Not an assignment.

I started this as the autobiography and realized it didn't quite fit the guidelines. But I was halfway done, so I'm posting it for shiggles. I've heard a few things about this from news networks, so here's my little part.

January 25th
The morning finally wakes him. He had slept in. The man begins his day by opening his eyes; the apathy of sleep still heavy in his mind. He carelessly rolls off the aged mat onto the floor and rises to his feet. He is careful not to wake his fiancé's family during the walk to his drawer. As he dresses for his job, he glances around the room. He is a modern man, but this living arrangement does not reflect it. A cramped two room apartment contains an entire family and the woman he loves. He had hoped to spring her from this life and bring her family out from poverty when he entered the university. Not long after enrolling, tuition bills began piling and loans mounted. To help off-set the debt he sought employment in any form, so he was hired as a part-time driver by a middle class family. They were nice enough and the pay allowed him to further his education. Soon enough he graduate from Cairo University School of Law. His masters diploma is still hanging above the drawer. Yet he had no wasta, no connections into the privileged life and therefore lived with the masses. That was five years ago. Today, he and his future family are hungry.

Making his way from the alley to the peculiarly empty street, he shakes his drowsy apathy and realizes this is the day. The streets have not been this calm since before corruption engulfed his country. He changed direction and hurried his pace. Tensions between the government and citizens have been snapping in the recent weeks, and the revolution in Tunisia has heightened Egypt's security. He and many friends have discussed their views, discussed what should be done and agreed their government cannot provide it. Soon enough he enters a small hardware store and walks to the backroom. The room is filled with familiar faces, all of them angry. He hears one voice over the others, "They are taking the internet, our communication away!" "They are afraid" another face speaks. “We are the ones who are frightened, we are not killing the government, they have been strangling us!" More voices launch into the air. Finally silence comes over them and the man asks, "What has happened?"

The sun is now setting, and throngs of people are in the streets. Facing them are police officers, prepared to shoot rubber bullets. One woman walks closer. Bullets are pelted into the crowd and trucks mounted with water guns are unleashed on the masses. Men are running, shouting, and cameras volley the shooting with their own shots. The hectic scene climaxes and the police retreat, leaving the protestors incensed. The man from the morning is now in front of a camera. Realizing an opportunity for perhaps a national audience he seizes the moment and thrusts his emotions out. "We will not be silenced! Whether you are Christian, whether you are Muslim, whether you are an atheist, you will demand your goddamn rights, and we will have our rights, one way or the other - we will never be silenced!"

Egyptian Revolution Jan 25th 2011 - Take what's Yours! from JoeChaban on Vimeo.

This could very well be horribly inaccurate, but revolt is happening. Egypt is rebelling and by the time most people read this, the plan to protest after Friday’s prayer will have occurred. So far reports are that millions of people will join the protest, could be less, could be more.