Egypt

Gender rights in Canada

Ahram Online

Azza Radwan Sedky

Thursday 28 Sep 2023

A storm of unprecedented proportion is brewing in Canada. On 20 September, a series of demonstrations took place across the country where thousands of people gathered to protest against sexual education and gender identity at schools. 

The protests were organized under the heading “1 Million March 4 Children.” According to the organizers, the aim of the protests was to “safeguard children from gender ideology teachings, sexual indoctrination, exposure to explicit sexual content, and ensuring that parental consent remains paramount.” The protesters believe that schools are exposing children to inappropriate content about sexuality and gender identity, and they support the policies requiring parental consent if students want to be addressed by pronouns different from their assigned genders. 

Thousands attended the protests across Canada, including in Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver, Victoria, and Calgary. Banners showcased the frustration of the protesters: “Leave our kids alone,” “Hands off our kids,” “We go to school to learn math and English,” and “Protect parental rights.”

Counter-protests ensued in most cities too. Those against the protests believe that policies that ask for parental consent are a violation of children’s rights and that transgender youth who want to use their “preferred” pronouns in school should not be reported to their parents by teachers. They fear that parents may then be against the child’s choice and prohibit him or her from changing name and pronoun or may even traumatize the child.

Let’s go back and understand where all this is coming from. Bill C-16, passed in June 2017, enshrines the rights of transgender or gender-diverse Canadians and discusses the usage of preferred pronouns. Today, schools in Canada can address content regarding gender identity which may include transgender and LGBTQ issues. 

According to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) 123, the supplementary material that is supplied to school educators, schools should be “inclusive and safe for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” and “students can express their gender without discrimination.”

However, it goes further. Schools can allow children to use a preferred first name and pronoun without the parent’s consent, with the assumption that parents may refuse the child this entitlement. In other words, an elementary school boy may opt to change his name to a feminine name and ask his teachers to call him by the feminine pronoun “she and her” and have the school not inform the parents of such a change. This is the fundamental dilemma: taking from parents the right to know what their children are being exposed to at schools.

The issue is contentious, causing disagreement, friction, and animosity. At face value, Canada is gearing towards acceptance and inclusiveness for all, and exposure to sexual orientation early on.  In fact, many changes are occurring to corroborate this perspective; an explicit example is gender neutral washrooms and fitting rooms in stores across Canada, which have become the norm.

According to the manual on gender neutral washrooms, “For trans and gender nonconforming people, using public washrooms can be a source of anxiety and stress,” but in a gender-neutral washroom they won’t be subjected to stares, questions, and maybe harassment.

Some, though, believe that such changes favour gender non-conforming people over the majority and find the changes extremely uncomfortable. Why should high school students, girls and boys, use the same washroom, they say? Wouldn’t that cause more challenges? And don’t all men’s washrooms have urinals? Besides, why should fitting rooms be mixed?

Though Canada is taking that route, its leaders, figureheads, and citizens at large are not all in agreement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is all for it. He responded to the March by expressing his support for LGBTQ people across Canada. Via a statement on Twitter, Trudeau said, "Transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia have no place in this country. We strongly condemn this hate and its manifestations, and we stand united in support of 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians across the country -- you are valid and you are valued." However, many found the reference to “hatred,” if parents want, what they consider, the good for their children, as excessive.

And most school boards accept the no-parent consent clause. "We do not tell students who they should be, but welcome them as they are," school officials with the Toronto District School Board said.

However, two provinces, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan, have not been in full agreement. Amendments to the SOGI, also known as Policy 713, was adopted in 2020 in New Brunswick. It forbids teachers from using the chosen preferred names and pronouns of a student under the age of 16 without the consent of their parents. New Brunswick Minister of Education, Bill Hogan, in explaining the changes, says, “… if they're under the age of 16 we would require parental consent to use that [preferred pronouns] ... otherwise what we're saying is that we're keeping information from parents and that's not the role of the school." The Saskatchewan government soon followed New Brunswick's policy with similar changes.

Ontario Premiere Doug Ford voiced his concerns, “Most important is the parents' rights, the parents' rights to listen and make sure they are informed when their children make a decision… It's not up to the teachers, it's not up to the school boards to indoctrinate our kids... it's the parents' responsibility to hear what the kids are doing.”

