I may be an American, but my roots are in Egypt, and I can’t help keeping a very close eye on Egyptian politics, especially now that the land of the pharoahs is trying to “drag itself into the modern age” by (outwardly) attempting to serve up a healthy portion of “democracy.”
Having said that, I must confess to thinking that the events of the past month are very suspicious. I can't help it.
First, Hosni Mubarak, president of my beloved Egypt, handed the power to fix Christian churches to his 26 governors.
And now, in a very interesting turn of fate, Mubarak has gone on to appoint Magdy Ayoub Iskandar, a Copt, as a governor of Qena, which has a "sizeable Christian population."
The last Copt to be named governer was a war hero called Fouad Aziz Ghali, appointed to South Sinai in 1973 by then-president Anwar al-Sadat. But Anwar, I thought that Copts were only supposed to be shoe-shiners?
Don't ask me what my suspicions are, because I don't know what to suspect. I haven't even gotten to the good part, yet!
It seems as though Mubarak has recently informed the public that "Egypt would press ahead with its decentralization policies."
Sure, it was the swearing-in ceremony of the new governors and everyone was feeling lovey-dovey then, but what will become of this promise in the morning?
The dear Mubarak also said that a big hurdle to overcome now included Egypt's need to "contain unemployment and provide job opportunities for youth...(and) the need for taking into account the considerations of the social fabric of the people."
This is very true! Unemployment is a horrible fate, more droll and unbearable, even, than having a bad job.
After all, isn't it unemployment and no hope of success or even a future that has young Palestinians so ready and willing to become suicide bombers?
Not that I think this is even close to happening in Egypt, but still; studies have shown that low morale (or heartbreak) can kill as surely as disease.
Mubarak went on to say that it was important for Egypt to get women and young people involved with "exercising their rights and participating in society."
The most heart-warming bit came when Mubarak the Beloved went on about "the need to preserve" social unity, and "that Muslims and Copts represent one and the same social fabric...governors should understand that all Egyptians, whether Muslims or Copts, must be treated on equal footing."
Hmm. Sounds good, Hosni, but was it just political rhetoric? A bunch of idealistic claptrap that will never see the light of day? Or is this really the start of a new Egypt, where Christians and Muslims will walk hand in hand in the streets?
I don't know, and indeed, only God knows what the future holds for his beloved Coptic children.
As for me, I'm not like the Egyptians (especially Diasporic ones) who have nothing but criticism and contempt for Mubarak. I love and respect him, by virtue of the fact that he is our president. My eyes mist up when I see a billboard with his likeness, and I am always quick to defend him in discussions.
Does this mean that I'm a sucker? Not at all. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you are automatically blinded to their faults or negative traits and actions.
I realise the unfairness that Egypt has displayed under Mubarak's rule, whether it was intentional or not. But hating him won't change anything. That's not to say that I don't want change in Egypt, or that I accept everything without suspicion...
Rather, it's when things begin to change so quickly--as now--that my suspicions come out to play with such a magnitude.
Maybe it's just that I'm an Egyptian; after all, we Egyptians are always looking for the rub, the fly in the ointment, the "catch" that proves that things are definitely not as great as they first appeared.
Or maybe it's that I'm a Copt, and am used to having things go in an opposite direction. Aka "not our way."
But maybe... just maybe.. the tide is turning and things will, at long last, go our way?
