Wahid Hamed’s brilliant script came to mind the moment we saw Amr Diab and Mohamed Mounir’s Al Qahera yesterday, particularly the quote which says, “seeing this country from above is nothing like seeing it from below”.
It has now been established that the Egyptian media doesn’t know how to be considerate to the majority of Egyptians. When this happens out of ignorance, we might let it pass. However, when it is done on purpose to distract the people, and polish the image of a country rapidly unraveling, we just can’t ignore it.
Last night, Amr Diab and Mohamed Mounir released their new music video; a collaboration long-awaited by their hardcore fans. The video, in my humble opinion, is a huge slap in the face of Egyptians’ reality. That is not to say “let’s only focus on the half-empty part of the cup”, but can we stop trying to paint an image that looks nothing like the real Egypt?
“can we stop trying to paint an image that looks nothing like the real Egypt?”
In the video, Cairo got a major facelift, only it is one that is done by a tacky, untalented plastic surgeon, leaving it more scarred than rejuvenated. Cairo doesn’t look like itself anymore, it looks like a jarring, freakish version of itself, a version which has grown old and weary, but is still trying to look like it is a teenager.
“In the video, Cairo got a major facelift, only it is one that is done by a tacky, untalented plastic surgeon, leaving it more scarred than rejuvenated.”
The Cairo where you go out on rooftops and enjoy the nightlife without a care in the world has not existed for the majority of Egyptians for decades. In fact, most Egyptians are struggling on daily basis to make ends meet. And those who could afford that are now either going through PTSD and/or trying to leave the country, either due to the fact that there’s no hope of making a living with the country’s economy going down the drain, or out of sheer panic since arresting the youth seems to be the new trend for the Egyptian government.
This is not Cairo. So please, stop trying to convince us otherwise. Stop trying to polish a decaying vessel, because the worst part of this is that it makes the depressed majority feel like something is wrong with them.
“I’m all for hope, but false hope is a cruel, harsh tool to be used on the desperate.”
This isn’t an invitation to only speak of the negative, nor is it an invitation to ignore the beautiful things about Cairo, and Egypt in general. It is, however, an invitation to stop using art as a means of propaganda for a failed state and a panicked government. I’m all for hope, but false hope is a cruel, harsh tool to be used on the desperate. I’m all for hope, when it’s for the people who need it the most, not those who already see Egypt through pink glasses.
“We can all think Egypt is beautiful when we see it from the rooftop of a five star hotel; it’s easy to love that Egypt.”
Change doesn’t happen by ignoring reality. We can all think Egypt is beautiful when we see it from the rooftop of a five star hotel; it’s easy to love that Egypt. It is only when we see it up close and personal from its filthiest street, with its congested traffic, polluted air, animal/child/women abuse, poverty and decay that it can change. When we choose to love this Egypt, we will be able to do something about it.
Actually, this is how Egypt looks like in the morning or night in the location that they were standing in. I think this was the Novotel in Zamalek and if not; its Loft 21 at Cairo Capital Club or The Roof at the Ritz.
Visit the places then decide
yes by the love we can make change . but the new government is not suitable to help us 2 do that . it see the problem from one prospective, its own prespective the newgovernment donot want to listen to any one from egyptian people i think new government is another copy of muburak regime it maybe more . aregime of businessmen multimillionaire and job that available of youth is to be only damn worker for those business men we educated to be servant . one question when they do that with educated people what about people who have no certificate at all. i get up early walking in street found an old man same age like my father wear adamn clothes and asks me give him the cost of sandwitch and when i goto with him the resturant and ask about cost of sandwitch . he told me the cost is 2 pound this without adrink. old man have not 2 pound to eat sandwitch and if summer come there is no chance to have drink pepsi or cococola thereis no home for him he sleep in dirty very light blanket that not bring warm to any being on earth even if acat and the new government promise us new job and there is no job at all and freedom expression and we all see the amount of supression in the memorial 25 jan revolution . no one can say any word . the police are spread in street armed and ready to open fire on egyptian people. the new gov is dictatorial regime that we never ever choose . iam not support muslim brotherhood at all . buti support acivil ctry upon justice and more understanding with its people rather than government that support terrorism against its own people ” one more word you will find your self under arrest are the gun bullets are all opened in you chest without no thinkininh or any consideration of people suffering
really really we need to say that 25 jan revolution is dead and 30-6 is back to mubarak regime may be more difficult more than mubarak . i think mubarak regime is better than sissi regime cause in mubarak era there is space to express your opinion but now there is fire and death and an end to everyone think to say the truth or express about his opinion . i am not feel good this government . i have not 1 piaster to take bus in the morning . i still take money from my parents . i wanna die and leave ctry to those people business men and their president . . it’s not for us it’s only for them . i mean taurt cake no one share but them . just only for them . i think they eat and drink fire in their abdomin
و مين سمعك a sad reality