CAIRO - The Quiddissein (Two Saints) Church blast in Alexandria led to a heated debate in the intellectual community about the Civil State and a fully mature principle of citizenship. Influential writers and thinkers refused to absolve the Government of blame for its alleged role in foolishly fanning out sectarian sedition by closing its ears to Copts calling for equality and justice. Celebrated writer Bahaa Taher said that Egypt would survive the tragedy in Alexandria only if the Government helped by establishing strong foundations for the long-awaited Civil State and its citizenship. He rejected the Government's allegedly mistaken determination to deal with 'symptoms' while ignoring the roots of the problem, locking Egyptian society in a religious clinch. After offering his condolences to the grieving families of the church attack victims, Taher rejected accusations that the absence of the Egyptian intelligentsia on the political scene must have contributed to the domination of radical and fundamentalist Muslim groups. He confirmed in his defence that influential members of the Egyptian intelligentsia were heading demonstrations and calling for social, economic and political reforms. “But it is not the intelligentsia's responsibility or in its power to introduce change and reform,” he noted. “It is committed to increase pressure on the Government to comply with these demands,” he explained. Poet Mohamed Ibrahim Abu Senna agreed that the church attack had horrendous dimensions and was a disaster. The eminent poet described it as a treacherous blow to Egypt's national unity. Abu Senna refused to rule out suspicions that the Alexandria blast was masterminded abroad before the perpetrator(s) at home received the order to go ahead. “The crime in Alexandria is not the product of [the alleged tense relationship] between Muslims and Copts,” the poet suggested. “It is imported from abroad.” In an interview with Ezza wa Televisyon (Radio and TV) magazine, Abu Senna said that Copts and Muslims were in the same boat, facing the same problems caused by the Government. Warning that new generations of Muslims and Copts could grow up with hatred and rancour towards the other, the poet urged that Egyptian youths should have more opportunities to participate in cultural and political activities and events. He also proposed the formation of a committee comprising wise Muslims and Copts, to convene regularly and help sort out problems before they get too big and out of control. “The committee should include Muslim imams and Coptic priests, influential media people, ideologists and education strategists,” he elaborated. Al-Qaeda's role in the Alexandria attack was ruled out and seen as an attempt to distract the nation's attention from the simmering problems and crises at home. The spectre of Al-Qaeda, apparently overwhelming politicians and thinkers alike, was dismissed by poet Abdel-Mon'em Ramadan. He implied that the brutal attack was the product of a political and social imbalance in society over the past decades. He also warned that such an imbalance could be exploited by foreign powers to export Iraqi anti-Christian violence to Egypt. “It was all the more outrageous that we passively watched attacks on Iraqi Christians and refused to consider that the flames could reach us, unless we do something positive.” The poet called upon the Government to have a better understanding of the fragmentation of Sudan. “Like other Arab countries, Egypt is at the centre of global plans to make it fall apart,” Ramadan continued. He attacked his colleagues in the intellectual community, accusing them of devoting themselves and their talents to serve their personal gains at the expense of the nation's collective interests.“ “A big part of the Egyptian intelligentsia views the country as a stopover before going to the US or oil-rich countries to collect a bounty.” It's obvious that Ramadan's accusations included Muslim fundamentalists who manufacture all sorts of excuses to obtain a US visa and begin a new life there.
