Dissociate to Reconcile.

By: Ahmed M. EL NAHAS – Montopoli, March 15^th 2012.

Let’s stop for a minute to meditate over the outcome of a “People’s Revolution” after a year from its actual outburst; following decades of an agonising process of moral fermentation under the overheated pressure of constant economic need, social injustice, political incompetence, institutionalised terror and an overall reign of corruption.

Today, we have an ‘Unelected Government’ abiding by the ‘directives and suggestions’ of its employer, a Military Council. And a ‘Crippled Parliament’ lacking the tools to legislate, other than those to monitor, control and punish the Executive Authority; yet equipped with all the mechanisms to extort and blackmail the government as well as the people. And both are the hostages of the rigidly conservative “Totem” called the “Military Institution”, behind the high walls of a maximum security lock-up “Taboo” called the “Religious Institution”.

It is obvious that such a blend is inherently dangerous. Especially in the absence of transparency and coherence. So we shouldn’t lose more time finding excuses or giving reason to one side rather than another. We must address the core of the issue.. We must question the responsibilities of the Totem, and revaluate the role of the Taboo.

Such pragmatic vision of the whole matter is needed now, otherwise we will be committing the same classic mistakes which led Europe straight into the Dark Ages. An era dominated by the Religious Institution’s political and economic dictatorship, and which required more than a “Lutheran Cultural Revolution” to free itself out from the grip of darkness to beam into a new era of “Renaissance Libérale” which made the ‘Old Continent’, along with ‘New World’, what they became today; in terms of  being the “Leaders” in every Scientific Research field, the “Initiators” of modernising revolutions, the “Masters” of new technology and “Dominant Patrons” of the Financial and Economic thrones. And not in terms of “Greedy Imperial Forces” deployed to overdo the entire world regardless of every ethical or moral value that could be drawn off the generous heritage of human civilisations.

“Logic” and “Belief”, or if you wish science and religion; are and will remain parallel one to the other and would only intercept theoretically. They may complement each other, sometimes and in precise given circumstances just for a short period; then each will always have its own vision, comprehension and tools to achieve an objective or reach a destination.. And that is the reason for which they will remain parallel if not in conflict.. Unless they both could find the courageous will to compromise their rigid stands in support of the collective good within the frame of a long term strategic ideology.

Having said that, we can distinguish that the most objective approach to the issue would be to apply the “Totem-Taboo / Logic-Belief” equation on the panoramic scenery of the Egyptian Revolution’s repercussions.

We know that the rise of the “Technocrats” throughout the past few decades and their firm hold over the mainstream politics, in Government as in Parliament; have caused and produced the Economic, Financial and Social disaster of Egypt. Due to the direct consequences of their ‘political ventures’ the impact was devastating on the Egyptian citizen’s daily life. And the remedies they were ‘appointed’ to prescribe to heal the aches of the nation turned out to be lethal venoms.

You can’t expect a Tax Evader to allow the passing of an Anti Evasion Bill; or a Businessman who uses bribery as a guaranteeing agent to monopolise vital products like steel, iron, wood, cement, wheat and so on; to vote for the Anti Corruption laws or the Anti Monopoly Ticket… etc. Technocrats, being private businessmen who were educated to look only for their proper good, can’t make serious reforms in support for the collective good.

Also the Religious Institution have long lost its financial independence and its Freedom of judgement, the moment it became a state owned public apparatus, reporting to the Executive Authority and supervised by the State Security. It was no secret that any appointment or promotion at any organisational level within Al Azhar establishment, and its ‘Affiliates’, must first acquire a state security green light to pass on.

As a result, Al Azhar and its entire religious hierarchy became nothing more than common public sector employees; at all levels whether a Mosque Cleaning Attendant, a Muathen, an Imam or the Grand Mufty. Even the highest reference in the world representing Islam’s moderate Sunni Cult: “Sheikh Al Azhar”; is nothing but a Public Official paid a monthly salary from the state.

That’s how the Religious Institution bartered its “Mission” against “Gold”.. In my personal opinion it lost credibility long time ago throughout history, and since numerous honourable representatives of the institution holders of highly respectable titles like Grand Imam, Mufti, Muezzin, Archbishop, Cardinal, Priest or Rabbi; were rushing to line-up one after the other in long queues before the “Palace” to furnish the “Monarch” with all the rulings he may want, even against the authentic teachings of Sacred Books, Prophets, Messengers or the Doctrines itself.

That’s why Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad fought fiercely against that particular aspect to seek profit misusing the “Message”.. Making fortunes of “Gold” and “Power” through the continuous manipulation of the “Word”. Because this is the essence of “Corruption”.

Since such anomalies have become normal doings largely acceptable in the day to day social practices, consequently ‘Corruption’ has become the norm for a well established system of “Live and Let live”; and as it is obvious that without healthy political life there will be no democracy; so, few things are urgently needed to straighten up an ill situation still in force and risking of paralysing the entire apparatus of the Egyptian establishment:

a)      Political Parties must immediately start a “Self Decontamination Process” to restore their credibility.

b)      If corruption is transversally wide-spread, people’s “Indignation” must also be transversally spread. To defeat Corruption is the introduction to any credible reforms.

c)      A new “Electoral Law” must be introduced to guarantee for the electorate its power and right to freely select and chose their representatives in Parliament, their Government and in the Presidential Institution.

A discredited Parliament together with an unelected Government cannot bring forward important reforms or establish order, on the contrary it invites disorder and call upon Anarchy. It is thus imperative that WE “Dissociate” ourselves from that conventional “Conservative Totem” to liberate our choices from the inevitable impositions of its modular “Traditional Taboo”; so as to “Reconcile”,  within our collective culture, values like Dignity, Independence, Freedom, Sovereignty, Tolerance, Solidarity, Transparency, Participation and Justice as the only sure “Binding Code” to the standards of an established solid understanding for “Good Governance”.

Pass On The Word.