John Rustad, the leader of the Conservative Party of the province of British Columbia, issued a statement Wednesday in support of the protests against "gender ideology" in schools, stating he would end the inclusion of SOGI materials in classrooms if elected.

Others remained on the fence; Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who represents the opposition, told his members of parliament not to talk to the press about "parental rights" protests, steering away from confrontation.

I sense that this issue will not go away; it will remain contentious for many years to come.

Nostalgia

On social media Egyptians post photos of Cairo, Alexandria, and other Egyptian locations but from previous eras: the 30s, 40s, or 50s. The pictures seem surreal, almost bizarre, in comparison to the shots taken today in these same areas.

Tahrir Square in the days of black and white photography is a destination for those who want to enjoy a pleasant outing with no exhaust or car fumes—not one car obstructs the viewers’ vision. A serene fountain centres the Square, and seating is available for those who opt to enjoy Downtown Cairo—a very doable task then. Even the coloured photographs of Tahrir, taken in the 60s, depict an enjoyable spot with the Nile Hilton and the Egyptian Museum emerging centerpieces in the background. Again, the streets are maneuverable and empty of the influx of commuters and pedestrians visible today.

Why focus only on Tahrir? Resuscitated photos exhibit the charm of El Korba in Heliopolis, the alluring Zamalek, the lavish racetracks, the exquisite Stanley and Miami Beaches in Alexandria, and the magnificent stores—Cicurel and Hannaux. Even the old souks and the poorer areas project an air of hard work but satisfaction and energy, nonetheless.

Egyptians also enjoy posting photographs of women on their outings in Egypt in the 50s and 60s. Dressed in sleeveless floral summer dresses, with wide fluffed up skirts, the women, young and old, are out and about, never in any way hindered or held back. In dainty high-heel sandals and matching purses, they walk alone or in big groups never fearing for their wellbeing but rather exemplifying modernity and confidence. The concepts of harassment or gawking eyes do not cross their minds.

But the most astonishing of these reminiscences lies in the bringing out of photographs of the royal family and dusting them clean, where the stately King is met by other dignitaries or walking magnificently towards an awaiting audience, or the regal Queen being photographed wearing exquisite opulent jewelry.   

These photographs appear routinely. They are circulated and reposted immediately. Nostalgia and going back to the good old past are seen every day on social and standard media. Many Facebook pages are devoted to this endeavour. Surprised and contemplative, I watch.

It appears Egyptians miss the good old days and may even be tired of the scene today, be it traffic congestion or the curtailment that women face, be it air pollution or noise pollution, and much more.

True enough, today’s Egypt is a different Egypt altogether—no matter how hard we try, if we all collectively try, will we be able to bring that Egypt back. Accept it! It’s a waste of one’s energy to dream of something that will not materialize.

How could today’s Egypt be anything like the Egypt of the 50s? The main change lies in the 105 million that live mostly along the Nile basin while in the 50s, Egypt had a population of 22 million, so we have quintupled in 70 years. Of course, many other changes occurred, but the population density dwarfs all other reasons.

Which makes the focus on nostalgia futile. Either we look back to regain some of that vision, or else we are better off not focusing on it anymore. A kingdom will not reign in Egypt ever again, women will remain mostly hijabed, and Tahrir Square will continue to fill to the brim with cars and pedestrians.

However, though we may not be able to revive the good old Egypt, a different but better Egypt is possible. An evolving Egypt where everyone has dignity and has the right to education, medical treatment, job opportunities, and a decent shelter over one’s head is an Egypt that is happening as we speak.

Yes, the commotion in Tahrir Square will always be there, but the improvements in the square are very prominent: the whole square has been renovated; today it is breathtakingly exhibited; the square is bright and well-lit with a new monument centering it: a Ramses the Second obelisk and four rams from Karnak. In fact, all Downtown Cairo has been renovated and restored to its old glimmer and glory; more importantly, the streets have regained their original splendour with no car parking allowed.

Yes, old chic stores are gone forever, but this is the same worldwide. It is a sign of the age; formal attire is out, and casual outfits are in. Besides, chain box stores like Ikea, Carrefour, and Costco replaced the posh stores offering attractive discounts by selling in volume.

