The relationship between a Coptic Egyptian and Muslim Egyptian can still provoke the limited minds of some and ignite fire as a verbal clash between the conservative Salafi group in Cairo's district of Imbaba in the NorthWest, soon developed into gunfire, stone-throwing and firebombs, leading to a different, nearby church to be set alight (see below).
I guess to some being Egyptian is not enough. However, with Egypt's long history of invasion and incorporation of multi-faceted groups, ideologies and races was Egypt ever really the homogeneous country it protests to be? There are vast regional differences between Egyptians from Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Suez, Sinai - although they all seem to have similar types of humour, in look, in vocabulary, in life style and in socio-economi terms to even begin with! Going to Alex, many Cairo-based Egyptians asked us 'why?!', arguing that it was over populated and boring ... going to Cairo, Alex-based Egyptians asked us 'why?!', arguing that it was over populated and too noisy, busy, and dirty... it made us laugh because either way they love Egypt, especially their bit of it. It also reminded me of the London/rest of England chat I give sometimes.
When I see this sort of event I begin to wonder how welcome I am in Egypt ... being a halfy is probably not be enough to some people, and being a newby to living in Egypt no doubt means I am still a tourist. I enjoy tourist status sometimes, it means I can pretend not to know. But what I do know is that this sort of clash, will only drive wedges between a society which needs to find common ground, a consensus, in order to move on. I used to threaten my father that I would marry a black Jew, not really thinking it was an deep-seated issue, however, I begin to wonder ...
I also continue to ponder the action, or shall I shall inaction of the military ...
What makes me feel calmer are the protests being held in Cairo against the attack on the Coptics ... many people in Egypt understand the importance of staying united, and many know, work with, socialise, with Coptics. It's not like they are aliens. I know Coptics in Egypt and to think that they may be persecuted is sickening, they are as Egyptian as the next shisha-sucking, marlboro smoking, 'B' instead of 'P' Egyptian! Coptics make up 10% of the population - they are part of Egypt.
Aljazeera is covering the events thoroughly (standard) ... to read more check out their website:
--- On attack:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201157222446186609.html
--- On protests against the attack: http://english.aljazeera.net/video/middleeast/2011/03/201131243020217394.html
Lots of interesting convos on Twitter about us "Halfies" and the negative feeling towards us, particularly those whose mother's married outside Egypt. Pretty redic if you ask me. Surely something that has been learned in every Country in the world is that it can be improved by sharing different expertise and experiences. What Egypt needs is a new way of thinking not the same old same old.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what shocks me with the religious clashes is that any person should be able to marry who he or she wants regardless of religion. It is a private choice by that individual.
Yeah, I have been mulling over this 'halfies' business. It is frustrating, because being in Egypt it seems as though all I can ever be here an Egyptian who doesn't look Egyptian, can on most occasions speak good arabic (importantly to note though, not all), and has been to the country often. I am effectively a couple of grades up from a tourist, although, I feel like a tourist most of the time, because so much development has occurred since I last came.
ReplyDeleteHowever, chat like that, negativity like that, I think stems from a need of some people to draw lines, in order to peruse their own power and feel like their voice should be heard the most. You don't know Egypt, they probably think, you haven't lived here. True, but the fact remains I am Egyptian.
On the issue of marriage, and Egyptian women marrying outside of Egypt or non-Egyptians, well that is simple narrow-minds talking. Marriage in Egypt is bizarre, here the traditional moves from dating (which most parents are unaware of ) to engagement continues. However, not being able to marry certain religions, or cultures, is big issue for Egypt - a country who for most of its history has been interacting (I use the term loosely, on many occasions it has been occupation) with 'others'.
How do our friends who live there feel about us halfys? To be honest as I have spoken to you before, I feel like it always keeps us outside of everwhere. I mean we grew up in London but we were not English, I live in Dublin and my mum is Irish, but I will never be Irish, and now we will never be accepted as Egyptian. None of these places accept me and yet they are all me, and it's something we need to come to terms with.
ReplyDeleteIn the same breath, I would not change who I am, it has allowed me to experience so many things, learn so much and able to sit down and talk to anyone about anything in an open minded way and accepting of other people's views and cultures. It has also given me so many opportunities, that I would not have otherwise.
You take the rough with the smooth I guess.