Egypt - an education - part - last
There is one other significant fact and commentary I wish to present.
No matter where in Egypt you travel, there is an overwhelming military presence. The buses as well as other traffic had constant extensive and well guarded road blocks to pass through continuously every so many miles, or even just street blocks apart. The police or the military were present at all major road, canal, and rail crossings, at the railroad stations, bus stations, boat tie-ups, all parking areas, plazas, public parks, mosque sites, shopping areas, around hotels, and of course at ALL archeological sites. Many times I felt I was in a war zone because of the pill boxes, reinforced guard posts on the ground, or up in concrete towers, where the armed guard pulls up behind him the ladder he uses to get into it.
The police are generally dressed in white uniforms with side arms, some members also have kalishnikov rifles (they look like sawed-off machine guns?). The regular military (all with kalishnikovs) are in khaki brown, special units are dressed all in black, and a select number are dressed in gray or light blue shirts with black pants.
I asked a stupid question of the Egyptian bus driver, why. Of course the answer was "for the protection of tourists", so I wondered how long this has been going on. I assumed that it was since the terrorist activities (by the way, one bomb explosion occurred in an Egyptian resort area on the Sinai Peninsula while we were on our tour, but that was far away and of no concern to us),
(Something happened here and erased all I had printed - so here goes again!)
or since the 9/11 incident. He said that it was in place even before that. I questioned if it existed since the Israeli conflicts. He said that even before that. Apparently it was already in place since king Faraouk's time or, that is, since the English ended their colonial power in Egypt. "Did the tourists also need protection then?" I asked. "Well . . . I don't think so" he replied.
In my opinion, the virtual state of siege apparent everywhere is only partially explained as safety for the tourists, but in the main, I think it is for the protection of the Government, to intimidate the population from any uprisals, and to prevent and control any disturbances where people might gather. The Egyptian guide also told me that Egypt has the strongest and biggest army in that part of Asia and Africa, and that even more men in civilian clothes keep an eye on everything than are evident in military uniforms. Therefore it is also to the benefit of all who are dependent on their jobs from the military, that they maintain the status quo.
Another factor in keeping the population docile and subservient is their blind obedience to the Muslim faith that has them trained to be faithful to their religious (some, at the same time also political) leaders. Whereas the Christian and Jewish cultures call on their faithful to observe one day a week for prayer, the numerous minarets everywhere announce (nowadays by taped recordings) obligatory prayer to all their followers three times a day, not to mention prayer and fasting for the whole month of Ramadan, as well as an expected pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. This, in addition to the military presence, serves to condition the people not to think for themselves, to be obedient and servile even unto death, to even explode themselves for the cause of what is perceived as justified martryism.
To my surprise, much of what I have seen and described was not evident to my fellow tourists, as if the deplorable way of life was something quite normal and expected. Perhaps many have already traveled extensively throughout the world and seen similar or even worse conditions among the natives elsewhere and have become insensitive to their conditions. I came to understand the attitude of the hawkers of souvenirs who see all the tourists as a goldmine to be exploited. On the one hand they envy us, but at the same time hate the rich foreigner who is so tight with his money.
On the whole though, Egypt is NOT a poor country. Because of the Asswam Dam and the Naser Lake it has plenty of water for irrigation of their fertile and now expanded farm land, and an almost unlimited source of electricity. Another rich source of funds comes from the fees charged at the Suez Canal. And lastly the tourism trade, because of the worlds interest in their antiquities, is a never ending and ever expanding source of rich revenues in fees at each site, as well as cash for transportation, lodging, food, and various purchases that no tourist leaves without.
Love you all.
Ata.
No matter where in Egypt you travel, there is an overwhelming military presence. The buses as well as other traffic had constant extensive and well guarded road blocks to pass through continuously every so many miles, or even just street blocks apart. The police or the military were present at all major road, canal, and rail crossings, at the railroad stations, bus stations, boat tie-ups, all parking areas, plazas, public parks, mosque sites, shopping areas, around hotels, and of course at ALL archeological sites. Many times I felt I was in a war zone because of the pill boxes, reinforced guard posts on the ground, or up in concrete towers, where the armed guard pulls up behind him the ladder he uses to get into it.
The police are generally dressed in white uniforms with side arms, some members also have kalishnikov rifles (they look like sawed-off machine guns?). The regular military (all with kalishnikovs) are in khaki brown, special units are dressed all in black, and a select number are dressed in gray or light blue shirts with black pants.
I asked a stupid question of the Egyptian bus driver, why. Of course the answer was "for the protection of tourists", so I wondered how long this has been going on. I assumed that it was since the terrorist activities (by the way, one bomb explosion occurred in an Egyptian resort area on the Sinai Peninsula while we were on our tour, but that was far away and of no concern to us),
(Something happened here and erased all I had printed - so here goes again!)
or since the 9/11 incident. He said that it was in place even before that. I questioned if it existed since the Israeli conflicts. He said that even before that. Apparently it was already in place since king Faraouk's time or, that is, since the English ended their colonial power in Egypt. "Did the tourists also need protection then?" I asked. "Well . . . I don't think so" he replied.
In my opinion, the virtual state of siege apparent everywhere is only partially explained as safety for the tourists, but in the main, I think it is for the protection of the Government, to intimidate the population from any uprisals, and to prevent and control any disturbances where people might gather. The Egyptian guide also told me that Egypt has the strongest and biggest army in that part of Asia and Africa, and that even more men in civilian clothes keep an eye on everything than are evident in military uniforms. Therefore it is also to the benefit of all who are dependent on their jobs from the military, that they maintain the status quo.
Another factor in keeping the population docile and subservient is their blind obedience to the Muslim faith that has them trained to be faithful to their religious (some, at the same time also political) leaders. Whereas the Christian and Jewish cultures call on their faithful to observe one day a week for prayer, the numerous minarets everywhere announce (nowadays by taped recordings) obligatory prayer to all their followers three times a day, not to mention prayer and fasting for the whole month of Ramadan, as well as an expected pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. This, in addition to the military presence, serves to condition the people not to think for themselves, to be obedient and servile even unto death, to even explode themselves for the cause of what is perceived as justified martryism.
To my surprise, much of what I have seen and described was not evident to my fellow tourists, as if the deplorable way of life was something quite normal and expected. Perhaps many have already traveled extensively throughout the world and seen similar or even worse conditions among the natives elsewhere and have become insensitive to their conditions. I came to understand the attitude of the hawkers of souvenirs who see all the tourists as a goldmine to be exploited. On the one hand they envy us, but at the same time hate the rich foreigner who is so tight with his money.
On the whole though, Egypt is NOT a poor country. Because of the Asswam Dam and the Naser Lake it has plenty of water for irrigation of their fertile and now expanded farm land, and an almost unlimited source of electricity. Another rich source of funds comes from the fees charged at the Suez Canal. And lastly the tourism trade, because of the worlds interest in their antiquities, is a never ending and ever expanding source of rich revenues in fees at each site, as well as cash for transportation, lodging, food, and various purchases that no tourist leaves without.
Love you all.
Ata.
posted by Okorn Family at 6:10 AM
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