I Am Liberal

The Referendum (El Estef-ta’a)

A couple of days ago were our Egyptian referendum. The 1^st fruit of freedom, the great gift granted to us; Egyptians by the revolution of the 25^th of Jan. All Egyptian citizens can now express their opinions freely, and each person’s voice matters.

People gathered in very long lines to vote all around Egypt (Line of about 18 Million Egyptians). A lot said “Yes” to the modifications on the constitution, and also, a reasonable number said “No”. I was one of the people who said “No” to these modifications.

I was glad to spend about two and a half hours standing in line to express my voice freely. People were very friendly, and cooperative. The hours seemed to pass quickly as I chatted with the people standing with me in line. I was glad to meet some friends who came later and passed to say hi, then went to the end of the line.

People with differing opinions stood together with one common goal; a better future for our beloved country

People standing in a very long line to vote on referendum 

I was really touched when I saw an old lady looking for her husband and a young girl helped her, she said “Bless you youngsters of this country” then she looked at me and the young men with me in line and said “ Thank you, you gave us back our dignity, you made our votes matter… This is the first time I vote in anything in my entire life…Thank you”.

The people who said “No” had valid reasons to say “No”; reasons they believed will help build a better future for Egypt. The people who said “Yes” also, believed they had good reasons to say “Yes” and build a better future for Egypt.

A few people said that people who said “No” are Liberal. They believe that the word “Liberal” is a synonym with “Atheist”!! Their opinion is based on the fact that if we rejected the modifications made to the constitution and pushed to make a whole new constitution and this may affect the part of the constitution that says that Egypt is an Islamic country.

The funny thing is that at the end the constitution will be changed weather we say “No” or “Yes”. So, people worrying about the later scenario are worrying for the wrong reasons. The Council of our Armed Forces (i.e people ruling Egypt in this period) stated that these modifications are only going to be used for preparation of People’s Council and Presidential Elections.

I don’t believe that people should say “Yes” out of fear of “No” or say “No” out of fear of “Yes”. I also, don’t believe people should use religion to force people make opinions about such matters. Some extremists accused people who said “No” of being Atheists (To them Liberals = Atheists). I believe we should base our opinions on logical scientific and historically based reasons.

Why did I say “No”?

I said “No” for logical reasons. I believe it’s not logical to make People’s council’s elections twice (one before presidential elections and another after we choose the president). Only a few people are going to be willing to be working for a short time in a Temporary People’s council. The second reason is that it’s not logical to modify the constitution and then make a new one after appointing the president. We should just make a new one and then use it. I believe that saying “Yes” takes us to a longer and less efficient road to democracy, but at the end both ways leads to democracy, and a better future for Egypt. This is not my opinion alone; it’s the opinion of a good number of political scientists who studied history of lots of nations, opinions of the Egyptian Judges’ Club. Well known Egyptian political figures like Mohamed Al Barady, and Amr Mosa also, said “No”.

Those people who said “No” are truly liberal, but not Atheists. So, what does liberal means?

According to the online Oxford Dictionary the word “Liberal” means:

·      Willing to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas.

·      Favourable to or respectful of individual rights and freedom.

·      (Of education) concerned with broadening a person's general knowledge and experience, rather than with technical or professional training.

So, basically the essence of being Liberal is true freedom of thought and respecting other people’s ideas, and opinions. This is a core concept in our Islamic teachings; accepting our differences, and living together in harmony and peace regardless of our differing opinions, beliefs and values. In the days of our prophet Mohammed (PUBH), he used to consult with his followers “Wa Shawerhom fel Amr” (i.e. And take their consultations). Islam also, teaches us to respect our differences and learn form them. Islam has spread all over the world trough trading and by respectable Islamic manners those Islamic traders presented; these respectable manners that unites all people regardless of race, or beliefs. So, in this essence liberal = Islamic.

The Results

At the end the majority said “Yes” (77 % of the 18 million voters said yes). So, we have to respect the decision of the majority, even if we don’t agree, we have to accept the consequences of that decision, and work for a better future; this is true democracy.

There were few reports and videos on facebook & the media about people who were trying to push people to say “Yes” using religion. There are lots of people who were easily convinced by such acts.

We have a long way to go before being mature politically, but we have started an amazingly …. 18 million people voting on the referendum, in a very organized and very respectable manner. That’s what makes me very optimistic about the future of Egypt… We are able to express ourselves freely in a civilized way, and respect our differences.

At the end I say a very big “No” for using fear and religion to influence people’s opinions, and a very big “Yes” to unity of our nation and a better future for our beloved Egypt.

(This is a free discussion topic, if anybody wants to express their opinions about it, feel free to do so)