…. this was inspired by the first post I read on my wall on Facebook today .. a very dear friend wrote it in Arabic .. here is my translation, a kind of adaptation .. I dedicate it to her ..
…… Once upon a time there was a homeland .. sometimes strict like a father is with his kids to teach them .. and sometimes like a mother smothering them with tenderness … and we are these kids .. brothers & sisters .. we have all grown up and each started his own life … some earning their living on its soil .. others had to earn it some where else .. some had it easy some had it rough .. rich or poor .. educated or not .. still we all had the same feeling of belonging and compassion towards our dear homeland .. after years and years of slumber & hardships .. suddenly we made a“Revolution” .. some call it an “up rise” .. seeking “bread”, “freedom”,“dignity”& “social justice” … as much as it brought out the best in us .. it also brought out the worse .. at that point, it turned into a curse .. like a volcano erupting .. spitting out ashes and lava … throwing out its guts .. burning & destroying everything in its path ..
No more tranquility .. No more security .. No more peace of mind .. it feels like living near Mount Vesuvius .. we scattered into groups .. divided .. each running for his life .. some seeking safety .. some looking for fast gains .. some declaring themselves“THE CHOSEN” thus worthy to prevail .. some declaring themselves “THE PATRIOTS” thus worthy to lead .. others declaring themselves “THE FITTEST”.. implementing the Law of the Jungle ..
.. another group were seen as “THE SAVIORS” .. la creme de la creme .. we aspired and hoped they would strike gold ..
I would like to elaborate a bit on that last group, so we get the picture ..
…. since we love soccer .. the following comparison would describe them best ..
to us “THE SAVIORS” were just as if bringing Messi, Ronaldo & Iniesta, topping them with Pelé to form a soccer team, a dream team to achieve the golden medal ..
yet .. not as expected .. each one wanted the success to be named his own .. the result .. they messed up the game .. playing individually .. no plan .. no harmony .. loosing the tournament .. which in the case of the soccer stars this would have been very unlikely to happen .. that’s why we had high hopes ..
As for the rest not belonging to any of the previous groups .. well .. the rest is either torn or crushed between them all .. loosing orientation .. loosing hope .. and hating the fact that they brought it on themselves ..
get the picture .. ??
…. what inspired my friends post was an Egyptian song called ” The Best People”, describing the Egyptians, she heard it accidentally yesterday .. it was a hit back in the 80s we all sang it on school trips .. it was sung by an internationally renowned Egyptian Singer called Dalida, with Italian origins .. an Egyptian Beauty Queen back in the 50s .. she was spotted by French director Marc de Gastyne and, much to the reluctance of her parents, she moved to Paris & became a singer and actress, performed and recorded in more than 10 languages including: French, Arabic, Italian, Greek, German, English, Japanese, Hebrew, Dutch and Spanish ..
What became of Dalida ?? .. May 1987 she committed suicide leaving a note saying :“Life has become unbearable for me… Forgive me.”
… and what became of “THE Best People” .. well .. we are now lost & on the verge of committing suicide .. how ironic ..
UNLESS .. WE decide to do something about it & take matters into our hands .. unite again & set aside all of our differences .. rescuing ourselves & our homeland ..
Call me an optimist but I have faith ..
Even the stones that have been placed in one’s path can be made into something beautiful …
“THE BEST PEOPLE” by Dalida :
