It seems it was only yesterday that Egypt was engulfed in dark ignorance, with uncivilized masses, forces that crushed expression and made it seem like the poor, the outspoken and the moral had no means of survival or of inducing change.
Last week a number of AUC cafeteria workers, with no more than high school diplomas, came into the Caravan and asked if they could use this means of expression to make AUC’s administration aware of the potential loss of their jobs.  The men were in a panic, but they didn’t wear black masks and try to terrorize the administration; they didn’t attempt to burn down the cafeteria; nor did they sit idly by and do nothing. They took the democratic, civilized approach to solving a problem.
Once the Caravan started reporting on the story, and approached the administrative parties involved, action was taken and the workers were promised a place and a salary in the new campus.
That is a scaled-down story of what has been rolling through Egypt over the past few months. From textile workers to doctors to university professors, people have been using a simple and non-violent means to demand their rights —- the strike.  Strangely enough, it has proven to be more constructive than terrorist attacks or assassinations, many of which we have recently been witnessing, be it locally or internationally.  Indeed, seeking peaceful methods to solve our problems may not only succeed in getting the message across, but more often than not, may yield results.  You get the best of both options; you make a stand and you live to see the results of your action.     
This is why publications, including the Caravan, exist: to report on and be a part of this change in culture. We are excited and consider ourselves lucky to be holding pens and notepads in the midst of this.