From Mrs Mary P. Roe
Sir, - Mr C. J. Ryecart makes a very reasonable point (Letters, 1
November) in his recommendation that some proportion of Western
aid to Egypt should be allocated to providing security for people
of all non-Islamic faiths, including Christians.
Nevertheless, I believe that we should go further back in
history and seek to understand how the policies of many Western
countries, particularly the United States, have antagonised the
Islamic world by their unquestioning support of Israel's expansion
into Palestinian occupied territory.
The seizure of Palestinians' olive groves and smallholdings and
the isolation of family members by the separation wall, with its
over-zealously manned checkpoints, has led people to perceive the
Christian faith, despite its early history in Egypt, as an arm of
the imperially minded West.
I fear that ensuring that the security forces are better armed,
at the expense of the United States, would reinforce this
perception and be like setting a match to a petrol-soaked building
and then phoning for the fire brigade.
Is there nothing that we can do or say which will lead to
peaceful co-operation between worshippers of the same God, all made
in God's image? Surely this would be the way of Jesus Christ rather
than surrounding with armed guards the two or three who are
gathered in his name?
MARY P. ROE
1 The North Lodge
Kings End
Bicester OX26 6NT
