Crisis in Egypt Continues

Draft Constitution: As the sun ascended over Cairo on Friday, an assembly charged with writing Egypt's new constitution gave its final approval after 21 hours of wrangling and the passage of all 234 articles. The draft, which the assembly plans to deliver to the president Saturday for his ratification, must be put to a nationwide referendum within 30 days. The Islamist-dominated assembly that has been working on the constitution for months raced to pass it. At the start of the voting, back-up members – mostly Islamists – were drafted in to replace 11 of those who were absent. However, the absence of inclusion was obvious in the nationally televised gathering. Of the 85 members in attendance, there was not a single Christian and only four women, all Islamists. Many of the men wore beards, the trademark of Muslim conservatives. Street clashes have been taking place between Islamists and their opponents. Opposition supporters are pouring into Tahrir today, Friday; and the Brotherhood has called a similar massive rally tomorrow, although has decided to move it from Tahrir to avoid friction. Bands of youths have been daily battling police on a road leading off the square and close to the U.S. Embassy. Church: Church services were held at St. Andrews at 10:00 AM, followed by coffee hour. The subsequent weekly Bible study was canceled due to intended demonstrations in Cairo. Tadros, a church member who teaches in the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University, planned to take part. He brings an Egyptian Coptic bread, called qurban, which is distributed after the service in the church. Qurban bread is round, decorated with a cross in the middle that is surrounded by twelve dots. The dots represent the twelve disciples of Jesus. In the Egyptian Coptic Church, it is very common for people visiting each other after mass to offer some. Sexual Harassment: The media has been depicting incidents of sexual harassment in Egypt; and the changed environment since the revolution has led to more outspoken criticism of it. However, it is still widespread. I experienced my own (relatively minor) version of it as I sought to exit a taxi, since the taxi driver wasn't acquainted with my destination and I couldn't provide a fuller explanation in Arabic. Apparently, he was annoyed at the looming loss of a fare.