Egyptian Folklore in Aid of the Revolution

News from the Egyptian Street and Media Translated Without Comment from Arabic into English As a Public Service
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Since time immemorial, folklore has been a powerful popular instrument.  It draws its force from the shared experiences of its public.  This has proven its strength in aiding the Egyptian Revolution of January 25.  Egyptian poetry, chants, jokes, songs, anthems and slogans were all on display at Tahrir Square, Cairo for all the world to see.  That folklore was and shall always be a powerful tool in moving people, especially in this case, the Egyptians from bandage to liberty, from silence to participation, from submission to sovereignty.

So this Friday's blog is dedicated to the beautiful noises which made for the grand symphony of "we are now free!!"  It is a global message which resonates across all cultures, religions, borders, affiliations, governmental systems and even international animosities.  It is the Esperanto [presumed international language] of the Arab Spring and beyond.

Samples:

• IRHAL - in Arabic "BEGONE" - Chanted in unison telling Mubarak and his motley crowd: after 32-years of dictatorship, the game is up.  Go!!
• "AL-SHAAB YUREED ISSQAT AL-NIZAM" - In Arabic: "The people want the fall of the regime."  As it did on February 11.
• "YA TAYYAR YA TAYYAR: MENEEN GIBT SABATASHER MILLIAR?"  Since Mubarak was a pilot, yet allegedly amassed $17 Billion, the chant is: "Pilot, Pilot: How did you get $17 Billion?"
• "Come Back, Mubarak: We were only kidding!"  Mocking Mubarak after his fall by asking him to return because the public was only kidding.
• "Come Back, Mubarak: How are we going to rename 670,000 establishments bearing your name?"  Too much to change all those signs!!
• "Please Return: The loaf of bread is now getting bigger, threatening my plan to lose weight!!"  During Mubarak's time, and as a result of corruption and cronyism, the loaf of bread, a main part of Egyptian diet was getting smaller and smaller.
• "Mubarak, Please, Come Back.  I am now talking freely and I am not accustomed to that."
• "Please Return!! I am afraid that Egypt will forge ahead to become a modern nation."

But one of the best pieces of poetry which emerged was that by Mohja Kahf entitled, "My People Are Rising."  Here is the first part:

My people are rising my people are rising,
with olive branches and song, they are waking;
the earth underneath their marching is shaking;
my people are rising! They are not crouched;
they are not stooping; they are not hungry for bread alone;
we don't want your bread they say, we are hungry for more.

Above everything else, the Revolution taught the Egyptians the love of country, of the flag, of their civilisation, of their diversity, and of their national anthem which begins by: "Biladi, Biladi, Fidak Dammi:" "My Country, My Country, for Thee I Sacrifice!! And their slogan has become: "Love Egypt!!"  There is an Arab proverb that says: "Love of Country is a part of faith."