Egyptians expect confrontations in the lead up to June 30

The countdown has begun once again in the land of the pharaohs. As the hype continues and the mobilization for June 30 escalates, the outcome of the marked day is yet illusive.

For the growing number of Egyptians who are rallying against the one-year-old presidency of Mohamed Morsi, his brotherhood and his party, hopes are rising. His supporters on the other hand are determined to protect him and threaten to abort any attempts to oust him. In the media war, the two groups claim supremacy, anticipate victory and are preparing to rescue Egypt. Meanwhile, Egypt is dipping deeper into chaos. Signs of revival of its greatness and the greatness of its people are yet obscure although not absent. It is difficult to believe that any win-lose scenario could provide the way out for the nation and its patient people. The intention might be gaining ground for future leverage.

Regardless of the anticipated confrontation, the fear of violent clashes, the speculated outcomes, this coming round of negotiated conflict could yet provide another opportunity for convergence of energies if enough clarity and wisdom prevail. There has not been any real winner so far, even though the once underground banned Brotherhood managed to negotiate its way to the height of power, they have either underestimated their responsibilities or were completely blinded by the allure of power. Their short-lived celebration of the presidency has been contested every inch of the way as their ability to bring the nation together and inspire Egyptians to make the necessary change continues to be questioned.

Egyptians have been growing apart for many decades. They have been forming and belonging to social circles of support of different natures in their dire attempts to survive and create a sustainable livelihood for their families. In the absence of any vision for social cohesion, justice in the rule of law, social responsibility and political accountability, it is no wonder Egyptians splintered into heterogeneous groups with some very intense subcultures. Despite, this surface phenomenon that has been driven by greed, fear, self interest and a distorted value of economic prosperity, the deeper culture of thousands of years will remain resilient. It is this deeply rooted connection that brought Egyptians together momentarily in 2011 when Egyptians amazed the globe with a peaceful and united front across ages, backgrounds, mindsets, faiths, genders and subcultures. An accumulation of deeply set values, an innate knowledge once recalled transcends differences and creates a strong collective will. It has happened before and it will happen again. What transpires in the next two weeks is likely to be an episode in the same process of change.

Egyptians will have to dig deeper beyond appearances, surmount their fears of each other, to summon the energy to unite and begin to trust they have the ability to create anew. Egyptians have the ability to respond to their calling for greatness once again, only when they can build bridges of understanding, tolerance, respect and trust. It might be clearer to some that Egypt has eroded most of its political capital and certainly much of its economic capital yet more importantly its social capital is in severe crisis. Egypt’s culture requires intensive care.