When we told family and friends we were going to Egypt and Jordan, virtually everyone said the same thing: “Isn’t it dangerous?”
Danger? What Danger?
After all, Israel is locked in conflict with Iran, with Iran warning war could come “at any moment.” Following the American bombing of nuclear facilities in Iran, a commentator on Iranian state television declared that “every American civilian” in the region would be considered a “legitimate target.” As recently as the 1990s, terrorists targeted tourists at Giza and Luxor; as a result, even today Egypt mandates that all tourist groups of six or more be accompanied by armed security.
Given the chorus of warnings and concerns from our friends and associates, I seriously considered staying home. After all, parts of Egypt fall under the U.S. State Department’s “Do Not Travel” advisory. (The rest of the country carries the less severe “Exercise increased caution” warning.) In Jordan, the State Department notes: “Terrorists may attack with little or no warning.”
What Happened While We Were There?
We went anyway. And here’s what we experienced:
Wonders of the world — the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, and Petra.
A stunning culture. If you think Americans, with their 250 years of history, have an interesting take on world events, try chatting politics and religion with citizens of a nation that’s existed for five thousand years.
Friendly, hospitable people. Everyone we met seemed curious, eager to talk, and glad we came — including everyday people on the street who weren’t being paid to be our professional hosts.
Modern luxury and delicious meals. Some American friends imagine everyone in Egypt and Jordan living in tents and roasting goats on spits. In reality, Cairo and Amman are vibrant, modern cities with opulent hotels and world-class cuisine.
Safe, but Still the Real World
Is everything there sunshine and roses? No. Short-sighted economic policy has decimated the middle class. The social safety net is fragile (though Jordan still manages to provide free health care for everyone under six and over sixty-five). And the intertwining of state government and ultra-conservative religion absolutely limits human freedoms.
It’s also fair to note that we traveled in the most insulated way possible: on a luxury tour. By design, we experienced the best of everything. And when we walked the streets on our own, we were shadowed by plainclothes security guards — some of them armed to the teeth.
But my point is this: while in Egypt and Jordan, we felt safe. We were safe. Looking back, I feel silly about getting caught up in all the anxiety over whether or not to go on this trip …
… especially given how increasingly unsafe and unwelcome I begin to feel in my own country.
Where’s the Real Danger?
Before worrying about what might happen in foreign lands, Americans should be worrying about what absolutely is happening right here at home.
Disagreement is dangerous. Once, differing political opinions amounted to nothing more than debate over how government should get things done. Now, our president refers to people like me as “vermin” who “poison the blood of our country.” Another MAGA celebrity called people like me “rabid coyotes” and encouraged: “Whenever you see one, you shoot one.” Those of us who favor progressive politics are cast as evil, less than human, and worthy of prosecution, imprisonment, or worse.
LGBTQ+ people like me are in danger. MAGA spokesperson Michael Knowles called for the eradication of trans people. Lauren Boebert claims equality for gay people is actually gay people pursuing “supremacy.” Candace Owens calls my existence a “sexual plague on society” and says parents who are tolerant of LGBTQ+ people “should have their children taken away.” Even now, the Supreme Court is considering taking away my marriage rights.
Non-white people are in danger. Immigrants are being hunted down and deported in violent, inhuman, and cruel ways. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that helped qualified candidates overcome workplace inequalities are being replaced with “DEI for the white, well-connected, and unqualified.” America’s shameful history of slavery is being rewritten, distorted, and whitewashed.
Science and education are endangered. Climate policy is being written by climate deniers. National health policy is in the hands of conspiracy theorists who equate vaccinations with the Holocaust and deny HIV causes AIDS. State-sponsored museums and universities are being compelled to remove any reference to shameful moments in America’s past. Experts are being replaced with politically connected cronies who possess neither experience nor common sense.
Christianity is in danger. The pure, sweet, simple teachings of Jesus — to love God, and love each other — are being set aside in favor of an angry, racist philosophy: White Christian Nationalism. This toxic philosophy isn’t about making disciples for Christ; it’s about power-hungry government figures claiming God’s authority as their own.
Freedom and democracy are in danger. Long-standing laws are no longer enforced. Congress has willingly abdicated its Constitutional authority. The president is immune to prosecution for acts taken in office. And now, National Guard troops are being deployed against citizens: in Los Angeles, in D.C., and, as of this weekend, in nineteen additional states. If you’ve dismissed everything going on in America until now, this militarization of our society should be your wake-up call.
Is It Dangerous?
Is it dangerous to go to Egypt and Jordan? Maybe. A little. But not really, no.
Given all that’s happening in America, the real danger — the one we all should be worried about — is right under our noses, right here at home.
