اصلاح النظام الأمنى فى مصر
فى الأمم المتحدة كنا دائما ننظر الى موضوعات العدالة الانتقالية بحذر شديد، نتابعها عن كثب ، ونتأكد أن محتواها لا يمس بسيادة الدول او يهدد من سلامة اراضيها. كنا دائما ننظر حول الموضوعات المحيطة بها بشئ من التخوف بسبب تسييس مثل هذه المسائب بشكل كبير.. فى البلدان الخارجة من النزاعات، هناك امر اكتشفته عمليات حفظ السلام وخرج الى النور ولم نكن من المتحمسين له بشكل كبير لان المفهوم اتى من الغرب وعادة فى الأمم المتحدة نعيش كل يوم نظرية المؤامرة وتطبيقاتها علنياونعلم جيداً ان من يأتوا بهذه النظريات ليسوا مثاليين ولكنهم لديهم مصالح فى الموضوعات التى يطرحوها والتى تمثل فى جزء كبير منها التدخل فى الشئون الداخلية للدول. وهنا انتقل لفكرة اصلاح النظام الأمنى فى مصر.. باختصار هناك عدد من الخطوات الواجب اتخاذها من وجهة نظرى من اجل احداث طفرة نوعية تتناسب مع الثورة التى بدأت فى 25 يناير للمطالبة بحقوق الانسان والحريات الاساسية للمواطن المصرى ليعيش بكرامة ورفعة فى وطنه، وهذه الخطوات يمكن ان تتمثل فى الآتى:
1. اختيار وزير من خارج منظومة وزارة الداخلية، حتى ولو كان مدنياً طالما يتمتع برؤية متكاملة لكيفية اصلاح هذا الجهاز العريق، على ان يتم معه اختيار طاقم متكامل من داخل الوزارة بعرفون بواطن امورها وكيفية ادارتها من درجات مختلفة لمساعدته على الاصلاح والسبب فى اهمية اختيار شخص من خارج المؤسسة يأتى من ضرورة عدم ارتباطه ارتباط عضوى بمصالح العاملين فى الوزارة وتمتعه بنظرة جديدة وخارجية عن العاملين فيها، بالإضافة الى خروجه عن القوالب المألوفة فى الشرطة والتى تعتمد على السمع والطاعة لمن هم اعلى فى الدرجة الوظيفية.
2. من اجل الاصلاح المؤسسى، ضرورة اعداد مدونة سلوك لممارسة المهنة الشرطية وتعميمها على كل العاملين فى الجهاز وتدريسها لطلبة كلية الشرطة واعداد برامج تدريبية حولها من اجل تغيير نظرة الشرطى للمواطن من ضرورة احترامه والتعامل معه وفقاً لمعايير حقوق الإنسان.
3. فى المرحلة الراهنة، هناك ضرورة لتتبع كل من يرتكب جريمة فى حق المواطنين من اجل محاكمته محاكمة عادلة، تضمن حقوقه كمتهم وتضمن حقوق المواطن الذى ارتكبت الجريمة فى حقه.
4. تحقيق المساءلة الجنائية الفعالة، وهى المرحلة التالية للمحاكمة اى لا يتم الاكتفاء باصدار حكم على المدان من ضباط الشرطة دون حبسهم مثل باقى المذنبين أو خفض راتبهم او فصلهم من الخدمة على غرار ما كان يتم فى السابق، ولكن يتم اتخاذ اجراءات مشددة تكون رادعة لكل من تساوله نفسه على ارتكاب جريمة ضد المواطنين.
5. عمل لجان للمصالحة بين المواطنين وضباط الشرطة (فى الخدمة او العاش) فى القضايا السياسية والتعذيب من اجل ضمان استقرار الوضع بين هؤلاء المواطنين ومن ارتكبوا جرائم ضدهم من جهاز الشرطة وحتى لا نجد انفسنا امام حالة من الفوضى تقوم على قانون الغاب والتار الشخصى بين المواطن والحكومة (هذه مرحلة هامة للغاية خاصة فى حالة بدو سيناء) ولضمان اعادة ثقة المواطن فى جهاز الشرطة.
6. بعد الغاء قانون الطوارئ، يجب توعية ضباط الشرطة وامناء الشرطة وكل من يتعامل مع المواطنيين بالحقوق الممنوحة للمواطن وفقاً للقانون الجنائى العادى.
