Egyptian C.O.D. students react to removal of Morsi

While Egypt grapples with massive political unrest following the forced military removal of President Mohamed Morsi, two Egyptian students at College of the Desert are keeping tabs on their homeland from afar.

Halim Salama and Karim Hagazy agree Egypt is better off after the Arab Spring when Hosni Mubarek resigned from office.

They have differing opinions on the ouster of Morsi after just one year on the job.

“If we compare Mubarek and Morsi. 30 years and one year,” Salama questioned the fairness. “How? I am saying only, give him a chance.”

Karim Hagazy says Morsi did not do enough to earn his keep as president. He says under Morsi, that electricity would go out for hours at a time every day and, “The food is really expensive right now,” Hagazi said. “The gas, you can wait 7 or 8 hours to fill up your gas.”

Hagazy says Morsi used religion to control his followers. He believes furthering the Muslim Brotherhood was Morsi’s top priority, not helping the masses that rose up to oust him.

“33 million in the streets,” Hagazi noted of the massive protests. “That’s a big number. That’s a huge number.”

Many Morsi supporters have not backed down either, and this week more than 50 of them have been killed, leaving the two Egyptian College of the Desert students concerned for the immediate future of their country.

“The problem now,” Salama said, “They started to fight. And when blood starts, it’s so difficult to stop it.”

While Salama wishes Morsi was given more of a chance to govern, for the safety of everyone, he now hopes the ousted president stands down and speaks to Egyptians about moving on to another election.

“To make only the people calm down,” Salama said .”Because they will not leave (Tahrir) Square at all.”

Both students are enjoying the Coachella Valley, but each plans to move back to Egypt when their studies are complete.

Hagazy is confident he will return to a stronger Egypt.

“I hope Egypt is going to be … I think Egypt is going to be way better soon,” Hagazy said. “The military or the army, they can’t leave it like this.”