A Letter to Your Local Congressman

Dear Congressman Xavier Becerra,

Concerned for the safety of my very pregnant friend who lives in Cairo, I asked her how I could help, she replied, "Reach out to your local congressman.” It wasn’t the reply I was expecting. To avoid the possibility of the protests in Egypt escalating into something further, I anticipated helping her book a flight back to the United States, perhaps wiring money over, or even sending a care package if mail delivery would allow. Certainly her request would be the easier of the things to do than what I had envisioned and yet her request gave me pause.

I have never written to my local congressman and yet I do so now, understanding how much more this could mean for her, for me, for her country and for mine.

We are witnessing a revolution in Egypt - The Egyptian people are demanding President Mubarak to step down.

Over a million Egyptians intend to remain in Tahrir Square until the regime accepts their demands for a new and democratic government. The demonstrators have shown to the world that they did not come to destroy, but to build their country.

We must also show our support, but not in millions of dollars in military aid to the Middle East as the U.S. has done in the past; instead, I ask that we do so by sending food, water and supplies. The country is desperately poor, more than 40 percent of Egypt’s 84 million citizens survive on less than two dollars a day and ongoing demonstrations against Mubarak has halted businesses and created household shortages of supplies like bread and rice.

And once Mubarak is removed, our support should again continue not in the way of massive military budgets, but by assisting the Egyptians in this transition. Our assistance to Egypt should reflect our support by guiding them to build democratic institutions. Help them stand on their own two feet, make available our expertise for a more just and accountable government. As quoted by another congressman, "the people of Egypt are fighting for their rights as our nation once fought a revolution to obtain."

Thank you for your time.