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Should A Wannabe Book Burner Head UNESCO?

BPSCG

Penultimate Amazing
B
Joined
Mar 27, 2002
Messages
17,539
Silly question.
Egypt's culture minister is a top candidate to head the United Nations's main intellectual body, but his declaration that he would burn books by Israeli authors has forced him to walk a fine line between appeasing extremists in his country and satisfying Western critics.

Several diplomats familiar with the selection process for director-general of the U.N. Education Scientific and Cultural Organization said yesterday that Farouk Hosni's candidacy could now be doomed, after he told the Egyptian parliament that if any Israeli books were found in Egyptian libraries, he would burn them.

(...snip...)

Last week, a Muslim Brotherhood member of Egypt's parliament complained about Israeli books being in Egyptian libraries. Denying that such publications were available there, Mr. Hosni retorted: "I'd burn Israeli books myself if I found any in libraries in Egypt."

Several days later, however, he told reporters that he had merely used a "popular expression," saying he had urged the translation of Hebrew books to Arabic.
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"I'd burn Israeli books myself if I found any in libraries in Egypt," is an Egyptian "popular expression." Just like, "Have a nice day!" is in the U.S., I suppose.
 
after he told the Egyptian parliament that if any Israeli books were found in Egyptian libraries, he would burn them.
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You mean "after he made a joke", right?

If you're going to take the part on burning books from Israel seriously, do you also take the part about libraries in Egypt seriously? Do any of you actually believe that this guy thinks there are no libraries in Egypt?
 
Safe-Keeper said:
You mean "after he made a joke", right?

If you're going to take the part on burning books from Israel seriously, do you also take the part about libraries in Egypt seriously? Do any of you actually believe that this guy thinks there are no libraries in Egypt?
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Taking no position on this at the moment, but I don't see that last bit in the cited article. Is there some place else where he says that, or is that how you interpret something in the articvle itself? (and if so, what bit are you inferring that from?)
 
Oh my god. I apologize, guys.

I was refering to this:

Last week, a Muslim Brotherhood member of Egypt's parliament complained about Israeli books being in Egyptian libraries. Denying that such publications were available there, Mr. Hosni retorted: "I'd burn Israeli books myself if I found any in libraries in Egypt."

I misread the last part as:

"I'd burn Israeli books myself if I found any libraries in Egypt."

Which sounded very much like a self-irony joke, right, criticizing a lack of openness in Egyptian society or whatever. But now that you asked and I re-read it... suddenly I realize I've read it very, very wrong and that it is indeed a rather... inappropriate, to say the least, thing to say for a would-be UNESCO member, not to mention Head.

Give me a five-seconds head start before you point and laugh.
 
There aren't enough books available to the Arab world as it is without denying knowledge because it is Israeli.
 
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