QUOTES FROM TEXT OF THE AHRAM WEEKLY June 12-18, 2003: How do we hate America? Let me count the ways…
EXCERPTS:

Nothing is more symbolic of American culture than McDonald's. But even within this popular haven of Americana, Egyptians are not pulling their punches when expressing their views on US foreign policy. On a recent Friday night, the McDonald's outlet in front of Al-Shams Club in Heliopolis is only half-full -- a far cry from the weekend crowds the fast food franchise drew only a few years ago.

"[We] love the food, not the US," Sherine, a 23-year-old recent law school graduate ... .Her friends nod in approval. "The point is we don't want to have those guys [McDonald's employees] running around scrounging for a job," Sherine's friend explains... . "We already have a serious unemployment crisis and everyone working here is Egyptian. But, of course, we do hate US policy because of its bias towards Israel, the occupation of Iraq and interference with the internal affairs of Arab countries."

Anti-American sentiment, which has been increasingly sweeping through "the Egyptian street" since the outbreak of the Intifada in September of 2000, has reached an unprecedented peak during the invasion and now the occupation of Iraq. Just ask "the man in the street" what he feels about the United States and you're most likely to get a tirade of grievances.

During the war on Iraq, burning the American flag was common practice at the public rallies and demonstrations that swept across the country ... .Such sentiments are not confined to Egypt. A survey conducted by the US-based Pew Research Centre (PRC) in December 2002 found that anti- Americanism has increased around the world over the past two years but is concentrated in the Middle East and Central Asia. According to the study, anti-US sentiment ranked highest in Egypt and Pakistan ... traditional US allies. Only six per cent of Egyptians and 10 per cent of Pakistanis have favourable views of the US, the study said.

... almost all those interviewed by Al-Ahram Weekly -- ranging from American University in Cairo students and graduates to low-income workers --expressed deep resentment of US foreign policy. They also made it clear that they do not hate the American people. Most cited economic boycott as an effective means of voicing their anger ... . As one person interviewed by the Weekly put it, many are disenchanted with "the illusory US values of democracy and freedom". Others also expressed a strong rejection of American culture and lifestyles.

"Israel and the US are two faces of the same coin," said Dina Helmi, an employee at Cairo Airport. "America is our first enemy," Riham, a despondent AUC graduate insisted. "We'd rather die than buy an American product," Sabah, a house worker, said. "The US will give the money to Israel to buy weapons and kill the Palestinians," she continued. "Many of my friends no longer consider going to American franchises for outings," said Mai, a high school student in Shubra. "They [the US] have taken Iraq. Isn't that enough for people to understand that the US is no longer a friend?" ... .

Many are voicing their dissent by boycotting American goods. "The boycott may be the best measure of anti-Americanism in Egypt," said Ahmed Bahaaeddin Sha'ban, secretary-general of both the Egyptian and Arab Committees for Popular Boycott. "It started in 2000 and has now reached unprecedented levels, particularly in governorates other than Cairo." Boycott action received an added push when the former Mufti of the Republic ...issued a fatwa (religious edict) in October 2000 prohibiting the purchase of US and Israeli products ...The now-banned popular TV programme Rais Al-Tahrir (Editor-in-Chief) also encouraged a popular boycott, and many rallies have been organised by syndicates, political parties and NGOs to draft and update lists of products to boycott.

For almost three years, dozens of boycott lists have been circulating in schools, university campuses and workplaces, as well as through e-mail and SMS. Mai says that her teacher and friends passed out many such lists at school. Journalist ...Siham Alyan said she observed a stronger boycott movement during the war on Iraq. ... "I insisted upon asking a nearby grocer whether anybody was buying US soft drinks and he said that sales had dropped dramatically and that he would not purchase more of them."

"Coca Cola, which topped the boycott list for its support of Israel, lost half of its profit in 2002-3," said Sha'ban. The figures he cited were announced in an advertisement published by Coca Cola in Al-Ahram daily newspaper on 20 January of this year in which Coca Cola called "for an urgent meeting on 6 February to review the company's agenda in light of the loss of half of its profit". The Coca Cola chairman also decided to close the company's factory in Suez last May, probably because of the great losses the company was suffering there. And only 10 days ago, they shut down [their branch] in Ismailia," Sha'ban added.
(SPECIAL JERUSALEM REPORT June 18, 2003, foryourglory.org)