Tuesday, 4 January 2011

2011 started in Alexandria

I always imagined I'd launch this blog on a positive note, simply because I left The Conversation at an all-time high.

But the event that kicked off 2011 in Alexandria on New Year's Eve makes me wonder how the next 12 months will turn out.

The one thing I've been wanting to scream at everyone, is that those who died in that horrendous crime were Egyptian citizens. People died.

Of course, the mass media frenzy, the sheer skill of knowing how to aggravate an audience - isn't new to us. This is quite similar what happened at the time of the Egypt-Algeria World Cup qualifier in 2009. The talk shows, the headlines, the emails...

I just hope we're a little bit wiser time. There are many calls for action, including going to church on Thursday night to attend the Coptic Christmas eve mass. A call to Egyptians. Pick a church, go and pray.

Pray that this weekend goes by in peace.
Posted by at 06:18
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4 comments:

  1. Alexander6 January 2011 at 03:19

    So the Conversation has become a Story and a View!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oussama's Take6 January 2011 at 16:50

    Well first all Mabrook for all the good things in your life.

    What happened in Alexandria is appalling and hits at the social fabric of Egyptian society and in many ways affects societies that have indigenous Christian populations in the Levant. Christians and Muslims have lived for centuries in harmony and without religious prejudices in the area. These prejudices only surface when foreign powers intervene in the area.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sara10 January 2011 at 12:21

    Hehe well put alex.

    It really was appalling and so very sad.

    Oussama wouldn't it be true to say that there's been religious tension in the Middle East for ages? I'm thinking particularly of lebanon and the historical tension between Druze and Maronites dating back to even before it was a country.

    Nice to see everyone on here :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mai Abaza11 January 2011 at 01:13

    Nice to see everyone, indeed, Sara :) Missed this!

    I'd have to agree. Religious tension has always existed since, well, since religion ever existed.

    The tension itself is and probably always will be there.But we need to learn to live with our differences. And not hate each other for them. Whether or not this was indeed a 'hate crime', I don't know. But I'm hoping the consequent solidarity shown in Egypt was not just for show, and will continue.

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