Egyptians Celebrate Revolution, Get Back to Work

On the streets of Egypt, people are doing three things: celebrating their revolution, memorializing those who died in it and getting down to the nitty-gritty work of building their country's future.
For the past three weeks, Farah El Moataz's frantic¹ father wouldn't let her out of the house. He said a revolution was no place for a 15-year-old girl.
"In the beginning I kept begging him to go, but he kept telling me no, it's dangerous," said Farah. "I kept telling him, at school they keep saying, you have to say your opinion. Today, finally he told me yes you can go downstairs, go to Tahrir Square. Finally I'm here."
But Farah didn't bring a camera to capture the moment, and she didn't even come with friends. She rode the bus down here alone - with a only a broom, to sweep the streets where her country's protesters held vigil for 18 days. "Because it's my country. I want it to be the best country in the world," he said.
Families stroll downtown Cairo waving Egyptian flags. Parents balance infants on the side of idling army tanks and snap photos for posterity². 18-year-old Doaa Sabry says Egypt's youth is ready to take on the world.
"We inspired everyone in this revolution, and we want to do something that will inspire every human being in this world, because we can do it," said Doaa.
Amin Abu Hashem describes his feeling of empowerment. "They feel a sense of hope. It's gushing³ from everyone here, like we can do anything now. Everyone has this feeling of a new Egypt - making it a better tomorrow for everyone," said Amin.
But underneath⁴ the euphoria, there seems to be a sense of responsibility. More than 115,000 people have signed onto a Facebook group called "Egypt's Rebuilding Campaign."
Farah El Moataz picked up her broom, but others don't know where to start. Cairo resident Karen Kamel says that after 30 years of authoritarian⁵ rule, the idea of freedom can be a bit overwhelming.
"We've been used to that for 30 years and maybe people prefer stability rather than something new. I think every person is afraid of change and something very new, but I think it's in the hands of the people to make a better Egypt," said Kamel.
Much remains⁶ undecided - who will lead Egypt long-term? What constitutional changes are coming?
VOA - L. Frayer
Mourners throw roses and pray over the names of some of those killed in Egypt's revolution, at a makeshift memorial in Tahrir Square, Cairo, February 12, 2011
There's also the question of what will become of Tahrir Square, where dozens of unarmed protesters died in clashes with security agents before President Hosni Mubarak resigned. Fafette Mazloum says she wants to see a memorial built in the square.
"It's for the people. It's going to be a place where people can come and remember what happened here, how Egyptians were able to bring about a revolution peacefully. This is a symbol for the rest of the world, that things don't need to be violent," said Fafette.
The future holds many big questions for Egyptians, who are just returning to normal life after 18 days of uncertainty⁷. For now, perhaps it's easier to pick up a broom and start sweeping⁸.

1 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。

2 posterity   

n.后裔，子孙，后代

参考例句：

• Few of his works will go down to posterity.他的作品没有几件会流传到后世。
• The names of those who died are recorded for posterity on a tablet at the back of the church.死者姓名都刻在教堂后面的一块石匾上以便后人铭记。

3 gushing   

adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话

参考例句：

• blood gushing from a wound 从伤口冒出的血
• The young mother was gushing over a baby. 那位年轻的母亲正喋喋不休地和婴儿说话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

5 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

8 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？