Eureka: Egyptian Sidewalk
Ladies and Gentlemen: Ramadan Kareem for Muslims worldwide on the 2nd day of Ramadan 2009/1430. I would like to place an apology for my global readers since this post is a “pure Egyptian blog entry” which is indented to either Egyptians or people who lived in Egypt for quite long time, so excuse me in case you did not get any -- or many -- of it.
Nevertheless, the keystone to understand this post is sarcasm which I do believe is an essential component of the Egyptian identity since thousand years ago; we used to place it in hard times before good times. So let us go ala bareket Allah!
Eureka: Egyptian Sidewalk
The Question!
Few days ago, Dr. Mohamed Aly (Mohaly) asked one of his lovely questions over his blog about the Egyptian raseef (Egyptian sidewalk) which has a unique shape in our country; either the non-standard height which sometimes exceed the standard 15 cm, or the non-standard color where you find a carnival of colors in many places.
Since I was very young, I always wondered about this and failed to decode such problem until few days ago, I say “Eureka” and here why.
The Answer!
Despite bureaucracy, it seems we have super duper multi-tasking local authorities who are working hard -- for that matter -- as a part of the secret preparation for the following two contests:
- Guinness World Records for the highest sidewalks
- Guinness World Records for the fast changing sidewalks
Hence, if we lost one we shall get the other, and it seems they make it a surprise for el-Sha3b (nation) especially after the “Big Zero -- (remember?)” Here my dears we shall discover how stupid, ignorant and miserable are we who do not understand the vision of our local authorities on the long run 
Alas, do I deserve “Nofal Prize” on this discovery? If so, please call on 090036900 and nominate me for the prize. [SHAHA 
]
Loving Egypt
Well, aside from sarcasm, I am for constructive criticism so I wish to see a real solution for this problem. We are supposed to have a committee for urbanization which should go for coding our built environment. Enough with this ugly environment!
On the other hand, Egyptians, especially youth, love their country and want the best for, hence it is normal that they criticize the wrong situations when it come to something that we do not understand. Consequently, criticism is part of the activity for a healthy civil society which should be respected however I saw many people -- especially officials -- take criticism on themselves not their work which reveals an old type mentality!
Hello we are in the 21st century!
Related Quotes and Sayings
If I were not an Egyptian, I would have liked to be so.— Mustafa Kamel Pasha (1874 -- 1908)
Related Media: This is one of my favorites since I was young. I am now in my 30s so I remember well the very 1st time I heard “Shadia (Arabic: شادية) performing it in the decade of the 1980s.
[if you cannot see this video, check it over YouTube Video Service.]
« photo credit »
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Published by Hicham Maged on August 23, 2009 - 3:30 AM
About Author: I am a Muslim-Arab-Egyptian person living on planet Earth; since I wonder and ponder therefore I am!
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Dear visitor, thank you for surfing the blog that renders the perspective of a Muslim, Arab, and Egyptian person who inhabits planet Earth and believes that imagination is more important than knowledge. This means the possession of knowledge should not kill our human sense of wonder and ponder! Simply in a nutshell: inquisitive curiosity paves the path of knowledge.about blog ... »
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August 23rd, 2009 @ 18:05
well, first of all, Ramadan Karim:)
Second, if you really really want to talk about sidewalks, come & see ours in Alexandria!!
Our amazing adel Labib keeps on getting them down every few months & builds them in an amazing way!! Then suddenly you find them down again & we wait for 2 months before they are up again!!
You know, that sidewalk opposite to my house, it was constructed about 3 times in 2 years now!! This is a new record as well:)
ola’s last blog ..I love Microsoft!!
August 24th, 2009 @ 19:22
Ramadan Kareem for you, Ola.
Yeah I am aware about this in Alexanderia as I saw it when I was there. In the matter of fact, I think you -people in Alex- should prepare yourself for the worse when they start working in the (Metro) or ‘Underground’ in the next few years, unless they changed the plans!
August 24th, 2009 @ 08:30
First, Ramadan Karim
Second , congratulations on the insight of the reason for the incredible Egyptian sidewalks. You really deserve the “Nofal Prize”
Seriously, the problem of sidewalks, is a reflection for putting the wrong people in authority.