Yes, Egyptian women have become more conservative today with the majority hijabed, but that has not curtailed their empowerment; they have shattered glass ceilings in all fields. Egyptian women continue to gain rights and play significant roles in society. They’ve become airline pilots, professionals, entrepreneurs, judges, lawmakers, and members of the police force. These accomplishments are worth noting.

And even if Miami and Stanley Beaches are not up to par today to what they were, many more beaches along the Egyptian North Coast boast beauty, charm, and exquisite sandy turquoise beaches.

And improvements are occurring left, right, and centre. Thousands of projects bestow dignity and self-respect to Egyptians: better housing, sound infrastructure, modern and green agricultural innovations, improved productivity, and development of the New Delta, which will create new agricultural and urban communities expanding on the inhabited area and alleviating the pressure on congested cities. These are only a few of the changes to the better that have been occurring in the last few years.

Nostalgia to a past that will not repeat itself is a depressing and destructive practice. Unless we can relive it, we are better off without the comparison; better yet let’s focus on how we can change today’s Egypt into a better one. 

Another Egypt, a prosperous, bettered Egypt is right around the corner.

 

الحنين الي الماضي

الاهرام

الأثنين 3 من ربيع الأول 1445 هــ 18 سبتمبر 2023 السنة 148 العدد 49959

د. عزة رضوان صدقى

ينشر المصريون يوميا صورًا للقاهرة والإسكندرية وغيرهما من المواقع، ولكن من عصور سابقة: الثلاثينيات أو الأربعينيات أو الخمسينيات. تبدو الصور سريالية وغريبة مقارنة بالصور الملتقطة اليوم فى نفس هذه المناطق

ميدان التحرير فى أيام التصوير الأبيض والأسود كان مقصدا لمن يريد الاستمتاع بنزهة ممتعة بلا عوادم ولا أبخرة سيارات، ولا سيارة واحدة تحجب رؤية المشاهد. تتوسط الساحة نافورة جميلة وهادئة، وتتوافر أماكن جلوس لأولئك الذين يريدون الاستمتاع بوسط القاهرة، وقد كانت مهمة قابلة للتنفيذ آنذاك. حتى صور التحرير الملونة، التى التُقطت فى الستينيات، تصور مكانًا ممتعًا يظهر فيه فندق هيلتون النيل فى الخلفية والشوارع خالية من تدفق الركاب والمشاة الذى نراه اليوم

لماذا نركز على ميدان التحرير فقط؟ تظهر الصور التى يسترجعها هؤلاء بهجة الكوربة فى مصر الجديدة، وشياكة الزمالك، وروعة حلبات السباق، وجمال كبائن وشواطئ ميامى وستانلى فى الإسكندرية وسحر حفلات أم كلثوم وأناقة المتاجر شيكوريل وهانو. حتى الأسواق القديمة والفقيرة تظهر جوًا من العمل الجاد، لكنها مع ذلك بها رضا وطاقة

ويستمتع المصريون أيضًا بنشر صور المصريات فى أثناء نزهاتهن فى الخمسينيات والستينيات. ترتدى النساء فساتين صيفية زاهية بلا أكمام دون أن يتم إعاقتهن أو تقييدهن بأى شكل من الأشكال، ويرتدين الأحذية ذات الكعب العالى والمحافظ المطابقة، ويمشين بمفردهن أو فى مجموعات كبيرة ولا يخشين أبدًا على سلامتهن. هؤلاء النساء كن يجسدن الحداثة والثقة. مفاهيم التحرش أو التحديق لا تخطر على بالهن

لكن أكثر هذه الذكريات إثارة للدهشة تكمن فى صور العائلة المالكة وكم التحسر الذى ينتاب من يرى هذه الصور. فيها يسير الملك بفخامة نحو جمهور منتظر، أو تظهر الملكة وهى ترتدى المجوهرات الرائعة. توجد هذه الصور بشكل روتينى ويتم تعميمها وإعادة نشرها على الفور على جميع وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي

