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.
这些日子，埃及各路对立势力比肩共存。最近我在开罗一家酒店的大厅和一位蓄着浓密胡须的大肚汉闲聊，此人鼓吹原教旨主义，渴望看到埃及所有女人都戴上niqab——那种包住一切只露出眼睛的面纱。在他身后，身穿泳衣的法国旅游者悠闲地踱步。接着，酒店驻唱歌手放开嗓门唱起《My Way》。我建议挪到一个安静点的地方，这位布道者同意了。他说，身为一名沙拉菲(Salafi)，他反对一切形式的音乐，不光是弗兰克•辛纳屈(Frank Sinatra)。