Feb 5th,2017
Dr. Amr Abd El Samea,
Almost all the introductions which young Researcher Ahmed Mubarak chose to be written by Dr. Refaat El-Saeed, Dr. Mostafa El-Feki, Dr. Kadry Hefny and Dr. Ossama Hamdy as an introduction to his book about the renowned politician Hossam Badrawi titled “Man of the Storm” are about the idea of being confused about Badrawi’s heading of the NDP. In the eyes of that group of trustworthy intellectuals, it does not make any sense to have this type of reforming cadres within a political entity that was surrounded by confusing opinions, and described with corruption in one occasion and with tyranny in another. This was the same note, repeated 3 times in the episodes of my TV show “State of Debate” in which I hosted Dr. Hossam Badrawi 6 years ago, when I bafflingly asked him “Do you present your ideas in the NDP and do you teach some of them to the youth?”
He persistently answered: We are trying. I see that it is a very well chosen preface to Ahmed Mubarak’s book.
In this space, which is wide for nothing but a summary, I will begin by showing a saying by Dr. Badrawi. Ahmed Mubarak, a researcher in Al-Masry Alyoum and one of those documenting January 2011 events, presented that saying in a documentary film titled “The Palace Corridors” (Arwekat Al Kasr). It is about what was happening around President Mubarak at the moment of change. It was quoted from Badrawi’s interview with (10 pm “Al-Ashera Masa’an”) program that was conducted by Mona Elshazly and was one of the most popular talk shows at the time in 2011. In the program, Badrawi said that the NDP must respond to the demands of the angry youth. Logic and reason say we should respect the will of people, regardless how many they are. Some say its 100,000 others say 30,000. This is not the issue. My issue is that there are demands that I as a politician or a political party should face and research reasonably and objectively, and responding to the claims of the youth. There are many issues that should be discussed and prioritized. Strength does not lie in obstinateness, but in understanding opinions. This is my policy. I declare it and accept it sometimes. I demand the NDP, as the majority party, to respect the will of people. Talented Writer Ahmed Mubarak, who made every effort to discuss and shed light on the manner in which this reformist politician was thinking, and he truly seemed as “A Man in the Storm”.