7. اعادة النظر فى تقييم عمل ضباط المباحث فى اقسام الشرطة ( التسديد فى نهاية العام) على الا يؤثر عدد القضايا التى لم يستطع حلها على ترقيته لان ذلك يفرض على ضباط الشرطة الوصول للمتهم فى اى حالة سرقة... مما يؤدى الى ضغوط نفسية تؤدى الى فبركة متهمين لقضايا لا علاقة لهم بها.
8. فصل السجل المدنى عن اقسام الشرطة... لماذا يضطر المواطن للذهاب لقسم الشرطة لاستخراج صورة من شهادة الميلاد على سبيل المثال..
9. تحسين حال السجون والحبس فى مرحلة متقدمة لتكون اكثر آدمية عن سجون العصور الوسطى التى لا تزال تعمل فى مصر.
هذه بعض الأفكار التى طرأت فى مخيلتى بعد زيادة حوادث تعدى افراد الشرطة على المواطنين وبالعكس بعد احداث 25 يناير وكذلك القاء القبض على العديد من افراد الشرطة فى عمليات بلطجة وسرقة ونهب وحرائق لاحداث حالة من الفوضى بالايعاذ من فلول النظام القديم..
والله المستعان على اصلاح مصر لكى تخرج الأجيال القادمة فى مجتمع افضل منا ولا يتمنون الهرب الى الشمال بعد ان يجدوا ان البلد دى احسن من غيرها.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A reflection on the Egyptian government position with regard to the revolt of 2011
Why the surprise?
Interesting enough to keep hearing about the conspiracy in the rhetoric of the government nowadays... It is amazing that the persistence of stating foreign hands are behind the Egyptian revolting never fail to fade away! Did anyone ask why? Why did the regime fall into a pothole .. A very big one that the struggle for survival in the ditch is a matter of life and death?
I wouldn't say that I know an easy answer but I'll try to assess the situation .. For 30 years now Egypt has been working and living under a stagnant regime... The faces in power, not only the president, have been there forever...they see themselves heroes, knowledgeable, the only ones who understand and capable of running the show and whoever opposes them may face the same destiny as my father or grandfather imprisonment or curbing their rights even more than the emergency law.. Yes there is more, when you are totally banned from exercising your limited political rights for 25 years of your life... Worse than the emergency law...anyhow, if you do that to whoever opposes the regime.. Then all will be thinking in the same line.. Hence, we will end up with brain drainage not only in science but also in political practice.
So do we blame the regime for seeing that all what is taking place for 2 weeks now in tahrir square and other governorates of Egypt as the made of foreign hands... I don't say that whoever in the region or even outside it who has a stake in what is going on in Egypt will not try to hijack the revolution.. Being it foreign or national forces... But, was that the driving force for the youth to revolt! Hey... Noooo .... And let us attempt to analyse why the NO...
First, the regime after all those years brought up a generation that saw one president, 2 or 3 prime ministers, same speaker of the parliament, same ministers...etc..under the pretence of stability... Yet the whole world is changing around them.
Second, those in the regime who are all above 70 are barely able to consume the new technological advances that came to Egypt, thank god for mobiles and internet.
Third, a generation that was not brought up in a closure from the world, listens and learns... Those who travelled abraod also learnt that when they walk in the street, they're valuable... Simply because of the fact that they are human beings..
Fourth, tasting a nice slice of a pie would tempt the individual to eat it all...
For those reasons and others, the majority of the youth in tahrir don't have hidden agendas, they are not recruited spies that are attempting a coup against the regime, they are not supporting an affiliated religious agenda, they are not idiots or illiterates... They are young Egyptians who didn't lose their identity and fall into the trap of the regime. They are exposed to different cultures, either by travelling or via the Internet. Many of them are well educated and prominent in their jobs. They want to express themselves without fear, they want to go to elections and vote while they know their vote counts. they want better licing conditions to the population. They want to have state institutions free from corruption, elections without rigging, police that serves the people and not to torture them, a government that is responding to the needs of the population... They want to say this is our country... We will live, prosper and die here... We are proud to belong to this country and we want her to belong to us....
