Author:
Publication: Almasryalyoum.com
Date: January 30, 2010
URL: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/opinion/alienation-christians
Christians have been alienated from Egyptian
society ever since the country witnessed an outward Islamicization, which
people sought out to compensate for their political and social frustrations.
Unfortunately, this outward religiosity has not contributed a single positive
thing to Egyptian society.
When society fails to achieve any significant
economic or political progress, it either decides to continue pushing for
this progress, or it gives in to a preoccupation with discussing the unseen
and other superficial thoughts, thus compounding an already difficult economic
or political situation.
Sectarian tension is increasing worldwide
and the Arab world is no exception. In the past, Egypt has served as a model
of coexistence to the world, one on par with the advanced democratic countries.
We have created this "new sectarianism"
ourselves, which the government, for almost three decades, has allowed to
flourish by allowing an Islamic discourse that makes anything permissible
so long as it avoids organized political action.
The state has been interfering when it should
have remained neutral and it has intervened when ideally, it would have remained
on the sidelines. This intervention ignited a new form of sectarianism, where
Muslims cling to superficial ideas and outward manifestations of religiosity
and Christians respond with extremism and insularity.
Meanwhile, conspiracy theories abound, with
some Muslims believing that Christians are supported by external powers, which
they use to blackmail the state. In fact, many Muslims believe the church
and expatriate Christians blackmail the state. Paradoxically, Christians view
this very same state as prejudiced and blatantly discriminatory. These Christians
even believe the state intentionally leaves them at the mercy of extremists
to send the message to Christians that the state alone can protect them from
extremists.
Christians need to rid themselves of this
"religious-turned-political" authority, represented in the church
and instead view the problems of Christians in a sectarian light. These problems
should be viewed as national problems that need to be addressed within a comprehensive
framework of reform undertaken by the state.
Christians will not achieve anything by further
pressuring the state, because the government's response will aggravate some
Muslims. Furthermore, many of the Christian complaints actually widen the
gap between Muslims and Christians because the petitions are dictated by radical
ideas, which are even penalized in democratic countries.
Why don't these expatriate Christians, with
all their abilities, stage a demonstration supporting a general Egyptian national
objective? Doesn't Egypt have social, political and economic problems aside
from sectarian issues?
Weren't they appalled by the sinking of el-Salam
98 carrying more than 1000 people, or the rigging or elections, or the amendments
to Constitutional Articles 76, 77 and 78? Why don't these moderate Christians
coordinate their actions with fellow Muslims?
In order to eliminate discrimination against
Christians, they must first leave the "church ghetto" into which
the repellent Islamic atmosphere has forced them. They must start helping
themselves, or they should brace for the worst.
