The View From Here: Thoughts of a Young Activist on Democracy

By Nejeed Kassam

When I started writing this column, I was supposed to be taking off my shoes, carefully dropping them into a non-descript plastic grey tub. I was supposed to be, expertly and publicly, removing my belt and placing it carelessly atop my shoes, double checking my pockets for coins and keys, while I awkwardly wait, with hundreds of others, to have my privacy quasi-violated. Airport security.

Those of us who have had the privilege to fly, and it is a privilege, know this routine. But often, and especially in my case, the drear of security and line-ups is overridden by the excitement of the trip: the adventure that is to commence, or the freshly-imprinted memories, from the one that has just happened.

For me, it was to be the opening paragraph in my latest story: Cairo. The land of limitless minarets, of ancient Pharaohs, and the Nile’s daunting mischief. My second trip to the enchanted city in less than 14 months. This time, I was to be interning for the United Nations Development Program. Every young change-maker’s dream, right? Waking up and going to a building that flies that sky-blue flag. Making a difference. Doing something for the world?

And then it happened. Democracy, or something like it. Egyptians spoke, like maybe never before. The people forced that their voice be heard. It was incredible. For years, in textbooks and on the BBC website, I had read about it, studied it, even dreamed it.

And now it was happening. And I was to be there, finally experiencing it. The activist in me began to quickly to show its adrenaline-charged face. Was this my Tiananmen Square? I started thinking about the photos I’d take, the articles that I’d write, and how important it was that I, Nejeed Kassam, youth activist, writer, change-maker, be there. Soaking it all in; experiencing the people’s will: demos kratos.

My excitement came to an abrupt end: my flight got cancelled. In fact, almost every flight got cancelled—the result of a fading dictator’s feeble grasp to hold power: the curfew. The UN started to evacuate all its non-essential personnel; the UNDP (temporarily) suspended most of its operations; my medical insurance was no longer valid; my government strongly advised me to stay home. My trip was cancelled. My story’s pages left blank.

And I was angry. This was supposed to be my moment, my chance. And I was stuck with an unused $61 visa; all I had to show for my adventure. But, then I started to actually think about it. Why exactly did I want to go so much? Could I possibly be that audacious and arrogant? What could I possibly contribute while I was there? A column in the newspaper, maybe a few photos?

I claim to be an activist. But what does that even mean; what was I doing? Activism is a verb, not some passing or trendy term used by self-righteous hipsters. I believe it to be about making meaningful contribution, doing that something that I always dreamed about, even if it came in baby steps. For me, in Egypt right now, there was nothing for me to give, no action for me to truly take. The worlds of Twitter and Facebook, of text messages and blogs were livelier than ever—barely inhibited by the suspension of the internet. Egyptians, and especially my fellow youth, were sharing the stories, the pain, and the excitement—and much better than I could. Wanting to go to Egypt, without job or real reason, what did that make me? Selfish and hypocritical.

If I am actually the activist that I claim to be, if I take this role seriously, there is so much I need to learn—and not just about politics, or development, or revolution. But also about myself, and my place in the world of social change. Egypt, and all that it has led to, has, for me, not only been a great lesson in democracy, but also a lesson in activism, and one that I’m grateful I’m learning.

Where will the next revolution be? Yemen? Bahrain? Libya? Maybe somewhere that nobody expects. Who knows. I may be there, I may not be. But, I don’t think that really matters.

They say that charity starts at home… maybe activism does too.

*UPDATE:  Nejeed Kassam was just redeployed by UNDP to Belgrade, Serbia from where he will file reports for HUMNEWS.

--- Nejeed Kassam is a Canadian youth activist and is the founder of the international NGO’s `End Poverty Now’ and `Networks for Change.’ Nejeed is currently writing two books including the sequel to the “High on Life” book and is a young activist, looking for his next international assignment.