|
|
May 24, 2013
|
|
|
|
 Dispatches From Cairo: We Are All Palestinian NowPosted on May 17, 2011
Editor’s note: We asked Lauren Unger-Geoffroy, an Arabic-speaking American who lives in Cairo, to share her perspective of life in Egypt after the revolution. Where do I start? The people have been whipped up into a frenzy in Cairo since last week—wave upon wave of breathless, conflict-adrenalin, motivated-action, reaction, all subjects overlapping in one will to solidarity. On Friday and Saturday, in the wake of the sectarian violence in Imbebe, as expected some were caught up in the momentum of the conflict, but the majority reacted in a surge of “Muslims and Christians one hand!” and the cross and crescent symbol appeared again all over, online and in conversations and on TV. But friends who went down to Tahrir Square to demonstrate for sectarian unity and brotherhood were surprised to find few manifesting for their subject. Instead they found thousands of Palestinian flags and Libyan flags and chanting for the return of Palestine to the Palestinians. And there were signs. The new symbol was an image of a big, old-fashioned key, representing the properties that the Palestinians were depossessed of when Israel was created. Signs bearing keys and slogans about “give back our homes” were plentiful. And media and speakers were calling for a march to the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to Israel to take back Palestine Sunday on the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba, or “catastrophe”—the day Israel declared its independence and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes. Advertisement As forced as the key symbol on the signs may be, and although the image may be forgotten shortly in the onslaught of new icons and new matters of solidarity and conflict, both visceral and intellectual, Palestine is the unifying force and focus of the entire Muslim/Arab world: This is the “one hand.” Every sanction and refusal to concede to it reinforces its unified strength and voice. The military’s aggressive control of the demonstration at the Israeli Embassy in Maadi was dramatic, and there was other local drama, too. Some angry tribal-minded folks continued their Muslim/Christian feud. They did not pay attention to the news; still worked up for fighting in the streets, some burned another church. The opposing sides were left alone by the police and army, and Christians complained about lack of protection. Some people were killed and some injured—the numbers that were reported vary widely. Had the involved people paid attention they would have heard that the woman who was the cause of the religious conflict in Cairo had been arrested for bigamy. It was contrary to what we had heard at first, that she was a Christian who had run away from her home and husband in Coptic-dominated Assiut (a hotbed of Christian/Muslim tension) to Cairo and converted to Islam to marry a Muslim man and the Christians were detaining her in a church. This story adds fuel to the smoldering resentment from earlier this year over a Christian priest’s wife who was reported to have converted to Islam and as a result to have been abducted by the Coptic Church. And on and on. Of course many are convinced that most of these conflicts are instigated by the usual infiltrating agitators, using the technique of division and confusion to keep the people weak. There was also deposed first lady Suzanne Mubarak’s “heart attack.” Most doubted that she had actually suffered the illness, because it came on the day she was to respond in court to charges of corruption and robbing the people of Egypt. She has since “given” some money back, claiming it is “all she has.” Some felt sorry for her, but—as more and more iniquities come to light—not most. Traffic has been gridlocked in Cairo for the last several days. Working people are disgruntled and fed up, and Sunday’s multiple demonstrations caused an accident on the Nile Cornishe that killed eight, according to the news. As in the USA, the media news here is either true, false or approximative, so numbers and other elements of public persuasion are always measured with a flexible barometer. I can assure you of this: In the next few days the people will have moved on, thinking about the new government, about the Muslim-Christian conflict, about revolution solidarity, Libya, Syria, the Mubaraks, complaints, restitutions, apologies, compromise, instigations, reconciliations, divisions, hope and planning and drama and blood. Insha allah, less blood and more communication. But the one thing that always remains on the people’s minds and lips, that pulls this whole wild wave of shift together, is Egypt’s solidarity about Palestine and resentment of Israel. There is no one here who does not want a free Palestine, and somehow this will be done, and then what?—no one knows. But we can feel it coming in the shared passion of hundreds of millions. We are the ocean. The future is coming and we may not be ready. We pray that it will be good; we believe we can be great. We don’t know what shore we will crash upon, but we are going there finally together.  Previous item: Mr. Big Takes a Perp Walk Next item: Obama’s Reset: Arab Spring or Same Old Thing? New and Improved CommentsIf you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy. |
Three Questions Left Unanswered by Obama’s Counterterrorism Speech
Email 
Print
Share
Email to a friend
Newsletter 
Like Us
Follow Us
Get Our Feed
Tags|Bazaar|Podcast|About Us|Contact Us|User Agreement|Privacy Policy|FAQ: Comments and Moderation | Google+
© 2013 Truthdig, LLC. All rights reserved.
