The Glocal Controversy {EGY-TRI -TABOO Prelude}
Introduction
There is an endless supply of advice, tips, and tricks on how to build relationships with others. Self-help and human development books fill entire sections of bookstores, each claiming to hold the secret to connection. Yet, some topics are best left untouched, for the sake of peace or social survival.
But then someone replied, “Well, you won’t talk about anything then.” And that made me think—are these taboos truly everything in life? Perhaps not. But they certainly make up everything that defines life.
The Art of Avoidance
To stay on the safe side, we tend to talk about harmless things: weather, colors, recipes, and the latest trends in media. Yet even these neutral topics can lead back to something controversial—like the rising price of food or the politics of agriculture.
In Egypt, the default is to stick to the safe and simple—“How delicious is that dish?”—while ignoring the socio-political rot simmering in the background.
Democracy: A Word We’re Not Ready For
Why? Because we were not raised in a democratic culture. We were never taught to think or act as democratic citizens. This cuts across all social strata—rich or poor, educated or not. Democracy isn’t about slogans; it’s about practice, and practice requires values.
Schools and universities love to sell the image of open debates and freedom of expression. But in reality, it’s a performance—a glossy show for media coverage. Beneath the façade, students and youth remain trapped in a culture that fears dissent.
The Normalization of Corruption
Those who resist these norms often become outcasts. Corruption becomes not only tolerated but expected. It’s even masked with the language of religion or moral superiority. The irony? The louder the moral preaching, the deeper the corruption usually runs.
In this environment, corruption is not the exception—it’s the rule that keeps everything working.
Sensitivity and Silence
Talking culture in Egypt is an art form of avoidance. People steer clear of “sensitive topics”—but what isn’t sensitive in this context? Everything connects to something else, which connects to something dangerous.
So, most people choose silence. Silence to stay safe. Silence to avoid being misunderstood. Silence to protect whatever illusion of stability remains. Everyone has their justification, and everyone pretends to be content.
The Taboos and Power
Each taboo—politics, religion, sex—is woven into Egypt’s power structure. Politics shapes who speaks and who remains silent. Religion sanctifies social hierarchies. And sex—the most forbidden of the three—reveals everything about power, dominance, and hidden desires.
Sex, in particular, remains buried under layers of hypocrisy. It’s condemned publicly yet consumed privately. It’s weaponized in moral discourse and censored in conversation. Its silence speaks volumes about the tension between repression and desire in conservative societies.
The Culture of Trivial Conflicts
Interestingly, Egyptians love conflict—so long as it’s trivial. People argue over small matters while ignoring the deeper injustices underlying their frustrations. These petty fights serve as a safe outlet, a distraction from real issues like corruption, inequality, and identity loss.
In a sense, people are fighting symptoms while ignoring the disease.
Survival and Self-Deception
Maybe all of this—the silence, hypocrisy, and corruption—is just a survival mechanism. A way to keep breathing in a suffocating system. The smart ones learn how to adapt, conceal, and survive.
This doesn’t mean Egypt is unique in its corruption; other nations have their flaws. But the degree of normalization here—the cultural acceptance of corruption—is exceptional.
In a corrupt system, people with genuine values are rare. They are tested constantly, and most fail. Yet, paradoxically, the same society is full of “teachers of words”—people who speak of ethics but live in contradiction.
That’s why Egypt is, unmistakably, a corrupt country with poetic excuses.
Conclusion: Talking Without Talking
In the end, Egypt is a country that talks all day long—about everything and nothing. Conversations flow endlessly but never reach substance. Taboos dominate, sensitivity reigns, and truth hides behind humor and irony.
Perhaps, silence here is not just fear—it’s exhaustion. Because if the Tri-Taboo defines everything in life, then maybe to speak honestly is the final act of rebellion.
References
Armbrust, W. (2019). Martyrs and tricksters: An ethnography of the Egyptian revolution. Princeton University Press.
Mitchell, T. (2002). Rule of experts: Egypt, techno-politics, modernity. University of California Press.
Said, E. (1978). Orientalism. Pantheon Books.
Al-Ali, N. (2018). Gender, activism, and the Egyptian revolution: Everyday stories of resistance. Zed Books.
Transparency International. (2023). Corruption perceptions index: Egypt. https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi
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