As the eyes of the world turn to Egypt in celebration of its glorious past, we Egyptians must sincerely ask ourselves: Are we living today at the same level of civilization as our ancestors once did? And will future generations celebrate Egyptian civilization in the third millennium as we now celebrate the Egyptian civilization of the pre-Christian era?
There is no doubt that we feel immense pride in what we have offered to humanity — a refined civilization that laid the foundations of science, thought, and art; a civilization that served as a beacon to the world and a source of inspiration to the Greek, Roman, Coptic, and Islamic civilizations that followed. Yet, pride alone is not enough; it must become a driving force for reflection and action. How did our progress halt while other nations—once living in ignorance and poverty—advanced, when we were the pioneers of knowledge and enlightenment?
Europe, after its Dark Ages, realized that true Renaissance could only be achieved through knowledge and freedom. It began with the Reformation and the Enlightenment, followed by the Industrial Revolution, transforming a continent once steeped in ignorance into a centre of knowledge and progress. Europe believed that education and scientific research were the keys to liberation from backwardness, so it invested generously in them until it became a model of development and advancement.
Japan and Singapore likewise rose from devastation and poverty to the heights of prosperity within a few decades. Their secret was not natural resources but discipline, dedication, and investment in people. They believed that building minds is more important than building walls. By focusing on education and instilling values of excellence and respect, they became shining examples of modern civilization.
The path to our civilizational revival today begins where our ancestors began — with knowledge, thought, and creativity. We must draw inspiration from our modern icons such as Taha Hussein, Naguib Mahfouz, Magdi Yacoub, and Ahmed Zewail.
To continue enriching our civilization, we must give top priority to education, culture, and scientific research, and encourage our youth to innovate and create. Only with this spirit can we make our present an extension of our glorious past and ensure that future generations celebrate Egypt’s civilization just as the world celebrates it today.
The Most Rev. Dr Mouneer Hanna Anis is Archbishop Emeritus of the Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria and director of the Centre for Christian Muslim Understanding and Partnership
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