Voting Girl 2011 Edition : The constitutional amendments Referendum
And she is back , she is more than happy and does not care if she wins or loses because for the first time in her life she knows that her vote will count. Ok I am trying to be her professional as much as I can. Today was another historical day in our modern history regardless of its result , I think many Egyptians will remember it with me.
As I expected this is the highest turn out in the electoral history of modern Egypt , even more than I have ever imagined. It can reach to 40 million voters today. I went to my polling center in Agouza , the famous Kowmia language school of Agouza as usual and I did not think for one second that I would see that scene. Since 2005 “my first voting experience” , I have never seen those people before whether from number or from class. There were these long queues inside and outside the school.
Outside the school
Inside the school
People were very civilized , they did not complain that they were and are standing in long queues for hours on the contrary. They were waiting with happiness. When I went it was mostly middle class. It is the biggest participation for the middle class in the political process as far as I can tell. Most of those people have never voted before. There were high participation from senior citizens , women and Christians , in fact when I think about I believe it was just whole Egypt was in the committee.
Old ladies in polling center
I saw whole families from parents and children. There were these cute adorable babies brought with their moms “One of the babies had pink finger”.
Two queues
One for women
One for men
There were very few police officers , I think I saw three officers and soldiers while there were two army soldiers , they were all standing outside and did not speak with the people or ask for their IDs as they had once done with me before. I can’t keep myself from comparing between this experience and previous voting experiences.The ladies have their own queue and the men have their own queue , of course the ladies’ queue is much faster. The volunteers were organizing the whole process. People were helping the senior citizens ,letting them pass first and even later the volunteers and the committee made a room for senior citizens. There were chairs for pregnant ladies as well. People are disciplined and serious.
The ballot boxes and ballot sheets reportedly finished , already for the first time in my life I went to that committee to find full four ballot boxes for real. I swear in the last parliamentary elections I saw a ballot box with one single ballot sheet. I tried to take photos from inside the committee but the judge in the committee refused and I was in the verge of having a fight with him because I am not a journalist and I got no authorization from the elections committees.
Full box by real votes
My finger to Nazif , Soliman and
Mubarak
Still when he turned back , I took couple of snapshots. I voted with my national ID , the man wrote my full name and my national ID number then I signed it. I noticed that he used another another form for those who were not from the area. There were blue curtains yet it seems that many people did not use them and decided to cast their vote in front of the whole world. Of course I am an old school girl who loves privacy and thus I casted the vote behind the curtain after checking the ballot sheet and making sure it was stamped. I made my choice and it was “Yes”. I put my ballot sheet in the box that seemed to be so full and took back my id and I went to have my holy voting ritual : The pink finger
Just I was leaving more people seemed to be coming. Voting girl left the polling center so happy and so proud of her people. I was like that little girl playing in the school playground while waiting for her daddy to finish his duty
I think millions of Egyptians today gave their pink finger respectfully to Hosni Mubarak, Omar Soliman and Ahmed Nazif who once doubted that we , the great people of Egypt would understand and practice real democracy. Speaking about NDP , now I am more certain insh Allah that we do not need to disband it or suspend its activities , because it will not get a single seat in any election in the future. The NDP used to cheat in the elections when it was ruling the country from iron fist , it used to close polling stations and scare people from going there for God sake. This is why I have more confidence in the Egyptian people , we will not be silent anymore.
Already in way to the polling centerI was receiving tweets from all over Egypt telling me that the turn out has been extremely high since 8 AM when the doors of the polling stations were opened. Huge queues are all over the polling stations.My aunt went to the polling center in Zamalak at 9 AM but she could not vote due to the huge number of people there. Of course it was the only polling station in Zamalak and you can imagine how many people were there. She went to Kasr Al Dobarah committee where she found Khaled Youssef , George Isaac, Amr Hamzawy and Mona Makram Abid. She declined to speak with Al Masry Al Youm's reporters there as well."Zeinobia's aunt is shy :P" This was the first voting experience for my younger aunt.
She did not see Amr Moussa whom the people let pass to vote despite he stood first at a queue nor did she see the governor of Cairo kicked from that polling station for not standing at the queue waiting for his turn. "The governor later apologized and claimed that he was not going to vote but rather to check the situation"Moussa made a little press conference to speak about his presidential candidacy and also Libya. He then later traveled to Paris to discuss the Libyan issue with Sarko and other NATO leaders.
Dr. ElBaradei is furious and he has to. Some people I know say that he should have gone to that populated area in Moktam , I think it is a little bit elitist as a presidential candidate he should go to everything area in Egypt as he wants safely. Here is his car and if I were in his place I will be mad and sad.
By Nancy Kamal
I feel so so angry but it was a deliberate act as in all those polling stations , there has not been a single incident of violence as far as I know then we have to wonder.
Pope Shnouda voted in Shubra right after returning from a treatment trip in the States. He voted against the amendments.
Pope Shnouda "AP"
PM Essam Sharaf surprised the people at the poll station at Gamal Abdel Nasser school in Dokki , he tried to stand in the queue but the people insisted to let him pass first as today is not a holiday for him.