By JDmysticDJ, May 17, 2011 at 7:08 pm Link to this comment
Must I…? Yes I must.
Here’s a quotation from a sub-human cretin, endorsed by other sub-human cretins.
“I see no reason why man should not be just as cruel as nature” Adolph Hitler
Report thisBy truedigger3, May 17, 2011 at 5:20 pm Link to this comment
Re: By Inherit The Wind, May 17 at 4:56 pm
ITW,
Please stop this hysteria and panic mongering. None of Israel’s Arab neighbours wants a conflict with Israel.
Report thisEven Hamas had recently reconciled with Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and tacitly agreed to continue negotiation with Israel.
Don’t worry. Every Arab who has an ounce of a brain knows that Israel has the full backing and support of the USA, the ONLY superpower in the world. If a war starts in the M.E, it will be started by Israel to gain more territories. Nuf said.
By truedigger3, May 17, 2011 at 4:59 pm Link to this comment
I applogize for a lot of spelling mistakes in my previous post. I was pressed for time and sure this is not a sign of a lack of conideration for the readers.
Report thisI think it is better to use a word processor with spelling checking. Peace.
By Inherit The Wind, May 17, 2011 at 4:56 pm Link to this comment
Does anyone here actually CARE that a blood-bath is in the works, one to rival Rwanda and Kosovo and the Congo.
If the Arab world marches on Israel to destroy it, there can be no avoiding a blood-bath.
1) Israel defends herself and slaughters ten’s of thousands trying to invade, maybe hundreds of thousands.
2) Israel doesn’t resist and millions of Arabs pour in and slaughter the “hated infidels” and millions die.
How can ANYONE like either result?
Why is nobody asking the OBVIOUS question: Why aren’t Egyptians concerned with fixing EGYPT and EGYPT’s problems, not the Palestinians’ and Israel???
Why? Because the new leaders are going to sadly be no different than Mubarak: Palestinians and Jews are a WONDERFUL way to divert the people from worrying about their REAL worry: Egypt.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, May 17, 2011 at 4:45 pm Link to this comment
Like it or not this year will be for Palestine.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/opinion/17abbas.html?_r=2&ref=opinion
With General Assembly recognition of Palestine and an international push, the US will realize that their security council veto is meaningless here and with Israels resolution defying hubris, their chickens have come home to roost.
Get use to world democracy.
Report thisBy truedigger3, May 17, 2011 at 4:36 pm Link to this comment
I don’t really know who that Lauren Unger-Geoffrey is?! It seems to me that she is living not in Cairo, but floating on a cloud of Hashish smoke.
Report thisHer reports are misleading, unrealistic, so rosey and deffinitely following a scripted agenda.
Although most Egyptians wish peace in the M.E. and justice for the Palistinian people, and are angry at the Israeli atrocities and brutalitis against the Palistinian people, most Egyptians support the Peace Treaty with Israel and the farthest thing from their mind is to enter into a conflict with Israel or harm the peaceful coexistence that is existing now.
Is Ms. Geoffrey is trying to stir murkey waters and fish in it??
Right now, Egypt is going through a very ugly transitional period after that so called “revolution” and people are not sure when it will end what will be the results?. Many Egyptians are having second thought about that so called revolution and wish if Mubarak is still in office.
