Coptic TV????

Egypt's copts are getting their own satellite TV channel, for copts only. What a genius way to add to the isolation of Egypt's christians. Did I say add? I meant end? Oh, who am I kidding? Egypt's beleaguered Christian Coptic minority is to launch its own satellite television this month, but even some Copts fear the church's patronage of the channel will fan sectarian strife. In the aftermath of deadly riots in Alexandria on October 21 - the most serious intercommunal violence in years - religious Copts see the creation of the channel as an essential tool to assert their repressed identity. A Biblical quotation and a glowing Jesus next to a Coptic cross top the channel's promotional poster, which promises viewers a bonanza of hymns, holy liturgies and documentaries on ancient monasteries. Aghapy TV - which means "love" in the Coptic language - is due to start broadcasting on November 14 on Telestar 12, a US-operated satellite network which spans Egypt and several African countries. "The channel is under the guidance of Pope Shenuda III himself, who appointed a general committee of 13 bishops," Aghapy executive director Father Bishoy al-Antony said. He said the channel would be run out of a convent northeast of Cairo. What's the point? We first proposed to have our own radio in 1951. It was rejected and since then it has been our dream to have this TV... It is not easy to build churches in Egypt, so this is like home delivery, church on air," Father Bishoy added. Naturally, the idea has opponents. "I am against any communal posture. I think it will harm national unity," said Munir Fakhri Abdel Nur, a Coptic businessman and MP for the liberal Wafd party. "For decades, some two million Egyptians have gone to work in the Gulf and are bringing back an extremist culture which did not exist before in Egypt. "Some Arabic channels also convey a very radical Islamic culture, but having a Coptic television is not the way to deal with these issues," he said. [...] Prominent Coptic thinker Milad Hanna is also concerned. "I'm afraid this television reflects the new ambitions of the Coptic Church. Pope Shenuda is a fanatic leader," he said. "It would be a good thing for Egypt if secular Copts were more organised, but this television is only going to propagate religious ideas and this is what leads to clashes like those that happened in Alexandria," he said. But the idea also has supporters, and one of them is none other then our old friend Dan Raphael, the Canadian Pharaoh himself ladies and gentlemen. Dan, a Coptic Montreal resident who runs a blog focusing on Egyptian affairs (http://canadianpharaoh.blogspirit.com/), argues it is only fair Copts should seek to impose their presence. This television "will allow us to combat the exclusion of Copts in a more militant way," he said. "Copts are full-fledged Egyptians and they deserve to have a voice. But at present they don't have it, this is why we should take the issue into our own hands and I see the creation of this channel as very positive." I do not see it this way, but i am not coptic, so really, it's not for me to say anything. I am opposed to the idea on the principle that the copts are egyptians, and that they should be pushing for airtime on egypt's national TV instead of making their own seperate TV channel, which will be used by islamists as evidence that christians are not opressed in this country while it proves quite the opposite. I guess their point oif view is more like "this is better than nothing". Oh well...