Egyptians chatting about London riots

hello Katyusha .. u have a nice dangerous name .. i felt so sorry about what`s happening in England . we lived in this fear for a long time . actually i think its the time for the civilians to protect themselves and their homes . anyway i hope it will end soon coz later the situation will be more dangerous and worse . i follow the news there daily . hope to hear many other opinions about these riots .

Katyusha wrote:

thought you might find this interesting. think it contains some valid points:

link to :

In Egypt, where burning buildings and running street battles between police and civilians have become a familiar sight this year, reaction to the violence in Britain has been sharply divided.

Jack Shenker guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 August 2011 15.47 BST

gu.com/p/3x52z

As a "westerner" I'd enjoy hearing what some of you think about this article. I feel embarassed in a way as what do we really have to riot about in the first place?

Today I woke up and saw the most stunning sunrise and felt so thankful.

Maybe I'm too practical, but I've got my freedom, job, food, shelter, healthcare and security. What am "I" not getting that would justify rioting?

Like I said, maybe my perspective isn't shared so enlighten me.

Cheers,

K

hehehe nice post
i hope it end in peace and they would learn from Egyptians how to protect every thing

I have seen the images and pics of the riots it was really destructive. it reminds me with what we have seen here but Alhamdulilah all is fine now, wish the same for other countries

here is the pics before and after

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14461868

Kathy, I love the article so much, the way of comparing the conditions between London and Egypt is perfect,but what is mutual here between the two countries that both of them are fuelled by inequality, I have seen a video for Mark Duggan's wife, and i was wondering why Mark Duggan was killed by the police, what did he do to be killed?? his wife is in great despair, the video affected on me alot, I sympathized with her.
this is discrimination, they differ between black and white, this is not fair

I know that Egyptians suferred and we are oppressed more than the londoners, coz we have seen alot from the previous president Hosny Mobarak, but also London's government are bad too.Hope for london to be in peace soon.

Again I want to say "thank you" because of sharing this article,you made me smile while reading it, felt abit proud,and really I appreciate your love to Egypt

As I told you before, you are not only fell in love with Egypt  but you are in Egyptians' heart too:)

Cheers and enjoy your weekend:)

As a British Citizen I have to point out that the riots in the major English cities do not compare in any way to the people's revolt in Egypt this year.  Egptians were fighting against their government, these people were rioting and looting their own neighbourhoods, destroying small businesses that provided jobs locally and much of it, although fuelled by valid reasons such as poverty and inequality (which most UK citizens feel), was pure badness and uncalled for on this scale.  People were robbed in the street as they lay injured so in no way does it compare to the valid fight the Egyptians were fighting.  In the UK there is a benefit system so although it is a struggle nobody goes without, there is public housing, but still they riot.  What do we have in Egypt?  Nothing!!!!  Thats what Egypt was fighting for.

i lived and studied in England for years and was proud to be part of a thriving community and to be awarded Michelin star too, basically i lived with Britons and traveled to so many places, the cultural differences is not really visible except in certain areas but the previous government the torries did cause a lot of gaps in the community between people economy and so on they basically failed to bring that kind of equal opportunities among people but now with conservatives in power i doubt much that this gab will be fixed any sooner, in England there is a lot of neglected services especially among youth, where the idea of gang life and hooded outfit with pants dropped below your boxers makes you look cool or dangerous.. should i say.. wasn't me!!!
England is rioting from those who are basically angry criminals and some opportunists as well as those who went with the flow..
but it will be sorted out soon i am sure

In Egypt the situation is different and frankly speaking, you have a huge gap that was created by the previous Government which  catered for millions of civilians in a dramatic dictatorial leadership period which saw; education smashed against the wall, Public services corruption and tyranny with all negative incentives add ons, inhuman treatment to people like tormenting those who get caught in prisons and rape and much more beside the poverty which the government pushed the people to the limit as well as one of the dangerous created gaps ever to be made was the religious factor which saw provoked fights between Muslims and Christians basically over anything to push a crowd of 3000 member to go and smash a church to a ground is still a mystery but raises a lot questions, now look at the country it is sliding into the abyss if not fast pulled up, more discrimination is being thrown on the streets and more people with beards starting to appear which sparks sudden question what is going to be with all this ?
Egyptians from my experience of working with them, they don't investigate problems.. they react then talk and think and investigate.. it is like.. shoot first then ask questions..
i feel too much anger in people and corruption is still there
i really don't know.. England is not to be compared with Egypt cause in England it was a government policy mistake that led the people to where they are now

I was born and raised in the UK and am currently here nursing my sick father.  As you say opportunists and criminals are rife here.  Our prisons are better than the nursing homes we put our elderly into, you cannot discipline a child and all moral values have gone.  There are cities you cannot walk around in at night as the streets are controlled by drug gangs.  The police had to stop using patrol dogs as the criminals were suing them when they got bitten.

