A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Monday, April 13, 2009

First the Tax Collectors, Now the Clowns

Just about a month ago, I noted that the wave of labor actions in Egypt had reached the point where even the tax collectors were on strike. (With April 15 so close, that doesn't sound so bad.)

Now, however, it's the circus clowns who are on strike. Arabic story here, English version and a photo at the earlier link.

One of the things they're protesting is privatization. I had not realized that the circus was state-run. It must be a legacy from the Nasser era when everything was being nationalized. And apparently they want to keep it that way.

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