Speaking of Egypt

With Egypt in the news, with Egyptians demonstrating/rioting for a better life through regime change, I wanted to tell this story…

A couple years ago I had a short conversation with a man who had moved to the US from Egypt. Something in the news back then, I don’t remember what, prompted him to explain to me what he came here for; I remember I was thrilled that I was actually going to hear, face-to-face, what the US represents to an émigré.

He said it’s not about all the material goods, the wealth, and not really about the opportunities you have to follow dreams and fulfill yourself, although all that is certainly wonderful. It’s more basic than that, and something we might take for granted: respect. Every life here is respected, by law. The police will not arrest you without cause. If you are wronged by someone, or by a company, you can bring suit in a court of law. You always have recourse. You matter; you count. In Egypt, he said, the police can pick you up off the street in the morning, question you and beat you all day, and then dump you back on the street at the end of the day, all for no reason…and there’s nothing you can do about it. Without explanation! Imagine!? You are powerless, and you have to accept it. Day after day, year after soul-crushing year, it’s your way of life.

But not here. Here, you have value, you have your self-respect. Your dignity is assured, and that’s a powerful draw for the rest of the world. Some of the things we complain about within the context of our lives can look awfully petty and whiney to people from other countries. That’s just human nature: no matter what you’re doing or where, you will become aware of the aggravations that come with the situation. But it was nice to hear this man’s larger perspective on things, to

a) be reminded of just how good we have it, and

b) view the current struggles in Egypt with greater understanding.