Editor's note: Send us your experiences, but please stay safe. Read this in Arabic
Cairo (CNN) -- From the rooftop of a mosque in the Cairo district of Nasr City, I watched as thousands of supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy frantically waved posters and chanted angrily.
Moments before they heard that the man who, just a year ago, had been declared Egypt's first ever democratically elected president had been ousted.
The people who had jammed into Tahrir Square on June 30, 2012 to celebrate his inauguration were shocked and enraged.
When long-serving President Hosni Mubarak was toppled from power two and a half years ago, it was the beginning, not the end, of a revolution that has yet to run its course.
Prior to 2011, the presumption among many Egyptians and foreign observers alike was that the long-suffering people of Egypt had an almost bottomless reserve of patience, that as long as they could feed their families, they would put up with whoever was in power.
A bus passes a destroyed pickup truck with loudspeakers that was used by supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy on Friday, August 2. The supporters and security forces clashed in Sixth of October City in Giza, south of Cairo, after the government ordered their protest camps be broken up. Look at the latest violence in Egypt.
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The uprising that banished Mubarak unleashed energy and a passion that shows no sign of diminishing. If Morsy thought his election victory a year ago, in which he won 51.7% of the vote, was a mandate, he was sorely mistaken.
But Morsy's head never lay steady atop the state. The police never trusted him -- nor did Christians. The army was suspicious and the business community dubious. Many voted for Morsy simply because they saw him as the lesser of two evils, running against former Mubarak stalwart Ahmed Shafiq.
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One activist I spoke to, who only gave his name as Abdel Hadi, compared the two candidates during the presidential elections.
"You have two drugs," he told me. "One, Ahmed Shafiq kills you, and the other, Morsy, gives you a bad stomach ache. They're both bad, but Morsy's drug is light. It doesn't kill you. So we'll give Morsy four years. If he doesn't work out, we'll come back to Tahrir and bring him down."
Abdel Hadi's words, spoken in June 2012, were prophetic.
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The night before the massive anti-Morsy demonstrations on June 30, in a packed Tahrir Square, I found people already convinced their president of just one year was soon to be history.
"He's out, he's over, he's finished," one man shouted to me.
"We've gone downhill all the way in that year, economically, security wise," said Abdal Rahman, a businessman. "It's over. They've split Egypt in two, Islamists and non-Islamists. We're all Muslims and we're all believers. Our conflict was a political conflict. They're switched it to a religious conflict."
Many Egyptians were deeply offended that Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood put their identity as Muslims before their identity as Egyptians. This is a country profoundly proud of its rich heritage, and quick to take offense at those who seem to disregard its place in history.
Last November, many were appalled when a Muslim radical, Morgan Al-Gohary, appeared on talk show on a private TV channel and declared if he and his ilk ever came to power they would destroy some of Egypt's most revered monuments. During the program, he claimed he took part in the demolition of Afghanistan's Bamiyan Buddha statues in March 2001.
The show's host, Wael Al-Abrashi asked, "So you would destroy the sphinx and the pyramids?"
Al-Gohary: "Yes, we will destroy them, if they were worshiped before or afterwards."
One guest, clearly repulsed, told Al-Gohary, "You don't know the history of your country well. The pharaohs were the first to know religion in the world." The Sphinx and the pyramids, he continued, "are mankind's heritage and not the property of the Egyptians alone, they are the property of all mankind."
Although neither Morsy, nor the Brotherhood, ever advocated such a course of action, many questioned their intentions and accused the Brotherhood of harboring barely concealed intent to turn Egypt into a Taliban-style Islamic state.
That was an intangible complaint. Others were more blatant. The economy withered under Morsy, as Egyptians suffered through frequent and prolonged power cuts and fumed in long lines outside petrol stations. Morsy's promises of prosperity and security never materialized. So the people mobilized.
The country's powerful army, responding to the millions in the street, forced Morsy from power on the evening of July 3.
But in the brave, new Egypt, no one gives up without a fight. The celebrations in Tahrir were mirrored by angry demonstrations outside Cairo Univeristy and in Nasr City.
"No one is going to take our vote," a woman shouted to me in front of the university.
"These are legitimate elections," exclaimed her husband. "All the people have approved his legitimacy. He is our legitimate president. How can he [Defense Minister Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi] take this from us?"
Morsy's sudden transformation, from president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, to prisoner, reminded me of something newspaper editor Hani Shukrallah had told me just one year before, on the eve of Morsy's victory.
