Romany Melek

For The Maine Campus

Slaves were not born slaves and tyrants were not born tyrants. By forfeiting power, slaves create themselves and tyrants are created by the existence of slaves.

Egypt has been ruled by tyrants over its history, especially since 1952 when the military took over, ended the kingdom and converted Egypt into a republic.

Traditionally, Egyptian presidents have been supplied by the army. Mubarak was one of the heads of the military in the 1970s and the vice president in 1975.

Mubarak assumed the presidency in 1981, following the assassination of President Anwar Sadat, but he was not elected. To this day, I do not know how or why. Was it because he was the vice president when the president was assassinated? Or was it because he was one of the heads in the 1973 Yom Kippur War?

Less than one year after Mubarak was named the president of Egypt, several singers and dancers participated in a 10-minute song praising Mubarak. More importantly, the song says, “We chose him and we promise loyalty to him,” however, Egyptians did not elect or choose him. They woke on Oct. 14, 1981 to a new president in office. That is that.

Many songs praising Mubarak on TV and radio were frequently heard from 1982 through 2010. Not because he was a great person — he was not — nor because he had great achievements as a president — he had not — but just because he was a president.

This is how Egyptians have been since about 4500 B.C. Egyptians praise and obey the pharaoh until he oppresses, suppresses, steals from and enslaves them. Egyptians love pharaohs.

As I said last week, Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is planning to be Egypt’s next president. He has a great opportunity to succeed.

El-Sisi is most probably going to succeed for several reasons. First, Egyptians love pharaohs and a military president is the best example of this. Second, El-Sisi is very smart and knows how to make and execute his plans. He is also an eloquent speaker and says what Egyptians want to hear. Third, the ongoing agreement between the military and media is working.

The media in Egypt are very influential. They know that, and they use it. Approximately 40 percent of Egyptians are illiterate and such people are easily affected, persuaded and mobilized by songs and work of media, which are being watched for an average of four hours every day.

People sang for Mubarak shortly after he became the president and until he became a tyrant. Last week, a famous Egyptian producer gathered four singers and made a song for El-Sisi, proclaiming “We want you.”

The conclusion of the song suggests that Egyptians really need El-Sisi, and only El-Sisi, to fulfill his national duty and become president. What happened with Mubarak is now happening with El-Sisi but even before he comes to office.

I feel very disappointed because I thought Egyptians had changed since the revolution of 2011. I thought they learned the lesson and knew how freedom felt.

It seems Egyptians missed being slaves and missed having a tyrant.

I hoped I would go back to Egypt one day to see a free country and free men. It seems that I was building castles in the air.