This simple formula the current regime failed to comprehend...it has taken ththe my surprise... Oops! This is not the Muslim Brotheehood movement that brought few thousands in the streets.... It is not the western backed NGOs that brought those youth in the streets... Do you want me to believe that they are simply nationalisitc... Noway!!! No hidden agendas and no foreign hands.... Unbelievable... Hence, although we still don't buy these facts... As a regime we have to be protective to those inexperienced youth... They don't understand the burdens of running the country and they are not mature enough to know what is best.. So, we have to take veryyyyyyy slow, calculated measures in order to move towards democracy... But we cant do it all at once because we are not ready to leave the country fall into chaos!!!
Well, i've to say that the generation that is leading the revolt in Egypt is better educated than those in power, maybe they are young but they are not idiots and were not fooled by the rhetoric of the government or the opposition parties, including the Muslim Brotheehood... Yes, they are ready for democracy... They are ready to say this is what we want and what we need... I'm sorry Mr. Authoritarian regime... You're not the first or the last to try to cling to power and keep a territory of a state as your private estate... this is our land, our ancestors land, this is the land of the pharaos, the land of religions and the land of turquoise....don't be surprised Mr. You'll face daeth soon like all the rest of your compatriots. give us back our country ...Long live Egypt!
Interesting enough to keep hearing about the conspiracy in the rhetoric of the government nowadays... It is amazing that the persistence of stating foreign hands are behind the Egyptian revolting never fail to fade away! Did anyone ask why? Why did the regime fall into a pothole .. A very big one that the struggle for survival in the ditch is a matter of life and death?
I wouldn't say that I know an easy answer but I'll try to assess the situation .. For 30 years now Egypt has been working and living under a stagnant regime... The faces in power, not only the president, have been there forever...they see themselves heroes, knowledgeable, the only ones who understand and capable of running the show and whoever opposes them may face the same destiny as my father or grandfather imprisonment or curbing their rights even more than the emergency law.. Yes there is more, when you are totally banned from exercising your limited political rights for 25 years of your life... Worse than the emergency law...anyhow, if you do that to whoever opposes the regime.. Then all will be thinking in the same line.. Hence, we will end up with brain drainage not only in science but also in political practice.
So do we blame the regime for seeing that all what is taking place for 2 weeks now in tahrir square and other governorates of Egypt as the made of foreign hands... I don't say that whoever in the region or even outside it who has a stake in what is going on in Egypt will not try to hijack the revolution.. Being it foreign or national forces... But, was that the driving force for the youth to revolt! Hey... Noooo .... And let us attempt to analyse why the NO...
First, the regime after all those years brought up a generation that saw one president, 2 or 3 prime ministers, same speaker of the parliament, same ministers...etc..under the pretence of stability... Yet the whole world is changing around them.
Second, those in the regime who are all above 70 are barely able to consume the new technological advances that came to Egypt, thank god for mobiles and internet.
Third, a generation that was not brought up in a closure from the world, listens and learns... Those who travelled abraod also learnt that when they walk in the street, they're valuable... Simply because of the fact that they are human beings..
Fourth, tasting a nice slice of a pie would tempt the individual to eat it all...
For those reasons and others, the majority of the youth in tahrir don't have hidden agendas, they are not recruited spies that are attempting a coup against the regime, they are not supporting an affiliated religious agenda, they are not idiots or illiterates... They are young Egyptians who didn't lose their identity and fall into the trap of the regime. They are exposed to different cultures, either by travelling or via the Internet. Many of them are well educated and prominent in their jobs. They want to express themselves without fear, they want to go to elections and vote while they know their vote counts. they want better licing conditions to the population. They want to have state institutions free from corruption, elections without rigging, police that serves the people and not to torture them, a government that is responding to the needs of the population... They want to say this is our country... We will live, prosper and die here... We are proud to belong to this country and we want her to belong to us....
This simple formula the current regime failed to comprehend...it has taken ththe my surprise... Oops! This is not the Muslim Brotheehood movement that brought few thousands in the streets.... It is not the western backed NGOs that brought those youth in the streets... Do you want me to believe that they are simply nationalisitc... Noway!!! No hidden agendas and no foreign hands.... Unbelievable... Hence, although we still don't buy these facts... As a regime we have to be protective to those inexperienced youth... They don't understand the burdens of running the country and they are not mature enough to know what is best.. So, we have to take veryyyyyyy slow, calculated measures in order to move towards democracy... But we cant do it all at once because we are not ready to leave the country fall into chaos!!!