Dr. Essam Sharaf "AP"
There was an old lady who stopped him to complain from something and he listened to her complaint. I like this man so much. Amr Diab voted , Mohamed Moneer voted , Amr Adeeb voted , Heikal voted and all stood in queues with all respect and civilization.
Forget about these celebs and look to these long queues in 6th of October governorate and Nasr City
Most of the problems I have heard about in the referendum as far as I could are related to the organizing part of the process. Despite the referendum date was announced from weeks ago yet it was organized so late and so fast. There are sheets that were not stamped and the election supreme committee quickly said that we should tell the the judges to sign the sheets if they have not got a stamp. The army is doing a fine job as far as I could tell.
The army is reportedly transferring judges to Upper Egypt with helicopters. The polling stations would be opened till 7 PM except for Qena where the polling stations will be opened till 9 PM because of the delay of judges.
As I hinted earlier whatever the referendum results are , Egypt will win in fact it has already won.
Here is a photo gallery from the photos I took on that day.
Your optimism allows me to feel hopeful for the world despite all the difficulties it currently faces.
I really do believe that the courage of the Egyptian people has changed the course of world history for the better and that you will be able in the end to overcome all the nasty obstacles and build a wonderful civilised future.
I was in Mokattam when in happened. I saw few people who were throwing the stones. The ones I saw were the same thugs hired by the NDP to beat us during the elections. I sad to see that the NDP is still live and well :'(
The finger should also be given to Programmer Craig and John and ... all those who came to this blog to tell us that we Egyptians are savages and not ready for democracy!
I hope Egypt build a free society that would serve as an example to all oppressed people in the world and not just the Arab world
@Egyptian-in-USA "I hope Egypt build a free society that would serve as an example to all oppressed people"
I would hope so too, but it's not likely. Egyptians give lip service to the Libyan revolution, for example, but will allow neither the army nor air force to help the anti-Gaddafi forces. In fact it's worse than that: Egypt won't even allow the UN coalition to use its air bases! Zeinobia approved of the refusal, saying "Hilary Clinton asked Tantawy to use our bases to launch air strikes against Libya but the field marshal refused and thank God he did."
@Zeinobia, so in what sense do you support the Libyan revolution? Only in some rhetorical sense that's completely worthless to the Libyans Gaddafi slaughters. You're just mouthing platitudes to feel good about yourself. Meanwhile, only in the opening few minutes, the US and UK launched 102 cruise missles at Gaddafi's defenses, at a cost of $569,000 each. Maybe the Libyans will thank us when Gaddafi's gone. Egyptians all over the political spectrum will simply sneer. I hope I'm wrong.
Not all Arabs are craven or two-faced. Qatar is contributing four to six jets and United Arab Emirates is contributing 24 according to Wikipedia. Good for them. Thank God for small countries with balls.
Actually there was no evidence that the stoners were islamist. In fact, every source that I've indicates towards the NDP. So please, enough with the fear-mongering, especially from foreign zionist parties
yeah, we are ready for a democracy that will replace NDP with the Muslim Brotherhood..isn't that lovely?
the outcome in most stations was more than 75 yays vs 25 nays-according to early results from masryalyoum. You see what happened is when almost all educated, university-grads(not including Zeinobia of course), activists called for a no vote, we couldn't even win a 35% when most elect-monitors said it will be too close to call saying any win will be 50 something at best but what happened is the nice Muslim Brotherhood launched their propagande with posters and banners everywhere, here in Alexandria it can already be declared as the 1st mb city..even issuing a fatwa that a yes will send you to heaven(practically meaning a no will send you to hell) and the ignorant masses all went for the heavenly yes-yes.. Egyptian-in-usa we are so ready for democracy we are already stoning secular politicians and chasing down liberal women who want to vote. So what will happen in next elections? not to worry..the muslim brothers will change their slogan, it will no longer be "islam is the solution" it will be "vote for us to reach heaven" or "hell awaits our opponents".
my advice to you is to stay in the USA, unless you want to watch Egypt turn into another Iran theocracy. Oh and Zeinobia you still think you will see a new const.? keep living in your day-dream because in a newly elected house without a strict obligation no elected representative will work on a one, you think that a new magles can be formed and they get thrown out in 6 months to a year after all they have spent on their campaigns just to get reelected again..I know you voted yes and I don't mean to offend you in anyway but seriously anyone who believes a new magles will create a new consitution committee to see their campaign money go to waste in 6 months..well, anyone who believes that is a moron-of course the muslim brothers will not have to spend so much..ticket to heaven voting you know. PLEASE READ/LISTEN/WATCH HISHAM'S BASTAWISI'S PRESPECTIVE ON 189!
you can spit on my face if you see a new constitty..and my advice to our Christian brothers: GET OUT..GET OUT NOW!
yeah, we are ready for a democracy that will replace NDP with the Muslim Brotherhood..isn't that lovely?
the outcome in most stations was more than 75 yays vs 25 nays-according to early results from masryalyoum. You see what happened is when almost all educated, university-grads(not including Zeinobia of course), activists called for a no vote, we couldn't even win a 35% when most elect-monitors said it will be too close to call saying any win will be 50 something at best but what happened is the nice Muslim Brotherhood launched their propagande with posters and banners everywhere, here in Alexandria it can already be declared as the 1st mb city..even issuing a fatwa that a yes will send you to heaven(practically meaning a no will send you to hell) and the ignorant masses all went for the heavenly yes-yes.. Egyptian-in-usa we are so ready for democracy we are already stoning secular politicians and chasing down liberal women who want to vote. So what will happen in next elections? not to worry..the muslim brothers will change their slogan, it will no longer be "islam is the solution" it will be "vote for us to reach heaven" or "hell awaits our opponents".
