On the First of January 2009, Robert Fisk wrote in the Independent : “The rotten state of Egypt is too powerless and corrupt to act” (http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-the-rotten-state-of-egypt-is-too-powerless-and-corrupt-to-act-1220048.html).  He also wrote a  few days later: “Wherever I go, I hear the same tired Middle East comparisons”  (http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fiskrsquos-world-wherever-i-go-i-hear-the-same-tired-middle-east-comparisons-1297595.html).  I have always admired Robert Fisk’s writings, sometimes too critical, but I respect other’s opinions.

The more Robert Fisk writes, the more I am convinced that we, Egyptians and Arabs, do not have an idea about marketing ourselves, working on our negatives and stressing our positives in front of the rest of the world.  We have no idea how to lobby or defend our rightful causes, how to endorse our causes to be defended by others in the media around the world.  Check how many people have been writing in favor of the Israeli attacks on Gaza and how dramatic it is that they lost 10 - 15 of their soldiers, no mention of the 917 on the other side in Gaza Strip mostly civilians with women and children after 17 days of none stop attacks from air and land.  No mention of how the whole of Gaza has been turned into a battle field with an attacker and no one to defend.

Truly, we are emotional people, our acts are based on our emotions, but do we have any future visions or plans for the region….  With all the demonstrations we are having and the flag burning sessions, with all the anger directed to wrong addresses, we were unable to stop Israel from continuing its attacks on Gaza.  Even, the UN and Security Council were unable to stop the attacks.  On the other hand, in very cold blooded and cool headed manner, most of the papers in the west are writing in the defense of Israel and its right to defend itself and its citizens against the barbarian neighbors.

They are using our emotional outbursts against us; the media in the west find our people not worthy of living. Even though, the Palestinians are having the highest number of deaths, the damage in infrastructure and buildings, living with no water or electricity. They are the Victims, but not in the eyes of the rest of the world. The Israelis know how to market their war against civilians and still look like a victim.  Please let us think rationally in order to gain; the more emotional we are, the worse our image will get.

It breaks the heart to see all these deaths and damage in Gaza, but if we love our countries as I love mine, we will be more rational and use our minds instead of our hearts.  Fight them with the same weapon and you will sure win.

I love Egypt and Egypt Prevails.