The country is governed by incompetent inept spineless military council. They are afraid to act on pressing issues and problems and are extremely hesitant. They might be competent military Generals but sure are incompetent rulers.
The economy is at stand still and going down fast. There is crime explosion in what was peaceful law and order Egypt. There is rise in religious strife and tenstion and attacks on churches. There are strikes, demonstrations and sit-ins everywhere everytime and everyone want a solution to his problem immediately and consequently there are great disruption in people lives right now.
The Muslim Brotherhood which is the only political group in Egypt which is well financed and well organized is moving toward a take over of the country. I am not sure that is aided by the help or the helplessness and spinlessness of the Military Council
The Muslim Brotherhood, which is a radical muslim reactionary group that was underground during Mubarak time is aiming to establish a reactionary religious theocracy that will treat religious minorites and women as a second class citizens having not the same rights as Muslim men.
If the Muslim Brotherhood succed in taking over in Egypt, that will be a start of a very dark ugly future for Egypt.
By Go Right Young Man, May 17, 2011 at 3:48 pm Link to this comment
“The only question is whether the end will arrive shrouded in the cold , embittered silence of death, or whether there will be a new birth of human warmth, wisdom and understanding.”
-
Is there any evidence that humans will cease being human in the near future? If not then everyone on the planet must acknowledge and expect violence (war) amongst men. - The order of business then becomes mitigation.
I am sympathetic in the hope that humans can summon the nature to end lust, loathing, pride, greed, suspicion, violence for the sake of violence, conquest and the desire for self-defense. I don’t think it’s overly pessimistic to point out that there is a few thousand year history to draw upon and, on the other side of the ledger, there is the hopefulness that man can and will change.
Find a way to change human nature and violence will end. Until then we’ll find a Hamas spokesman openly hoping for the death of millions of Jews. Jews will hope for revenge and defense.
-
This feels like a good time to point out again that Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Jordan are mainly peopled by majorities who are governed by small but powerful autocratic minorities. Very often, daily in fact, in the most brutal ways.
I have never seen such concern for roughly one-hundred million people as we see for three million Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza. Or, for that matter, the same concern for five million Palestinians ruled by small numbers of Hashemites in Jordan.
It takes one attack on a home from all sides for the occupants to get defensive. The second time we can expect those humans to lash out.
Humans are human all over the planet. There are roughly 200 nations and six billion humans.
Report thisBy sharonsj, May 17, 2011 at 2:50 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
TDoff—a “free, united Middle East”? Sorry, but I bet that freedom is only for Muslim men.
Meanwhile, about 90% of the world’s conflicts involve Muslims against everyone else…including other Muslims. (I read that the majority of Muslims are killed by other Muslims.) And although Hamas and Fatah may have kissed and made up, they still continue to attack each other in order to gain political power.
As for Jordan, which is about 75% Palestinian and hasn’t treated them very well—not that you hear about that either—it is an apartheid country. No Jews are allowed to become citizens or own land. So when are you organizing a protest against apartheid Jordan?
Report thisBy TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 2:44 pm Link to this comment
Now JDmysticDJ, there’s a chap who speaks straight out, right to the point, no dicking-around.
Report thisBy TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 2:37 pm Link to this comment
This TruthDig gig is frustrating, wearing and wearying, both psychicly and physiologicly, conflicting thoughts arise and then are punctured and sink like frozen balloons, adrift as mini-bergs on the arctic sea of despair. When white bears bearing gifts approach, one tends to wonder and wander about the limits of figmental reality, and whether the weather holds portents of the future climate for discussion of those things that confuse. When today’s sun arose over the glacier of discontent it dawned on me that the fearful prospect of beginning to believe that one could read and comprehend Leefeller rationally was a certain sign, similar to the common ‘STOP’, that one should and could review the purpose of life, and perhaps retire to rest into a curative oblivion.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, May 17, 2011 at 2:31 pm Link to this comment
JDmysticDJ,
I laughed and spilled my margarita on that one.
