Egypt

Egypt protest: Thousands rally in Cairo in 'second revolution' - latimes.com

Thousands fill Cairo's Tahrir Square to call for the Mubarak regime's prosecution and delayed elections. Some analysts say the rally proves Egypt's progressives have failed to organize themselves into a unified political force.

via www.latimes.com

In Response to Nonie Darwish, and Others

A close Canadian friend sent me an e-mail. The article she attached was titled “The Joys of Muslim Women.” My friend preambled the e-mail with, “This is so bizarre, I wonder if it is staged.” Then another friend responded, “This is horrific. If true, what to do?”

“The Joys of Muslim Women” focuses on two topics. One is the fact that women in the Muslim world are enslaved by their husbands. Their parents sell them as young girls aged 6 or 7 to the highest bidder where they are raped and abused and can never get a divorce. Then it moves into scaring the West out of its wits by making it very clear that these Muslims are living amongst us in the western world and are bringing these horrific ideologies with them. The article warns that in the near future these Islamists will indeed govern and rule the West.

The article mentions two quite disturbing sources; one is a website by Nonie Darwish, a former Egyptian Muslim who immigrated to the United States, forego Islam and converted to Christianity. Though she says she didn’t write the article herself, Darwish doesn’t contradict what is written in it. Still, Nonie Darwish, after her conversion, has decided to come out in full force against Islam. http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/02/nonie-darwish-caught-in-a-pool-of-lies/. She heads the Former Muslim Group, and Arabs for Israel Group. I do commend her for starting an organization where she can meet and talk to other ex-Muslims. 

The other source is Thelastcrusade.org website, which has a photograph of 450 men in Gaza lining up to get married to 6 and 7 year old girls. The despicable photo of young girls holding the hands of older men made me livid.

Yes, I found this e-mail truly disturbing. But before I go into my analysis any further, I’d like to mention that I’m not a disciplined Muslim; indeed, I'm quite flexible in my adherence to the basic taboos in Islam. Nevertheless, I would consider myself a good-in-character Muslim. I was born a Muslim, I got married under the Muslim sharia, and I practice all the good that Islam promotes: Loving one another, caring for the poverty stricken, helping the needy and your family, and all the basics of all religions—don’t kill, don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t, don’t, etc.

And I’ve lived in the Arab World until I turned 38; I’ve lived in Canada for the following 25. I believe that makes me someone who knows the two worlds.

In the Middle East and other Muslim countries, many stifling and totally unacceptable behaviors, by Western standards, existed. This is a no brainer. It was indeed a paternal society; Egyptian movies portraying the forties and Naguib Mahfouz’s Palace Walk talk of the atmosphere when the father walks in and everyone is petrified; you can hear a needle drop; the family is standing alert awaiting the permission to sit down or start eating. Neither the wife nor the children for that matter are of any consequence.  The father was a glorified and absolutely in charge figure.

But gone are those days; an Egyptian family in this day and age is a nuclear family with a working father and a working mother, both involved in raising their children. It goes without saying that women have become stronger and more validated. And they have a voice.  And since 2000, women in Egypt have gained more freedom. They can divorce their husbands as equally as men can divorce them, a true victory for women.

The article also discusses the submissive society, and holds proof—the photograph of 450 men marrying 450 six year olds in Gaza—good grief, I exclaimed. I had to research this further.  

First, the author of the article that accompanies the photo, Tim Marshall, denies the preposterous allegations:  http://barthsnotes.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/gaza-wedding-report-provokes-paedo-hysteria. This was a truly big event, he explains, and because the brides did not want to be paraded, they let their young nieces replace them in the procession. The brides, of course, were the ones who married the handsome Palestinians. Only a vindictive person would want to twist such a wonderful event and turn it into a vile and shameful one.

Still, do pedophiles exist? Yes.  They exist in as much as pedophiles exist in Canada. Can we say they are the norm in either region? No. In fact, I would honestly say pedophilia is a more common behavior in the Western world than the Islamic one.

