Readers' corner
Riddle wrapped in an enigma
Sir-- 'The cakes are not for eating' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 7-13 February) is perhaps an overly optimistic view eastwards by Eric Walberg. Russians do not think that the high theatre called "elections" is worth the trouble. I am not sure this is the correct attitude. If the Russian people were given a choice between, say, Ivanov [Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, an outspoken nationalist] and Medvedev, at least, it would be more fun. We (and I mean everybody I know) have no clue about Mr Medvedev's agenda. I do not believe Mr Putin will continue as a prime minister, either. So the near future of Russia is not really as clear as Eric seems to think.
Israel Shamir
Stockholm
Sweden
Sarkozy stoking clash of civilisations
Sir-- Re 'Eating Sarko' ( Al-Ahram Weekly 7-13 February), there is a tremendous effort under way to enlist Europe into the "clash of civilisations". Pro-Israeli agitation and intrigue has led to the despicable situation that most European regimes are turning a blind eye to the increased repression, murder and dispossession of the Palestinians, for fear of being branded "anti-Semitic" and bullied by the US, if they do otherwise. NATO is being turned into a military arm of Western neo-colonial exploitation, in Afghanistan, so far, but planned to spread throughout the world if the boss in Washington so decides. Ultimately, of course, Europe is intended not only to be a loyal satrap to Israeli and US plans in the Middle East, but in the coming wars with Russia and China. These may be cold wars, or perhaps not. The determination of the US to set up first-strike facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, the so-called "missile defence" fraud, shows the US is still ruthlessly determined to reduce Russia to satrap status, hoping no doubt to intervene in Russian politics and install a new Yeltsin, or something worse. Then it will be China's turn. Where Europe sits in such confrontations depends on the true character and motivations of the likes of Sarkozy. I myself believe it very possible Sarkozy is more than merely sympathetic to Israel and the US. But only time will tell.
Mulga Mumblebrain
Adelaide
Australia
Raw deal
Sir-- Holding a conference to discuss citizenship rights is not a novelty in itself but making the concept materialise into reality is another matter.
Albeit media outlets term Copts grievances as "exaggerated", there is room to expound on them.
Gone are the days when a Copt was Egypt's prime minister. Now the Copts can do nothing but sigh at their diminished representation.
Should the Copts feel content when they are portrayed as America's stooge and a Trojan horse? Is it harmful to have a Copt as a faculty dean or university president? Is it justified that the Coptic era, which lasted for six centuries, has been reduced to a few pages in school textbooks? Do Egyptian students know how the Copts enriched Christian history, art and teachings? Is it not disgraceful that state-run universities neither have any Coptic studies departments nor provide studies of the Coptic language? Is it not unconscionable that there are obsolete laws curbing the construction of churches in Egypt? Is it not unseemly that an incandescent mob attacks their fellow Copts once a rumour circulates alleging a church is being built? Is it not unfathomable that those who assaulted the Copts with malice as an after-thought did not get their due retribution? Is it not lunacy when several newspapers grudgingly belie their readership by running sensational features about the alleged Coptic monopoly on the national economy, churches stoking up weapons... etc? Is it not unmitigated that only a handful of Coptic MPs are merely appointees?
Do we have any aversion to sloughing off all these grievances? It is not in anybody's interest to tune out when Copts feel vexed in their homeland and their destiny is to end up emigrating en masse.
Copts' insecurities are emphatically ineluctable and far from being jazzed up or spurious.
Isaac Bandry
Qena
Egypt
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