لقد سئم المصريون الزحام والتلوث الهوائى والضوضائى والقيود على المرأة لان مصر اليوم مختلفة تمامًا عن سابق العهد لكننا لن نستطيع إعادة مصر الخمسينيات ومضيعة للوقت أن نحلم بشيء لن يتحقق. التركيز على الحنين إلى الماضى عديم الجدوى.كيف يمكن لمصر اليوم أن تكون مثل مصر الخمسينيات التى كان تعدادها ٢٢ مليون نسمة؟ يكمن التغيير الرئيسى فى الـ ١٠٥ ملايين نسمة الذين يعيش معظمهم حول حوض النيل، وقد تضاعف عددهم خمس مرات خلال ٧٠ عامًا.لن تعود الملكية لمصر مرة أخرى، وستظل النساء معظمهن محجبات، وسيظل ميدان التحرير ممتلئًا بالسيارات والمشاة، ولن تعود المتاجر الفاخرة مثل هانو وشيكوريل ولن تعود كبائن شاطئ ستانلى وميامى أو حفلات أم كلثوم الخالدة. فإما أن ننظر إلى الوراء ونأمل فى استعادة بعض من تلك الرؤية، وإلا فمن الأفضل ألا نركز عليها بعد الآن

ورغم أننا قد لا نكون قادرين على إحياء مصر القديمة، فإنه بإمكاننا إحياء مصر الجديدة. مصر التى يتمتع فيها الجميع بالكرامة وحق التعليم والعلاج والمأوى اللائق، هى مصر القادمة التى يجب أن تكون هدفنا

نعم، ستظل الضجة فى ميدان التحرير موجودة دائمًا، لكن التحسينات فى الميدان لافتة ومبهرة: فقد تم تجديد الميدان بأكمله. الساحة مشرقة ومضاءة جيدًا ويوجد فى الوسط نصب تذكارى جديد: مسلة رمسيس الثانى وأربعة كباش من الكرنك. فى الواقع، تم تجديد وسط القاهرة بالكامل وإعادته إلى بريقه ومجده القديم؛ والأهم من ذلك أن الشوارع استعادت رونقها الأصلى مع عدم السماح بوقوف السيارات نعم، لقد اختفت المتاجر الأنيقة القديمة إلى الأبد، ولكن هذا حدث فى جميع أنحاء العالم. إنها علامة العصر، لقد انتهت الملابس الرسمية، وظهرت الملابس المريحة غير الرسمية. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، حلت المتاجر الكبرى مثل إيكيا وكارفور وكوسكو محل المتاجر الفاخرة مقدمة خصومات جذابة من خلال البيع بكميات كبيرة

نعم، أصبحت المرأة المصرية اليوم أكثر تحفظا مع ارتداء أغلبية النساء الحجاب، لكن ذلك لم يحد من إمكاناتهن وآفاقهن. لقد حطمت النساء الحواجز الاصطناعية فى كل المجالات وحصلن على حقوقهن ولعبن أدوارا مهمة فى المجتمع. لقد أصبحن طيارات، ومحترفات، وسيدات أعمال، وقاضيات، ومشرعات، وعضوات فى قوات الشرطة. وهذه الإنجازات جديرة بالملاحظة

وحتى لو لم تعد شواطئ ميامى وستانلى على قدم المساواة اليوم مع ما كانت عليه من قبل، فإن العديد من الشواطئ على طول الساحل الشمالى المصرى تتميز بالجمال والسحر والرمال البيضاء والمياه الفيروزية الرائعة

إن الحنين إلى ماضٍ لن يعود هو ممارسة محبطة. دعونا نركز على الكيفية التى يمكننا بها تغيير مصر اليوم إلى دولة أفضل

مصر المزدهرة على مقربة منا

لمزيد من مقالات د. عزة رضوان صدقى

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CATO: In "Shock" About New Egypt Visa Rules For Canadians; Calls For Flexibility

Open Jaw

The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) is calling for more flexible measures for Canadians requesting visas to travel to Egypt.

Effective 01OCT 2023, Canadian travellers will no longer be able to obtain a visa upon arriving in Cairo. Instead, they must request their visa in person at the Egyptian Embassy located in Ottawa or Montréal or send a postal application.

On 07SEP, CATO released a statement expressing its "shock" over the new restrictions. "Whether applying in person or by mail, these changes bring added unwanted complexity to the traveler. This is clearly prohibitive for anyone," the Association said.

The statement wrote:

"This change presents a significant issue for tourists who are leaving in October and will likely cause frustration for those departing later, especially for group travelers. These new restrictions could also potentially decrease the interest of many Canadian travelers and discourage them from visiting Egypt. These changes create barriers against selling Egypt to Canadian citizens, and CATO members have indicated an increased number of calls from worried travelers and travel agents due to these abrupt changes.