Egypt is under great strain as the political parties are still not ready to go to election.  All these things take time, campaigns and planning and everything happened so quickly.  Think of Egypt as a land of opportunity.  Talk to your political parties, make them aware of what you require of a government.  Action does not stop now the Mubarak regime is gone.  It only begins now but the populus now has the opportunity to have a say in what goes on.  Take that.  Grasp it in both hands and look forward to a brave new world.

With regards Britain.  I can only say there are going to have to be major changes.  I cannot see an immediate way forward as yet but it was actually the labour government who destabilised the entire nation NOT the conservatives.  Trillions of pounds spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when the money was better spent on business and jobs.  Allowing the banking system autonimy to bring about the current debt crisis which has finally destabilised the entire population esulting in the closure of hundreds of thousands of businesses and the loss of jobs so associated.  You will note the riots only took place in England, not Scotland, Ireland or Wales who afre the other 3 countries who make up the United Kingdom.  They are all celtic nations with the reserve and self discipline associated with their ancient roots. Yet these are the countries with the biggest unemployment rates and poverty margins.  They look with stoic optimism and just get on with living...........kind of like the Egyptians.

Alexcot, I agree with you as I can see that the government who destabilised the entire nation not the conservatives, Well said, thanks

Michaelrazor,Concerning what you have said above that was "I really don't know.. England is not to be compared with Egypt cause in England it was a government policy mistake that led the people to where they are now


My question is, so what about Egypt?and what led the Egyptians to where they are now?


Well, here is my answer:we were in a severe oppression,education smashed against the wall as u said, some people didn't make any crimes but they were tormented harshly in the prison, and with all this hard conditions, you will see the people here are smiling to each others, helpful,and very generous, don't wanna tell you man long stories about tahrir square, people's attitude there and how they were very well organized.


Although Egypt is a very rich country but still 40% of the people here are under the poverty line, that's why the number of the looters increased here, and people wanna eat eachother alive to survive.

Again am saying, all this hassle happened,poverty and illitercy invaded Egypt because of the government, not the conservatives


Concerning the religious factor, you didn't see what happened in Tahrir square during the revolution, when muslims were praying, and christians were protecting their backs from the brutality of the government and vise versa

Concerning the story you have mentioned above about religion, the government had a hand in these conflicts and fights that have happened before between Muslims and Christians, plus alot of people are uneducated and they believed what they have heard, so hassle happens


Also I would like to add that Egyptians don't investigate problems because they are desperate, and they wish to die everyday from what they have seen. And from what I have studied before, I believe that if you want to be developed, you have to have high spirIt & high self esteem but we don't have it man because many people are in a great sorrow, down and they feel hopeless

Furthermore, you said that the country is sliding into the abyss, I would like to correct the information for you, and to let you know that we were already sliding into the abyss, now, we are in the bottom, but at least,we will not slide down anyfurther.

I agree that this transitional period is very difficult  and it will take time, but at least we are not in the opposite way now like before.

Sorry for prolonging but I just wanted to comment on some points, and as Alexscot said, hope to see Egypt in a brave new world

Cheers all

Are you talking about the Tottingham riots? here is a link that shows more indepth of how it all started....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_England_riots

apart from the Tottingham/London riots, yes England have many protests, normally peaceful protests about various different things over the years...but unfortunately so many opportunists and trouble makers like to stir things up on some occasions(this doesn't just happen in England) and some times you have to stand strong and be heard for anything to be done but for the right reasons and for the good of the people but not in a destructive/violent manner....but i can assure you if someone was attacking me , i would stand my ground and defend myself  and my family and those around me, like so many others would also (not that i  believe in violence, as sometimes an eye for an eye will leave us all blind).....

here is a link to a youtube video for 9/12/2010 what started out as a peaceful protest by  students and tutors about education cuts and fee's going up from 3000 to 9000, see for yourself why it turned into a riot...its called (Police Horse Charge Turns Protest Ugly )

http://youtu.be/jz0Z5_h_CtY

here is another clip

http://youtu.be/ATH_gy6PcJc

here is another clip

http://youtu.be/IoAk5EWk1io

another about coalition etc..

http://youtu.be/5ZP26sp9eFQ

these are just a few examples of protests/riots in uk...

The greatest difference between the riots in UK and what has happened in Egypt is the people.  I live in a very old part of Alexandria, considered a "poor" area.  Riches are not measured in wealth.  I live in a part of the city where the people are the warmest, friendliest, kindest and have a richness of spirit I have never met in any ther part of the world.  Europeans are very driven by money..........money is power..........and I think the Egyptians have shown the world that money is NOT power..........PEOPLE are power!  Never forget this.

there are warm friendly people all over the world...and there are many that are driven by the love of money all over the world....good and bad everywhere, egypt included.....the essencials in life are invisible to the eye( the beauty within the heart and soul has more value than anything money can buy)but unfortunately we need money to survive...we all need a happy balance ..but the greed of some make it harder for those that are struggling...yes money is not everything and is the root to all  evils but when the people are working many hours every day just to find most of their wages are taken by the goverment with taxes etc...and then the cost of living goimg up yet the wages don't...and all the cut backs...it is going to errupt somewhere because the people need to survive...power to the people!!!