Dixon Egyptian-American watches a revolution unfold

DIXON – For the past 3 weeks, the world’s eyes have been on Egypt as its citizens mounted a revolution resulting in the ousting of the country’s dictator of 30 years, former President Hosni Mubarak.

The dramatic unfolding of events carried a special meaning for Dixon resident George Mobarak, 43. His father, Adel Mobarak, owner of Rock River Ready Mix in Dixon, has been visiting extended family in Egypt since December.

Adel, 69, was born and raised in Egypt and emigrated to Dixon in 1968, when he was 27. He became an American citizen, and spends time every year in his childhood home in Giza, just outside of Cairo.

He has witnessed firsthand the unprecedented revolution aimed at overthrowing Mubarak, who stepped down Friday.

Adel has talked to his son every day, and from the moment protesters took to Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo, George and Adel have watched the youth movement flourish.

“This is a revolution that basically started with young people,” George said. “Older generations became complacent. The younger generation is who started the move toward democracy.”

George has visited Egypt a handful of times in the past, most recently 10 years ago. Egypt’s youth failed to understand how a president could rule for 30 years unchallenged, he said.

“What surprised me the most was the tenacity of these young people,” Adel said in a phone interview Sunday. “That was the most unexpected thing; it even surprised the Mubarak regime.”

Under Mubarak, when Egypt was ruled as a police state, people “were afraid to speak, because they would be arrested for criticizing the government,” Adel said.

“What surprised me is that, more and more people, it’s like the fear went out. Finally, they had a chance to speak without fear,” he said. “That’s the most important thing this revolution did. No more fear for speaking your mind.”

Adel wants to see a democratic Egypt in the future.

He envisions Parliament and the president elected in “free elections, supervised by judges in Egypt and some international supervision, so it’s the voice of the people truly in a democracy.”

The Egyptian Constitution should be modified to limit each president to no more than two terms, he said.

Adel said he is proud to be an American citizen.

“I feel lucky, I’m proud to be an American ... I just hope that the people here would have some form of democracy, because that’s the first thing I cherish as an American, is my right to speak, my right to be wrong.”