Report thisBy JDmysticDJ, May 17, 2011 at 2:17 pm Link to this comment
Gerard
I have, I hope, spoken to you, and of you, in a manner agreeable. I have done so because I believe you are worthy of respect, and of being treated well. It would be nice if everyone were worthy of the respect you have earned. Unfortunately, I have noticed that not everyone is worthy of respect, quite the contrary. Some people are not worthy of respect, and some people have no respect, not for truth, or for justice, or for human life. For some the truth is irrelevant if that truth should contradict their ideology. When the truth is inconvenient, some seek to twist the truth until it is unrecognizable; they do so without remorse and with no qualms. Some, it seems, spend their lives in battle against the truth. Unfortunately, the twisted truth is indistinguishable from the pure and unadulterated truth to some. Some people commit adultery with the truth. In other words… well, I won’t use the other words out of deference to you, but suffice it to say that those other words are a little crass in their illustrative descriptions.
Kind words and noble deeds may be helpful to orphans in Calcutta, but they are ineffective, indeed impotent, in many other circumstances. I need not give examples of situations where kind words are not sufficient, they are legion. Which puts me in mind of the Gospels, Mark 5:9 (Mark 5:10 in the King James Version of the Holy Writ,) Luke 8:30, Mathew 8:28-34. I don’t claim to be an expert on the Holy Writ; I am a WikiWizer, which helps with Holy Writ research. I also understand that the Holy One sometimes used harsh words. I believe he used words like hypocrite, scumbag and whatnot, but I’m uncertain, and I’m too lazy to check the Holy Wiki for an accurate accounting of the Holy One’s words.
Hopefully you’ll be able to forgive me if I should refer to a sub-human cretin, using words appropriate. I have been referring to one sub-human cretin as a moron, but I find this word to be much too inadequate and disrespectful to hapless morons, thus the new sobriquet.
If you should decide to reply to my comment here, hopefully you’ll maintain your decorum and won’t be tempted to inundate me with poorly concealed insults.
(I’ll be turning down the offer of tea; I have not yet developed a taste for arsenic.)
Report thisBy Leefeller, May 17, 2011 at 2:07 pm Link to this comment
My conflict is your conflict, so lets get the conflicts over with. On the other hand petty differences seem as a constant pointlessness,... which makes one wonder, why such unworthyness of looming magnitudes can exist, but possibly only in ones mind, evidenced by little thought behind what seems taxing in the grand small scheme of things.
Peddle your ignorance and attempt to insult me if you can, or take what you feel is yours and see what may happen,... but don’t try to eliminate truth, for then everyone becomes just as you!
Agitate the ignorant and they will rise up and burn and hurt something or somebody. Agitate the wealthy and they will agitate the ignorant. Now, if you agitate me,... I grab a Tequila!
Four more days to pay your bills.
Report thisBy Stan Hickson, May 17, 2011 at 1:59 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well, the racists are once again out in force proclaiming that black is white and up
is down.
Congratulations, “Palestinian” supporters, your “solidarity” with one of the most
hateful, violent groups of people - and I use that term loosely - on the face of the
Earth is ensuring perpetual violence, warfare and ongoing attempts at genocide.
How does it feel cozying up to right wing, fundamentalist religious crazies of the
highest order? Because those of you who purport to support Hamas or any other
“Palestinian” group are doing exactly that.
Just remember that the next time your rancid attempts at slandering the sole
Report thisdemocratic country in the Middle East fall well short of success. You hypocrites are sickening.
By TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 1:10 pm Link to this comment
gerard, I’m just curious, don’t take offense, but that euphoric acid you’re using? How do you prep it? And do you pop it, snort it, sniff it, eat it, or put it in a suppository? I’m thinking of trying some. Is it like most dope, the best source is the local cop or DEA agent?
Just a tip: When you reply, don’t use your real name.
Report thisBy john from ojai, May 17, 2011 at 11:08 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Palestine speaks to the part of us that has been unfairly treated and hurt. The Israel/US power is the authoritarian that unconsciously hurt us.
