Peek-a-boo! Anonymous enta fien?
Why Egypt needs the Copts.
The current flow of Copts from Egypt has spiked since the riots in Alexandria occurred. Hundreds of thousands of Copts already troubled by high unemployment rates and discrimination against them have decided to start a new life abroad. Already 1.5 million Copts reside outside of Egypt, and this number continues to rise. America like other western nations has a very selective process of immigration, thus helping to weed out potential welfare problems and selecting applicants that are industrious and ambitious.
The current ‘braindrain’ that Egypt is experiencing comes from years of discrimination and a lackluster economy that drives both Copts and even Egyptian Muslims away from the Motherland. The Copts in general have been over represented in the lands of Emigration solely due to fact that they feel unaccepted and even overly discriminated against in their own country. The danger in allowing this trend to continue is Egypt will suffer as its best and brightest search for employment elsewhere.
The Coptic race prides itself in having a highly educated and industrious populace. The Coptic Orthodox church needs to develop a plan to stem the flow of Copts from Egypt. If this ‘brain-drain’ continues Egypt’s smartest and brightest will leave their homes to go to another country that understands and respects them and their historic heritage. Diversity and minority rights must be protected in Egypt, because over time Copts will vote with their feet and leave Egypt devastated just like the Jews and Armenians did when Nasser came to power.
Politicization of the Copts isn’t something that should thing that should be feared as Islamists and government officials would like ordinary Egyptians to feel. If the Copts through a political channel can voice their grievances and have them rectified then many of them would feel wanted and apart of Egyptian society. The Egyptian constitution must be enforced so that the country can move forward as well as protecting “minority rights from the tyranny of the majority.”
In response to the anonymous writer who bemoans the efforts of Micheal Mounir and others like him, by tearing apart Egypt through sectarian strife. Maybe he should look at the extremists within his own community and speak out against them, especially in their quest in oppressing the Copts. Sectarian strife within Egypt has its roots in the foundation of the Muslim Brotherhood party. Since the release of the Brotherhood leaders during the late 1970s, Egypt has taken a downward spiral and has been bogged down in a worthless debate of whether Islamic law should be the sole source of legislation. Egypt should be focusing on improving the economy and providing jobs for the millions of unemployed. Instead through the manipulations of the Brotherhood has the debate taken an uglier face of Copts vs. Muslims.
The Copts have been very silent about their ill treatment. This silence has finally been broken by Pope Shenouda and other leaders within our resilient community. We will not back down nor will we leave. We will fight peacefully, just like our religion prescribes for an Egypt that provides justice for all its citizens regardless of race or creed.
Either through International pressure or through sanctions the Coptic Lobby and other Middle Eastern Christian associations have sided with the Bush Administration at changing the outposts of despotism so that democracy can finally take root and ease society’s problems. Our call for politicization of the Copts is an easier way for acquiring equal rights, other than actively calling for the aid that Egypt receives from the international community to be lessened or even ceased.
Through Dhimmitude have we gained success. Through oppression have we gained strength to leave our towns, villiages and history to start anew in a foreign land. Presently there are a mere handful of Arab Christians who are members of Congress and as assimilation increases will we gain the strength to pressure governments into change. The Maronite Lobby actively pressured the Bush administration even before former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri was assassinated with the Syrian Accountability act.
I am not ashamed of being Coptic-American nor does that necessarily make me less Egyptian. The Coptic community in the Lands of Emigration has actively instilled the belief in every child that we are the original inhabitants of Egypt. Our patriotism towards Egypt should not be questioned, nor should we be called traitors in our own land. Our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and brothers fought side-by-side along with our Muslim compatriots against the enemies of Egypt and in the end we are called traitors for asking that our basic inalienable rights be protected. We will never cease our call for Freedom and Equality, the suffering that we have gone through is testament to the coming struggles up ahead.
There is no God but God, and Jesus Christ is the son of God.
The current flow of Copts from Egypt has spiked since the riots in Alexandria occurred. Hundreds of thousands of Copts already troubled by high unemployment rates and discrimination against them have decided to start a new life abroad. Already 1.5 million Copts reside outside of Egypt, and this number continues to rise. America like other western nations has a very selective process of immigration, thus helping to weed out potential welfare problems and selecting applicants that are industrious and ambitious.
The current ‘braindrain’ that Egypt is experiencing comes from years of discrimination and a lackluster economy that drives both Copts and even Egyptian Muslims away from the Motherland. The Copts in general have been over represented in the lands of Emigration solely due to fact that they feel unaccepted and even overly discriminated against in their own country. The danger in allowing this trend to continue is Egypt will suffer as its best and brightest search for employment elsewhere.
The Coptic race prides itself in having a highly educated and industrious populace. The Coptic Orthodox church needs to develop a plan to stem the flow of Copts from Egypt. If this ‘brain-drain’ continues Egypt’s smartest and brightest will leave their homes to go to another country that understands and respects them and their historic heritage. Diversity and minority rights must be protected in Egypt, because over time Copts will vote with their feet and leave Egypt devastated just like the Jews and Armenians did when Nasser came to power.