Well, i've to say that the generation that is leading the revolt in Egypt is better educated than those in power, maybe they are young but they are not idiots and were not fooled by the rhetoric of the government or the opposition parties, including the Muslim Brotheehood... Yes, they are ready for democracy... They are ready to say this is what we want and what we need... I'm sorry Mr. Authoritarian regime... You're not the first or the last to try to cling to power and keep a territory of a state as your private estate... this is our land, our ancestors land, this is the land of the pharaos, the land of religions and the land of turquoise....don't be surprised Mr. You'll face daeth soon like all the rest of your compatriots. give us back our country ...Long live Egypt!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Egypt today- Changing the face of history1
this was an attempt to write things from my perspective while i was abroad about how we have changed and changing again the face of history with our revolution.. now back to cairo.. i have a different sense of things...
today:
strolled along the nile between the tanks in front of my house heading towards zamalek.. passing through the Radio-TV building and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.. felt different than before... i used to go for the same walk on daily basis to reach my work at the ministry.. here is the difference;
1. tanks around and we can walk in the middle of the road instead of walking in the middle of the road with cars because of the barracks and no real pavement to use for walking.
2. the air is different.. poeple are somehow more decent.
3. the young folks that are going in groups.. that, recently, a single female should try to avoid, just as a precaution... they are not hissing, harrassing, or anything.. they are walking in their own way to the point that they leave space for me to go through... without bothering me at all.
4. the young guys, are happy.. jolly.. they are going around and singing either songs for Egypt or for fun...
5.street sellers not harrassing anyone to buy anything from them .. (even when unfortunately, they doubt i am a foreigner.. still they stand there peacefully trying to sell their products)
6. overheard of course many chatting on political issues... passing by the MFA, someone said i am sure if Gamal Abd Elnasser was here, he wouldn't have tolerated what is going on to the Egyptian in Libya or even to the Libyans.. he would have interefered already to save the poeple from the ongoing massacres...
my reflections:
1. for the young people, who are not harrassing women anymore, who are walking around happy and singing... they are the same people, but they don't only have a new sense of pride but also, they have something bigger than their tiny problems to think about.. their country.. their achievement that led to kicking out a person they only knew as ruling the country since the day of their birth... somehow they have more self confidence that life will get better, and there is something really worth celebrating.. they feel they can make a change... they can have a say in the changes that may take place in their country...
2. astonishment hit me to see the faces who actually mentioned Nasser... they were not more than 25 or so.. they didn't even live Sadat's era to remember Nasser.. but funny enough.. many these days remember him... i don't think they would remember him without calling the disasters he brought up into.. but i believe 3 things that come to mind that make them remember him; the first, is the sense of pride... even if this generation did not live Nasser's era, but they saw how he used to speak.. the pride that he used to address the world in.. he was a leader.. the second is the corruption stories... the guy died and left his wife with his pension and living in their house... today, we are all looking forward to get back our stolen money from the family of Mubarak... one ruled Egypt for 18 yrs didn't steel from it.. one ruled for almost 30 yrs and we hear he and his family have 70 billion dollars and god knows.. how much will we be able to get back! the third, is the Arab Nationalism.. today, with all what we are in politically, socially, culturally.. everything... we still care about what is taking place with our neighbours.. we are so worried and crying for the libyans who are dying.. in reality.. how many of the 82 million Egypians know libyans in person, or have family members there.. 2 million.. 3... but when we are so concerned about what took place in Tunisia, then Libya and other places around the Arab world.. it reflects that there is a real bond there.. it doesn't matter how and when it was created.. but our common heritage showed that we care about them as much as they cheered for our revolution.. in brief.. the peoples of the Arab world don't hold grudges against each other, it was all about politics, leaders and power.. not the people..
i won't leave without mentioning what i have seen 2 days ago.. driving to the other part of the city... i really so young boys and girls.. teenagers, children and mothers cleaning the streets... they wanted to keep their district clean.. they even gave me and other cars small plastic bags to put our litter in.. i was so touched... very proud of them and proud of the Egyptians....
Long Live Egypt and God is our Protector.
today:
strolled along the nile between the tanks in front of my house heading towards zamalek.. passing through the Radio-TV building and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.. felt different than before... i used to go for the same walk on daily basis to reach my work at the ministry.. here is the difference;
1. tanks around and we can walk in the middle of the road instead of walking in the middle of the road with cars because of the barracks and no real pavement to use for walking.
