Chaos in the streets
Every Egyptian citizen has the right to walk safely in the street. Unfortunately, recent incidents indicate there is nothing but chaos all over Cairo. Shops have spread their goods outside onto pavement space, which is supposed to be exclusively for pedestrians. Peddlers, as well as bread and fruit vendors on the sidewalks attract crowds of purchasers, which forces other pedestrians into the street, despite the traffic. I wonder who is responsible for such chaos? Who is in control?”
Nabil Kamel Moawad, Cairo
Back to principles
The state of the family decades ago cannot be compared to its state in the age of globalisation. Parents used to be careful to bring up their children well and teach them all about awareness, ethics and obedience. Wages were small, but they were balanced by the prices. Everyone was satisfied and cared only about culture, education and patriotism.
Regrettably, the image has totally changed. This is now a consumer society, and people are becoming aggressive. Ethics are a rarity and principles have vanished. We have to rebuild our families on the strong foundations of basics, principles and ethics to be able to live in love and peace.
Lutfi al-Momairi, Cairo
Embarrassing Copts
I had the honour to be a member of the General Assembly of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) in my small village of Fidimen, Fayoum. Although I joined the party many years ago, I had never tried to stand for any kind of election because everyone in the village, including myself, was certain that a Coptic nominee would never win. When the last elections were due the secretary-general of the unit at the village asked me to nominate myself because I was one of the most experienced members and had worked with dedication for the party for more than 25 years. He affirmed that all the party members knew how faithful and dedicated I was, and that the party would do its utmost to back my bid. Weeks later, when the elections were held, everyone broke his promise and I was very embarrassed. I found Muslim groups supporting each other and none backing me. Is this a new policy to get rid of Copts? Or are Copts being encouraged to run for the sole purpose of placing the party in a liberal light? Then it’s the simplest task in the world to embarrass them and say they couldn’t win.
Zakariya Atta Tadros, Fayoum
Investment is the answer
Many people wonder why young men risk their lives to emigrate illegally to European countries? Why do they pay a lot of money to fake companies that let them travel in unseaworthy boats? Surprisingly, all parties know that it is very risky and dangerous; moreover, these boats often sink and everyone on board dies before they even reach their destination. And if they were able to get there, they would be directly arrested and sent back into the hands of their home countries’ police. Why do they travel this way? Is it to find a good job? Why don’t they make use of any amount of money they have to start a small business in their own country and among the support of their families and friends?
Sameh Fahim, Qoussiya, Assiut
Help the aged
My letter can be considered an appeal to the officials to pay attention to the General Authority of Insurance and to what takes place in its various offices and departments, especially those responsible for insurance and pension payments. Such offices include a number of employees who appear to insist on humiliating the elderly who need to get their dues, especially families of a departed person. They are even unable to obtain on time the money needed for the burial or funeral because of the bureaucracy and red tape.
Hany Samir, Cairo
Editor’s Note: Sadly, this problem does not apply to a single authority but to most governmental administrations.
Issue of the century
The ruling of the Criminal Court that persons who adopt babies are human traffickers, therefore subjected to from three to five years in prison and fined EGP100,000, has led to a huge controversy over the thousands of street children and orphans in the country. It is true that Islam prohibits adoption and allows instead that parentless children may be looked after by benefactors, but this system is absolutely inadequate and insufficient to save street children. An orphan needs a warm family, not just enough money to eat and sleep.
Zarif Kamel, Cairo
