Original Post: March 22nd, 2011
So, now we've seen how big of an impact religious people have over the average Egyptian. Scary isn't it? And now we're thinking that we should get out, the real battle is in the villages
and on the streets not on Facebook and Twitter. Agreed!! But what are you going to say? What tools will you use?
First of all.. DO NOT try to combat the religious message. It's like trying to relocate the pyramid with a spoon. Over the past 60 years both the government and the Islamists have used poor education and poverty to control Egyptians. The after life became more important than life itself, a - currently - deeply rooted belief that both the regime and the religious leaders welcomed, fostered and benefited from.
You will not be able to change that, at least not in the coming few months. Our ideas of freedom, democracy and social justice will not be heard if they are free from a religious packaging. Do not combat the religious message, neutralize it. If a religious leader says YES get another religious leader who says NO ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU3jlfXRMcQ&feature=related ).
Take religion out of the debate but don't take it out of the formula. You will fail !! If your enemy is on the side of God and you're not, you will lose. YES, you will. Even if you're not opposed to religion, not being part of it, means you're against it. You can not change those beliefs that were built slowly over the past decades in a few weeks or months. You will also not be able to change those beliefs in a couple of one hour discussions. Democracy and civilian rule are associated with a separation from God ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFbRUAwgndo ).This is not fiction, this is reality. We all saw it.
If you are able to neutralize the religious debate, if you can show you are not on the opposite side of God, only then, will you be able to talk. And when you do, keep it simple.
and on the streets not on Facebook and Twitter. Agreed!! But what are you going to say? What tools will you use?
First of all.. DO NOT try to combat the religious message. It's like trying to relocate the pyramid with a spoon. Over the past 60 years both the government and the Islamists have used poor education and poverty to control Egyptians. The after life became more important than life itself, a - currently - deeply rooted belief that both the regime and the religious leaders welcomed, fostered and benefited from.
You will not be able to change that, at least not in the coming few months. Our ideas of freedom, democracy and social justice will not be heard if they are free from a religious packaging. Do not combat the religious message, neutralize it. If a religious leader says YES get another religious leader who says NO ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU3jlfXRMcQ&feature=related ).
Take religion out of the debate but don't take it out of the formula. You will fail !! If your enemy is on the side of God and you're not, you will lose. YES, you will. Even if you're not opposed to religion, not being part of it, means you're against it. You can not change those beliefs that were built slowly over the past decades in a few weeks or months. You will also not be able to change those beliefs in a couple of one hour discussions. Democracy and civilian rule are associated with a separation from God ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFbRUAwgndo ).This is not fiction, this is reality. We all saw it.
If you are able to neutralize the religious debate, if you can show you are not on the opposite side of God, only then, will you be able to talk. And when you do, keep it simple.
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