my advice to you is to stay in the USA, unless you want to watch Egypt turn into another Iran theocracy. Oh and Zeinobia you still think you will see a new const.? keep living in your day-dream because in a newly elected house without a strict obligation no elected representative will work on a one, you think that a new magles can be formed and they get thrown out in 6 months to a year after all they have spent on their campaigns just to get reelected again..I know you voted yes and I don't mean to offend you in anyway but seriously anyone who believes a new magles will create a new consitution committee to see their campaign money go to waste in 6 months..well, anyone who believes that is a moron-of course the muslim brothers will not have to spend so much..ticket to heaven voting you know. PLEASE READ/LISTEN/WATCH HISHAM'S BASTAWISI'S PRESPECTIVE ON 189!
you can spit on my face if you see a new constitty..and my advice to our Christian brothers: GET OUT..GET OUT NOW!
A free society would be good. MB (Islamists)will not give you that. I pray for the best. It is too soon to be pessimistic.I admire your enthusiasm but you must not naive.
here's your new democracy(tweeted by abotawila بعد ما مد إيده على صدر زميلى طارق و نزع إستيكر لا بكل قوة قاله : إنت مع النصارى أنا فى سرى ؟! طب و هوة فين الإتهام ؟!
another one: MaGEd_Ali79: بتناقش مع واحد قالي لازم نقول نعم علشا الرسول امرنا بمخالفة اليهود والنصارى
now the news are starting to emerge about our great democratic experience http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/365664
nice..nice and this is just the constitty ref. we haven't even began real election campaigns
Oh Jason just so you don't miss out(and also to the naive westerners at awe of our new-found democracy:
above link: (briefly) bearded man(islamist) pursuits a woman motorist(editor in masryalyoum) for having a 'no to amendments' bumper sticker flashing his headlights..she slows down and he starts calling her expletives(not defined but apparently very rude) he wasn't even concerned that his woman/wife/tent was in the passenger seat. top link: islamists on motorbikes chase gamila ismail(prominent activist and women rights advocate) terrorising her crew from reaching a polling station
anecdotes from our great referendum day Islamist pulls out a 'no' sticker from some one's shirt:"are you supporting Christians??" GOD FORBID!!
OH I AM SO LOVING OUR NEW DEMOCRACY..AREN'T YOU ZEINOBIA?(don't feel bad about voting yes, you are going to heaven after all. but not us infidels who dared to vote no, rememeber though, to ensure your ticket to heaven you can only vote following brotherhood's recommendations from now on)
Congratulations Zeinobia for participating in the first true democratic experience in the new Egypt. BTW this is the second time you photograph your pink finger. Is that a 1962 Fiat 1300 in the background?
The whole thing was a right mess.... We were promised a referendum 2 months after the amendements, we got 20 days!! We were promised a clean & fair ordeal, we got Islamic propaganda and bribes. And thus the majority of people who said YES were manipulated ignorants. People who didn't have enough time to fully grasp what these amendents meant. So elections in 6 months, which will be mostly NDP remnants and MB since they're the only ones prepared....And they'll be responible for drafting a new constitution IF they choose to. That should be interesting.
Sigh..I'm sure tourism will be booming and investors will be beating to the door upon knowing the Brotherhood is in control. Oh yes! least we forget about the "stabilty" we were promised, 8 elections after this!! 8...yummy stabilty! One last thing, I'm so sick of people screaming "NDP thugs or SS" when ever something bad happens, it's really quite naive. All that's needed is one idiot to start it up and the rest will follow. So while we'd all like to believe the were NDP thugs or whatever, there's more of a chance they were average Egyptains expressing their opinion in the own way they know how to.
There is nothing helpful in these cynical comments. What is your motive?
Why come here to comment if you don't have something constructive to say? Why try to spread misanthropy in the very place where people are working really hard to overcome it?
Do you think it is not obvious to the vast majority of the population of Egypt that people who throw stones at any person waiting to vote are not in favour of democracy?
Those of us lucky enough not to have grown up under a dictatorship should be grateful for that. We are in no position to act superior to people who have lived under opression and have had the courage to stand up to it.
If we value our free society we should be asking ourselves whether we have the courage and the humanity to maintain it.
no evidence they were Islamists? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M41pcpLOQdo oh yes, I forgot..if it looks like an Islamist and yells like an Islamist then it must be an NDP thug!
cynical comments? I was attacked myself for voting no!! close up of the great democracy day: Baradei gets stoned by Islamists Islamists gang on bikes chase down Gamila Ismail and her media crew people with no-vote bumper stickers or badges or t-shirts get verbally abused
now listen to this miss cynical comments.. the school where I voted had no curtains, the 'open booths' desks were under a window overlooking the corridor where people queued , the queue can actually see what circle you're ticking. after I was done voting and stepped outside there was a path for those leaving, a nice beardy bloke blocked my way as if it's too crowded and while I was trying to move around him he shoved me so hard I almost fell over the line.. I didn't think much of it but later realised that guy must have seen me ticking in the wrong box, I deserved it afterall for my ungodly vote.
