Daily Lessons from Life 20 June 2012 - Egypt's Mubarak in coma as tension spikes over successor

"Egypt's Mubarak in coma as tension spikes over successor - 20 June 2012 AFP

CAIRO: Egypt's Hosni Mubarak was Wednesday in a coma on life support at a Cairo hospital, sources said, as tension spiked over who will succeed him as president and moves by the ruling military to extend its powers. The uncertainty over the health of the ousted leader comes amid new political upheaval, with both candidates in a presidential vote claiming victory and the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) granting itself sweeping powers.

Mubarak "is not clinically dead," a medical source told AFP. "He is in a coma and the doctors are trying to revive him.""He has been placed on an artificial respirator," the source added, in an account confirmed by a member of Egypt's ruling military council, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

The new president, irrespective of the result, will not wield the near-absolute authority Mubarak enjoyed for three decades, after SCAF issued a constitutional declaration on Sunday claiming sweeping powers. Mubarak's successor will also inherit a struggling economy, increased insecurity and the challenge of uniting a nation divided by the uprising and its deadly aftermath.

"It's divine retribution," said Saber Amr, a teacher. "God doesn't forgive those who do wrong to their people. God doesn't forgive those who kill innocents." Nearby, Abdel Mottaleb, a Brotherhood supporter offered a more conciliatory tone."We are Muslims. We respect the dead regardless," he said. "God will judge him.""

He looked pitiful at the trial. He is now dying or almost dead. He was once the most powerful man in the Arab world and a respected world leader, especially by the Western world who found him a reliable and strong leader, never mind the alleged corruption and hardline tactics towards dissidents in the nation! Such is the hypocracy of world politics!

Lessons for me are;

1. it is not who you are when you are at the peak of your power but who you are at the end of your last ride that matter. If your power was obtained by abusing others' basic rights, you will pay for it eventually. It is not if you will but when you will pay for it!;

2. all the past glories were transient in nature. They DO NOT define your legacy, at least not the final one and by the public. You will be blinded by the YES men and women surrouding me. You will be blinded by the so-called successes. Yet, just before you die, if you are judge otherwise by the public, you are not what you thought you were! The past was an illusion. Self-illusion to be exact;

3. if Mubarak is giving another chance, would he has done differently? Maybe. It would be difficult when you are lord of everything and everyone surrouding you has nothing by 'sweet nothing' to say to you. It can be intoxicating. It can be addictive. People who assume power will do well to make sure that they never fall into the same trap but reminding themselves that they are only human. They still need to wash and wipe their backside after they finished their 'big business'! They too will die just like the most ordinary of the people they lord over.

For those who believed in karma, maybe there is some truth. For me, it is simply just the law of nature. The greatest takes a long view of success. Sustainability means doing the right things right all the time. Chew on it!!