Egyptians showed the world Arab Spring when they protested by the hundreds of thousands in Tahrir Square demanding the Hosni Mubarek step down and end his nearly thirty year autocratic rule over Egypt.  During his reign, he was considered an ally to the United States that helped present a united front against other Arab countries who would oppress their people.  The hypocrisy of the union was lost on Americans and those in the west, but not lost on Egyptians who struggled to make ends meet each day in a failed economy where there were no jobs to be had for the educated youth, where the people had no voice in their own government, where the rich got richer and the poor became poorer.  In a country rich in history, whose sands birthed great nations, the people were starving, and since Mubarek has stepped down, they still are.  The joy of the victory by the will of the Egyptian people has been short-lived as the military, which once helped them, now controls the government and promised free elections have not been held.  Radical Islamists plot for control while every day men and women who see the swift degradation of their society once again take to the streets in protest; losing their lives in civil war.

One young man dares to speak out about life inside Egypt.  His name is Patrick.  Yes, Patrick.  His father wanted him to have an anglicized name so he might have an easier way in the world, a way where he wouldn't be immediately judged by his name.  Little did he know that he would be trapped inside a country swamped in civil war.

Patrick was drafted into the Egyptian Armed Forces.  He has witnessed more in his twenty-three years than most western youths see in a lifetime.  Worse, most of what he has seen has been pain, suffering, hopelessness, and violence.  Still, he is intelligent, speaks three languages, plays drums (self-taught), and has the sweet soul of a poet.  Want to know what life is like in right now in Egypt?  Read Patrick's own words.

"If I could do it, I wouldn't have been here right now. To (travel) somewhere you must either have a lot of money or a sponsor and I have neither. What I do is just try to be as good as I can and leave the rest for life. I'm doubtful because it's been a emotionally tough life for me. I've changed a lot in the past 6 years or so and am waiting to see the results. After all, life is an experiment."

Revealing how depressed he has been, Patrick continues.  "I, myself, am a great person. You have no idea how I strove to be who I am. It would take me hours to explain what kind of stupidity, pain and frustration I've gone through. Simplest thing is growing in an environment stripped of love to be a musician. I feel great about myself and that which I have put in life hasn't paid anything but more pain for being a sensitive, caring, gentle person.  One important thing you should do is not judging my life on a background of yours. You have no idea how it is to grow up in Egypt. I got upset when Milan said "how can you be depressed while you are 23".

Feb 4, 2012 inside Cairo.