Wael Ghonim is a computer engineer and entrepreneur turned Internet and social activist. He was an administrator for the Facebook page “We are all Khaled Said”. Khaled Said was a young man who was brutally murdered by Egyptian authorities, and became a symbol of discontent against the regime of Hosni Mubarak.  In 2011 he took leave from his position as Head of Marketing at Google to become involved in the Egyptian Revolution against Mubarak. After initial involvement in the protests he was detained by the authorities for 11 days. Following his release he took part in the demonstrations in Tahrir Square, and made noted speeches to the crowds.

In the wake of the disastrous Presidency of Mohamed Morsi of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, his removal from power by the army and their subsequent take-over of power, it is easy to forget the achievements of 2011. For a brief period it seemed possible that Egypt would move away from authoritarianism, violence and oppression. Despite subsequent setbacks, the ideals of freedom and democracy that figures like Ghonim represented can still be realised.

1) ”There are no heroes; we are all heroes on the street.”

2) ”The real hero is the young Egyptians in Tahrir square and the rest of Egypt.”

3) ”We cried a lot. Not because we are weak, we cried because we are human beings. Our tears were the bullets that killed 30 years of injustice. ”

4) ”This revolution is not over until democracy is enforced & until unemployment & poverty rates reaches the same levels of developed countries.”

5) “Breaking the psychological barrier of fear is the tipping point of any revolution in any police driven regime led by a dictator.”

6) ”Please don’t make me the face of this revolution. Its not true as every Egyptian was the face of this revolution.”

7) ”Anyone with good intentions is the traitor because being evil is the norm”

8) ”Dear Western Governments, You’ve been silent for 30 years supporting the regime that was oppressing us. Please don’t get involved now.”

9) “The ‘police state’ mentality isn’t something you can get rid of in a matter of days.”

10) “The power of the people is greater than the people in power”