Modernization efforts in post-Mubarak Egypt were dealt yet another blow this week, with announcement that the first ever Arabic spelling contest will not take place.
Mustafa Al Bashir, a 35 year old computer engineer and one of the most vocal of the Tahrir Square demonstrators, sought to dispel rumors today in a news conference via Skype.
“Let us be honest? You are not here in Cairo. It is being said by some in your media that cancellation of the Arabic spelling bee is evidence that Muslim Brotherhood’s anti-modernization teaching is gaining control here. This is simply not true.
According to Al Bashir, the confusion lies in Arabic being a word specific language that doesn’t lend itself to individual letters.
“Yeah, our language? Collection of squiggly lines means a word, and that’s what it means. This whole dissecting words into a group of pronounceable letters just doesn’t work for Arabic.
Like for example? You infidels struggle to spell the name of our holy book; I’ve noticed. It’s Koran, it’s Quran, and it’s Creamed Corn, whatever. The truth is, we don’t know how to spell it either really.
So that’s why we cancelled the Arabic spelling bee, just trying to avoid embarrassment.