The Freedom to Be

Novelist Laurie Halse Anderson wrote in her book, Speak, “when people don't express themselves, they die one piece at a time.” She, like millions of others, believes that all humans, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, social class, etc.  deserve a voice. They deserve to be allowed to express their opinions and ideas. One, of the many things that America prides itself on is being a nation that allows “free speech.” Its citizens are permitted to express their thoughts without being jailed or killed, a harsh reality that occurs in other nations.

Since the start of time, minority groups have been fighting for equal rights. They all have one thing in common. They've all been fighting for the right to have their own voices.  The revolutionary Women’s Suffrage Movement started because women wanted the right to vote. Blacks have been fighting for equality since the dawn of time. At first they were just fighting for the right to be considered human as oppose to property. The brutal Civil Rights movement, almost sixty years later, was what truly gave blacks the same rights as whites. Currently gays and lesbians are making progress at getting rights in America, but they’re completely oppressed in countries like Russia. Some group somewhere is always fighting for a voice.

If you’re reading this you probably have a voice. Or maybe you don’t. I don’t like to pretend I know my audience, even though I’m almost positive my “audience” only consists of Ms. Parham and the students who are in my AP Language and Composition class.

Imagine not having a voice. Our voices make us individuals. Without voices we are just clusters of molecules floating around. Without voices we are just chess pieces, we can only go certain places, we are at the mercy of the player whoever he or she may be. The dictionary defines “voice” as the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song or the expression of something through words. Expression is the key term there. Having a voice is synonymous with freedom of expression. Freedom to express one’s ideas, thoughts, feelings, and most of all, the freedom to simply be.

Presidents, Problems, and Power

Since 2011, Egypt has been through two revolutions and a plethora of other problems.  Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Morsi were both extremely corrupt presidents and subsequently “protested” out of office. Mubarak had been president for thirty years while Morsi lasted roughly a year. Morsi was a major member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a frequently oppressed Islamist group that wants Egypt to become an Islamist nation. General Fattah al-Sisi became president in June of 2014 and is still in office today.

However, Egypt is still dealing with major problems. Its biggest issue at the moment is the energy crisis. Blackouts occur frequently and can last anywhere from a few hours to twenty hours. Egypt’s power network is extremely fragile, and for a long time has been using more power than it actually had. Without constant electricity, Egypt is unable to address its water crisis. While the electricity is a major issue, so is Egypt’s lack of clean water. The good thing is, it seems like the people are more forgiving of President Sisi. They are still anxious for him to solve these problems, but mass protests aren't occurring. In fact, the electricity problem is a typical topic of discussion and many jokes are made about it as well. Some people say, “We were having such a nice time, and the power came back and the light ruined the moment.” Sisi has the people’s support; he just needs to get things rolling.

Right now the US really needs to try and remain allies with Egypt. We've been allies since 1922, but recently we've not been getting along. Egyptians have not been pleased with America’s actions in regards to the revolution. Egyptians feel the US was too quick to abandon Mubarak, as well as support the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt also feels that the US has been too evasive in terms of its actions. It refused to recognize Morsi’s “removal” as a coup, cut some of its military aid, and has recently criticized the new legislature that Egypt has produced. The Egyptian public feels alienated and that’s why Egypt is looking at developing a rapprochement with Russia.

The Western media has seemed to favor the protesters and activists of Egypt. I think it tries to stay neutral, and it definitely talks about both sides, but for the past three years it’s helped the protesters and hurt the presidents. The media highlights and emphasizes the negative things about both Mubarak and Morsi, and they probably deserve it, but it’s still bias. In terms of the issues today, the media has been more neutral because it’s waiting for a side to take. At the moment, the majority of Egyptians are giving President Sisi the benefit of the doubt and just waiting for him to fix the pressing issues.

If Sisi can get Egypt out of its economic crisis he’ll be a hero. If he can’t…

Should Egypt develop military ties with Russia?

If President Sisi doesn't succeed, do you think there will be another revolution?

The Place I Call Home

Fairfield, Connecticut

31.3 square miles

Or 81.4 square kilometers, if you’re not American

Or just into the metric system

41 degrees, 10 minutes, 33 seconds North

73 degrees, 16 minutes, 19 seconds West

It has been around since the beginning

It has seen Americans fighting for freedom from the British

It has been destroyed

It has been in flames

Its houses were burned to the ground

But it lived on

It’s home to beautiful beaches, preppy country clubs, and wonderful ice cream shops

It’s where youth sports are big

People care about high school athletes

Who won this game or that match is painfully important

It’s a place where music matters

A place where you see often young men and women in tuxedos and black dresses

You can feel the intensity, and taste the passion as they sing and play their hearts out

It’s a place that’s in a bit of a bubble

It’s not so diverse

Racially

Religiously

Socially

It’s a place where people can by stuck up and snobby

Along with a major superiority complex

White and wealthy is the demographic

It’s a place you can leave

It’s a place that doesn’t keep you forever

It wants you to branch out and pursue your passions

It hopes you’ll return, but understands if you don’t

It’s a home to some

It’s just another town to others

It’s not too special, but

It’s where I’m from