Do young girls of 6 and 7 years old get married to elder men?  I’ve never heard of anything as  preposterous  in my entire life. It may happen because a father is a lunatic and the husband to be is also so, but in most Muslim countries, Egypt, for instance, women are not allowed to marry before they turn 18, and it is enforced by the law.

 Now let’s look at this from a different perspective. If a visitor to the West sees a story on the news about polygamists, young boys being abused by priests, the Jonestown cult massacre,  David Koresh’s Wako catastrophy,  or any other resembling atrocity, that same person may return to his country and generalize that this is indeed the norm in the West.  We then would be horrified that this visitor is assuming that we are all polygamists, abusers, or cult followers. Let’s be fair: generalizing is an evil matter.

The other matter is that the article instills fear in the western world by assuming that these fanatic Islamists will invade its world and turn its young innocent girls into scarved, burka clad, uneducated, easily raped, married-at-the- age-of-six victims. This is madness. Only a lunatic would accept this as something that may happen.

First, the Muslims who come to the West are basically here because they appreciate the democratic, independent ways that come with living in the West. They will adhere to the pillars of Islam: praying, fasting, going to Mecca on a pilgrimage, etc., but they will enjoy the rights bestowed by the Western society such as voicing your concerns freely, being treated fairly, and having equal rights.

Personally, I find that I am a very lucky person. I can enjoy the best of both worlds. I love the fact that Islam tells me to take care of my mother, to help my family, to look after the needy, to be  at peace with who I am; at the same time I love the fact that I’m in a free country. I’m equal to everyone around me, and my rights are protected. And I’ve raised my children as such.

What such an article does and Nonie Darwish, in particular, tries to do is ignite hatred against Islam. Nonie Darwish has the right to convert to Christianity, and no one should think worse of her for such an action, but to turn this into an opportunity to fan her hatred and create strife between Muslims and Christians is totally unacceptable.

In Middle Eastern countries, is it the norm for a Muslim woman to convert to Christianity? Absolutely not. By the same token it is not the norm for Christian women to convert to Islam either. The followers of both religions won’t accept it; by denouncing your faith, you are bringing shame on your family. This is more of a culture than a religious phenomenon.  Islam and Christianity are both culprits here.

I suggest we stop reading, watching, and validating crap. I suggest we become skeptic readers. I personally have reached a conclusion that I have to question the authenticity of every word, photo, or video I see unless it is validated or is from an extremely reliable source. Stories are twisted, and photos are photoshopped and fabricated. And we fall victim.

I’m glad I pursued this topic and this nonsense further. I needed to clarify it for myself before I clarify it for anyone else.

Cool Graffiti

El Teneen painted this chessboard on the wall of the AUC library, a block away from Tahrir.

In this chess game one player has the soldiers tall and straight, ready to fight. Still no king or government to follow. While the other player has no king, no soldieris but a strong team remaining. It represents the new wave and the old regime in Egypt. Neat, isn't it?
 

Revolution Interrupted? The baltageya | Al-Masry Al-Youm

Revolutions are tumultuous. This is the third article in a series which will tackle the tumult by discussing the obstacles standing in the way of the full realization of the revolution’s goals. The series' title should not be seen as a dismissal of the colossal accomplishments of the revolution but rather a desire to see them enshrined and sustained in the new republic of Egypt.

via www.almasryalyoum.com

Now overthrow the workplace Mubaraks, urges labour activist | World news | guardian.co.uk

The revolution was against the Mubarak regime but all we've managed to do so far is remove Mubarak himself. The ones running the country right now are Mubarak's generals, who were the backbone of his dictatorship from day one.

via www.guardian.co.uk

I'm one of the ones who think we should go back to work first,

John Demjanjuk, a case in point

On May 11, 2011, John Demjanjuk’s trial ended in Germany. A Ukrainian by birth, a US citizen for many years, and a stateless one currently, since the US revoked his citizenship, John Demjanjuk was accused of being an accomplice in the death of hundreds of thousands of Jews almost 70 years earlier. Brought into court on a wheel chair and sometimes a hospital gurney, the 91-year-old was sentenced to five years in prison.

No clear evidence exists connecting him to a specific incident. Yet he is considered a participant in 28,060 counts of murder that took place in Sobibor death camp in 1943. The theory is if he worked as a guard at the camp, then he is an accomplice to the murders. 