Politicization of the Copts isn’t something that should thing that should be feared as Islamists and government officials would like ordinary Egyptians to feel. If the Copts through a political channel can voice their grievances and have them rectified then many of them would feel wanted and apart of Egyptian society. The Egyptian constitution must be enforced so that the country can move forward as well as protecting “minority rights from the tyranny of the majority.”
In response to the anonymous writer who bemoans the efforts of Micheal Mounir and others like him, by tearing apart Egypt through sectarian strife. Maybe he should look at the extremists within his own community and speak out against them, especially in their quest in oppressing the Copts. Sectarian strife within Egypt has its roots in the foundation of the Muslim Brotherhood party. Since the release of the Brotherhood leaders during the late 1970s, Egypt has taken a downward spiral and has been bogged down in a worthless debate of whether Islamic law should be the sole source of legislation. Egypt should be focusing on improving the economy and providing jobs for the millions of unemployed. Instead through the manipulations of the Brotherhood has the debate taken an uglier face of Copts vs. Muslims.
The Copts have been very silent about their ill treatment. This silence has finally been broken by Pope Shenouda and other leaders within our resilient community. We will not back down nor will we leave. We will fight peacefully, just like our religion prescribes for an Egypt that provides justice for all its citizens regardless of race or creed.
Either through International pressure or through sanctions the Coptic Lobby and other Middle Eastern Christian associations have sided with the Bush Administration at changing the outposts of despotism so that democracy can finally take root and ease society’s problems. Our call for politicization of the Copts is an easier way for acquiring equal rights, other than actively calling for the aid that Egypt receives from the international community to be lessened or even ceased.
Through Dhimmitude have we gained success. Through oppression have we gained strength to leave our towns, villiages and history to start anew in a foreign land. Presently there are a mere handful of Arab Christians who are members of Congress and as assimilation increases will we gain the strength to pressure governments into change. The Maronite Lobby actively pressured the Bush administration even before former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri was assassinated with the Syrian Accountability act.
I am not ashamed of being Coptic-American nor does that necessarily make me less Egyptian. The Coptic community in the Lands of Emigration has actively instilled the belief in every child that we are the original inhabitants of Egypt. Our patriotism towards Egypt should not be questioned, nor should we be called traitors in our own land. Our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and brothers fought side-by-side along with our Muslim compatriots against the enemies of Egypt and in the end we are called traitors for asking that our basic inalienable rights be protected. We will never cease our call for Freedom and Equality, the suffering that we have gone through is testament to the coming struggles up ahead.
There is no God but God, and Jesus Christ is the son of God.
posted by Koptikjihad at
4:15 PM
5 Comments:
Wow you made I whole post of replying to me. I am honoured:)
First of all, let me tell you were I stand. I agree with you and denounce any extremism and do acknoledge that there is anti-coptic bias among certain elements. I am not lying to you when I tell you the picture of the nun fallen to the ground tore my heart as much as tore yours, the poor women who didnt deserve this treatment over some play that was filmed 2 years ago and used by extremists as propaganda, I condemn that- period.
On the other hand, I equally condemn foriegn interference which uses the "coptic" sectarian card against egypt. At the coptic confrence before last, held in switzerland I think with your fella and his friends, had a key speaker, Daniel Pipes who spoke for the "freedom" of copts. If you have read and watched Daniel pipes and know his angle, you would know he would be the last person to speak for freedom of any egyptian, of any denomination. One of our greates intelectuals edward said " and I say our proudly, as an Arab who has met him personally" had a running debate with Pipes, who constantly attacked him. Know your friends, and know your enemys.
You are bieng used as a pawn to bend egypt....period. I admit there are issues, but it is left for egyptians to solve, and they will solve it. Copts and muslims have existed for almost 2 millinia, and they will continue to do so.
I have met the copts in the land of immigration, and it never ceases to baffle me the amount of hate they carry towards muslims. When I was in new york a few years ago traveling and studying, i went a international food fair, walking around, I saw an egyptian stall, I was v happy cuz i hadnt egpytian food for a long time. I went over, got me a nice ta3mia with tahina, and was chatting with the egpytian lady, who initially was very happy. She said " aaah poor young man alone fel ghorba, come over and well feed you, intoduce you around, my son is almost your age" etc etc. She asked for my name, I gave her my first, and she continued chatting. Then abrublty she asked for my second, which gave to her. The change on the womans face was highly visible, i will never forget it in my life. then she said "thanks for stopping by" with a look of contempt, and turned away. i have never forgot this interaction.
To sum up:
1)I agree that there is certain bias on both sides that must be remedied- by egyptians in egypt
2)coptics in exile are used by neo-colonialists to further interfere in the region. If bush is your hero, than your in trouble dude. Congress and public opinion are begining to turn, and you know it. As for the powell woman, I have to admit she is pretty hot:)
I will hold myself from ending it wish a theological ending like you did and say:
"Al deen lel nas wal watan lel gamee3"
Al deen lellah wal watan lel gamee3 I meant :)
don't count Bush out yet, like the Muslim Brotherhood religion and politics does great things!
I was trying to engage you intelectually but it didnt happen, convinvicing rebuttle dude:)
You hit the nail squarely on the head. I liked your article. Well done! Keep up the good work.
A Copt living in Australia
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