@Marina "Why come here to comment if you don't have something constructive to say? "
...who says it's not constructive? My brother-in-law told me on Friday that the immam told the prayers to vote YES, my sister said her Professor in Ain Shmas told his students to vote YES, that we "should take what we can". So I think it's insulting to people with legitimate concerns that's this revloution might be hijacked by people intent on marginalizing women and Christians. People with these concerns to be brushed off as "succumbing to the scaremongering of Mubarak and his cronies" is disparaging. But who cares about that? At least we have a "time frame" eh Zeina? A country that has been under 60 years of single-party rule, surely can be transformed into democracy within 6 months. Surely!!
I can already smell the scent of stabilty. YES! I can hear armed gangs of thugs dropping like flies. And if a listen closely I think I can hear the scared "wheel of prodution" moving
..and it begins http://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/51319.aspx
"Presented by Dr. Magda Mohamed Hammad professor of psychology ethics complaint Cairo a new Vice Chancellor-General, Dr Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud against, Dr. Yehya Al-Gamal, Vice Prime Minister, accusing him of insulting the divine self and the Islamic system accuse of corruption."
proper translation: Magda Hammad(never heard of her but I can bet she dresses like a ninja) has sent an official complaint to the general prosecutor accusing the deputy prime minister Yehia AlGamal of insulting the divine entity and the Islamic rule quoting him "Islamic is the worst governance system and belongs to the dark-ages and the narrow-minded". Magda is demanding that Gamal be prosecuted and punished in accordance to the 'law'
I see heads rolling soon.. do we not see the signs Zeinobia or is it still the scarecrows? keep burying your heads in the sand
wanna bet the next referendum will be about changing article one description, Arab republic of Egypt to Islamic republic of Egypt? I can bet that will also win an 80% of votes :o
perhaps something like that would have helped people understand? but then again we are not known to be scientific people, we are known to be good citizens obedient to AFC commands and submissive to religion figureheads.
Of course the democratic state YES endline is an illusion, now we know how elections will be run and Islamists have launched their first offensive.. the fatal final shot is yet to come, expect it soon after the are elected to dominate the parliament.
when I remember yesterday's referendum and how people were so ecstatic, especially a couple of guys telling us they voted YES as if to prove a point and the people applauding and cheering their commitment..this song keeps ringing in my head:
http://t1ny.us/dup32 http://t1ny.us/rhfo7
one woman was telling her friend she hasn't felt that happy since her Ramadan's omra
I feel sick. As Judge Tahany Gebaly said, we demolished a huge but rotten building and now we're being told to build a new one on the site without first clearing out the rubble. It makes no sense, and it's not possible for the new building to be solid unless the rubble is removed and a solid foundation laid.
I was hoping at least we'd have a new constitution that provides a legal basis for the revolution's principles before we elected our new leaders.
Instead, the old dictatorship constitution is back, while the media still take orders from the dictatorial regime in power, the authorities are still arresting people who have done nothing wrong, torturing them and trying them in secret kangaroo military courts, the people are still freaking ignorant and voting how their religious leaders tell them to, and once again we're being told about our glorious democracy.
Now we have to get ready for a year of continuous elections: for president, for parliament, for local councils, for a new constitution (maybe not), then for parliament again. Judging by yesterday's referendum, the thugs and salafists and all the other triumphant democratic forces will be kept very busy.
Alice you are very wrong, our new democracy building will be very solid with the grace of God and the prayers of the MB and their devout followers, the others so called secularists and Christians need not to pray(because they are infidels and their prayers will not be answered) they should move to another country like this charming 'Mansour Dawoud' has suggested to me on FB ..preferably the Vatican(assuming I can only be a Christian cause I voted no?.. even though I am not didn't bother replying to the prick) what a lovely democracy when people tell you to move to another country because you obviously can't be a muslim if you vote against the advice of the sheiks and if you're a Christian and don't abide then you better go elsewhere and Zeinobia keeps telling us MB are just scarecrows
did not know that voting no means I am living as an American or the Vatican people
# Mansour Dawoud Ur English is Perfect , but 10 millions can't rule more than 75 millions try to live as Egyptian not as American or Vatican people أعجبني · رد · 9 hours ago #
If your experience of voting was as you describe then I sympathise. I would certainly find this intimidating. Also your point about the absence of a secret ballot is a very important one since a secret ballot is essential to protect people's freedom to vote according to their own opinion without interference. In fact I would strongly suggest that people should campaign for secret ballots to be the norm in all future votes.
If you decide to go to Scotland I wish you a safe journey. Several of my ancestors signed the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320AD. It is a long road to build a democracy. We are fortunate in Britain that it was built by many generations before we were born. I hope we can continue to maintain it.
@Ahmed
Yes, it is constructive to express genuine concerns. This is realism, not cynicism.
I have noticed that a number of young Egyptian men stand up very strongly for the rights of their womenfolk and rightly so. You are the ones who will lead others to change their old habits on this so that everyone benefits.
