In fact, in Egyptian history it is rare to find changes that were instigated by the masses. External factors were almost always coming to bear on the people of this great country and those factors were typically “top down” changes.
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| Cario in the morning (Author's Collection, copyright 2019) |
Adjusting to these changes was for them to deal with as leaders are rarely concerned with (and quite often unaware) of the daily difficulties that are enacted when they flippantly decide to do something. Self-righteous Pharaohs, impetuous rulers, colonial oversight and exploitation by empires are but some of the ancient examples of difficulties that the average Egyptian had to contend with but the recent past isn’t any better.
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| Fast Food in Cairo's Market (Author's Collection, copyright 2019) |
Recent political turmoil has built upon decades of questionable national level decisions which have created a poor educational system and created mass poverty (average annual income is 6,700USD). A by-product of this situation is growing sectarian violence and increasing economic instability- the uneducated can’t be expected to make informed decisions or develop insightful philosophical points of view.
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| Streets of Imbabah (Author's Collection, copyright 2019) |
In response, the Egyptian Government recently de-valued their currency (Egyptian Pound) and made severe cuts to public subsidisation/aide programs. This was all in an effort to qualify for a large loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which the Egyptian Government hopes will stimulate the economy before the more impoverished segment of society is crushed. Does Egypt (or the world) really need another lane in the Suez Canal?
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| Egyptian Museum Entrance (Author's Collection, copyright 2019) |
Through all of this, as they have for millennia, Egyptians continue to adjust and compensate for the external factors pressing on their efforts for a better tomorrow. Without considering all these historical factors, Egyptians live their lives and try to adapt to the radically changing socio-political and economic landscape; doing the best they can before the next change is forced upon them without their consent. As though adaptation and adjustment have been imprinted in their genetic code.
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