CATO hopes that the Egyptian Authority will understand the importance of Canadian business in Egypt and recognize the pivotal role that tour operators play as partners to the destination and its tourism business. CATO urges the government in Egypt to reconsider these restrictions and, if not upon arrival in Egypt, to at least allow an ongoing permanent online application form. Additionally, we ask for more lead time with these changes."

Jean Hébert, Executive Director at CATO added: "“CATO is working hard to reach out to government officials and representatives at the Egyptian Embassy for a resolution to this situation that will benefit everyone impacted.”

CATO joins G Adventures in calling for more flexible measures. On 06SEP, G Adventures posted a statement to alert agents and their clients about the new measures. The tour operator called on members of CATO and ACTA to raise the issue with the Canadian government.

Egypt president calls for measures to slow birthrate

Inside Paper

AFP

September 5, 2023 11:03 am

Source: Unsplash

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called Tuesday for measures to slow the birthrate in the Arab world’s most populous country, citing China’s one-child policy as an example.

“We need 400,000 births per year,” said the leader of the country of 105 million inhabitants which recorded nearly 2.2 million births in 2022.

Sisi intervened when his minister of health and population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, told a conference that “having children is a matter of complete freedom”.

“I do not agree with your idea that having children is a matter of complete freedom,” the president said.

“Leaving their freedom to people who potentially do not know the extent of the challenge? In the end, it is the whole of society and the Egyptian state which will pay the price,” he said, during the worst economic crisis in the country’s history.

“We must organise this freedom otherwise it will create a catastrophe,” Sisi said.

“The Chinese made this decision in 1968” and in 2015, Beijing officially abandoned its one-child policy, allowing all married couples to have a second child.

“They succeeded in their population control policy,” Sisi said.

Sisi, a former army general who rose to the presidency in 2014 after deposing elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, is expected to run for a third term at elections in early 2024.

We beg to differ

Al Ahram Weekly

 

Azza Radwan Sedky

Tuesday 5 Sep 2023]

Should one society impose its standards on others, asks Azza Radwan Sedky.

Westernisation occurs when non-Western societies are influenced by Western culture. However, the world is not the West, and the West is not the world.

We were once about to go and pay our respects to a friend whose mother had passed away, and my husband, who had lived overseas for decades, suggested that we take a bouquet of flowers to the mourning family.

I was appalled at the idea: Egyptians do not expect flowers when they are in mourning. It is just not done. Mourning is a sombre event in Egypt, with women wearing black and ongoing recitals from the Quran or long subdued services in a church. In many Western societies, on the other hand, sending flowers to the family of a deceased person is a very common gesture.

Other gestures include bringing food and celebrating the life of the deceased and not wearing black attire. Mourning is a sombre moment in Western societies too, but no one can deny that there are differences.

On another occasion a Chinese student whom I had taught for several years graduated in Canada. As I congratulated her, I gave her a warm hug. However, her arms remained loose next to her sides in response. She later told me that she had never been hugged in her life. She also told me that in Chinese culture hugging is awkward as public displays of affection cause embarrassment.

My mother, Egyptian to the core, also never hugged but always gave a peck on both cheeks. The same goes for most Egyptians, though this is changing. This is the case while in many Western countries hugging is a common way to show affection.

When an Egypt person invites a Western person over to his house, he often puts on a spread. The Western person may be shocked, asking “does he really expect me to eat all this?” No, the Egyptian person does not expect the visitor to eat all the food piled up in front of him, but Egyptian hospitality dictates that there must be a huge display of food.

When a Western person comes over with a bottle of gourmet vinegar or some guest soap, for example, an Egyptian person may be confused. Vinegar is sour, and soap implies the need for more cleanliness. Sweets and dessert would be more in order.

In 2003, when former US president George W Bush ducked the flying shoes of a journalist who yelled “this is a gift from the Iraqis. This is a farewell kiss, you dog,” many Western reporters emphasised Bush’s ability to dodge while ignoring the essence of the gesture, as Bush jokingly brushed it off by saying “all I can report is a size 10.”