After all, what kind of man wants to have the kind of relationship with his girlfriend or wife that a dictator has with his people?
Yes, many of the habits that grow under a dictatorship will take more than six months to change and there is no guarantee that one dictatorship won't be replaced by another.
My remark about cynical comments was not directed at people who are interested in engaging in open debate in order to try to find solutions to the problems they are experiencing. It was directed at at those people, whatever country they live in, who seem to come to this blog to tell Egyptian people they haven't got it in them to build a civilised society.
I met good people when I visited Egypt and I think it is a beautiful country. I know there is a counter-revolution going on and I really hope that you can all forgive one another's mistakes and find your path through the difficulties together so that you end up with a future of mutual respect which is far away from some of the old habits of mutual abuse which have been employed to keep a dictator in power over you.
Unfortunately there are some people in all countries of the world who enjoy causing pain and destroying hope but I see so much that is positive and which can lead to good things.
There are many oppressive forces in the world and I feel that Egyptians took steps into the light out of a very dark and difficult place. I live far away but I still feel we are all connected and I will personally despair for the whole world if you are not now able to build a better future.
Thank You for your comment Please keep it civilized here, racist and hateful comments are not accepted The Comments in this blog with exclusion of the blog's owner does not represent the views of the blog's owner.
I think millions of Egyptians today gave their pink finger respectfully to Hosni Mubarak, Omar Soliman and Ahmed Nazif who once doubted that we , the great people of Egypt would understand and practice real democracy. Speaking about NDP , now I am more certain insh Allah that we do not need to disband it or suspend its activities , because it will not get a single seat in any election in the future. The NDP used to cheat in the elections when it was ruling the country from iron fist , it used to close polling stations and scare people from going there for God sake. This is why I have more confidence in the Egyptian people , we will not be silent anymore.
What a pleasure it was to read this story!
ReplyDeleteYour optimism allows me to feel hopeful for the world despite all the difficulties it currently faces.
I really do believe that the courage of the Egyptian people has changed the course of world history for the better and that you will be able in the end to overcome all the nasty obstacles and build a wonderful civilised future.
Best wishes for success!
I was in Mokattam when in happened. I saw few people who were throwing the stones. The ones I saw were the same thugs hired by the NDP to beat us during the elections. I sad to see that the NDP is still live and well :'(
ReplyDeleteSo I guess you know about this, Z. Hundreds of Islamists stone Egypt's ElBaradei.
ReplyDeleteThe finger should also be given to Programmer Craig and John and ... all those who came to this blog to tell us that we Egyptians are savages and not ready for democracy!
ReplyDeleteI hope Egypt build a free society that would serve as an example to all oppressed people in the world and not just the Arab world
and those who attacked Gamila were NDP too?
ReplyDeletehttp://dostor.org/art/news-and-variety/11/march/19/38469
Mabrook! Egypt has smoothly transitioned from a Mubarak/NDP tyranny to a new Muslim brotherhood dictatorship..hallelujah
There's no hope in this country.. going back to Inverness
Notice it says "Islamists" did the stoning, not "NDP".
ReplyDeletei voted there and my paper was not stamped
ReplyDeletethank you for the report Z. really great to see those happy faces and peaceful voting today!
ReplyDelete@Egyptian-in-USA "I hope Egypt build a free society that would serve as an example to all oppressed people"
ReplyDeleteI would hope so too, but it's not likely. Egyptians give lip service to the Libyan revolution, for example, but will allow neither the army nor air force to help the anti-Gaddafi forces. In fact it's worse than that: Egypt won't even allow the UN coalition to use its air bases! Zeinobia approved of the refusal, saying "Hilary Clinton asked Tantawy to use our bases to launch air strikes against Libya but the field marshal refused and thank God he did."
@Zeinobia, so in what sense do you support the Libyan revolution? Only in some rhetorical sense that's completely worthless to the Libyans Gaddafi slaughters. You're just mouthing platitudes to feel good about yourself. Meanwhile, only in the opening few minutes, the US and UK launched 102 cruise missles at Gaddafi's defenses, at a cost of $569,000 each. Maybe the Libyans will thank us when Gaddafi's gone. Egyptians all over the political spectrum will simply sneer. I hope I'm wrong.
Not all Arabs are craven or two-faced. Qatar is contributing four to six jets and United Arab Emirates is contributing 24 according to Wikipedia. Good for them. Thank God for small countries with balls.
Actually there was no evidence that the stoners were islamist. In fact, every source that I've indicates towards the NDP. So please, enough with the fear-mongering, especially from foreign zionist parties
ReplyDeleteyeah, we are ready for a democracy that will replace NDP with the Muslim Brotherhood..isn't that lovely?
ReplyDeletethe outcome in most stations was more than 75 yays vs 25 nays-according to early results from masryalyoum. You see what happened is when almost all educated, university-grads(not including Zeinobia of course), activists called for a no vote, we couldn't even win a 35% when most elect-monitors said it will be too close to call saying any win will be 50 something at best but what happened is the nice Muslim Brotherhood launched their propagande with posters and banners everywhere, here in Alexandria it can already be declared as the 1st mb city..even issuing a fatwa that a yes will send you to heaven(practically meaning a no will send you to hell) and the ignorant masses all went for the heavenly yes-yes.. Egyptian-in-usa we are so ready for democracy we are already stoning secular politicians and chasing down liberal women who want to vote.
