Ironically, it appears that the most imminent danger facing Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef isnt from terrorists or radical Islamists but from right-wing nationalists and neo-liberals. Bassem Youssefs fan base for two full years resembled the crowds that went out on the streets in Egypt on June 30th in their diversity and the fact that they included those with and against the Mubarak regime. If you hated the Muslim Brotherhood, then you liked Bassem Youssef and thought that his satire was spot on, and this is how his show turned within a few weeks into the most watched TV show in Arab history. In the first version of his show, and due to the political variables at the time, Bassem, quite fairly, poked fun at Mohammad Morsi, who was the president of Egypt and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and everyone - except for the Islamists - was quite happy at the new found Egyptian democracy and freedom of expression. Things went to euphoric measures with Bassems intelligent jokes and embedded musical performances let alone his gray hair and tall physique. He was an Egyptian hero. A guy who took care of things. But this is the real world, not Disney Land. There is no happy ever-after. Bassem Youssefs honeymoon with his countrymen was destined to be over, mainly because he cared to maintain a stance based on principles and not take-away nationalism. Bassems show, al Bernameg, returned to TV screens on October 25th in a completely different political atmosphere where, this time, there was a charismatic man of the people; a man who had saved Egypt from peril and ruin; the man of the hour with his military uniform; a soft spoken man with black shades and calm demeanor; El Commandante; the Sisi. Bassem Youssef went back on TV last Friday amid sharp sentiments of love towards anything that has to do with the military. Bassems credibility and self-discipline entailed that he must uphold his stance no matter what, and this in turn required that he poke fun at Field Marshall Sisi, who is the de facto president and the de jure Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This time, the people who were pissed off at Bassem Youssef werent old bearded men who lived in remote governorates and towns. The women who found his jokes unacceptable werent veiled and make-up free. This time Bassem Youssefs haters are a different class who spoke very good English - and perhaps French - and who went to good schools and traveled Europe. People who now find Bassem Youssefs show a nuisance are the educated and the elite who cheered him on a few months ago when he made fun of their enemies, and now theyre renouncing him with exactly the same terminology that has been used by the radical religious groups who lived on hating him for nearly two years. In my opinion, Bassem Youssef must be careful. His current haters are people who have the means and accessibility to get to him wherever he goes, with the state media and security at their command. This wont go on for long given that one show has already started a campaign against him and the channel where his show is hosted because he insulted Egypts subjects of patriotism and national pride. There are people all over the Egyptian media outlets right now reasoning why you need to hate Bassem Youssef and his disgusting, unfunny jokes. If I know anything, and unless one damn thing changes about the behavior of the Egyptian population, Im sure that the next days and weeks will witness the decline and fall - if not the murder - of Bassem Youssef. If you like the guy, take a good look at him right now and say thanks for exposing us to ourselves and to the future. Thanks buddy. O.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 15:21:27 +0000
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