2. the air is different.. poeple are somehow more decent.
3. the young folks that are going in groups.. that, recently, a single female should try to avoid, just as a precaution... they are not hissing, harrassing, or anything.. they are walking in their own way to the point that they leave space for me to go through... without bothering me at all.
4. the young guys, are happy.. jolly.. they are going around and singing either songs for Egypt or for fun...
5.street sellers not harrassing anyone to buy anything from them .. (even when unfortunately, they doubt i am a foreigner.. still they stand there peacefully trying to sell their products)
6. overheard of course many chatting on political issues... passing by the MFA, someone said i am sure if Gamal Abd Elnasser was here, he wouldn't have tolerated what is going on to the Egyptian in Libya or even to the Libyans.. he would have interefered already to save the poeple from the ongoing massacres...
my reflections:
1. for the young people, who are not harrassing women anymore, who are walking around happy and singing... they are the same people, but they don't only have a new sense of pride but also, they have something bigger than their tiny problems to think about.. their country.. their achievement that led to kicking out a person they only knew as ruling the country since the day of their birth... somehow they have more self confidence that life will get better, and there is something really worth celebrating.. they feel they can make a change... they can have a say in the changes that may take place in their country...
2. astonishment hit me to see the faces who actually mentioned Nasser... they were not more than 25 or so.. they didn't even live Sadat's era to remember Nasser.. but funny enough.. many these days remember him... i don't think they would remember him without calling the disasters he brought up into.. but i believe 3 things that come to mind that make them remember him; the first, is the sense of pride... even if this generation did not live Nasser's era, but they saw how he used to speak.. the pride that he used to address the world in.. he was a leader.. the second is the corruption stories... the guy died and left his wife with his pension and living in their house... today, we are all looking forward to get back our stolen money from the family of Mubarak... one ruled Egypt for 18 yrs didn't steel from it.. one ruled for almost 30 yrs and we hear he and his family have 70 billion dollars and god knows.. how much will we be able to get back! the third, is the Arab Nationalism.. today, with all what we are in politically, socially, culturally.. everything... we still care about what is taking place with our neighbours.. we are so worried and crying for the libyans who are dying.. in reality.. how many of the 82 million Egypians know libyans in person, or have family members there.. 2 million.. 3... but when we are so concerned about what took place in Tunisia, then Libya and other places around the Arab world.. it reflects that there is a real bond there.. it doesn't matter how and when it was created.. but our common heritage showed that we care about them as much as they cheered for our revolution.. in brief.. the peoples of the Arab world don't hold grudges against each other, it was all about politics, leaders and power.. not the people..
i won't leave without mentioning what i have seen 2 days ago.. driving to the other part of the city... i really so young boys and girls.. teenagers, children and mothers cleaning the streets... they wanted to keep their district clean.. they even gave me and other cars small plastic bags to put our litter in.. i was so touched... very proud of them and proud of the Egyptians....
Long Live Egypt and God is our Protector.
New York and Cairo
On a bright sunny morning in NY while the wind is icy and the snow is residing on the ground...the city looks peaceful and beautiful ... While overlooking the ice skating ring in Bryant park, one can't miss to wonder ... Why they've this and we don't ....
Hey! Don't get me wrong... I am not speaking about the ice skating ring in the middle of the heat of Cairo ... That will be overwhelming luxury that we are way far from... But ... Let me first start with traffic.. On a Sunday morning in NY.. We can compare with a friday morning in Cairo .... People are still lazy in bed getting ready for their prayers.. And others are up for running errands or some fun...
So, in short, traffic here is as slow as Cairo at that time...oops.. Sorry.. But I don't hear honking! What's wrong with those people .... I don't here someone with loud breaks because of speeding and traffic lights... In a city that is normally full of hustle and bustle you feel peaceful and serene!
Durnig the week, it is a crazy city like Cairo... Traffic is horrible most of the day.. U can spend also very long time in your car if you're driving ... But there's minimum of respect to the traffic rules... Hence, even if you've to drive for an hour to reach home from work.. You won't feel as stressed as driving back home because no one will leave you to drive in one lane without having cars from everywhere trying to overtake you, or a motorcycle that is trying to force his way through cars which mostly leads to your mirror being broken or your car being scratched! Jungle rules took over traffic rules back home! Pity!
