[All pictures by Fatma Naib]
Egypt is undergoing a real democratic process for the first time. Egyptians have voted overwhelmingly in favour of sweeping changes to the existing constitution in a national referendum. 埃及正在进行着5千年伟大历史上的第一次民主进程，埃及人民在全民公投中以绝对多数投票支持修改现有宪法。
The last few days leading to the vote were full of debate discussing the referendum. There were many campaigns in the streets where people handed out leaflets explaining the Yes and No vote. There was also plenty of debate taking place in various universities and cultural centres.
在投票前的最后几天，埃及广泛全面地对修宪公投进行了辩论。此间，有过埃及公民举行了许多次的街头宣传，散发传单来解释投赞成或反对票的含义。同时，许多大学和文化中心都举行了多场相关辩论。
Even Tahrir Square saw around 2000 people campaigning for the No vote. The square was buzzing with people since it was evacuated a week ago. It may seem normal for any other country, but for Egypt as Shafik, an accountant told me, it is different than the way things used to be. "I feel that things are different, there are no government thugs trying to threaten us and force us to vote a certain way."
即使在开罗解放广场也可以看见2000多人在为争取投反对票在宣传，在被清场一周多以后，广场上又开始了熙熙攘攘。这可能在很多民主国家都再普通不过了，但是沙飞客（Shafik），一名会计师告诉我（记者），这是很大的变化，“我感受到发上了变化，已经没有政府雇佣的地痞流氓来威胁我们只能按他们的旨意投票了”
On the day of the vote, as I arrived at the polling station I was struck by the sight of the endless queue that led all the way to the road. There were voters young and old, men and women, and even young parents with their toddlers.It was humbling to see everyone waiting patiently side by side, standing in one line for men and another for women. As I walked through the crowd I asked everyone how long they had been there.
在我去投票站的路上，我被一望无尽的投票长龙惊呆了，长龙中有老又少，男男女女，甚至是年轻的夫妇和他们的小不点。
男男女女，一个挨着一个，耐心的排着队往前缓缓挪移，这让被惊呆的我开始感到惭愧， 我向做过的每一个人询问，“你等了多久了？”
Mahmoud, 65, said he had been queuing for two and a half hours. "I don't mind waiting. I have been waiting for a day like this all my life. This is my first time voting."已经排了两个半小时的65岁默罕默德说：“我一点不介意等待。我已经为这一天等了一辈子了。这是我第一次投票！”（译者已经开始泪奔了，骗你，我是小狗！）
Indeed he was not the only first-time voter in the crowd. Most people I spoke to were also voting for the first time.
实际上，他并不是人群中仅有的首次投票的人，和我说过话的多数人都是第一次投票。（哈哈，集体失贞，译者忍不住鼻涕也喷出来了）
Everyone spoke about how they felt that this time their vote would actually count.
每个人都说他们认为这次投票会被认真的计算的。
Azza Shaban said: "I am voting today for the first time in my life, I feel that this time it will count for real."
Azza Shaban 说：“这是我今生头一次投票，我认为这一次会被认知计票的”
Some forty million people were eligible to cast their vote, and the vast majority did so - relishing this newly won freedom.
大约有4千万埃及人有资格投票 （所以我说未成年不宜嘛），大多数履行了他们神圣的公民责任，品尝着来之不易的自由之果，（哈喇子，吞口水ing！）
The arguments for and against amending the constitution have been intense, the debate spilling over from the cyber world onto the streets and into cafes and homes of a people long denied the right of meaningful political discussion.
支持或反对修改宪法的争论非常的激烈，辩论一直从网络中蔓延到街头，茶馆和长期被剥夺了讨论政治，这个基本民权的公民家中。
As I got closer to the polling station the police and army were manning the entrance, and were supported by young volunteers who were there to maintain order and ensure that everything ran smoothly.当我走进投票站时，警察和军人在守卫着入口，同时有年轻的志愿者在协助维护秩序，确保所有事情的顺利进行。
I witnessed some extraordinary scenes as a man tried to cut the 300 people long queue claiming to be a 'VIP', before he was told by the people in the queue and the police to go to the back of the queue like everyone else.