So what will happen in next elections? not to worry..the muslim brothers will change their slogan, it will no longer be "islam is the solution" it will be "vote for us to reach heaven" or "hell awaits our opponents".
my advice to you is to stay in the USA, unless you want to watch Egypt turn into another Iran theocracy.
Oh and Zeinobia you still think you will see a new const.? keep living in your day-dream because in a newly elected house without a strict obligation no elected representative will work on a one, you think that a new magles can be formed and they get thrown out in 6 months to a year after all they have spent on their campaigns just to get reelected again..I know you voted yes and I don't mean to offend you in anyway but seriously anyone who believes a new magles will create a new consitution committee to see their campaign money go to waste in 6 months..well, anyone who believes that is a moron-of course the muslim brothers will not have to spend so much..ticket to heaven voting you know. PLEASE READ/LISTEN/WATCH HISHAM'S BASTAWISI'S PRESPECTIVE ON 189!
you can spit on my face if you see a new constitty..and my advice to our Christian brothers: GET OUT..GET OUT NOW!
-egyptian-soon-to-be-in-scotland
yeah, we are ready for a democracy that will replace NDP with the Muslim Brotherhood..isn't that lovely?
ReplyDeletethe outcome in most stations was more than 75 yays vs 25 nays-according to early results from masryalyoum. You see what happened is when almost all educated, university-grads(not including Zeinobia of course), activists called for a no vote, we couldn't even win a 35% when most elect-monitors said it will be too close to call saying any win will be 50 something at best but what happened is the nice Muslim Brotherhood launched their propagande with posters and banners everywhere, here in Alexandria it can already be declared as the 1st mb city..even issuing a fatwa that a yes will send you to heaven(practically meaning a no will send you to hell) and the ignorant masses all went for the heavenly yes-yes.. Egyptian-in-usa we are so ready for democracy we are already stoning secular politicians and chasing down liberal women who want to vote.
So what will happen in next elections? not to worry..the muslim brothers will change their slogan, it will no longer be "islam is the solution" it will be "vote for us to reach heaven" or "hell awaits our opponents".
my advice to you is to stay in the USA, unless you want to watch Egypt turn into another Iran theocracy.
Oh and Zeinobia you still think you will see a new const.? keep living in your day-dream because in a newly elected house without a strict obligation no elected representative will work on a one, you think that a new magles can be formed and they get thrown out in 6 months to a year after all they have spent on their campaigns just to get reelected again..I know you voted yes and I don't mean to offend you in anyway but seriously anyone who believes a new magles will create a new consitution committee to see their campaign money go to waste in 6 months..well, anyone who believes that is a moron-of course the muslim brothers will not have to spend so much..ticket to heaven voting you know. PLEASE READ/LISTEN/WATCH HISHAM'S BASTAWISI'S PRESPECTIVE ON 189!
you can spit on my face if you see a new constitty..and my advice to our Christian brothers: GET OUT..GET OUT NOW!
-egyptian-soon-to-be-in-scotland
A free society would be good. MB (Islamists)will not give you that. I pray for the best. It is too soon to be pessimistic.I admire your enthusiasm but you must not naive.
ReplyDeletehere's your new democracy(tweeted by abotawila
ReplyDeleteبعد ما مد إيده على صدر زميلى طارق و نزع إستيكر لا بكل قوة قاله : إنت مع النصارى
أنا فى سرى ؟! طب و هوة فين الإتهام ؟!
another one:
MaGEd_Ali79: بتناقش مع واحد قالي لازم نقول نعم علشا الرسول امرنا بمخالفة اليهود والنصارى
now the news are starting to emerge about our great democratic experience
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/365664
nice..nice and this is just the constitty ref. we haven't even began real election campaigns
hope you're enjoying our democracy egyptian-in-usa
Oh Jason just so you don't miss out(and also to the naive westerners at awe of our new-found democracy:
above link:
(briefly) bearded man(islamist) pursuits a woman motorist(editor in masryalyoum) for having a 'no to amendments' bumper sticker flashing his headlights..she slows down and he starts calling her expletives(not defined but apparently very rude) he wasn't even concerned that his woman/wife/tent was in the passenger seat.
top link: islamists on motorbikes chase gamila ismail(prominent activist and women rights advocate) terrorising her crew from reaching a polling station
anecdotes from our great referendum day
Islamist pulls out a 'no' sticker from some one's shirt:"are you supporting Christians??" GOD FORBID!!
OH I AM SO LOVING OUR NEW DEMOCRACY..AREN'T YOU ZEINOBIA?(don't feel bad about voting yes, you are going to heaven after all. but not us infidels who dared to vote no, rememeber though, to ensure your ticket to heaven you can only vote following brotherhood's recommendations from now on)
I loved your detailed description of this incredible day. Congratulations to you and all of Egypt. You are making history!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Zeinobia for participating in the first true democratic experience in the new Egypt.
ReplyDeleteBTW this is the second time you photograph your pink finger. Is that a 1962 Fiat 1300 in the background?
I will vote for NDP!
ReplyDeleteAnd it ll be many of us...
The whole thing was a right mess....
