Same Theater, New Play

The lead actor himself is in Upper Egypt, Minya to be precise and, although I adore the Minyawis who are always blessing everybody around them with their shining smiles, I suddenly learned why I never accepted to visit their homes. Let's begin the play. Act One:

"I swear to God, Oh Mubarak, that I am in love with you," Mahmoud Fathy declared through a toothless grin.

… this was a one-off, a carefully scripted moment intended to make the president look like a man of the people, part of his campaign for election to a fifth six-year term.

The theater of politics has arrived in Egypt, a country that has never known democracy.

Not quite so, this political theater has been going for the past 30 years – compare that with long-lifers at Broadway or in the West End! That said, our incomparable play may have brought on more laughter; their plays less suffering.

Act Two:

"With our blood, with our souls, we will sacrifice ourselves for you, Mubarak," the carefully screened crowd chanted as the president entered a tent on a small island in the Nile to give his campaign speech….

"I will donate my organs for you," one man shouted, after jumping to his feet and pumping his hand in the air… The president was relaxed on the dais. He repeatedly thanked the audience for its support, and at one point tried to stop the "blood and soul" chant" which was routine during rallies in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, for example.

"There are some people who dislike this whole spirit and blood, or soul and blood business," Mr. Mubarak said to the crowd. "It's better to change it."

The Final:

As soon as the speech was over, Alaa Hussein rushed toward the stage but was stopped by plainclothes security officials. He was carrying a large letter mounted in a gold frame. It was written in the blood of local people, and marked with more than 100 bloody thumbprints.

"People cut themselves and used their blood to do this," Mr. Hussein said. "It is a way of showing our allegiance to the president."

BRAVO! BRAVO!