Report thisEveryone has the chance to empower this side of ourselves by joining the BDS movement. Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Israel and corporations like GE, Motorola, and Caterpillar who profit from the illegal occupation. Work for justice and peace will follow!
By gerard, May 17, 2011 at 10:41 am Link to this comment
Hatred, fear and vengeance will end, inevitably. The only question is whether the end will arrive shrouded in the cold , embittered silence of death, or whether there will be a new birth of human warmth, wisdom and understanding. The choice is largely ours, and we make it both by what we do and do not do, by what we say and do not say. And even by the manner in which we speak and act.
Report thisBy Go Right Young Man, May 17, 2011 at 10:21 am Link to this comment
Q: Israelis fear that Gaza could become “Hamasland” after the withdrawal.
A: Let Israel die.
—Hamas spokesman, in an interview with the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat, on August 18th. 2005
Report thisBy SarcastiCanuck, May 17, 2011 at 9:56 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well,I guess this means just more violence and bloodshed between Jews and Arabs,Christians and Muslims,Shia and Sunni,Dogs and Cats.Same shit as always for the last 50 plus years in this screwball region.SNAFU baby….
Report thisBy TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 9:43 am Link to this comment
Go Right Young Man, The only other obvious alternative to you being a GOPer is you being a TPer. Or…OMG, what a mistake I made! I have it now. You are a Know Nothinger, for sure, that’s your party, no matter what you call, or think of, yourself.
Report thisBy JDmysticDJ, May 17, 2011 at 8:39 am Link to this comment
I hate bigots, and I have no tolerance for them. Bigots always have a race, creed, and beliefs different from my own. I have no tolerance for them.
I am not concerned with the plight of Palestinians; why should I be when Christians are being persecuted?
Some people say that I am a Republican, but I am not. I adamantly refute that I am a Republican. I am only intolerant of the race, creed, and beliefs of liberals.
Some people think I am a moron, but I can assure you that I am not. I am a sub-human cretin.
Report thisBy balkas, May 17, 2011 at 7:33 am Link to this comment
for world plutos there is no longer nationalism and if there is any that stand in
their way, it wld be more than thwarted—it wld be attacked and probably utterly
destroyed.
thus, there is not even americans let alone pal’ns or egyptians. so, if egyptians go
own way, it wld be invaded, bombarded, etc.
but even iraq, afgh’n, palestine wld not ever rise again.
for clero-plutocratic class there are just individuals. as long as they are prolific
Report thisand profligate users of their products and servants to their master class, they’d be
ok! tnx, bozhidar balkas vancouver
By Go Right Young Man, May 17, 2011 at 5:44 am Link to this comment
TDoff,
You see a GOP’er. That’s what makes you a small-minded bigot.
I’m not a Republican, Mo Mo…:)~
Report thisBy TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 5:02 am Link to this comment
Go Right Young Man, ‘Any small-minded bigot can justify and rationalize hatred’. The accuracy and depth of your self-awareness amazes. It certainly makes you a stand-alone among your GOPer peers.
Report thisBy TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 4:56 am Link to this comment
Howard, Israel’s approach to ‘bringing peace’ to the Palestinians is the same as the US approach to ‘saving’ the villages in Viet Nam.
Report thisBy Go Right Young Man, May 17, 2011 at 4:50 am Link to this comment
TDoff, - “As ye sow, so shall ye reap”
-
Any small-minded bigot can justify and rationalize hatred.
Report thisBy Go Right Young Man, May 17, 2011 at 4:46 am Link to this comment
70% Palestinian population is ruled by Hashemite minority in Jordan.
Western, “Liberal”, racists could not possibly care any less.
Report thisBy TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 4:46 am Link to this comment
Go Right Young Man, Well, as the ‘Good Book’ says, ‘As ye sow, so shall ye reap’,
Report thisBy TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 4:43 am Link to this comment
Kjeld, Americans will continue to get (relatively) cheap gas so long as the CIA continues to make lots of loot on it’s dope businesses so it can afford to bribe the corrupt officials in the oil-producing countries to do the bidding and follow the intricate plots of the good old US of A to maintain supremacy, by force, if necessary, throughout the world.
