Annette and Abdullah
by Brian Lenzo | Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

While a number of us stood on a relatively empty Cairo street, a woman had began chatting with members of our delegation.  They were such wonderful people.  Let me introduce you to them.

Annette is originally from a small town near Portland, Maine in the US.  Abdullah is Egyptian and runs his own small business making saddles by hand for Arabian horses.  They both live together in a town 1 hour north of Cairo, on the road to Alexandria.

As we explained to them why 90 Americans in blue shirts with “Viva Palestina” were wandering around the streets of Cairo at 11 in the morning on a Tuesday, their eyes lit up.  We talked for over 20 minutes about Gaza, the reaction of the world, the Egyptian government’s treatment of our convoy, and the US role in Israel’s occupation and oppression of the Palestinians.  Despite years of agression and unilateral belligerence from the US government, both were very hopeful that Obama would change all that.  Annette told a story of when she first arrived a few years ago, there were numerous warnings from the US embassy for Americans to be careful walking the streets in Cairo for fear of harassment or other things due to how much Bush had angered the Arab and Muslim world.  Abdullah pointed out that it was never any physical danger, but it was very uncomfortable for Americans given our governments posture and no visibile sings the people were opposing it in big numbers.  However, since Obama has been elected, the situation has changed dramatically and people are willing to ask her about America and encouraged by the signs of a change in attitude.

Our delegation hoped so too, but pointed out our presence is exactly what Obama was asking for when he said the situation in Gaza was “intolerable” and a “humanitarian crisis” in his speech in Cairo just a month ago.

Annette has been telling Abdullah for years taht Americans DO care about Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East and that many DO oppose what Israel is doing to the Palestinians.  Abdullah was not convinced this was true until he met us.  High-profile cases of harassment, imprisonment and racism displayed by some people and government agencies in the US has made a big imact on people in Egypt.  Abdullah had just gotten his visa to visit the US and both of them were planning a visit back to Annette’s home, for her the first time in a few years, for Abdullah, it would be the first time ever visiting the US.

“For a while, I was a bit nervous about America, about being Arab and walking around.  But now that I’ve met you and seen what your group is doingj, I feel much, much better” and he cracked a big smile.

The irony of this whole thing is that the reason we were there in the first place was our delegation needed an affidavit from the US consulate, one the Egyptian government said was not required just 2 weeks ago, but as we were ready to head to the border, suddenly became necessary.  It took us 3 hours to process 80 individuals, and cost each person $30 to get their little sealed and signed piece of paper that says the US is not liable to save us or do anything if anything happens to us in Gaza.

Here we were, two Americans, two Egyptians, both in support of Palestine, both gaining an understanding of how our worlds can connect and work together, all while the American and Egyptian governments are supporting the occupation of Gaza and delaying and trying to stop our convoy from connecting with the people of Gaza.

I took a statement from unofficial ambassdor Abdullah as a message from Egypt to our convoy, “Seeing you all, a big group of Americans, caring so much about Gaza and the Palestinians, it makes me so happy.  Thank you, thank you.”   This is the Egyptian reception we will talk about back in the United States.

Tags: Cairo, convoy, egypt, Palestine, Viva Palestina

6:51 am. Viva Palestina.