Wednesday, December 28, 2005
A Commotion at the Consulate
I had an enormous laugh this evening when I read this article about reporters being allowed to investigate the American Consulate in Cairo. They were searching for militant Islamists who were rumored to have been in the employ of the Consulate and who, discreetly enough, were also alleged to scandalously keep posters of their evil military heroes on the walls of their cubicles. Before even finishing the first paragraph of the article, I was in stitches, and by the end, in the place where it says that there were two cases of Coptic Christians who were denied Visas on account of their beliefs, I was practically rolling on the floor.
Okay...here it is from my standpoint...the bare truth about Egypt. I'm sure that somewhere, in the deepest, darkest corners of Egypt, (perhaps upper Egypt, where technology has yet to be found), there are extreme militant groups. This is evidenced by the recent bombings that occurred this year in Cairo, by members of some completely backward zealous militant family from somewhere down South, (and I stress the word "militant"). However, most Cairots and Alexandrians are more focused on how to dress properly, where to buy the most updated cell phone, and how to stir the Nescafe/sugar concoction in just the right way as to impose a foam upon it. There is a larger number of Coptics in lower Egypt than there are in most other places in the Middle East, because of the acceptance of their beliefs. I worked side by side with Muslims and Coptics, and a few Egyptian atheists, as well. There were no wars; no battles; no embittered words; and NO discrimination based on religious beliefs. In fact, most of them went out together on the weekends.
I find it difficult to believe that a Coptic would not be granted a visa solely on account of his or her religion for many reasons. Most of those granting visas at that consulate are Americans...born and bred, and transported to Egypt for the purpose of granting visas. The Egyptians who "work the window" giving out permission to travel, etc. are mostly either non-covered and non bearded Muslims, or they are Coptic Christians, one of whom dislikes Egyptians who marry Americans. (We have encountered him on several occasions, as have many of our Egyptian/American coupled friends.)
Karim and I spent much of our time while in Egypt going back and forth between this Consulate in Cairo and the once a month Consulate Service in Alex. The only prejudice we were faced with was the raised taxi fares when the driver figured out that I was "al Amerikeya".
Okay...here it is from my standpoint...the bare truth about Egypt. I'm sure that somewhere, in the deepest, darkest corners of Egypt, (perhaps upper Egypt, where technology has yet to be found), there are extreme militant groups. This is evidenced by the recent bombings that occurred this year in Cairo, by members of some completely backward zealous militant family from somewhere down South, (and I stress the word "militant"). However, most Cairots and Alexandrians are more focused on how to dress properly, where to buy the most updated cell phone, and how to stir the Nescafe/sugar concoction in just the right way as to impose a foam upon it. There is a larger number of Coptics in lower Egypt than there are in most other places in the Middle East, because of the acceptance of their beliefs. I worked side by side with Muslims and Coptics, and a few Egyptian atheists, as well. There were no wars; no battles; no embittered words; and NO discrimination based on religious beliefs. In fact, most of them went out together on the weekends.
I find it difficult to believe that a Coptic would not be granted a visa solely on account of his or her religion for many reasons. Most of those granting visas at that consulate are Americans...born and bred, and transported to Egypt for the purpose of granting visas. The Egyptians who "work the window" giving out permission to travel, etc. are mostly either non-covered and non bearded Muslims, or they are Coptic Christians, one of whom dislikes Egyptians who marry Americans. (We have encountered him on several occasions, as have many of our Egyptian/American coupled friends.)
Karim and I spent much of our time while in Egypt going back and forth between this Consulate in Cairo and the once a month Consulate Service in Alex. The only prejudice we were faced with was the raised taxi fares when the driver figured out that I was "al Amerikeya".
