Egypt: American Books
Written by: Global Voices
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Egyptian blogger Asmaa Yasser - Dawn -Â writes here about her experience at the Mubarak Public Library:
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I have been used to visiting the
Mubarak Public Library, which is located in Mourad Street in El Guiza, since I was a child. I really like the library because of the books found there which helped in shaping my personality and way of
thinking.
…
But in my recent visits there with some of my friends, I've noticed some new shelves in the children's hall with new and neat books on them. Also the young ones among us have noticed those new books and wanted us all to go there to see them. And there I realized that they all have the logo of the USAID on them. And I think they are part of the U.S. non-military foreign aid program, but this time in the cultural form. And I want to share with you my thoughts about those new books.
…
But in my recent visits there with some of my friends, I've noticed some new shelves in the children's hall with new and neat books on them. Also the young ones among us have noticed those new books and wanted us all to go there to see them. And there I realized that they all have the logo of the USAID on them. And I think they are part of the U.S. non-military foreign aid program, but this time in the cultural form. And I want to share with you my thoughts about those new books.
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In the beginning I was sad … most of us will agree that we do not have any hard feelings towards the American people, but what we really hate is the American government's
foreign policy … but what I really didn't like here was that those books were offered in the form of aids and donations and not in the form of mutual cultural exchange.
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But as soon as I started to read these books, I got another impression. And impression that is common in many of the cultural activities that are imported to us from
the west, and supervised by it.
…
The books have got many positive values and morals, but they are all separated from our Islamic values. There is not even a single hint that relates some noble value like forgiveness for example to our beliefs and our own cultural heritage. This is normal because the writers are non-Muslims but what really concerned me here - and please bear with me and my conspiracy theories :) - is that such books are intended to separate those noble values from our Islamic beliefs.
…
The books have got many positive values and morals, but they are all separated from our Islamic values. There is not even a single hint that relates some noble value like forgiveness for example to our beliefs and our own cultural heritage. This is normal because the writers are non-Muslims but what really concerned me here - and please bear with me and my conspiracy theories :) - is that such books are intended to separate those noble values from our Islamic beliefs.
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And finally we have to chose one of two options, either to consciously react with those books or keep our
children away from them and limit their readings to Islamic books. And I myself prefer the first option where we can let our children read such books but exert some efforts in parallel to relate those
values in their minds to our Islamic values and our Prophet's teachings in a way which is pleasant to them.
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