OnIslam.net

Before January 25th, negative feelings surfaced between Egyptians to dominate every aspect of their lives.

This mood could be felt on the streets, while driving, at work, and above all in any crowded place.

Egyptians complained a lot, thinking that their ethics as Arabs and Muslims vaporized as the years passed with no return.

Simply put, many Egyptians felt sick.

"Many psychological stresses causing behavioral, social and psychological problems are due to regime corruption," Dr. Lotfy El-Sherbiny, consultant psychiatrist, told OnIslam.net.

One could hear from time to time people wondering where the hospitality, kindness, and care over one other went among their fellow Egyptians? Where were the feelings of responsibility, courage and identity?

Nobody predicted that something will come and change everything in a few days; a story that began in the 80's and never showed an end.

Revolution “Earthquake”

No one imagined that years of silence would crack one day and release a wave of anger into the streets.

"For years, Egypt had been suffering from social, economic, and political alterations that led to the appearance of some negative characteristics and a state of general and individual frustration," El-Sherbiny said.

"These alterations took us into a deep turmoil of indifference and a lack in the sense of belonging," he said.

"The youths withdrew from any effective role for years."

The Egyptian psychiatrist described the Egyptian revolution as an "earthquake that has shaken the deep feelings in the society," including the silent youths.

The revolution incorporated that part of society that had not participated in political life for decades, he said.

Years of silence encouraged more greed. Embezzlement of the people's wealth and treasures became overt with no expectation whatsoever that anyone could be able to stop such practices.

For years the regime thought that the people are silent out of ignorance but now everybody knows that it was out of knowledge and frustration.

Everybody knew how bad the corruption became but they waited for the first spark to act.

The date of the revolution was previously announced and all the arrangements were made public yet the regime did not take it seriously.

No one imagined that years of silence would crack one day and release a wave of anger into the streets.

"The ability of non-politicized youths to organize and lead the revolution was the surprise element that led to its success," El-Sherbiny, who participated in the Alexandria protests, said.

"This situation could have been prevented if the regime had recognized the living and moral needs of its citizens and provided a climate of security, stability and freedom."

Poor Handling

Poorly written speeches of Mubarak which promised too little too late showed how resistant the regime was to change.

Protesters agreed that the regime’s handling of the crisis was the thing that kept it ignited, fueling it rather than extinguishing it.

First was the police confrontation that submerged them with gas bombs, rubber bullets and live ammunition followed by the release of prisoners and the planned attacks across Egypt, ending with the regime thugs.

In addition, the poorly written speeches of Mubarak which promised too little too late showed how resistant the regime was to change.

"The toppled dictatorial regime handled the situation either before or during the revolution with a lot of confusion and folly crisis management," El-Sherbiny said.

"They did not understand the mentality of the protesters nor their legitimate needs. This was caused by staying too long in power and their inability to understand the people's requirements due to indifference and the dependence on the Iron Fist of oppression as a method of keeping power."

El-Sherbiny stressed that this should be a lesson to any other regime on the importance of wisely handling such an uprising.

The Egyptian regime was taken by surprise as no one predicted this unprecedented scene: Millions of average people spread in the streets and protested with persistence and awareness even without the presence of a leader.

"This revolution changed the common perceptions," he said.

"The initiative was started by a group of youths having great knowledge about internet technologies and modern communication means. They had one goal they believed in. Then the exception happened. The revolution succeeded without a leader having leadership characteristics. It was an example of teamwork."

After the revolution, chaos prevailed. Stability isn't there yet.

Corruption was nesting everywhere. Egypt still needs a cleaning phase to gain momentum on the path of development.

"Stability comes with time," El-Sherbiny explained.

Positive Prognosis

"The consequences of this revolution will be deep and positive at the psychological level," insists El-Sherbiny who protested in Alexandria.

"The rise of positive feelings due to psychological and moral gains achieved by the revolution, and the hope that enlightened our lives after moving stagnant waters will help stability."

Some Egyptians are pessimistic about the outcomes and are skeptic regarding any measure taken at an official level although till now many things seem to be moving in the right direction.

Thirty years of lies and deception aren’t easily erased with the 18 days revolution.

"Any change in a life pattern includes some difficulties and trembles at the individual and public levels," the Egyptian psychiatrist pointed out.

"But change is a civilized aspect and it always leads to progress. An English proverb says: Not every change is an improvement, but every improvement is a change."

El-Sherbiny made it clear that a revolution always offers inspiration and flares-up a lot of hidden energies such as strong will, powerful determination and positive thinking.

Such characteristics appeared in all stages of the revolution since its inception until its objectives had been achieved. Egyptians before January 25^th are different from those after; they are more proud.

"The consequences of this revolution will be deep and positive at the psychological level," El-Sherbiny insists.

"It will raise morale and will provide an unprecedented sense of pride and self confidence to Egyptians and even Arabs in general."

In addition to internal gains, and providing a better life for citizens, such a case could also affect developed countries on a different scale.

For instance, a better life in underdeveloped countries could mean a curb of illegal immigration, a problem Europeans are complaining about.

"Revolution success is expected to solve stressful and deteriorating economic and social problems that motivated illegal immigrants in search of a job in a better place."

Instead of supporting dictatorship "developed countries must support economic and social changes in poor countries leading to more growth and better life opportunities."