But the flying shoes and the name calling – “dog” is a derogatory term to Arabs – meant much more and were perhaps even a redemption of a sort in the eyes of the Iraqis, turning the journalist into a hero. No one can deny how different the spectacle was in the eyes of Iraqis from what it was in the eyes of westerners.

Some westerners now add the pronouns “she/her” or “he/him” to their signatures in an email or letter. It’s a way for the person receiving the email to understand the preferred way to address the sender. However, it is also a way for the sender to show support and solidarity for transgender and non-binary people.

 Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, deputy director of the National Centre for Transgender Equality in the US, said that “if I was introducing myself to someone, I would say, ‘I’m Rodrigo. I use ‘him’ pronouns. What about you?’”

In many societies around the world, people would find such distinctions difficult to comprehend.

Cultural values create different social norms, so we should not expect nations and peoples to become mirror images of one another. In fact, it is a good thing that we aren’t all alike. If we were, it would be a very boring world.

As the world gets smaller and smaller, we must accept different cultures as they are. Different social norms may surprise, even shock, but trying to impose one culture on another will never work.

Standards of shame, modesty, respect, personal freedom, religious values, and much more will all remain stumbling blocks in the face of our becoming indistinguishably alike. In fact, cultural norms set social guidelines that people adhere to in order to fit into the contours of their own society and not necessarily those of other societies.

More importantly, should one society try to impose its standards on other societies? Non-Western societies should not adopt Western values or take them at face value without looking at them carefully and weighing up the worth of any change and whether it would apply in their case or not.

More importantly, the West should not expect the rest of the world to accept its standards as a given.

Western values do not equate to globalisation and should not be taken as a standard. In fact, Western dominance is sometimes seen as a continuation of Western imperialism. Hence, applying the values of the West in an Asian, Arab, or African society often counteracts and clashes with those of that society. Besides, the West has its own pitfalls that should be looked at as warnings to others that no one should implement, ethnic cleansing, slavery, colonialism, and racism, to name a few.

Recent developments in the West have created even more of a gap between the West and other societies. Euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and comprehensive sex education in schools have all been remolding fundamentals. It is not up to non-Western societies to appraise such changes when they take place in Western societies, but it is their prerogative not to accept them.

Western society itself is still grappling with many of these issues, so for the West to expect such values to be implemented elsewhere is hardly rational. The West should understand that rejecting them is justifiable.

However, as societies worldwide dispute such values, they are being besieged by them through images in Hollywood films and on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney, as well as on social media. One of the hardest battles for the world in general will remain the juxtaposition of what societies believe are their own social standards and invading foreign influences.

Cultural expectations are not the same across the board. The rule should be to each his own.

The writer is former professor of communication based in Vancouver, Canada.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 7 September, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

 

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الأثنين 19 من صفر 1445 هــ 4 سبتمبر 2023 السنة 148 العدد 49945

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مشاهدة شبكات التليفزيون الأمريكية شبيهة لمباراة التنس، حيث تكون حركة رؤوس المتفرجين المتابعة للكرة ذهابًا وإيابًا حادة للغاية. هذا لان طُرق معالجة نفس القضايا تختلف اختلافا جذريا من شبكة الى اخرى. التناقضات صارخة بين الشبكات مما يتسبب فى عدم تصديق أى منها. يبدو الأمر كما لو كانت هذه الشبكات تتحدث عن دولتين مختلفتين، بشعبين مختلفين، ومجموعتين مختلفتين من الآمال والتطلعات، ثم تناقش قضايا مختلفة من حيث القيمة والأهمية.يتعجب المشاهد من نطاق كل شبكة ونبرتها الحزبية وولائها لشخص ما، ثم سخريتها من الشبكات الأخرى.ومع هذا التحيز الصارخ فإن هذه الشبكات تجعل مشاهديها يرون بلادهم والعالم بأعينهم فقط

فلنقارن الاختلاف. الشبكات الكبرى هى فوكس نيوز، وسى إن إن، وأم أس أن بى سى. ان ٩٣٪ من مشاهدى فوكس يتبعون الحزب الجمهورى مقابل ٦٪ فقط من الديمقراطيين. بينما الشبكات الأخرى معظم مشاهديها من الديمقراطيين وهنا يتحدد الولاء والاختلاف

