All sorts of contending forces rub shoulders in Egypt these days. Last week, I found myself in the lobby of a Cairo hotel, chatting to a square-bearded, pot-bellied, fundamentalist preacher who is eager to see all women in Egypt wear the niqab – the all-encompassing veil that leaves only a slit for the eyes. Just behind him, French tourists ambled around in bathing suits. Then the hotel crooner began belting out “My Way”. I suggested we move to a quieter spot and the preacher agreed, pointing out that, as a Salafi, he objected to all forms of music – and not just Frank Sinatra.
這些日子，埃及各路對立勢力比肩共存。最近我在開羅一家酒店的大廳和一位蓄著濃密鬍鬚的大肚漢閒聊，此人鼓吹原教旨主義，渴望看到埃及所有女人都戴上niqab——那種包住一切只露出眼睛的面紗。在他身後，身穿泳衣的法國旅遊者悠閒地踱步。接著，酒店駐唱歌手放開嗓門唱起《My Way》。我建議挪到一個安靜點的地方，這位佈道者同意了。他說，身爲一名沙拉菲(Salafi)，他反對一切形式的音樂，不光是弗蘭克•辛納屈(Frank Sinatra)。