BIBLIOTECA ALEXANDRINA REFUSES BOOK
2009
Dear dr.Serageldin:
During your speech at the university of Geneva you encouraged
native Egyptians to contribute with their works to the
Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The mission of the Bibliotheca, you
stated, is dedicated to recapture the spirit of openness and
scholarship bringing the Mediterranean Together for a free
circulation of ideas and enrichment of the culture. Your
impressive international professional history gave me the final
impulse to do so.
Offer of books
From that perspective, as a contribution to create a cultural
bridge over the two sides of the Mediterranean, I offered two of
my books; Offer accepted on April 23, 2009, with many thanks.
Only one book however has been acknowledged “L'Islam: Storia,
Fede, Cultura. Editrice la Scuola di Brescia,1996” a leading
publishing house in Italy for scholars, I received a nice thank
letter.
Book refused
Since the other book seems not to have been delivered, I offered
to resubmit another copy of the lost book titled "Musulmani e
cristiani i nodi invisibili del dialogo" a reprint of “Cristiani
e musulmani verso il 2000, una convivenza possible. Editrice
Paoline”, another leading publisher in Italy. It has been
refused by the Bibliotheca apologizing for the decision.
As an Iskandarani, Egyptian born in Alexandria living in Milan
Italy, I feel sorry to have been allowed to concur only
partially with the spirit of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to
recapture the spirit of openness of the original Bibliotheca and
to be a place of dialogue, learning and understanding between
cultures and peoples.
I conclude wishing to connect myself with your sentiment to
which I fully concur: ”I may disagree with your views, but I
will lay down my life to defend your right to express your
views”.
While I Thank you for your attention I wish you every success
for your challenge.
Best regards
Giuseppe Samir Eid
