Important Message Behind Sisi’s Speech

Happy 6th of October war victory anniversary….

All Egyptians listened to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's speech on the 46th anniversary of October war victory. Some words remained stuck in my mind as he said that the 6th of October, 1973 does not just represent a military victory achieved aptly by the armed forces, yet, it is a unique expression of the nation willpower and people's unity.

“It is the right of today's generations to know what happened in the war. We, who lived those days, have a duty to accurately clarify how the test was grueling, how Egyptians passed it successfully, and how the people stood together to back their armed forces, a victory that reinstated dignity and opened the door for both land restoration and peace establishment,” he added.

In the meantime, I was at the primary stage, and my father was a teacher, who belonged to the so-called middle class.

After 30 years in his education career, the salary of my father- may God have mercy on him- did not exceed LE 60, despite being promoted to a supervisory position. He did not aspire to own a car, yet he was able to pay a small house in Tahrir city.

During this time, Egyptians faced many hardships; there was heavy congestion, the public transportation means were crowded with passengers, besides sanitary sewer overflows, and poor telephone service. However, they were able to receive medical treatment at low prices and to get their full-share of food subsidies.

The services provided by the state, in the light of its modest potentials, were enough to fulfill people's aspirations at this time.

Hence, when late president Mohamed Anwar Al Sadat declared the war, the Egyptian people believed in him and stood behind him; hundreds queued in front of hospitals to donate blood and to join the popular resistance. They felt the hard circumstances experienced by their president, as he sought the land liberalization under the available potentials.

President Sisi's speech embodied a significant message; nowadays, the Egyptian state is experiencing the same circumstances, but the challenges just get bigger.

The state is facing new types of war, foremost of which: the water war that could lead Egypt to adopt  military action, as well as wars targeting people’s morale via modern communications and media; wars aim at stirring suspicion and confusion.

However, I have great confidence in the Egyptian people nowadays; they are not less patriotic than their ancestors.

Contributed by Nada Mustafa