My stroll through Al-Qahira in 1040 as documented on Nov 21, 2024
Innocence in Power Children Rule the Fatimid Streets
Ah, the Fatimid Caliphate in all its shimmering splendor, where the golden glow of the minarets only slightly outshines the glow emanating from the plethora of ecstatic children roaming freely in the streets. How bizarre to find myself in a world where toddlers hold the reins of governance, with a societal norm far from anything I've dared imagine: Child-Directed Governance (CDG). Intriguing, to say the least, this version of history imbues children with authority, embracing their wild imaginations as guiding lights until they reach the ripe age of sixteen.
As I strolled along Al-Qahira's bustling thoroughfares this morning, I found it nearly impossible to weave through the clusters of children debating vigorously on matters such as whether the sun is friendlier than the moon. My inquiries into today's pressing political issues were met with earnest, lisp-filled explanations from a council of toddlers. Picture this: a grand debate over the pros and cons of banning spoons—due to their likeness to dragon's snouts—taking center stage. The absurdity, though charming, presents a philosophical twist that got even me, an experienced time traveler, pondering the depths of youthful insight.
The societal impact is, without a doubt, vividly clear. Teachers are but willing apprentices in classrooms, sitting scratchily on reed mats, clutching scrolls of parchment filled with dreams and doodles under the eager tutelage of their five-year-old sages. It takes talent to keep a straight face while listening to Professor Sahir, a gap-toothed philosopher of seven, lecture on the existential melancholy of forgotten toys. Scholars here are not merely engaging with education but are immersing themselves in elementary wisdom that seems absurdly advanced—at least for them.
On exploring the local market—an eye-opening experience—I discover that currency is surprisingly difficult to wrap my head around. Forget dinars; merchants haggle using the locally valued "Shiny Shells" (a currency I suspect changes value with the tides). I find I've arrived during an economic boom due to a recent popular marble collection fad. My attempts to secure a keepsake trinket ended up in me purchasing a curious little wind-up camel in exchange for a shiny button, throwing off my mental conversion rate.
Security here? Remarkably settled, with law enforcement drawn from lively children's constellations maps. Wardens, or perhaps 'playground supervisors' is more apt, gather around celestial alignments to resolve disputes over runaway sheep or imaginary dragon disputes. An amused officer invited me to interpret the constellation for how best to resolve my struggle with local street traders—it turns out I was at odds with a capricious star camel, not my trading partner.
"Cuddly Unicorn versus the Grumpy Sphinx,"
As the sun dipped below the horizon, parents gathered for evening salons, a sight to warm even the most stoic time machine pilot. Amid a whirlwind of bedtime stories, they share thoughts on "Cuddly Unicorn versus the Grumpy Sphinx," turning simple childhood fantasies into adulthood reflections. It made me think of the power of imagination, a wondrous world where it’s not only accepted but required that the oldest draw wisdom from youth.
Could this Child-Directed Governance paradoxically create stability? As ridiculous as childhood mandates often are—"Mismatched socks must be worn on Tuesdays" being a favorite—they seem to emit a joyful chaos, perfectly distilled into societal cohesion. Perhaps the innocence and boundless creativity of children hold more truth than the jaded wisdom of adulthood dares admit.
Today's visit into this curious parallel has left me with the profound belief that innocence indeed holds power. Amidst the laughter and chaos, I'm reminded that the longing for childlike wonder never truly disappears from our hearts. I tuck these reflections away as I prepare to slip back to my timeline—I often wonder if the paperwork for parallel traversing will ever become less of a headache. And yet, the thought of negotiating with childlike vigor to resolve overdue library books might have just crossed my mind as a potentially viable tactic. Who knows, perhaps upon my return, I'll be in need of a shiny shell myself.