A Unique Revolutionary Flag

This week's blog will be posted ahead of the usual every Friday schedule.  My next blog will be posted on June 10.

News from the Egyptian Street and Media Translated Without Comment from Arabic into English As a Public Service
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On that flag, the Crescent embraces the Cross.  No stars.  It is the flag hoisted by the Egyptian Revolution against British occupation in 1919, after World War I.  That revolution, led by Saad Zaghloul, was inspired by De Valaira, the leader of the Irish revolt against the British at that time.  So the Irish inspired the Egyptians, and Ghandi of India, who led the Indian Congress Party in its pacific struggle against the British, gave Egypt the name of his party, the Congress Party modified in 1919 to the "Delegation", or the "Congress" or the "Wafd" party.  An imponderable revolutionary borrowing between oppressed nations: Irish, Indians, Egyptians. They all succeeded against foreign occupation and exploitation.

The time space between 1919 and 2011 is more than 92 years.  Following the pattern of Tunisia, Egypt with its 90 million people convulsed on January 25, 2011.  The Arab Spring was in full swing, this time revolting against internal dictatorships and corruption.  A new Middle East was being born, and in Egypt, the old flag of the Egyptian revolution of 1919 was resurrected in Tahrir Square: the Crescent was again embracing the Cross. 

That symbolism had a message, not only for Egypt, but also for the whole world: Islam is diversity; and down with Al-Qaeda and terrorism which caused 9/11 and other world calamities!!  The New Renaissance embraces all faiths and the principle in the Quran is: "There is no compulsion in religion.  The right direction is henceforth distinct from error." (Sura II/verse 256).  Enough is enough!! 

With the overthrow of 60 years of military dictatorship, which produced an unintended product, militant Islam, cosmopolitan Egypt is being resurrected.  Not only does the Crescent embraces the Cross.  Old historic Jewish temples are being refurbished.  New churches are being built.  Al-Azhar, that citadel of Islam as a moderate system of beliefs of all Islamic sects for more than 1000 years (built by Shiites) in Cairo, is reassuming its historic independence and interfaith role.  The secular State is asserting itself.

Yet the remnants of the defunct Mubarak regime are still at work.  Attacks on Coptic churches in Cairo and Alexandria have taken place.  Muslims and Copts in Imbaba (an underdeveloped section of Cairo) have resulted in nine fatalities and 119 persons injured (May 12).

Responses of the New Egypt came very swiftly:

• The Women's Rights Coaltion, made up of 21 organizations condemned all attempts to tear at the Egyptian fabric made up of Muslim/Coptic unity;
• Egypt's Mufti, Dr. Aly Gomaa declared at a press conference that a sectarian struggle in Egypt could put the country back 500 years;
• Al-Azhar's Grand Imam, Dr. Al-Tayib, and Pope Shenouda III, the Pope of Alexandria, stressed the historic amity between the Church and the Mosque since the 8th century;
• The Supreme Council of Armed Forces declared that those who are trying to foment sectarian discord would be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law.
• The Coordinating Committee of the Revolution devoted Friday, May 20 for a "million person" demonstration in Tahrir for "the protection of National Unity."
• The flight of the Holy Family to Egypt was recalled and celebrated.  And the initiative of Al-Azhar, called "The Family's Home" became a national program.

After all, Egypt is the Greek name for the "Land of the Copts."