As you know, or don't know because you are seeing my blog for the first time, I was in Egypt last May. It was a tour that started in Cairo and ended in Cairo but took us to Asswan, Luxor and other ancient cities along the Nile.This was my second time as the first trip was more limited and was 22 years prior to this one. I was already impressed from trip number one, but trip number two blew me away.
Our guide was an attractive woman about 30. (I am guessing here). Emi has a great personality and and a way of making everything fun. While a devout Muslim she understood all the religions and their history in Egypt from the Coptics to the Jews. We had all of the above represented by the group. She wears traditional garb for prayers but the latest in western fashion during the day. Emi has a great sense of what things are worth and she negotiated well on behalf of her tourists.The point here is that she a representative of the youth of Egypt. The young dominate the population. About half of the population is under 30. But unlike Emi, they are not all well educated or have good paying jobs.
Eating at KFC can cost an average person a day or week's pay for one meal. There are KFCs, MacDonalds and Pizza Huts everywhere. Jokingly they call MacDonalds the US embassy. So, the population understands the western ideal while at the same time trying to preserve their culture and obtain some financial freedom as well as the freedoms we all take for granted. They are Egyptians first because of the their rich history, amazing culture and their efforts to preserve these for the world.
As they were demonstrating at the doors of the Cairo Museum I was recalling young families in traditional dress strolling through the gardens and then entering the museum see thousands of years of antiquities. There was no air of revolution, no unrest, no sense of unhappiness as the locals went about their business. So, what happened in the few months since we visited Egypt?
Unemployment, rising cost of food and services - and yes, poverty is everywhere. The trend, so it seems, was not upward but downward. With the ability to access the internet (I did it in every city we visited without restriction) and see what the rest of the world was doing and how they did it - especially Europe and the west. This is what they want for themselves and deservedly so.
It the west that they want to emulate. Not Iran or Saudi Arabia. I do not believe that they will have an Islamic government, yes, the members that make up the government will be Muslims, but the laws governing the people will developed by the people, written by the people. In talking to many different people throughout Egypt from Nubians to farmers to middle class business people (we spent time in many of their homes) the impression I get is let us be what we are in peace and let us provide for our families in ways we know how to provide.
We asked about the Muslim Brotherhood that has so many American believing that they will rule. In the recent meeting with the Vice President there were 52 representatives of different movements and only two of them were form the Muslim Brotherhood - and they were older! That fear is only in the US. They are small, they hate Al Queda and they want to exert political influence not military or religious influence.
Let the Eqyptians find what they are seeking. Let's help them get to where they want to go by supporting them. They are young, industrious and wanting a chance at life that we always enjoy. Here is hoping they get it!
Note this just in from Emi February 8, 2011, 1:34 pm:
Eman El Zoghbe people start going to there work and people not anymore afraid being in the street till let to guard their house but we still of course fight for our change by protest in the most active area in Egypt "Tahrir square "by the way tahrir means victory...and the change needs time and youth people became more stronger and not afraid of anythings even death......Im so proud proud.
No comments:
Post a Comment