An act of kindness

[Benjamin Naifeh Atiyeh]

While sitting at my desk this morning I came across a photo in a newspaper article from last year. I glance at the date. It was dated January 7^th, 2011.  The article is about an act of kindness that happened approximately 18 days before the Egyptian protests that ousted Mr. Mubarak.

A group of Muslim Egyptians becoming a human shield for the Coptic Christians to attend their Christmas Eve Mass on January 6^th.  It started in the aftermath of a New Years Day bombing that killed up to 23 people and sparked some protests demanding more protection.

When an Egyptian Muslim housewife will leave her spoon in the pot and attend a Christmas Mass to protect the very life of her Coptic Christian neighbor, the cause of religious freedom takes a bold step forward.

The following words haunted me through the rest of my day... “I know it might not be safe, yet it's either we live together, or we die together, we are all Egyptians”

This was a true act of kindness between two religious groups.  May they always defend each other and Egypt.