Dreams of the Kingdom of Egypt

Now that is interesting.

I came across a Facebook group, titled “the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Egypt”. At first I thought it to be a satire of the Mubaraks and the Hereditary Republic we’re in. But it turned out to be actually about the Royal family of Egypt pre-1952 Revolution - the Revolution it refers to the “military coup witch was led by a group of officers who called themselves “the free officers movement” --- which is true but is politically incorrect, since we’re taught to refer to it as a Revolution. You know, so we, the mob, don’t feel too left out. :)

The members of the group swap photos, discuss issues of Royalism, reminisce times they haven’t witnessed (come on, it’s bloody Facebook, they're still struggling with puberty), post articles by historians, etc.

Very interesting, both in the fact that it’s a fairly interesting read--- but also that people who haven’t witnessed the Royal era, with all its drawbacks (well, they were foreign. And were eating in the palm of the British occupation. They stole poor people’s lands, the King sent husbands to war when he fancied their wives. etc.).

A clear reaction to how the current situation, well, sucks.

Reading “Whatever Happened to Egyptians?”, a 50-years-long sociological study of the Egyptian society by Galal Amin (the author wrote the book both in Arabic and in English, check it out) you realise that we’re back to square One. Whatever the 1952 ------- (fill in the blank with your word of choice: coup, revolution, other) sought to achieve has been undone - and perhaps surpassed.

A micro-class owns a huge part of the country’s assets. There is no political participation to speak of, surely no hope for government reform. The government has lost its sovereignty in favour of a foreign force which essentially guides not only its foreign policy -- think US Aid to convince Egypt to hold on to the Peace Treaty with Israel - but also interferes in matters as internal as schoolbooks, but more frighteningly backing a group - yesterday a class group, today a religious group - against the poor majority.

I feel sorry for the people seeking refuge in the glamour of the Royal coat of arms. But I doubt this is the way to go, though.