Manipulative memory {The Egyptian Explained}
"Afet El Bashar El Nesyaan" – Humanity's Affliction is Forgetfulness
“Afet El Bashar El Nesyaan” is a phrase mixing Arabic and French syntax, translating to "The affliction of mankind is forgetfulness." It reflects a deeply human condition—our tendency to forget, whether willingly or subconsciously.
Memory: The Core of Identity
Memory is what shapes individuals and nations alike. The deep core of our identity morphs from the way we remember—or choose not to remember. What we retain, what we forget, and how we reframe past events all serve as foundational elements in the human quest for self-understanding.
Even the process of remembering—a selective and subjective exercise—tells us something profound. It reveals how we view ourselves, what we value, and how we make sense of our personal or collective history. Like storytelling, memory is not fixed; it is curated, interpreted, and often dramatized.
Gratification and the Politics of Memory
Many people consciously or unconsciously select their memories based on internal gratification. This doesn’t always imply positivity. Sometimes, the gratification lies in reinforcing a negative self-image, echoing unresolved trauma, or feeding into national myths.
If a person or society has an unhealthy relationship with their own identity, then the memories they cherish or reproduce may actually support distorted narratives. In such cases, gratification stems not from truth or healing, but from the comfort of familiar dysfunction.
Nostalgia and the Egyptian Present
In Egypt today, the younger generations increasingly circulate nostalgic imagery and narratives about past decades—stories they never lived, yet feel connected to. Much of this nostalgia is fuelled by heavily filtered memories, passed down or reshaped by social media.
Photos, for example, are used to project idealised versions of the past, often aligned with specific social classes or ideological perspectives. These curated images lack historical context, and are divorced from the reality in which they were originally captured. A casual caption, perhaps written by someone with little historical knowledge, can reframe an entire era—falsely memorialising it.
The Danger of Oversimplified Memory
This trend isn’t limited to photos. It extends to religious texts, cultural references, and literature, often stripped of interpretation or recontextualised with surface-level readings. What remains is a patchwork of narratives—oversimplified, emotionally driven, and far from historical accuracy.
Even when there are attempts at interpretation, many people remain unaware of competing viewpoints or contextual nuances. The result is a collective memory that is incomplete at best and distorted at worst.
Final Reflection
To borrow and evolve the original phrase:
Humans today are afflicted not only by forgetfulness but also by oversimplification.
This modern affliction challenges our understanding of history, truth, and even identity itself.
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