On Wednesday night, Egypt lost to Algeria 1-0 in the World Cup qualifier. Afterwards, Algerian fans, some of whom supposedly brought KNIVES to the match (though it is not certain that this is actual footage of the match, Egyptians BELIEVE it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA_pwTdJIPk), attacked Egyptian fans, causing quite a few injuries. Algeria then ordered the Egyptian ambassador out of Algeria and today the Egyptian government followed suit, kicking out the Algerian ambassador…right…because this situation needs LESS diplomacy.
Last night, my street, which also houses the Algerian embassy down the block, filled with angry protesters armed with drums, car horns, whistles, and loud clapping hands, who shouted, chanted, and yelled until around 4:00am. This, supposedly, to protest the violence of the Algerians at the match, though the protest itself dissolved into a riot, no doubt with the help of the riot police, and several storefront windows in the neighborhood were broken as I walked to this café to use the internet this evening. Riot police in groups of twenty or so have ever entrance to my street blocked off (see photo), using their full body plastic shields and sometimes huge sliding metal barricade fences, which they kindly slid aside to allow me to go shopping earlier today. They are expecting riots again though I hope the crowds are smaller, or at least quieter, tonight so I can sleep better.
I’m on the eighth floor of my building so I don’t feel I’m in any danger but the Thanksgiving dinner I was going to tonight, also in the riot zone, got bumped to tomorrow and all the stores on my block are closed so I can’t buy things like eggs so more than anything I’m annoyed by the inconvenience rather than feeling any actual fear. Honestly, the police officers kind of creep me out, though, since police officers are notorious for sexual harassment and every time I have to slip past a barricade I get treated to comments, fairly tame so far, like “I love you,” and smooching sounds.
In other news, at the grocery store today, in preparation for the upcoming “Big Feast” celebration this weekend, the meat counter hosted a small pen of little lambs awaiting their doom. It was so depressing to walk by them, sitting in their straw, with their miserable tear-smeared eyes, not even bleating but just sort of resigned to their fates. It must take real balls, or else no heart at all, to order your rack of lamb for the weekend barbeque while LOOKING AT THE LAMBS!
Speaking of dinner, if I can get through the riot police back to my apartment, I have sweet potato and ginger soup awaiting me. Egypt is slowly turning me vegetarian.
Thanks, CNN!: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/11/20/egypt.football.fever/
ReplyDeleteWhen Ben Wedeman says that the Algerian embassy is "down this street," and the camera pans to the right, THAT'S MY STREET! I am one block down and on the right.
When he gestures to the barricade and says that there's "very little movement" allowed into the area, that is the little makeshift gate I have to slip through to get into and out of my street.
What you said in the last paragraph about the lambs just broke my heart. Their "miserable tear-smeared eyes" is such a vivid image.
ReplyDeleteWhat made it even more horrifying was that just a couple days ago I was thinking of what I might serve the kids for Christmas dinner and rack of lamb came to mind. No more! I vowed years ago never to eat veal again, and now I feel compelled to add lamb to the list. You're right, it is a compelling argument for vegetarianism, or at least a significant reduction in the amount of meat consumed.