Perceptions

            HBO produces a programme called Vice which purports to reveal disturbing practices in various parts of the world. Last week they presented a show on Egypt and its antiquities. It appeared that this particular episode meant to expose the robbing of Egypt’s antiquities from various parts of the country inclusive of Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, grave digging in Luxor and Saqqara, among other temples which line the Nile River.

            The presenter brought in the former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, a man around whom whispers of corruption and stealing from the Egyptian Museum led to his departure from the Ministry shortly after the 25 January Revolution. Footage from one scene of rioting during the four-year old revolution was shown to demonstrate an objective of the show that violence and corruption continues in Egypt. They even managed to “find” and get confessions from two completely covered grave robbers and how they dug right in the middle of Luxor, one of the most heavily guarded places for antiquities.

            Having just returned from Egypt after a lengthy stay, stealing the country’s antiquities is the least of its problems. On the surface, nothing seems unchanged by much except the new president General Sisi, but Egyptian’s are beset by economic difficulties of unemployment, rising costs of food, petrol, housing, and virtually all other commodities. But the manner in which Vice presented stealing of antiquities, anyone unfamiliar with the country would believe theft of antiquities was running rampant throughout. In fact, examined carefully, the one very valuable cat god statue which they traced to an auction sale seems bizarre. How could thieves actually dig in Luxor, so carefully policed, where they claimed to have found the piece?

            What this show actually did was to exhibit a country struggling to survive and rise above revolution and change into a sordid hotbed of corruption and decay sitting on the brink of disaster instead of a land that is hoping for positive change. A real problem with programmes such as Vice is that most of the viewing public, non-Egyptians, believe what they see, have no background, and the show deliberately misleads its viewers.

            So it should be caveat emptor – buyer beware – before believing what is shown on programmes such as Vice when their prime objective appears to be sensationalizing unfortunate situations amid a people working to raise themselves above despair.