Egyptians, he said, now "have a sense of their own rights. They have a sense of their personal dignity. They perceive themselves as citizens and this is something that is new for an old guy like me. They look at the state as their servant and not their master."
Morsy, their servant, did a bad job so they fired him.
The real revolution in Egypt is not in the streets. It's in the mind.
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Morsy supporters walk past makeshift roadblocks at Rabaa al-Adawiya Square in Cairo on Saturday, August 3. Security forces set up the roadblocks outside the square, allowing people to leave but not enter, as they attempt to break up camps set up during ongoing protests over Morsy's ouster.
Morsy supporters run among the smoke and fire resulting from clashes with security forces in Sixth of October City in Giza on August 2. The military ousted Morsy, Egypt's first democratically elected president, in early July after days of mass demonstrations. Dozens of Morsy backers angry at Egypt's military-backed government have died in weekend violence in the volatile nation's capital. See photos of protests that have engulfed the country.
Egyptian riot police block the entrance to Sixth of October City in Giza on August 2 following clashes with Morsy supporters.
Morsy supporters in red helmets march during a protest against the government in Cairo on August 2. Pro-Morsy marches began after Friday prayers, when supporters made their way back to their camp outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque.
Morsy supporters march in a demonstration against the Egyptian government in Cairo on August 2.
Supporters of Egypt's deposed President Mohammed Morsy gather for prayers at Nasr City, where protesters have installed a camp and hold daily rallies, in Cairo, on Sunday, July 28.
A boy wears a tear gas mask as supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsy pray at the camp set up by supporters in the Nasr City area of Cairo on July 28.
Doctors treat an injured supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy during clashes with security forces in Cairo on Saturday, July 27.
A wounded Morsy supporter lies on the floor of a field hospital in Cairo on July 27. Thousands of Morsy supporters gathered Saturday in the Nasr City neighborhood despite dozens of deaths the night before and veiled threats from the military.
Supporters of Morsy protest outside a field hospital in Cairo where the bodies of slain Morsy supporters have been brought July 27.
The body of a Muslim Brotherhood protester, reportedly shot dead after violence erupted the night before, is moved as mourners watch inside a field hospital in Cairo on July 27.
Two men mourn Morsy supporters who were killed in overnight clashes with security forces, in Cairo, on July 27.
A medic pauses at a field hospital in Cairo on July 27 after tending to the bodies of Morsy supporters reportedly killed in fighting.
Supporters of Morsy carry an injured man to a field hospital amid clashes with security forces in Cairo on July 27.
Doctors treat a Morsy supporter injured during clashes with security forces in Cairo on July 27.
Supporters of Morsy rally in Giza, on Friday, July 26.
Supporters of the Egyptian military rally at Tahrir Square in Cairo on Friday, July 26.
Morsy opponents rally in Cairo on July 26.
Morsy opponents watch a demonstration from a rooftop near Tahrir Square in Cairo on July 26.
Egyptian soldiers stand guard atop an armored vehicle on a bridge leading to Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, July 26.
A Morsy advocate builds a giant portrait of the deposed president Thursday, July 25, while other supporters hold a sit-in outside a Cairo mosque. The military has detained Morsy while an interim government takes shape.
Morsy supporters say evening prayers during a rally July 25 outside a Cairo mosque.
A man with a pistol and other Morsy opponents detain a suspected Morsy supporter who was wounded during clashes in Cairo on Monday, July 22. Supporters and opponents clashed near the city's Tahrir Square.
Men evacuate an injured opponent of Morsy during clashes with his supporters in Cairo on July 22.
A man fires a gun during clashes between opponents and supporters of Morsy in Cairo on July 22.
A riot police officer aims rubber bullets toward Morsy supporters in Cairo on July 22.
Riot police evacuate an injured anti-Morsy protester in Cairo on July 22.
A Morsy supporter, center, who was allegedly beaten by opponents of Morsy runs during clashes in Cairo on July 22.
A Morsy opponent carries his injured friend in Cairo on July 22.
Supporters of Morsy pause for Friday prayers on July 19 at Nasr City in Cairo, where protesters have installed their camp and held daily rallies.
Morsy supporters take part in a protest march near government ministry buildings on Wednesday, July 17, in Cairo.
A Morsy supporter is held back by riot police during a rally near Tahrir Square on July 17.
A supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood and of Morsy covers his mouth under the 6th October Bridge in Cairo on Tuesday, July 16.
A riot police officer fires tear gas toward Morsy supporters during clashes in Cairo on Monday, July 15.
Morsy supporters run from tear gas in Cairo on July 15.
