I was on the streets on Wednesday celebrating with the Egyptian people; experiencing history in the making. People were ecstatic, overjoyed and free. The spirit of liberation and freedom was flowing through the streets. Everybody was united, Muslim and Christian alike. I was walking with a Coptic priest and it was like walking with a celebrity. He couldn't even take two steps before crowds of people came up to him and hugged him, thanked him and even apologized for the way Christians had been treated.
People were chanting "Muslim and Christian, united in one hand" and showing the cross and crescent together representing that both religions can live in peace. History was made. It was true liberation, true freedom, nothing I had ever experienced before. It reminded me of what America represents and the values that so many have given for our country, for our freedoms that we take for granted.
When people asked me where I was from, I was hesitant. I knew that the Egyptian people were extremely angry with the United States' policies towards supporting the repressive Muslim Brotherhood, so I quietly would say "America" but then quickly follow with "I am with you" and "congratulations". The immediate reaction when I said America was a frown, and people would ask "why...why is America supporting the Muslim Brotherhood?" They can't figure it out. I would answer with "I am sorry...I do not know". Obama has managed to taint the reputation of America in Egypt and around the world.
That night I couldn't believe this had happened, the Egyptian military had taken the lead and were cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood members. I was so proud of the Army, so proud of the Egyptian people. They took the lead in fighting the global war on terror that every country in this world deals with, and Egypt had led the way. The whole international community should be so proud and grateful to the Egyptian people and the Army for what they did the last couple of days. The line on what side you are on is clear: with terrorism or against terrorism.
Unfortunately, the excitement lasted a little over a day, now there is fear and anxiety in the air in Egypt. There were 17 deaths yesterday in the streets from clashes, and a Coptic Priest was killed today. This new shift is due to the Obama Administration giving credence and legitimacy to Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Obama managed to kill the revolution and the spirit of freedom and liberty from the Egyptian people. He has clearly taken the side of the repressive Muslim Brotherhood regime against the values of human rights and equality.
The world has seen in black and white where President Obama stands, and it is clearly with the terrorists; the same terrorists that share the ideology of those that kill our troops in Afghanistan, and have killed thousands of our troops in Iraq.
This is unacceptable. I hope the American people call their Representatives and call their Senators to tell them to support the people of Egypt, and renounce this Administration's policy of supporting the rise of political Islam worldwide. The Obama Doctrine of supporting terrorism must stop. He has crossed the line and has put the Egyptian people in serious risk for their lives and the future of Egypt. If the opposition does not succeed, Egypt will be lost forever and innocent lives will be lost.
The Egyptian people have for years lived under repression, but they have not given up. They continue to strive for freedom and believe that they can achieve equal rights for all one day in Egypt, even when Obama is trying to strip it from their hands.
Americans need to understand what is at stake in Egypt at this time, at this moment. This is it. The Obama Administration is supporting a regime in Egypt that is completely antithetical to what America stands for. Why? We must stand for values that represent America. Those values are freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, justice and rule of law. Stand with the Egyptian people because if not, America will also pay the repercussions if the opposition in Egypt does not succeed.
If the Egyptian society wins, this could turn the tide in the war on terror across the globe. This is the moment, and this is the time that we need all freedom loving people to stand with the Egyptian people because they took a stand that will benefit all of mankind.
Mona Barakat is a correspondent for the American Middle Eastern Coalition for Freedom currently in Egypt.
Read more: Family Security Matters http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/not-a-coup-but-a-revolution?f=must_reads#ixzz2YSVU1BwS
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