ReplyDeleteWe were promised a referendum 2 months after the amendements, we got 20 days!!
We were promised a clean & fair ordeal, we got Islamic propaganda and bribes.
And thus the majority of people who said YES were manipulated ignorants. People who didn't have enough time to fully grasp what these amendents meant.
So elections in 6 months, which will be mostly NDP remnants and MB since they're the only ones prepared....And they'll be responible for drafting a new constitution IF they choose to. That should be interesting.
Sigh..I'm sure tourism will be booming and investors will be beating to the door upon knowing the Brotherhood is in control. Oh yes! least we forget about the
"stabilty" we were promised, 8 elections after this!! 8...yummy stabilty!
One last thing, I'm so sick of people screaming "NDP thugs or SS" when ever something bad happens, it's really quite naive. All that's needed is one idiot to start it up and the rest will follow. So while we'd all like to believe the were NDP thugs or whatever, there's more of a chance they were average Egyptains expressing their opinion in the own way they know how to.
There is nothing helpful in these cynical comments. What is your motive?
ReplyDeleteWhy come here to comment if you don't have something constructive to say? Why try to spread misanthropy in the very place where people are working really hard to overcome it?
Do you think it is not obvious to the vast majority of the population of Egypt that people who throw stones at any person waiting to vote are not in favour of democracy?
Those of us lucky enough not to have grown up under a dictatorship should be grateful for that. We are in no position to act superior to people who have lived under opression and have had the courage to stand up to it.
If we value our free society we should be asking ourselves whether we have the courage and the humanity to maintain it.
no evidence they were Islamists?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M41pcpLOQdo
oh yes, I forgot..if it looks like an Islamist and yells like an Islamist then it must be an NDP thug!
cynical comments? I was attacked myself for voting no!!
close up of the great democracy day:
Baradei gets stoned by Islamists
Islamists gang on bikes chase down Gamila Ismail and her media crew
people with no-vote bumper stickers or badges or t-shirts get verbally abused
now listen to this miss cynical comments.. the school where I voted had no curtains, the 'open booths' desks were under a window overlooking the corridor where people queued , the queue can actually see what circle you're ticking. after I was done voting and stepped outside there was a path for those leaving, a nice beardy bloke blocked my way as if it's too crowded and while I was trying to move around him he shoved me so hard I almost fell over the line.. I didn't think much of it but later realised that guy must have seen me ticking in the wrong box, I deserved it afterall for my ungodly vote.
@Marina "Why come here to comment if you don't have something constructive to say? "
ReplyDelete...who says it's not constructive?
My brother-in-law told me on Friday that the immam told the prayers to vote YES, my sister said her Professor in Ain Shmas told his students to vote YES, that we "should take what we can".
So I think it's insulting to people with legitimate concerns that's this revloution might be hijacked by people intent on marginalizing women and Christians. People with these concerns to be brushed off as "succumbing to the scaremongering of Mubarak and his cronies" is disparaging.
But who cares about that? At least we have a "time frame" eh Zeina? A country that has been under 60 years of single-party rule, surely can be transformed into democracy within 6 months. Surely!!
I can already smell the scent of stabilty. YES! I can hear armed gangs of thugs dropping like flies. And if a listen closely I think I can hear the scared "wheel of prodution" moving
hey Jason, how do you make those links hyper?
ReplyDelete@Sarah Familia I disagree with you, we are not making any history; Iran has already beaten us to it in 1979.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing we are making is a repetitive history.. right to the letter.
http://yfrog.com/h7vgyxoj
ReplyDeleteCorrupt NDP businessmen replaced by Islamic clerks.. same shit different wankers.
..and it begins
ReplyDeletehttp://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/51319.aspx
"Presented by Dr. Magda Mohamed Hammad professor of psychology ethics complaint Cairo a new Vice Chancellor-General, Dr Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud against, Dr. Yehya Al-Gamal, Vice Prime Minister, accusing him of insulting the divine self and the Islamic system accuse of corruption."
proper translation:
Magda Hammad(never heard of her but I can bet she dresses like a ninja) has sent an official complaint to the general prosecutor accusing the deputy prime minister Yehia AlGamal of insulting the divine entity and the Islamic rule quoting him "Islamic is the worst governance system and belongs to the dark-ages and the narrow-minded". Magda is demanding that Gamal be prosecuted and punished in accordance to the 'law'
I see heads rolling soon.. do we not see the signs Zeinobia or is it still the scarecrows? keep burying your heads in the sand
wanna bet the next referendum will be about changing article one description, Arab republic of Egypt to Islamic republic of Egypt? I can bet that will also win an 80% of votes :o
http://t1ny.us/4dpf1
ReplyDeleteperhaps something like that would have helped people understand? but then again we are not known to be scientific people, we are known to be good citizens obedient to AFC commands and submissive to religion figureheads.
Of course the democratic state YES endline is an illusion, now we know how elections will be run and Islamists have launched their first offensive.. the fatal final shot is yet to come, expect it soon after the are elected to dominate the parliament.