我见证了一些非常珍贵的景象，一个男人自称是VIP（贵人）试图在300人的长龙中加塞，而被人群和警察斥责，要他排到最后，像所有人一样。
'This is new Egypt, this behaviour was in the past', shouted one lady in the crowd.
“这是“新埃及”，这种习性已经过时了”，人群中的一位女士大声斥责。
The man sheepishly walked away. I was amazed by what I had just witnessed, but this scene was repeated several times throughout the day.
这个人惭愧的离开了，又一次，我被我所见证的惊呆了，而类似的事情在一天中重现了几次。
Elderly people and parents with children were allowed to the front of the queue, but I saw many over 60 years old who remained in the queue refusing any special treatment.
老人和带孩子的家长被允许排到队伍前面，可是我看到很多60岁以上依然坚持排队，不愿别特殊对待。
One young lady provoked someone in the crowd because she was wearing a t-shirt imprinted with a "No" slogan and standing by the entrance leading into the polling station.一个年轻的女士使到人群中的一些人感到不快，因为她穿着“No”标语的短衫站在通向投票间的入口。
She was reprimanded, "You are influencing people's choice." The lady in question responded by telling her that she is free to wear whatever she likes just as everyone should vote as they wish, and that this was the meaning of democracy. Their discussion carried on for a while before they each calmed down. An onlooker decided to take a photograph of the woman in the t-shirt to report it saying: "It is simple, if she is violating the voting process then this photograph will be evidence."
她受到这些反对者的谴责“你是在影响选民的选择。” 被质疑的这位回应说，穿什么是她的自由就像所有人都按自己的意愿投票一样，这就是民主的价值。争论持续了一段时间然后双方都冷静了下来。
一个围观者给传“NO”短衫的女士拍了照，说：“这是一个例子，如果她确实破坏了选举程序，照片就是证据”
This newfound sense of responsibility and speaking up was echoed throughout the day. And everyone seemed to take it upon themselves to ensure that any suspicious activity or irregularity was documented.这一整天，自我发现的公民责任和展现权责的言论回响在埃及各地。似乎每个埃及人都自觉地负起了对可疑和不正常进行记录、存证的责任。
As I walked away from the polling station I spoke to Inas, a student, who told me that she will respect the outcome whatever it is. 'We are not going to dwell on it. As long as there is no fraud then I will accept the result."
在我离开投票站的时候，我和一个学生，Anna进行了对话，她告诉我，她会尊重任何投票的结果，她说“ 我们不会过多的因过去而担心，只要公投中没有出现舞弊，我就会结束结果。”
Nancy, a nurse, was less optimistic, saying: "I am happy that I am voting but part of me is worried, I heard about irregularities in some polling stations. I am not sure."
一位护士，Nancy不是这么乐观，她说“第一次，我很开心，但是我有些担心，我听说有些投票站有异常举动，我并不确定”
The result of the referendum will also determine whether or not parliamentary and presidential elections will take place this year.
这次修宪公投的结果也会决定国会和总统选举是否能在今年举行。
But as I discovered, the day ultimately was not just about the result of the referendum, but about the democratic process that this country is witnessing for the first time.
但是我发现，这一天的收获不只是公投的结果，更是世人见证埃及民主进程的第一天。
The real victory has already been achieved by those who fought so hard for the right to choose.
真正的胜利已经实现了，被那些为了有权去选择而顽强的战斗过的勇士们！
（完）
译者（西朝鲜P民贝立）仰天长叹， “什么时候我才能献出我的第一次！”
（建议西朝鲜P民们用任何方式在网上的个人签名中祝福阿拉伯人民争取民主的行动圆满成功得偿所愿，为我们做好民主表帅，彻底粉碎“国情特殊论，素质低下论”等一切谎言！）
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