The Glocal Controversy {EGY-TRI -TABOO Prelude}

 

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There is lots of advice, tips and tricks available on how to establish relationships with others. Numerous self/human development or whatever the categorization anyone can make to include these kinds of books. However, some topics are best to be left out of conversation as recommended to be among the popular or just be on the safe side. I remember once in one of my previous travels, I told some people when a certain topic was brought up that it is best not to tackle anything related to the “Tri- Taboo” topics: Politics, Religion and Sex.

Of course, the list can include other topics as well but this is a kind of universal rule agreed on by most people to avoid any potential misunderstanding and possible aggregated conflicts or heated conversation. But, I was surprised, well not quite surprised, when a response came from someone with this phrase, well you will not talk about anything then. Afterwards, I started to think if these taboos cover everything in life or not. No, they are not everything in life but they are what make up everything in life.

It could be best to avoid these topics but instead we would start talking about weather, colors, media, kitchen recipes. If there are things you think could be added to this interesting list, you could be the expert. However, you, probably, still, will not be able to dig deeper in these items on the list. There will be a point in the conversation where you will reach topics like the availability of crops in the market and the skyrocketing prices of food. Also, the food bloggers who are supported by anonymous organizations or individuals. But, generally, in Egypt, we will just talk about the recipe and how delicious or repulsive and what should be avoided so the exquisite dish will be out.

I can deliberately and explicitly express that we as a governance in Egypt and people are anything but democracy. There was a time some voices, political or not, articulated the suspicions around its readiness for democracy. It is 100% correct from my perspective that we are not and will not be ready for democracy, at least in a couple of years, as people are not ready for any kind of change. Revolution anyone? Again? Maybe?

We are not ready for democracy and why? Because we were not raised as democratic citizens in a democratic political climate. By the way, this applies to all social strata and classes and yes, this is a generic opinion.

Generally, lots are selling the idea of democracy and debates culture in schools and universities. However, the reality is anything but. It could be instead a nice enterprise for fame and media coverage. Most youth are overwhelmed by a non- democratic culture. The whole political system acknowledges nothing related to democracy.

Actually, this doesn’t negate the fact that unanimously we are not democratic people as in terms of the exercise of laws or the respect towards regulations. A sense of equality is all over the place not in the form of laws and obligations but in various forms and possible interpretations to break these seemingly the work-related laws in colorful corruption disguised in an under-covered social normality.

Most who do not conform to these sets of socially accepted corruptive terms will be treated as the outlawed marginalized people. Everyone has his own type of injustice to normalize. And there is always this idea that no one is perfect to soothe the innate malady. This transcends the perfection scenario.

There are transgressions in basic life. But there are always other aspects of interpretation for complacency. It is a way to find compromise or reach agreement with incongruity present in daily life. The discrepancy which makes everyone ask is it fair? The answer will depend on so many things.

With all the expressions of religion and deeds, there are very deep-rooted distorted perceptions of corruption partaking the daily encounters to the point of normalization. The entire environment relies on the corruptive practices so how this could be the exception. What could be described even as outrageous is the master coverup of these corruptive practices with the complete opposite. In one sentence, it Does work wonders for the bulk of people.

Back to the talking culture and topics discussed in the country, there is a tendency to not bring up any topics, that could be, what is the word? "sensitive". So, what are sensitivities in this culture and country? Well, everything with something, could have something and could be related to something. This is why most people tend to be silent on so many things to stay safe. Safe to even be misunderstood by someone. The concessions are there and the justifications everyone has are also there, so everyone is happy.

The bottomline is, with all the chit chat and endless talking this country is buzzing all day long, We don’t actually talk about anything that matters. People are just punch bags with words. Even, on a smaller social network scale, it’s the same. No real meaningful connections with substance, just nonsense chitchat.

So, people don’t prefer to discuss any "sensitive topics”. Why? Maybe it will just expose a lot of dirty work and backgrounds actually there. Maybe, it will reveal what should be concealed and even sealed as always. There are a couple reasons for this. You can exploit some religion on the part of exposure and conceal as done in the conservative communities with conservative values.

Even the Sex content is very much related to the other factors in numerous ways. The idea of the powerful and the powerless. Social dominance, sexual motives and secret desires are there in the corner lurking. Also, no one is talking about it. It is a taboo as the others, but sex is often reminded as a taboo even more than the other two. There could be some topics to discuss on how much of a taboo it is. It fits more the cultural morals. But it reveals so much about the secret communities.

The most trivial conflicts could erect from things far less important than those which could be there because of the true / root causes lying behind those trivial conflicts. People like fights and conflicts in the country especially centered on these trivial reasons.

They do not fight, talk about anything with substance or tackle anything related to them. Maybe, they do not even know who they are, what they want or feel. It could apply to most people, but the national difference is always the masking of true intentions or motives. The smart side of fraudulent schemes and concealed motives. Maybe, it is the smart way to just stay alive or be in survival mode.

I can’t argue with the existence of the same facts in other countries. but the ratio and the availing theme in a country saturated with corruption is incomparable. This is why it is in the air to be branded as a country with corruption.

In a corrupt country, it is rare to find someone proven with values. Because whatever it is going to be said, it is going to be tested. Often, the majority fails in the test but are the teachers of words. This is why again it is a corrupt country.

On the other hand, in a country with true values related to corruption counterfeit, it is rare to find someone with corrupt practices. The reason behind this lies not for the pureness of the developed/ uncorrupted world label but for the simple fact that there are rights and mechanisms to protect these rights. Let’s not forget the internal politics (domestic and national) and the foreign/ international politics and how they are interrelated in ways and differentiated in others.