‘Shut Up Your Mouse Obama’ can only represent Persistence and Bravery!

If you are an Egyptian or living in Egypt, you probably came across this statement: “Listen your Obama, we are Egyptian women. You are, listen Obama, Shut up your mouse, shut up your mouse Obama! Sisi, yes, Sisi, yes. Morsi, no, Morsi, no.”  

If you never heard of it you can watch this video to have a clearer overview:

Mona Al- Beheiri, an Egyptian underprivileged woman expresses her dissent, in a broken poor English and heavy Egyptian accent during the presidential elections in early 2014. Many people started to mock her on her poor English more over some folks believe she reflects the image of an uneducated and ignorant Egyptian women.

Few days ago she appeared in the Arabs Got Talent Show for approximately 30 seconds and she was rejected. Some people say that someone made her turn up at that show, but that is not the problem.

People left everything and started to feel ashamed and mocking her. Al- Beheiri is being used for cheap laughs and ridicule. That is unfortunately how our low local media operates in many circumstances.

Arabs Got Talent Show: 

The question is, why is she an embarrassment at all? We hold the notions of freedom of expression, and when it comes to this simple lady, it turns into embarrassment? I admire her for being courageous enough to try to put her message forward with all the skills that she possesses. The fact that she's delivering her message in English and not in Arabic and through different media channels can only represent her persistence and bravery! She was not scared. Even if her English is poor and she sounded funny, at least she is trying to deliver her message. And I believe she succeeded, millions of people listen to her.

I admire her confidence to stand before millions expressing what she believes in. That's what represents Egyptian women - the right of expression no matter what and no matter where. I can’t blame her English. Given her background, it's actually really impressive she can put those few words together. How many monolingual people can stand like that and try to express themselves in any other language but their native tongues?

Who are you to judge? No body is perfect. How many Europeans or Americans are able to speak anything but their native language? Yet if they do speak another language other than their own they are not ridiculed in this way. We are great people in our own right. All we need is self-respect. Respect to each other. Respect our individuality and the rights of our fellow citizens.

Probably most of us believe she is a shame on Egypt. Well let me tell you something, it’s actually a shame on us that we couldn’t help everyone like her to improve him/ her selves while we know they need a helping hand from us. Instead of mocking her, help her understand, help other women and men so they wouldn't end up being a clown hired and controlled by this society. 

This is ridiculous. Instead of making fun of others why not pay extra attention and ask our selves where can be the problem?

Al- Beheiri is a victim of a corrupted regime. Don’t blame her and everyone like her. Their ignorance and poverty is the product of their circumstances. They have not had the same upbringing education and environment like us or as people who live in the west. They are the victims of many years of poverty, ignorance, oppression and injustice.

If you cant be a freedom of speech supporter and respect your fellow citizens then you don't deserve one!