Maha Eladwi

Trump and His Favorite Dictator Maha Eladwi

Having been an eyewitness to the oppression and corruption of an establishment governing under martial law for what seemed to be forever, the author got the privilege to participate in the revolt calling for downing the whole regime and the departure of a 30 years presidency. The Egyptian revolution of January 25, 2011 followed the toppling of Ben Ali in Tunisia that sparked the anger about the presidency that last a lifetime with a clause for inheritance of governance of the country. The author literally lived in Tahrir Square and survived snipers, police brutality and massacres committed by the armed forces. Contemplating on the agony of those days and the strive of the Egyptians for liberty, freedom and pursuit of happiness made the author's emotion and outlook thrive. After less than a decade the author found herself immersed in a sequence of events subsequently taking place in the USA in 2020: the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed on the public from lock down to masks and social distancing followed by the murder of George Floyd and the multiracial protests. Reflections on the continuously evolving events kindled tribulations of memories from the past. The author drew similarities between the events of 2011 and those of 2020.