Now, back to my ice ring... Just watching without contributing makes one cheerful... With some romantic music on that brings to mind romantic movies like serendipity :)... At the end of the day, it is constructed in a very small park... Mmm... Now, here is the deal... A park.. We do have parks..thank god... Some are either for free or will cost little so a regular egyptian family can access.. Brilliant.. So, what's my problem for god's sake...here's my problem.. If you're a citizen or a foreigner here... If you are dressed up elegantly or crappy.. No one cares, no one will comment, no one will bother you... And if anyone decides to harass you... In no time you can have the person arrested or investigated.. The minimum, you'll have the person taken away from your vision... Compare that to strolling along the zoo or Alazhar park... And I'll leave the conclusion to the reader...
So, am I talking about utopia.... No, I don't believe that any place in the many countries I've visited I can call utopia... But, somehow drawing the comparison brings frustration to where we are now!
I recall when an architect asked me, because I lived long time in the north of the globe, how come they enjoy life and we don't ... Is it because they don't work long hours as we do? Or is it because they are blessed with luxuries, time and relaxation that makes it is easy for them to enjoy their weekend? Here is my response, work... At least if I talk about the countries I lived in... No people work hard to afford their living... Regardless of their level of education or the type of work they do... Whether they are doing handy work or office work... The ones who leave their offices on time are those who work since they step into their offices until they leave them... They don't spend their time chatting with colleagues unless they are in their breaks.. When they leave to the loo they spend 5 min not 15 or 30, even muslims among them they don't spend an hour away from their desks to pray the midday prayers... No, they do that in their breaks and it takes no more than 7 or 10 minutes between abolution and praying... When I lived and worked here, although still within an Egyptian set up and environment ... I've worked very hard during the week and during the weekends I used to sleep a bit longer but then pull myself together to go out and enjoy the place... One weekend hectic with many activities and other with quieter pace... But I didn't spend my weekends at home watching tv... My friends who have kids, go out to parks so they will enjoy a different atmosphere... And the kids can play... We didn't spend our weekends from a house to another... so, we end up with frustration that we didnt do anything over our short weekends...
Let me move to a crucial difference.. Won't talk sbout the pollution.. Thats a luxury.. No I'll just speak about pavements... Maybe we should consider taking a decision in a city like Cairo with close to 20 million inhabitants to transform our pavements ( the ones that exist) to an exhibition... Because I see them as a phenomenon that needs to be studied from all angels... Their hight is unbelievable... For those in their youth, they've to jump to walk on the existing pavements .. I stress here on existing... What about old people, those who suffer knee problems, children, mothers with babies, handicapped...I.e. How many in our community are tall and that healthy to be able to just mount our pavements... The nicest part is, out of a personal experience, using the pavements for anything but pedisterians... I'm not talking about street carts that sell stuff for cheap only, but I'm talking about the barracks for security reasons.. Can you find a place to walk on the pavements surrounding 3 quarters of our ministries or surrounding foreign embassies.... It is ridiculous .... In no place I've been too... I've seen this... I'll sum up here by saying I was still speaking about pavements if they exist .. Which is not the case in most of the areas in the capital city of Cairo! Maybe we should consider while asking for reforms to add the right to a pavement next to the other humans rights because it seems that municipalities don't get it!
I don't have a specific solution to our chronic problems.. Many suggested a new capital, others the decentralisation of the government, or spreading enough projects along Egypt so as to prevent the internal immigration of non- cairians to Cairo... Whatever the solution is... We have to find one and pursue...
Struggling for a daily survival is not a new concept in the world... But struggling for a clean breath of air, minimum features of an organised life or enjoyment seem to me as an alien concept to most of the Egyptians with special attention to my beloved cairian fellows... As usual.. I would say our salvation is in the hands of god!
Written in NY around Mid January 2011
Hey! Don't get me wrong... I am not speaking about the ice skating ring in the middle of the heat of Cairo ... That will be overwhelming luxury that we are way far from... But ... Let me first start with traffic.. On a Sunday morning in NY.. We can compare with a friday morning in Cairo .... People are still lazy in bed getting ready for their prayers.. And others are up for running errands or some fun...
So, in short, traffic here is as slow as Cairo at that time...oops.. Sorry.. But I don't hear honking! What's wrong with those people .... I don't here someone with loud breaks because of speeding and traffic lights... In a city that is normally full of hustle and bustle you feel peaceful and serene!