Egyptians in Cairo's Tahrir Square pray before breaking their fast on the third day of Ramadan, the sacred holy month for Muslims, on Friday, July 12.
Supporters of the deposed Morsy rally in Nasr City, Egypt, a suburb of Cairo, on Monday, July 8.
A man reacts after seeing the body of a family member at the Liltaqmeen al-Sahy Hospital in Cairo, allegedly killed during a sit-in supporting Morsy in front of the Republican Guard headquarters on July 8.
Injured men receive medical attention after clashes between supporters of Morsy and security forces in Cairo on July 8.
Opponents of Mohamed Morsy gather at Tahrir Square during a protest in Cairo on Sunday, July 7.
Supporters of Morsy pray next to the headquarters of the Republican Guards in Cairo on Saturday, July 6, during the funeral of seven people killed during clashes.
People carry coffins on July 6 of two Morsy opponents who were killed during clashes in Cairo.
A Morsy supporter joins protests near the University of Cairo in Giza on July 6.
Supporters and opponents of Morsy clash in Cairo on Friday, July 5.
A protester is attended to in Cairo's Tahrir Square during fighting between the pro- and anti-Morsy crowds on July 5.
An Egyptian military helicopter hovers over supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and deposed President Mohamed Morsy in Cairo on July 5.
Morsy supporters hold up their bloodstained hands after Egypt's armed forces opened fire on rally in front of the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo on July 5.
Morsy supporters carry a man who was shot during clashes next to the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo on July 5. State broadcaster Nile TV said a number of those backing the deposed leader were wounded as they tried to storm the headquarters, where Morsy reportedly was being held.
A wounded man is helped following the gun battle outside the headquarters of the Republican Guard on July 5.
Egyptians hold portraits of Gen. Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi reading "Come down, Sisi" as they gather in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square on July 5.
Morsy supporters react to an explosion during clashes with police officers on July 5 outside Cairo University in Giza.
Egyptian Army soldiers stand guard at the Cairo headquarters of the Republican Guard on July 5 as an Apache attack helicopter flies overhead.
Morsy supporters pray near the University of Cairo in Giza on July 5.
A man prays on July 5 before the protest near the University of Cairo.
Protesters take cover from tear gas during clashes outside the headquarters of the Republican Guard in Cairo on July 5.
A military helicopter flies by Egypt's Presidential Palace in Cairo on July 5.
Egyptians watch fireworks in Tahrir Square on Thursday, July 4, the day after Morsy's ouster.
People dance and cheer in the streets of Cairo on July 4.
A Morsy supporter holds a poster of the deposed president during a July 4 rally in Nasr City.
A massive crowd gathers in Tahrir Square on July 4.
Egyptians cheer and wave national flags as airplanes fly above Tahrir Square on July 4, leaving a trail of smoke in the colors of the national flag.
A woman uses a mobile phone to record the July 4 celebrations in Tahrir Square.
An opposition protester chants slogans against Morsy near Cairo University, where Muslim Brotherhood supporters gathered on July 4 to show support for the ousted president.
A man holds a newspaper near Mesaha Square in Cairo on July 4.
Dejected Morsy supporters attend a rally in Nasr City on July 4.
A Morsy supporter shows his bloodied shirt during a July 4 rally near the University of Cairo.
A young Egyptian boy shoots off fireworks during celebrations in Tahrir Square on July 4.
People walk by a pile of Egyptian flags for sale in Tahrir Square on July 4.
Crowds throng Tahrir Square on July 4.
Egyptian soldiers deploy near Cairo University on July 4.
People dance and cheer at Tahrir Square in Cairo on July 4.
Adly Mansour, center, stands after delivering a speech during his swearing-in ceremony as Egypt's interim president in the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo on July 4. Mansour has served as the head of the country's Supreme Constitutional Court.
Armored vehicles with the Egyptian army sit at a checkpoint in the Cairo district of Nasr City on July 4.
A Morsy supporter reacts as a military helicopter flies over during a July 4 rally in Nasr City.
A boy with face paint the color of the Egyptian flag pauses on July 4 in Tahrir Square.
A pedestrian shakes hands with a member of the military at a roadblock in Giza.
Security personnel rest on July 4 in Tahrir Square.
A man walks to Tahrir Square on July 4.
A family sleeps on a bridge near Tahrir Square on July 4.
A member of the Egyptian military redirects traffic on July 4 at a roadblock in Giza.
Bread is sold near Tahrir Square on July 4.
An Egyptian military member guards a roadblock in Giza on July 4.
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