Those worn out of working day and night and who are attracted
by what modern means of communication like Facebook and its likes provide may
not find the time to read the recently published books or the fine
academic-like resources and references that are different to what I once called
the “Kleenex books”. By “Kleenex book” I mean those papers enclosed between two
covers that once you skim through it and read its introduction, index and final,
you throw it in the nearest garbage bin no matter how many papers it contains.
Therefore, and since I’m aware of this sad fact, I call
upon my colleague journalists and writers, in specific those who happened to
occupy supervising positions that we call in Egypt “top positions”, to read
what is published of memoirs for journalists and thinkers, also for politicians
and ex-officials, since not a single case of those memoirs is empty of a clear
hint or considerable details of the press and those who were in charge of it in
the time periods those memoirs tackle.
What may support my appeal is what we already see in reality
or in the socio-political arena that we witness every day and which proves that
what goes around comes around. It also proves that one cannot trust politics or
authority as both of them are not guaranteed to remain loyal to their
supporters.
In the memoir of prestigious journalist Mr. Muhammed
Salmawi published by Al-Karma publishing house in 2017, one can find quick
hints for what the Egyptian newspapers published during the uprising of Jan.
1977 as Salmawi was one of those arrested due to it. In his word during the
signing ceremony of the memoir, Dr. Gaber Asfour called these hints “the
revenge of the archives” as the memoir’s writer mentioned what some editors-in-chef
and writers wrote and the decisions some chairmen of the board of some newspapers
took at the time against their colleagues whom the authority considered as
opponents to regime figures and threatening the stability and social harmony as
seen by the authority.
With the long time span between those writings and
decisions taken and the time when this memoir was written, both the ordinary
reader and the one specialist in understanding the surrounding environment and
contexts can find out that being in agreement with the regime in common goals
and policies is different to justifying its mistakes and turning a blind eye to
its defaults.
Usually the one who committed the sin of hypocrisy and
opportunism cannot rectify his situation or correct his mistake. Also, he may receive
no punishment whatsoever from the authority and may continue enjoying the gains
he made whether financial, material or family ones represented in affinities
and interests. However, he feels sad due to people’s looks to him and also because
he knows very well that if someone had the time to open the files, look through
the archives, read and analyze what he found of writings belonging to this kind
of humans, the result would be devastating by all means for those who still
have feelings, as to others having no feelings at all, one finds them coming
back to their old deeds feeling no shame.
Mr. Salmawi mentioned what an editor-in-chef wrote in
1977, what some writers wrote and the decisions some chairmen of the board took
during 1977 and 1981. The memoir’s writer made sure to annex photocopies of the
published papers containing what was written lest someone accuses him of concealing
the truth or being unjust to some died or others who left their positions and assume
no authority now.
The one who studies and carefully reads history can
tell the difference between having a national conviction with cultural and intellectual
aspects and hence a broad and deep political sense to support the decision
maker and stand against any attempt threatening the country and keeping its
cohesion, balance, power and role, and being opportunist seeking personal gains
alone. In the first case, meaning having an unshakeable national conviction,
one is always ready to stay at the back, abstaining from holding any positions,
not hesitating to pay the price and bear responsibility for his stance. As to
the second, the opportunist hurries to jump off the boat at the sight of first
danger like rats do while trying to catch up with and offer his services to the
new regime.
Reading history tells us that regimes are often in
deep need to servants more than partners, peers or even co-operating people working
as per the rule “I work with you and not a servant for you”. However, what
regimes need is totally different to respecting history.
Finally... beware of “the revenge of the archives”!
Translated into English by: Dalia Elnaggar
This article was published in
Al Ahram newspaper on December 28, 2017.
To see the original article,
go to:
#alahram #ahmed_elgammal
#Muhammed_Salmawi_memoir #Egypt #journalism #press
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