شبكة فوكس هى أكثر شبكة تليفزيونية مشاهدة. ما يقرب من ٤٣٪ من المشاهدين الأمريكيين يشاهدون فوكس مما يجعل نطاق تأثيرها واسعًا للغاية. حتى وان كانت تقاريرها منحازة وتميل الى تقديم ما يرغبه المشاهد الجمهورى، فهى تعتبر من اهم قنوات تشكيل الرأى العام. تكافح الشبكات الأخرى لتصل الى مستوى فوكس، والمعركة بين الشبكات مستمرة على مدار الساعة، كل منها يدحض كل ما تقوله الشبكات الأخرى مضللين المُشاهد بأسلوب المعارضة والتلاعب ومعتبرين الشبكات الأخرى مصدر دعاية وليست ذات أهمية إخبارية

دعونا نقارن القضايا التى ركزت عليها كل شبكة بشكل مكثف:على سبيل المثال لا الحصر، الاتهامات الموجهة للرئيس السابق ترامب وانتخابات الرئاسة ٢٠٢٤، والاتهامات الموجهة لهانتر بايدن ابن الرئيس الحالى بايدن، وقضية إلغاء الاجهاض. فى كل واحدة من هذه القضايا، تكون القصص المقدمة للجمهور ملتوية ومصممة لفضح ما تقوله الشبكات الأخرى

سأقوم بسرد ما تنوه به كل شبكة مع عدم التعبير عن رأيى الشخصى فى كل قضية. هناك فجوة أيديولوجية شديدة بين الشبكات الثلاث فى تغطيتهما للحملات الانتخابية الرئاسية لعام ٢٠٢٤ فاين يذهب المرء لمعرفة اخبار الحملة يحدد ما يجنيه من معلومات.الشبكات الديمقراطية تصر بالإثباتات ان الرئيس ترامب غير مؤهل ليكون رئيسًا مرة أخرى فعليه اتهامات عديدة ومئات التهم، منها الابتزاز والتآمر لإلغاء انتخابات ٢٠٢٠. مع ذلك، وعلى الرغم من هذه الاتهامات، يظل مشاهدو فوكس موالين للرئيس السابق ترامب. وفقًا لاستطلاع للرأى نشرته صحيفة نيويورك تايمز، يعتقد مشاهدو فوكس ان الرئيس السابق لم يرتكب جرائم بعينها، بل كان يمارس حقه فى الطعن فى النتائج الانتخابية. كما أظهر استطلاع أخر أن أنصار دونالد ترامب يعتبرونه مصدرًا أكثر موثوقية للحقيقة من أصدقائهم وأقاربهم ورجال الدين. ووجد الاستطلاع أيضا ان الرئيس السابق يتصدر السباق الرئاسى الجمهورى بنسبة ٦٢ في المائة

القضية الثانية التى تجتاح شبكات الولايات المتحدة اليوم هى قصة هانتر بايدن نجل الرئيس بايدن. ترى فوكس فضيحة تستحق المتابعة معتبرة معاملات هانتر بايدن التجارية الأجنبية مريبة لأنه استغل منصب والده للكسب غيرالمشروع، ثم اعتبرت قضية هانتر بايدن أكبر قضية سياسية فى التاريخ الأمريكى ونوهت بان الشبكات الأخرى لا تعطى القضية حقها. اما الديمقراطيون على الشبكات الموالية لا يرون شيئًا خاطئًا فى قضية هانتر بايدن، لكونها مجرد قضية شخصية. ورأت أن هانتر بايدن يعامل بشكل أسوأ من أى شخص آخر، كما رأت ان الجمهوريين حاولوا جاهدين خلق قضية مثيرة للرأى العام فى التحقيق مع نجل الرئيس بايدن

مؤخرا الغى الاعتراف بحق الإجهاض ومُنحت كل ولاية سلطة تقييده، او حظره تمامًا او السماح به. بما ان القرار قدم من قبل الجمهوريين لمجلس الشيوخ فشبكة فوكس تبنته وعزمت بانه انتصار للحركة المؤيدة للحياة. اما الشبكات التى تتبع الديمقراطيين فأصرت على انه حكم مدمر وانه قد يتسبب فى انقسام الشعب الأمريكى

فى الختام، تسىء شبكات التليفزيون للمشاهد الأمريكى الذى أصبح غير قادر على فك رموز الحقيقة، لأنه على الرغم من تضاