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THE POWER OF A DROP

Have you ever sat by a steady lake and watched a drop of water wandering

around until it reached the lake causing what s known as ripple effect ? The

effect that happens when a small object drops into static water, where ripples

keep expanding around it, producing lots of motion. They may reach dry soil

and nourish it for crops to grow. They also may move unwanted water andspread harm, and filth.

This is neither poetic nora physical theory; this is just my own opinion. I borrowed this analogy to describe

what happened in Egypt during the early months of the revolution in 2011. When attempting to trace back the

cause of the ripple effect that reached Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo, it seems very difficult. I mean the

real causebehind the awakening of a nation. This one drop caused all the change. Each one of us saw a

different drop and was pushed to Tahrir Square by the effect of a different ripple. But we all ended up there, in

the same spot. Maybe this drop was young KhaledSaeed, May God rest his soul in peace. Maybe it was a spill

from a long lived corrupted regime on the still and clear water formed by the pure hearts and souls of innocent

and honest Egyptians. The true residents of the Egyptian land . The fact is the drop has fallen and the

rippleswere produced leading to such a precious moment in the history of this blessed nation.

There is one thing with ripples though, they may reproduce! They may

generate more ripples,and keep spreading. Only one simple tweet,or a 2 line

facebook post, were the small drops that moved millions of Egyptians from

their homes to Tahrir Square on the 25 th of January of year 2011. On the 28 th

of the same month another drop fell on protesters in the Square leading to

more ripples, when the local police started firing live bull etsthat killed

hundreds of our youth and injured hundreds, and that was it The ripples

started growing.

A few days later on February 2 nd , protesters were still in the Square, and the

old and ugly regime was getting tired, and decided to drop another object

when they hired thugs tofight the protesters in such a primitive and

indescribable way using horses and camels, that was a big one, and caused

again another ripple effect. This was the l ast nail in the Mubarak regime

casket that led to the failure of a 30 years old autocratic regime.

As Mubarak falls, the ripple effect continue transforming a long history of passiveness under the autocraticregime into a highly participative behavior, that was first seen during the referendum of the constitution which

took place on March 19 th , regardless of what you wanted to say yes or no almost 14 million Egyptians wentand participated effectively in this referendum. That was a beautiful ripple once more seen in Egypt.

Nevertheless, during this very moment, something else dropped in other

water, and started to form a new ripple!! That was poli tical diversi ty. The

diverse politi cal affil iations startedbursting causing troubled relationships

between brothers and sisters who lived together in this country for ages.Butthe true Egyptians decided to start reforming their bonds and to live together

or die together for their beloved country.

On the other hand, another good ripple effect was formed, at the same exact time, while some were

consumed by their political struggles; others were actually spreading the spirit of re-building Egypt.A spirit that

we all saw when young boys and gir ls started cleaning the s treets and painting the pavements. We saw fathers

By: RamyKhodeirOn twitter: @rkhodeir

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and neighbors guarding their own houses, and sharing the l imited supply of food and drinks. That was onepure drop causing a wonderful ripple that we need to keep up.

So, now what?... some drops are pure & clear fall in sterilized still water and cause fine ripples that we benefit

from and enjoy their sight, and some filthy &immoraldrops fall into swamps and cause corrupted ripples that

we need to clean or just let go.

The corrupted media, supported financially by the remains of the old regime, will try to producethose filthy

drops and cause ripples in the swamp, likewise the newly emerging political parties, foreign nationswho see

the Egyptian revolution as a drop in their water which may cause a ripple of revolutions in their countries

threatening their regimes, or threatening an ally of their own in the region, or even maybe believe that Egypt

may become a threat for their disturbed economy.

Honest Egyptians will continue to generate pure & vibrant drops, and praying for bright & dazzling ripples in

the fine Egyptian water, through work,progress, and passion for making this country a better place for

Egyptians & by Egyptians. They will continue to resent, just the thought of individual gains on the expense of

the collective benefit of their country.

Now is the time again, a drop is coming in the water of revenge consuming us while we try to catch ourbreath running after the remains of the old regime, and another one is forming in the water of rebuild

encouraging us and motivating everyone to give a hand in reforming a nation that deserves lots more .

The choice is all yours

Finally, if you believe in the law of the ripple effect, don t tell me one man can t change the world.The thought

behind this article was just a drop, aiming for a ripple that

may be initiated by YOU.

One thought struggling inside our heads, looking down at

the rift between reality and dreams of a better tomorrow,

hesitating about the unknown,drops on us with a voice of

fear anddenial; whispering It s hopeless .This drop willspread ripplesin the swamp.

Another thought coming from our heartsdrops on us with a voice of courage -like the one we saw and heard a t

Tahrir Square on January 25 th - looking up at the sky and roaring in our ears EGYPT . IT s TIME TO FLY . Thatis a drop that will create ripples in clear rivers, and moist dry soils, making the tomorrow we dream of a reality .

WHICH DROP WILL YOU BE? WHICH WATER WILL YOUBELONG TO?

Author: RamyKhodeirOn Twitter: @rkhodeir

Editing & Translation:ReemKhodeir