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThose were probably SS agents of those darn NDP thugs. All Egyptians are angels /blissful ignorants
when I remember yesterday's referendum and how people were so ecstatic, especially a couple of guys telling us they voted YES as if to prove a point and the people applauding and cheering their commitment..this song keeps ringing in my head:
ReplyDeletehttp://t1ny.us/dup32
http://t1ny.us/rhfo7
one woman was telling her friend she hasn't felt that happy since her Ramadan's omra
O' what a glorious glorious day!
How to make hyperlinks: 1, 2, 3.
ReplyDeleteHere are commenter links enlivened:
now the news are starting to emerge about our great democratic experience
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/365664
no evidence they were Islamists?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M41pcpLOQdo
Corrupt NDP businessmen replaced by Islamic clerks.. same shit different wankers.
http://yfrog.com/h7vgyxoj
..and it begins
http://gate.ahram.org.eg/News/51319.aspx
I feel sick. As Judge Tahany Gebaly said, we demolished a huge but rotten building and now we're being told to build a new one on the site without first clearing out the rubble. It makes no sense, and it's not possible for the new building to be solid unless the rubble is removed and a solid foundation laid.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping at least we'd have a new constitution that provides a legal basis for the revolution's principles before we elected our new leaders.
Instead, the old dictatorship constitution is back, while the media still take orders from the dictatorial regime in power, the authorities are still arresting people who have done nothing wrong, torturing them and trying them in secret kangaroo military courts, the people are still freaking ignorant and voting how their religious leaders tell them to, and once again we're being told about our glorious democracy.
Now we have to get ready for a year of continuous elections: for president, for parliament, for local councils, for a new constitution (maybe not), then for parliament again. Judging by yesterday's referendum, the thugs and salafists and all the other triumphant democratic forces will be kept very busy.
So much for 'stability'.
This thread is epic, approaching legendary. Here are further commenter links enlivened.
ReplyDelete2011 Egyptian Constitutional Referendum process
http://t1ny.us/4dpf1
Ticket To Heaven, Dire Straits
Lyrics: http://t1ny.us/dup32
MP3: http://t1ny.us/rhfo7
Alice you are very wrong, our new democracy building will be very solid with the grace of God and the prayers of the MB and their devout followers, the others so called secularists and Christians need not to pray(because they are infidels and their prayers will not be answered) they should move to another country like this charming 'Mansour Dawoud' has suggested to me on FB ..preferably the Vatican(assuming I can only be a Christian cause I voted no?.. even though I am not didn't bother replying to the prick) what a lovely democracy when people tell you to move to another country because you obviously can't be a muslim if you vote against the advice of the sheiks and if you're a Christian and don't abide then you better go elsewhere and Zeinobia keeps telling us MB are just scarecrows
ReplyDeletedid not know that voting no means I am living as an American or the Vatican people
#
Mansour Dawoud
Ur English is Perfect , but 10 millions can't rule more than 75 millions try to live as Egyptian not as American or Vatican people
أعجبني · رد · 9 hours ago
#
* التحديد كرسالة بريد عشوائي
* الإبلاغ عن أنه مسيء
hope this works Jason
ReplyDeleteI am so proud on you! You really understand what is democracy!
ReplyDeleteSay YES or sey NO... Say what u think is right and not what some group of ppl want u to say!
Great job Zeinobia.
I am not masreja I am from EU, but I live in Misr and if all Egp ppl ll be like u this country have good future!
Great job again!
Good job! You got it on the first try! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome.
@Egyptian-soon-to-be-in-Scotland
ReplyDeleteIf your experience of voting was as you describe then I sympathise. I would certainly find this intimidating. Also your point about the absence of a secret ballot is a very important one since a secret ballot is essential to protect people's freedom to vote according to their own opinion without interference. In fact I would strongly suggest that people should campaign for secret ballots to be the norm in all future votes.
If you decide to go to Scotland I wish you a safe journey. Several of my ancestors signed the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320AD. It is a long road to build a democracy. We are fortunate in Britain that it was built by many generations before we were born. I hope we can continue to maintain it.
@Ahmed
Yes, it is constructive to express genuine concerns. This is realism, not cynicism.
I have noticed that a number of young Egyptian men stand up very strongly for the rights of their womenfolk and rightly so. You are the ones who will lead others to change their old habits on this so that everyone benefits.
After all, what kind of man wants to have the kind of relationship with his girlfriend or wife that a dictator has with his people?
Yes, many of the habits that grow under a dictatorship will take more than six months to change and there is no guarantee that one dictatorship won't be replaced by another.
My remark about cynical comments was not directed at people who are interested in engaging in open debate in order to try to find solutions to the problems they are experiencing. It was directed at at those people, whatever country they live in, who seem to come to this blog to tell Egyptian people they haven't got it in them to build a civilised society.
I met good people when I visited Egypt and I think it is a beautiful country. I know there is a counter-revolution going on and I really hope that you can all forgive one another's mistakes
and find your path through the difficulties together so that you end up with a future of mutual respect which is far away from some of the old habits of mutual abuse which have been employed to keep a dictator in power over you.
Unfortunately there are some people in all countries of the world who enjoy causing pain and destroying hope but I see so much that is positive and which can lead to good things.
There are many oppressive forces in the world and I feel that Egyptians took steps into the light out of a very dark and difficult place. I live far away but I still feel we are all connected and I will personally despair for the whole world if you are not now able to build a better future.