Yet Another Egypt Tragedy

Last Night...
...a wedding ceremony was supposed to lead to a festive reception, but as the bride and groom exited the church to the shouts and cheers of family, tragedy unfolded.  The shouts of joy and cheers were replaced by shouts of terror and tears as family and friends took cover while gunfire ripped through the crowd.  The result, four dead and many more injured as a gunmen fired into the crowd and fled the scene during the chaos.

While various political groups and religious leaders condemned the attack, others have taken to Twitter to share opinions, and reports from the wounded or from the funeral ceremony today.   Many tweets like this were visible this morning as people began the day...

         

And this reporter gave moment by moment tweets of the funeral before going to the hospital to visit with families of the wounded...

           

What's Going On?

Though the various demonstrations have grown smaller and the events of Egypt are not a top story in western media over the past month or two, there is still a lot of unrest, it is just showing up differently.  Demonstrations are no longer in mass at one location--and because of the continued curfew on Fridays set at 7pm, there are now multiple location demonstrations usually occurring on Sundays and Tuesdays.

The Pro-Morsi, the former President ousted in the first week of July, continues to receive the support of his Muslim Brotherhood and their political arm, the Freedom & Justice Party.  Various other "Islamist" parties and groups have created a National Coalition to Support Legitimacy.  These groups continue to protest, march and hold various types of demonstrations calling for the reinstatement of the suspended Constitution and the Presidency to Mohamed Morsi.  There are some big dates coming up that are expected to see a lot of passionate demonstration from this group:

• 22 October: The Brotherhood begins appeal of recent court decisions outlawing their NGO status and freezing their assets.

• 29 October: Trials of several high-profile MB leaders are planned to start.

• 4 November: The controversial trial of former President Mohamed Morsi is planned to begin at the North Cairo Criminal Court.

• 22 November: Marks the 100-day anniversary of the dispersal of pro-Morsi gatherings at Rabaa al-Adaweya mosque, which became violent and led to hundreds of deaths.

Meanwhile, the interim and acting government led by interim President Mansour (former head justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court), and backed by the Armed Forces under the leadership of General Sissi, continue to lead the country in decision making to reconstitute a new government.  That begins with a new Constitution, election and security law making, allowing the justice system and courts to operate, and trying to maintain security in torn country.  The Constitution commission is nearing completion of their work, there are new election and demonstration laws pending, the military continues to provide support to the Ministry of Interior while police forces find themselves subject to sporadic attacks, and the justice system has issued the most controversial steps in ruling against the constitutionality of the Muslim Brotherhood.  This latest development is still in an appeal process, but the assets are frozen and the interim government is already talking about routing all their assets and funds into the general fund of Egypt.

Because the interim government seems to be marching forward and not only ignoring the continual appeal of the demonstrators, but possibly also outlawing the leading Islamist group, some militant factions are beginning to take a more violent approach.  There have been two different RPG (rocket propelled grenade) attacks in Cairo -- one at a police station, and one at the satellite installation in Maadi.  There have been multiple bombs found along the Metro public transit line, as well as at other locations of importance--fortunately, these have been found and disarmed, or found and not working.  This is in addition to continued attacks in the Sinai at police check points and other interests.  These more radical groups are unpredictable for the moment, and apparently not yet that effective--but it only takes one "effective" attack to add to a tragedy-riddled country.

The Effects of Uncertainty...

...are beginning to take a toll on the Egyptian society.  A U.N. study released in September marked Egypt at 130 out of 156 in terms of "Happiness."  This excellent article presents the case for such a study, whether "happiness" can be measured collectively versus an individual emotion, etc.  

Though I agree that happiness is an individual emotion, and a largely fleeting one at that, the effects of society upon individuals can affect whether or not a person is or can attain happiness.  In the current environment in Egypt, over the past 3 years, two Presidents have been deposed, the economy has fallen dramatically, joblessness has risen, foreign investment and tourism have declined, confidence in politics wanes, demonstrations and unrest are weekly occurrences, thousands have died with countless sustaining injury, trust and distrust in military and police has risen and fallen like a yo-yo, and the and the perception of justice is not high.  How would you think such a place would affect your happiness?!?

There is not only the question of the effects on Egyptians now, but as this continues to play out for the next few years, what might that do a person, a generation, a national psyche?

We have also been partnering with churches in Lebanon, a country with its own share of a troubled history and divided population--though things continue to be much more stable there now, we are getting a greater sense of the effects of what a divided nation did to a generation who were children and grew up in the aftermath of discord.  We've been getting to know dozens of these over the past year, and we're noticing an inability to plan ahead, to have vision, to think about creating a foundation in the present for something more in the future--there is a resignation to uncertainty.  

Two examples from some "driven" young men that I met in Lebanon.  I met a young man who is studying and volunteering in his particular trade to grow in experience.  I asked him about what the next few years of school looked like, if he would go beyond volunteering to an internship, are there other hurdles in the process of becoming licensed, etc.  He began by saying, "ideally..." and listed some things, and then said, "but this is Lebanon, and I can't be sure what will happen next week--all of this could be put on hold or for nothing."

I asked another young man (who is busy in school for a master's degree, full-time work and various volunteer opportunities) what he was planning to do as far as a career--where was all of this activity leading?  He said (paraphrasing), "I don't know--I mean, I hope it leads somewhere, but I'm just taking it day to day for now.  I want to do something like this in the future, but I'm not sure where this is heading."

This isn't just a Middle Eastern experience--I think there is a sense of aimlessness and uncertainty among 18-35 year olds the world over--but I do think its effects are exacerbated here.  

And each tragedy, each bomb, each demonstration that leads to violence or abrupt change--all of it creates a frighteningly different worldview -- one that is not looking to go beyond and get better in the future, but a worldview that is much narrower, looking to just get by today.

"where there is no vision, the people perish" (KJV)

"where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint" (NIV)

"if people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves" (The MESSAGE)

~ Proverbs 29:18

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Thank you for your continued interest, prayers and encouragement.

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