Principles – “Collaborated Egyptians” – Saturday, 20th of January, 2018

   We spoke at the last articles about peace that we wish to prevail in the new year and we then tackled the article, “A Message to the Baby in the manger” establishing peace, joy and goodness in our country and the world. Egypt has witnessed a conference titled, “Together against terrorism” that discusses the necessity of recognizing the role of the children of Egypt and realizing its importance in order to face all the dangers that Egypt and its children face and one of them is terrorism.

   The first secret to make any work successful is the word, “Together”. In a quick tour between the pages of the Egyptian history, we can find that country’ strength comes from the collaboration of its children so they managed to achieve what they wished for. On those bright pages, we can see the prominent figures in the Egyptian intellectual movement who put the base of progress at the modern age, one of them is “Rifā‘ah Rāf‘i al-Ṭahṭāwī” the pioneer of enlightenment; who tackles in his writings and his enlightened ideas about patriotism, belonging and working to construct it by his children so that it will offer us happy life to all. He says, “Let the homeland the common joy and we shall build it through freedom, thought and industry“. Another example of enlightenment and the call of equality between all Egyptians without regarding their beliefs was Muhammad Abdu who did not differentiate between the children of the one homeland according to the religious concepts. He said that his party was for all Egyptians, “…all Christians and Jews, and anyone who plows the land of “Egypt” and speaks its language, is bound to it, because the difference of beliefs is overlooked, It should be that Egyptians are brothers, and that their politics and legitimate rights are equal … “

   Egypt also witnessed another bright era, when its children joined were collaborated together during the revolutions, wars and national situations that promote the nation, without religious discrimination among the people of the homeland. The history of the struggle of the Egyptians to resist colonialism in the 1919 revolution cannot be forgotten along history. You cannot distinguish between a Muslim and a Christian in the revolution as the homeland is for all. The words of Makram Ebeid, who resigned in his capacity as secretary of the English judicial adviser to the Egyptian government, will not be erased. He said: “The difference of religion should never change the political direction of a nation united by nationalism, sex, language and covenants of history and customs. I felel that it is time to know no word but ‘Egyptian'”, while Muslim and Christian are only mentioned in places of worship.”

   History also shows the mixing of Egyptian blood of Muslims and Christians in defense of the homeland during the battles fought by “Egypt”, and we have seen only Egyptians who offer their lives to redeem the homeland in rare courage and heroic actions that were never witnessed along history.

To be continued …

General Bishop

Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center