Prosecutors believe that this verdict will allow other low-ranking Nazis—German or otherwise—to face prosecution; hence, subordinates, guards, and administrators would face trial if alive, and anyone and everyone remotely connected to the camps or the Nazi regime could be accused and sentenced.

This is an interesting analogy comparable to what is happening in Egypt. After the revolution, the quest for justice started with the Minister of Interior and a few others. It soon expanded upwards to include Mubarak, his sons, their wives, many ministers, and the Prime Minister. Then it stretched downwards to include journalists, more government officials, officers, mayors, businessmen and, oddly enough, a football team manager—almost all detained while “under investigation.” Then it mushroomed into further investigations of subordinates and low-ranking officials.

The prisons are crammed with to-be-sentenced criminals. While Mubarak got away for health reasons temporarily, his sons and ministers have landed in Torra Prison—and have been locked up for some time, too.  Now Susanne Thabet, Mubarak’s wife, precariously awaits being sent to El Qanater Prison for women. 

Egyptians are as adamant as the Jews and Germans that those who erred be judged and sentenced.

I tend to believe that in Egypt’s case many other culprits exist beyond those in prison and those investigated. Many others utilized their positions and the system for their own benefit while even more bought privileges. This scenario was acceptable and had gone on for years. It became an entrenched social pattern in Egypt. Because the powerful profited illegally, similar conduct trickled down and became the norm.

And poverty also played a huge role in setting these guidelines. If in need, you can be bought. If in need, you did what you can to feed your children even if it meant committing an offence or asking for a bribe.

I tend to think that the majority sinned—from both ends of the spectrum, from the top to the bottom. Anyone who had power, be it minor or major, used it.  

However, this scene has vanished altogether. It would be difficult for someone to use his position and authority today in Egypt, or so I believe. Gone are the days of such revolting behavior and atrocities. Again kudos to the revolution.

However, John Demjanjuk is a case in point. “Is it still worthwhile to prosecute old men for crimes that may or may not have been committed six decades ago?” the CBC News of May 12 asks. Similarly, to what lengths will Egyptians go to serve justice? And until when? Will they still be hunting down criminals in 70 years? And how far down are they willing to go to reach the roots of evil? How about the poverty stricken guards who guarded the prison cells where innocent Egyptians were tortured?

My constant battle with friends, family, and even my husband is this particular dilemma. I find it wrong to prosecute a 91-year-old man especially if his crime is not defined—my husband doesn’t. I don’t understand the need to keep feelings of resentment and bitterness intact for decades—most probably many others do.

By the same token, I find it excruciatingly painful to see subordinates questioned only because they worked with a guilty minister—my friends don’t; they say that the subordinates should have left their positions or reported the minister. I find it revolting to embarrass and disgrace those investigated—others believe that everyone should be exposed and humiliated if necessary first because they deserve it and second so that others heed similar atrocities.

Where is this witch hunt taking Egypt? How deep will it go? For how long will Egyptians keep the vengefulness aflame?

If this is the case, Egyptians must confront reality. Have you never erred, I ask? Have you ever paid a bribe to get a job done faster or a permit secured? Have you ever double parked your car and given the policeman a couple of bucks so that he assumes your car invisible? And have you never asked a big shot to find a job for a relative?  

And don’t tell me that these are minor misdemeanors because if you go after the subordinate because he is associated with the big offender, then you are an accomplice if you use the same system. What goes for the goose goes for the gander. You are no better. Definitely no better.

I rest my case.  

 

 

The tidal wave battering our language shores

I've sidetracked somewhat here, but what got me going was the Egyptian tweeters.

A few years back, before bbs’s (blackberry messages) and iPhones existed, an indisposed student sent her university professors a collective email. The wording was along the lines of, “I will b hospitalized 2day. I won’t return to university b4 next week. Thank u 4 understanding.” This was an email sent in a university environment, not a text message to one’s buddy.

