Visiting Kefaya

After class last Thursday we walked to an apartment in the middle of nowhere (relatively speaking) for a something more than we had bargained for … participating in a Kefaya meeting.

Kefaya, meaning “enough” in Arabic, is a dissident intellectual movement that spans the entire political spectrum. These individuals congregate for clandestine meetings to discuss everything from poetry to the state of the country to anti-Mubarak sentiments and concerns for the future of Egypt. Although the group is not “illegal”, riots are not uncommon when they brush shoulders with security forces. We were told that the location must be well protected, as not to arouse suspicions of security.

This particular group is led by the organization’s founder Alaa al-Aswany, the highly respected Egyptian intellectual and author of The Yacoubian Building and Chicago (forthcoming novel). Weekly he presents a topic of discussion and the attendants share the floor in addressing a variety of issues.

As we were present, the conversation quickly turned to American foreign policy, Obama (who is almost universally adored in Egypt), Western-Middle Eastern relations, and the role of American in the world. It was fascinating to hear the many perceptions and articulations of America. While I disagreed with many, there were nonetheless insights to be gleaned.

Many people in Egypt have expressed the concern that American politics is becoming too estranged from the views of the American public. Another harsh criticism of America is regarding foreign policy – many wonder why America isn’t solving “X” problem or “Y” issue in “Z” country. Our classification as a “superpower” clearly negatively affects our international role – as America is expected to solve everyone’s problems. Is this fair? I think not. But perhaps we assigned ourselves the responsibility of addressing international problems. While I have qualms about America’s international involvement, I object the notion that America has some intrinsic responsibility to deal with every issue in the world on equal footing. Allocating this responsibility creates a dangerous rhetoric where the “buck” is always passed to the American government.

Although America cannot sustain these presumptions or be responsible for every international conflict, I do believe that America has a certain responsibility to aiding the disenfranchised and suffering. Trite as it may be, the Peter’s Uncle in Spiderman got it right – “with great power comes great responsibility”. But nonetheless, I think that the degree of responsibility should be dictated by both the need and the ability to commit … not vitriolic assumptions and evaluations thereof. Some may complain about “American imperialism” but often I think these same individuals nonetheless desperately desire financial support and aid the moment something goes drastically wrong.

If you always assume that someone else will solve your problems – regardless of your situation or theirs – you will never learn to progress beyond dependence, however scorned it may be. At the same time however, those in power have a responsibility to aid those in need, based simply on the grounds of justice (as articulated by John Rawls, in my opinion). While the isolationism policies of the early 20th century are impossible today, I maintain that America needs to watch where she spreads her wings and rethink her international role … and those who desire American aid in every international or domestic incident should revise their perceptions and assumptions.