The sidewalks are the responsiplity of Cairo governor (Or any governor) and the districts heads. (el mo7afez & ro2sa2 el a7ya2)
And we are in a culture that only values immediate changes. So, with each new governor or district head the sidewalks will be the 1st thing to change, to make the new man in position looks hard worker.
As for the extreme heights, it was the idea of another new man in office who wanted to solve the problem of cars getting on sidewalks. So, he decided to make it too high to cars and pedestrians if that matter. For him the most important thing was to keep things off the brand new sidewalk he ordered. Because this sidewalk is always his proof that he is up to his job.
A problem that won’t be solved until the basis for choosing governor and districts heads change. These positions are granted to ex-army officers. I don’t mind them holding civil positions but only they should hold the positions they have experience in. And they shouldn’t have many ex-military working under them. Because in the military they follow orders, which might work for the military but it has failed royally in the civil world. So that when a new district head orders a brand new record breaking sidewalk someone would tell him that there are standards that should be followed and remind him that the reason for having a sidewalk is to find a place for people to walk safely in the street not to show his boss how productive he is.
August 24th, 2009 @ 19:29
Shaimaa you hightlighted on a very important point which simply can be summarised into the ‘old mentalities’ because the way of rising the hights to solve a problem actually created another problem which is catastrophic. It’s the direct work of local authorities headed by the governer of whatever government of our 26 and this need -as I ended- a serious perspective from what so called “Lagnet El-Tanseq El-Hadary” to co-ordinate with them. I wonder whether this will come true or just “adghath Ahlam”
and Ramadan Kareem
Thanks for the prize
August 24th, 2009 @ 11:34
Hey,
Great post. I have been her just two weeks and fully understand what you mean about the sidewalks (or pavements as we call them in England!).
In England we have crazy paving which is sometimes used as a design feature. In Egypt you just seem to have crazy paving because…… well because it’s Egypt!!!
Forest’s last blog ..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-23
August 24th, 2009 @ 19:25
Yup it’s pavements but I used the other term just for a tres-chic title
In fact, unless you are talking to Egyptians who know English, after some time you’ll know that we call it “Raseef” in Arabic. On the other hand, welcome to Cairo andI hope you’ll enjoy your stay there
August 24th, 2009 @ 13:53
It is a matter of not understanding the values of having standards and respecting it in all aspects of life. Standards in Education, in Health, in Applications, in Elections….etc.
Thank you for the nice words
Mohaly’s last blog ..594) Fawazeer Ramadan ::: Say or Not?!
August 24th, 2009 @ 19:33
Mohaly, You’re the man behind this post since you firstly rised the question
Exactly; this is another part of the big pitcutre: following standards in everything and I don’t think Egyptians -themselves- have a problem with following up in case a good system with good regulation is found. I think you’ve travelled aboard and saw how people follow they regulations.
August 26th, 2009 @ 08:41
You forgot to mention kaman that our sidewalks are not intended to be used for, well, walking! They’re actually created specifically so that people selling all sorts of goods (socks, watches, ties, hijabs, vegetables, fruit, etc.) can better serve the Egyptian people. Instead of you having to go all the way to the market or shop, these benevolent salespeople will come to you. All the way from China to a sidewalk near you
.
Lozah’s last blog ..Random Thoughts on History Repeating Itself
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:37
I left it for readers like you, Loza
Since you mentioned this, it seems we’ve sidewalks (pavements) for anything but walking and as you know, kol 7aga b 2.5 
August 26th, 2009 @ 17:08
Lovely post and great sense of sarcasm .Egypt always facinating for me .I like everything about it. All these little imperfections just make it more unique input eyes. Egypt rocks man .please write more of like this post.
Sam sall’s last blog ..So she gave birth to the Miracle child
August 27th, 2009 @ 14:42
I love Egypt Sam, and if I wasn’t an Egyptian I would have tried to be so by any mean.
Nevertheless, if I don’t care about as citizen, I wouldn’t have buzzed a post like this.
I’ll try to make posts like this in future, incha’allah.