Why am I not interested in politics? Why do I not care for politicians? Why do I not care for Iraq, Palestine, Iran, or even Egypt? Why am I so apathetic when it is so much against my nature?
Those questions have been ailing me for the past few years – since I began writing basically – but they are haunting me now all the time. In my attempt to track my apathy I have reached down the abyss of my psyche and touched base with my father's preaching and teaching.
First of all, I cannot recall one time when politics was discussed in our house – we have been through the assassination of sadat, Mubarak's regime, Regan, Bush Senior, Clinton, Bush Junior, Iraq-Iran war, Palestinian cause, Iraq-Kuwait invasion, terrorism, Luxor masaccare, all sorts of bombs, US-Iraq attacks, and many more local and international incidents but I cannot think of one comment or one discussion involving politics.
"3eyal seya3" – vagabonds – was the description the fitted all incidents.
Demonstrations were categorized as a waste of time and effort and demonstrators were a bunch of "3eyal seya3". Unions were to be boycotted alltogether be it school unions, university unions, or any other union that is voicing any opinion.
The basic rule was: why bother when the fire is not in your house? Walk by the wall and you shall never get hurt and will never get in trouble.
Making a living, schooling, eating, and mating were the main drives for waking up in the morning. "yewla3o enshalla tet7ere2" as long as the fire is not at our doorstep.
Who is president? Who are members of the parliament? Who sets the rules? Who breaks the law? Who robs us of our bread and butter? Who the hell cares … they are all the same!!
A few days ago a friend wanted to put an anti MB banner on his blog and another friend decided to help him with the design …. apathy froze my blood in my veins and I turned a cold shoulder to both of them … I could not care less … from the ivory tower where I stood, I said "wana mali" – it is just none of my business. It is not my battle and I do not want to be a part of it. What have I to do with the MB or with any other political or non political party?
Then I realized that I was standing on the margin not on an ivory tower …. I realized that my only cause and my raison d'etre – women and their empowerment – is only there because I got burnt … otherwise I am sure I would have been as apathetic about women as I am apathetic about politics.
On the phone, my anti MB friend told me:
"They came for the Communists, and I didn't object – For I wasn't a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn't object – For I wasn't a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn't object – For I wasn't a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn't object – For I wasn't a Jew;
Then they came for me – And there was no one left to object."
– Martin Niemoller, German Protestant Pastor, 1892-1984
In another version, the quote appears in the Congressional Record 14 October 1968, page 31636:
"When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned.
And when Hitler attacked the unions and industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned.
Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church — and there was nobody left to be concerned. "
To be continued ….. this is just an awakening