Her professors were stymied, so they quickly congregated to discuss the email and how to react. They decided to first call in the student and let her know that this kind of writing was unacceptable, and two, to ask the communication professor of that program, me, to emphasize email netiquette as part of the required business writing course of that program.  

When I called in the student, she was surprised that this kind of writing wasn’t the norm, and defensively explained, “But this is how I always write.” Again she was told that there is a difference between standard, professional English and text messaging your friends. Her professors expected the former.

However, the point is that this student personifies a generation’s way of thinking and writing. This is the writing she sees and is accustomed to. If a generation considers this normal writing, how will it affect languages and their evolvement in the long run?

Since then my opening spiel in my business writing courses every semester has had an add-on. Not only does it focus on the norm—avoid jargon, clichés, slang, gobbledygook, etc.—but steer clear of text messaging in professional or academic writing.

Text messaging has arrived to stay and whether the academic and professional languages will prevail over this tidal wave remains to be seen. If your job description entails receiving any kind of writing, u r in 4 a surprise.

And now we have Twitter. Twitter limits one’s comments to 140 characters. 140 characters in the world of words are not much. As you keyboard your message, you watch the 140 characters vanish into thin air in front of your eyes, character after character. So what does the wise writer do? The writer comes up with new concoctions that eliminate letters, shorten words, add ampersands, use abbreviations and contractions, and delete articles, prepositions, and punctuation.

Did the Twitter whizzes imagine that they would be instrumental in language revolution?

The shortening phenomenon started off by changing words to letters and numbers: two and to became 2; see became c; and you are became u r, but gone are the days of such minor changes. The Twitter generation is brilliant in finding ways to abbreviate and collapse words phonetically.

Then accents come in to play, too. English-speaking Egyptians have major problems pronouncing the sound “ð” as “th” in mother. It was easier to abbreviate it to “z,” the actual sound they utter. Hence, on Twitter, Egyptian style, the has been obliterated altogether and the comments are doused with “z’s”: Egypt set n example 2 z world.

Twitter has also forced Egyptians to resort to writing Arabic in Latin letters. Leeh keddah? means how come? This is all fine, but an Egyptian tweeter may resort to the three languages in the same tweet: Arabic, Arabic in Latin letters, and English, which is extremely confusing, a new mixture steering both Arabic and English languages on different courses.

The Arabic language is also under the gun. Egyptians want to write in English but since English does not have certain sounds, they resort to numbers that resemble “in look” the letters in Arabic. Egyptians have started using 3, 7, 7’, 2, and many other numbers to represent these Arabic sounds—7aram 3leek uses not only Arabic written in Latin letters but also numbers for sounds that don’t exist in Latin.  

He or she who ?’s this new phenomenon is correct in being unable to 4c z consequences. Where will this tsunami take us? Where will z languages b in, say, 10 years’ time? Will z language fork n2 2 different 1s, 1 used 4 professional and academic English, and z other for everyday use, especially in tweeting & txt messaging? 

Wait and see. In the meantime, we marvel at technically driven changes in language usage that are both generational and global.

 

Military trial for 190 after Egypt sectarian strife - Maktoob News

CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt's military rulers said on Sunday that 190 people detained overnight in connection with clashes between Muslims and Christians in Cairo that left 10 people dead will face a military trial.

via en.news.maktoob.com

The honeymoon over, Egypt's fledgling democracy now faces its biggest test | Pankaj Mishra | The Guardian

In Cairo last week I found myself buying a couple of "I love Egypt" T-shirts. When a woman then came up to me and, with much the same solemn pushiness as a squeegee merchant, began to paint the colours of the Egyptian flag on my hand, I did not resist. Speakers in one corner were working up a thin crowd, promising retribution for the ancien regime, justice to the masses. Indifferent to them, large Egyptian families picnicked on a freshly laid lawn, the clumps of grass still springing up unevenly from the ground.

via azzasedky.typepad.com

Hoda Osman: Meet Egypt's Revolutionaries... in NYC

What a great week! Well, at least for an Egyptian living in New York. Several young Egyptian activists who helped plan the protests and were prominent participants in the revolution that toppled the 30-year-regime of former President Hosni Mubarak were here this week.

via azzasedky.typepad.com