Report thisBy Go Right Young Man, May 17, 2011 at 4:38 am Link to this comment
Western Liberals Rarely Disturbed By Death of Christians.
-
Egypt churches attacked by angry Muslims
May 8, 2011 ... At least nine people have died in religious clashes between Christians and Muslims in Egypt.
More churches attacked in Egypt, military sides with Muslims...
20,000 Muslims attack Christian church in Egypt
More disturbing—but telling—details regarding this story. “20,000 Muslims Attack a Church in Cairo,” from AINA, November 26:
One thousand Christians were today trapped inside the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in West Ain Shams,Cairo, after more than twenty thousand Muslims attacked them with stones and butane gas cylinders. The Church’s priest Father Antonious said that the situation is extremely dangerous.
The Muslim mob that attacked the church blocked both sides of the street and encircled the church building, broke its doors and demolished its entire first floor. The mob were chanting Jihad verses as well as slogans saying “we will demolish the church” and “We sacrifice our blood and souls, we sacrifice ourselves for you, Islam”, while the entrapped Christians chanted “Lord have mercy”.
Human rights organizations and lawyers were refused entry into the besieged Church.
Ivory Coast: church attacked; refugees suffering; lawyers refused ...
May 13, 2011 ... Washington PostEurope cash cocoa:Eyes on Ivory Coast exportsReuters AfricaIvory Coast: church attacked; refugees suffering; lawyers refused; ...
Churches attacked in ‘Allah’ dispute - The National
Jan 8, 2010 ... Malaysian churches are attacked with firebombs as Muslims pledge to ... Assad’s forces kill 55 protesters in Syria, including 32 in Deraa ...
Pakistani Christians Reportedly Killed, Churches Attacked in ...
Report thisMar 29, 2011 ... According to Asia News, the pastors of the attacked churches in ...... United Nations chief says Syria has agreed to allow UN assesment ...
By TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 4:29 am Link to this comment
Thank ‘YHWH’ the kibbutzers didn’t successfully revolt in Israel, or ‘we’d all be Jews now’.
Report thisBy Howard, May 17, 2011 at 4:16 am Link to this comment
Egypt grabbed the Gaza strip and Held it for over 20 years and Never said a word or did an action to give the land to the Palestinians. Who ,btw, are mainly of egyptian stock to begin with.
For over the same 20 years Jordan held onto the West bank area. They Never hinted or said anything about giving the land to the Pal people.
Israel wants peace and land for the Pal.s. Arabs do not want peace or land if it means the existence of Israel is to continue.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, May 17, 2011 at 3:41 am Link to this comment
Israel better sit up and take notice and find a way to resolve the Palestinian issue.
I think the Arabs and non-Arabs of many nations will soon send a flotilla fleet and march un-armed on Palestine to achieve an end to this Israel induced misery.
If Israel kills any of them, they’ve won.
Report thisBy Kjeld, May 17, 2011 at 3:30 am Link to this comment
It is the Americans who should be shivering in their sweat soaked sheets. How much
Report thislonger will we be able to afford cheap gas + the blind support of the facist state of
Israel? Organic Democracy, as opposed Bush and Obama’s Democracy at gun point
version, will not be in the interestes of the US.
By TDoff, May 17, 2011 at 2:57 am Link to this comment
Wow! How wonderful! A free, united Middle East, throwing off the shackles of the US-backed despots who ruled them for generations, and ruled against them in UN decisions in order to please it’s rulers in Israel.
How much of a knot do you think Bennie Netanyahoo’s panties are twisted into because of these developments?
Do you think he’s waking-up in der-mittel-of-his-nights, shivering in his sweat-soaked sheets?
Or dreaming of standing tall on the West Bank, shouting ‘READY THE NUKES’, to the screaming applause of the mobs of his assembled countrymen, the ‘peaceful’ settlers of the ‘settlements’?
Report thisPage 2 of 2 pages < 1 2