Stu's visit to Egypt.
09/12/01
My life in Rochester had a humdrum quality. Each day, for eleven
years, I
was getting up at the same time, going to the same place to work, and
meeting
the same people. I had driven past the same billboards and
waited at the
same lights since I learned how to drive. I had taken for
granted all of the
modern conveniences and safeties of an affluent, American lifestyle.
I made
a conscience decision to leave that world and live in a world that is
vastly
different. And here I am.
The world can change in an instant.
When I walked in the door at 5:15 Tuesday, my cleaning lady was
merrily
mopping the kitchen floor. My roommate Ron was heading out the
door with his
gym bag as the phone rang. He answered it, spoke a few words
then hung up.
"Turn on CNN, man. Something's going on."
Immediately there was an image of the Twin Towers of the World Trade
Center
with billowing plumes of black smoke obscuring the top floors. I
couldn't
stop watching for eight hours. I wanted to stop. I wanted
badly for the nightmare and horror to stop. But I knew turning off my television
would have no
impact on the events a half a world away.
Within an hour our flat was full of friends. Other teachers at
AIS who live
in the neighborhood, but don't have cable. We all
watched. Sometimes in
silence, sometimes in heated discussions about who was responsible and
what
would happen next. Some drank, others became quiet, and a few
cried. We all
took turns on the telephone, each calling parents and loved ones in
the
States and Canada.
Around nine o'clock we got a call from our school asking us not
to report on
Wednesday. School would be closed. We were also asked to
not travel and to
lay low. We took advantage of this advice and stayed in,
watching CNN until
two o'clock in the morning.
This morning the sun rose, car horns honked, and the hot water lasted
for
almost three minutes in the shower. Just like yesterday and the
day before
and the day before that. I left the television off. I was
enjoying the
sameness of everyday life.
I feel safe here. I do not sense an anti-American sentiment
among the
Egyptians. The worst thing anyone can do is make broad
generalizations about
Middle Easterners, Muslims, Arabs, Palestinians, or Afghanistans,
based on
the actions of the Taliban or Bin Laden himself. Bin Laden is a
terrorist.
It is by coincidence that he is Middle Eastern. One of the
pillars of Islam
is tolerance. I have found the practicing Muslims in Egypt to be
kind,
generous, and extremely patient with Westerners. I have no
reason to believe
that I will be treated differently than I was before.
It would be a shame if the world assumed every Christian was as
fanatical as
David Koresh or Jim Jones. These are men who used the
convictions of their
faith to commit terrible crimes. Bin Laden's crimes are
surely worse. But
the Muslim faith should not be called into question because of them.
Ironically, I fear the United States retaliation more than I fear a
terrorist
attack. It would appear by Sharon's comments that Israel is drawing a line
in the sand and creating an us versus them situation. This will
only cause
tensions to rise. Only time will tell what will develop. I
won't take
anything for granted. You never know.
The world can change in an instant.