civic service and public events," said Mona Amer '98, assistant professor of psychology. "There is a greater sense of nationalism and responsibility toward one's country."
The January 25th revolution marked the end of the 30-year Mubarak era and the dawn of a new beginning for Egypt, one in which the word "Egyptian" carries with it a sense of accomplishment and triumph. Slogans of "Hold your head up high, for you're Egyptian" have resonated throughout the country.

Graffiti artists have organized themselves into groups and painted the streets of Cairo with nationalist themes as a means of self-expression. Songs in the name of Egypt have flourished, and commodities carrying the Egyptian flag –– from tissue boxes and accessories to T-shirts and wristbands –– have infiltrated the market. At
AUC, student clubs have taken on a number of post-revolution initiatives, including awareness sessions on the Egyptian constitution, donation campaigns for the families of martyrs and talk shows hosting experts in different fields. In the midst of this heightened sense of glory, however, skepticism about Egypt's future remains high.

"People are worried about safety and security issues, economic prospects, and religious tension and extremism," said Amer. "There was euphoria and excitement with the ousting of Mubarak that made many live in a utopian fantasy that everything will change to the better. In reality, to make changes in Egypt in terms of politics, education and people's attitudes, it will take time." Curiel also warned of the consequences of losing one's way. "If we let paranoia and fear get the best of us, change can be destructive," he said. "People have to continually remember that we need each other and that in order to move forward to something new, some of the old has to be there." Agreeing, Amer noted, "We need to take good things of the past and be realistic. The key is to know where you're going. If the goal is fuzzy, change will come about based on trial and error. The real danger is that some people will try to take advantage of this transitional period and chaos to
make changes that suit their own personal benefits at the expense of true, positive change.

" To combat that, Amer explained, Egypt is in need of a coordinated national effort to promote positive social interaction and channel youth's heightened sense of volunteerism. "Many people want to volunteer to make changes in the country, but don't know how," she said. "Most of the efforts that have taken place have shortterm returns. If you clean the streets today, that's not going to take care of the streets for the next 20 years. There should be a community-networking
clearinghouse with a complete database of civic organizations in Egypt. NGOs should coordinate better with one another, and companies must promote corporate social responsibility. This is also the best time for political parties to ask people to join. … The more the change is systemic and within a formal organizational structure, the more likely it will sustain itself and grow."

For Curiel, praying, coupled with rational thinking, constitute the way forward. "People need to search their souls for spiritual guidance," he said. "Don't be bogged down by the damage and suffering, but focus on finding solutions and considering possibilities. Try to be more informed, consider the sources of news and trust in your reasoning. … Egypt has enormous capacity. Its people can do amazing things and go amazing places."

By Dalia Al Nimr