Durnig the week, it is a crazy city like Cairo... Traffic is horrible most of the day.. U can spend also very long time in your car if you're driving ... But there's minimum of respect to the traffic rules... Hence, even if you've to drive for an hour to reach home from work.. You won't feel as stressed as driving back home because no one will leave you to drive in one lane without having cars from everywhere trying to overtake you, or a motorcycle that is trying to force his way through cars which mostly leads to your mirror being broken or your car being scratched! Jungle rules took over traffic rules back home! Pity!
Now, back to my ice ring... Just watching without contributing makes one cheerful... With some romantic music on that brings to mind romantic movies like serendipity :)... At the end of the day, it is constructed in a very small park... Mmm... Now, here is the deal... A park.. We do have parks..thank god... Some are either for free or will cost little so a regular egyptian family can access.. Brilliant.. So, what's my problem for god's sake...here's my problem.. If you're a citizen or a foreigner here... If you are dressed up elegantly or crappy.. No one cares, no one will comment, no one will bother you... And if anyone decides to harass you... In no time you can have the person arrested or investigated.. The minimum, you'll have the person taken away from your vision... Compare that to strolling along the zoo or Alazhar park... And I'll leave the conclusion to the reader...
So, am I talking about utopia.... No, I don't believe that any place in the many countries I've visited I can call utopia... But, somehow drawing the comparison brings frustration to where we are now!
I recall when an architect asked me, because I lived long time in the north of the globe, how come they enjoy life and we don't ... Is it because they don't work long hours as we do? Or is it because they are blessed with luxuries, time and relaxation that makes it is easy for them to enjoy their weekend? Here is my response, work... At least if I talk about the countries I lived in... No people work hard to afford their living... Regardless of their level of education or the type of work they do... Whether they are doing handy work or office work... The ones who leave their offices on time are those who work since they step into their offices until they leave them... They don't spend their time chatting with colleagues unless they are in their breaks.. When they leave to the loo they spend 5 min not 15 or 30, even muslims among them they don't spend an hour away from their desks to pray the midday prayers... No, they do that in their breaks and it takes no more than 7 or 10 minutes between abolution and praying... When I lived and worked here, although still within an Egyptian set up and environment ... I've worked very hard during the week and during the weekends I used to sleep a bit longer but then pull myself together to go out and enjoy the place... One weekend hectic with many activities and other with quieter pace... But I didn't spend my weekends at home watching tv... My friends who have kids, go out to parks so they will enjoy a different atmosphere... And the kids can play... We didn't spend our weekends from a house to another... so, we end up with frustration that we didnt do anything over our short weekends...
Let me move to a crucial difference.. Won't talk sbout the pollution.. Thats a luxury.. No I'll just speak about pavements... Maybe we should consider taking a decision in a city like Cairo with close to 20 million inhabitants to transform our pavements ( the ones that exist) to an exhibition... Because I see them as a phenomenon that needs to be studied from all angels... Their hight is unbelievable... For those in their youth, they've to jump to walk on the existing pavements .. I stress here on existing... What about old people, those who suffer knee problems, children, mothers with babies, handicapped...I.e. How many in our community are tall and that healthy to be able to just mount our pavements... The nicest part is, out of a personal experience, using the pavements for anything but pedisterians... I'm not talking about street carts that sell stuff for cheap only, but I'm talking about the barracks for security reasons.. Can you find a place to walk on the pavements surrounding 3 quarters of our ministries or surrounding foreign embassies.... It is ridiculous .... In no place I've been too... I've seen this... I'll sum up here by saying I was still speaking about pavements if they exist .. Which is not the case in most of the areas in the capital city of Cairo! Maybe we should consider while asking for reforms to add the right to a pavement next to the other humans rights because it seems that municipalities don't get it!
I don't have a specific solution to our chronic problems.. Many suggested a new capital, others the decentralisation of the government, or spreading enough projects along Egypt so as to prevent the internal immigration of non- cairians to Cairo... Whatever the solution is... We have to find one and pursue...
Struggling for a daily survival is not a new concept in the world... But struggling for a clean breath of air, minimum features of an organised life or enjoyment seem to me as an alien concept to most of the Egyptians with special attention to my beloved cairian fellows... As usual.. I would say our salvation is in the hands of god!
Written in NY around Mid January 2011
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