I had asked readers to give their opinion on who they consider the best and the worst politicians, leaders and community figures in 2007, as done in the Western media and opinion poll centers, especially in the United States. Such lists make of the end of each year and the beginning of the new one an opportunity for accountability and responsibility, while we preoccupy ourselves with the silliness of the best song, the best film script, the best singer and the most beautiful female singer.
I received a flood of letters and communications, and I tried, as much as I could, to choose carefully from among them, especially since most of them are of the type that is punishable by law if published. I also tried to rule out what I found myself to be included in, so that it would not be a personal issue in any way.
I received a call from el-Imam el-Faresi from Saudi Arabia, who is an Egyptian citizen residing there, while his soul still resides in Egypt. After the call, I received a letter from him, and in both communications, the man’s opinion was that it is very difficult to conduct such a poll in Egypt, because our society is closed politically, therefore no one is aware of any facts or information upon which we can determine who is the best or worst.
He added that most figures on the scene, in his opinion, are hypocrites, and he considers the worst of 2007 in Egypt was the National Democratic Party, its deeds, practices, and ideas!! He thinks the best personality on the literary level was Dr. Alaa el-Aswani for his novel ‘Chicago,’ and the best personality on the artistic level was Dr. Lamis Gaber for her series ‘King Farouk.’
Professor Aziz Nagdi Anbar thinks that the Mufti, the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar, Ahmed Ezz, and Dr. Mufid Shehab were the most controversial personalities in 2007, while the groups that staged sit-ins and hunger strikes were the best. He added that the lawmakers who ratified last March’s constitutional amendments were the worst, and the entourage surrounding the political leadership and Gamal Mubarak are also the worst, while those who won the land plots in the government lottery are the winners.
Reader Solomon Abu Ali, from Kafr el-Sheikh, believed that the biggest winner in 2007 was Israel when it gathered the Arabs gathered in Annapolis, and offered them nothing!
Magdi Sobhi, from al-Bagur city, Menoufia agrees with him that the businessmen who controlled the market and raised prices were also the greatest winners.
Several letters from Ahmed Adli (Assiut), Emad Ibrahim (New Valley), and Hassan Talaat (Shubra) concur that Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb, President of al-Azhar University, is the person with the least impact, because he allowed the State to interfere in a brazen, rejected manner in the university’s affairs, while he did nothing.
Samir Abdullah al-Rifai, of Armant in Qena, said that the biggest loser in the past year was 90% of the Egyptian people, especially those who reside in cemeteries, and cannot find any food to eat, and when they do it is inhumane.
In a three-line letter Abed Hamdi, from Sharkia says the film ‘Heen Maysara’ (At Convenient Times) is the most influential work of art, because it makes us face a painful, sad reality that we live but do not sense, perhaps because the pressures that over burden us have an almost hypnotic effect on us.
I have no comment on all of the messages, however I wish, along with others, that Gamal Mubarak would hold a special meeting for the NDP Policies Secretariat, and show its members the film ‘Heen Maysara.’ Afterwards, they can tell us what the “New Vision” in the secretariat will do with such a reality. It is impossible for the country to “advance with us” if this situation persists.
