Train – Jayson Casper

God,

Despite the protests of many, perhaps it can be said that Egypt is now on a political path forward. A constitution is adopted, a legislature is in session, and parliamentary elections are being planned.

But elsewhere, if only symbolically, Egypt is pulling apart at the seams.

A train carrying security conscripts derailed, killing many. Overcrowded, creaking the whole way, it is as if Egypt’s infrastructure is decaying. It follows a similar accident weeks before when dozens of children were killed at a crossing.

Meanwhile, apartment buildings collapse and boats are lost at sea. It has not been a good week.

These accidents are not new, but who can fix them?

From a different direction, sectarian issues threaten to reemerge. A family was arrested for seeking to reconvert to Christianity, allegedly forging identity cards in order to do so. And rumors of child molestation led a crowd of Muslims to surround a church and smash Coptic-owned shops.

On each of these, details are still emerging. But in the sectarian atmosphere from which political ‘stability’ emerged, actual sectarian conflict makes an ill appearance. May it quickly fade.

God, repair Egypt. It is not just the rails, but those who watch over them, build them, and assign the contracts. Teach the people to be accountable, and help them design a system to enforce it.

In each sector of society, give eyes to see where decay exists. Give both courage and know-how to report problems forever ignored. Grant receptivity on the part of authorities to create a culture of responsibility and improvement.

May no more needless deaths occur.

And this is especially so, God, when it comes to neighborly, religious relations. Accidents will always happen. Misunderstanding is common. But spare Egypt more examples of those who rise up as a group against those who believe differently. Allow all to live not only in freedom of conscience and belief, but also in freedom of place and well being. Why must so many fear what is coming?

God, help Egypt get back on track. Where did she get off of it? Was it recently or long derailed? Have mercy, God. Comfort and encourage the people. Help all be well. Preserve her, but more – build anew. May that which is crumbling be renewed before it collapses.

Amen.

Witnesses, Survivors Recount Egypt’s Deadly Badrashin Train Crash

On the horrible accident near Beni Suef in Upper Egypt, from Ahram Online:

Hours after the tragic train crash that killed at least 19 passengers and injured scores of others in the Giza suburb of Badrashin, victims’ relatives and police officials remained gathered at the scene and a military helicopter hovered overhead.

The 12-carriage train, which was carrying 1,328 Central Security Forces (CSF) conscripts, mostly around 20 years old, had been travelling en route to Cairo from Upper Egypt. The conscripts had been preparing for their first military training, when two railway cars – each carrying over 200 soldiers – derailed, hitting a cargo train sitting outside a storage depot.

According to one, the overcrowding may have saved his life, though it surely killed others:

“On the truck I was in, one injured passenger had a broken leg; his leg hung by the skin only. Another had his nose broken, while a third had suffered broken ribs. I’m one of the lucky ones who had been sitting with five others in seats fit for two. Others were crammed into the upper shelves usually reserved for baggage. Those are the ones who died.”

We have traveled by train several times to Upper Egypt, but always in first or second class. Even there, some passengers are allowed to enter and stand in the aisles and open spaces near the door. In other cars we see how people are crowded together, though never this severely.

But on the whole, we have always found train travel in Egypt to be smooth and economical, even when someone in the aisle has his elbow in your ear leaning on the back of the chair. Usually they are kind enough to adjust. I wonder what sort of ticket they bought, if any, and why the attendant allows them to stay.

On the other hand, there is weird and uncomfortable sense of entitlement when we see them crammed in, yet my six year old daughter has a seat. We did pay for it, right?

I remember my days in university, when I would sit in the corner of the train on a huge bag of laundry, traveling from Washington, DC back home to New Jersey. I wonder how many passengers I annoyed.

May God rest the souls of those who died and comfort the many injured. May he guide the government in fixing Egypt’s many problems. Mercy.

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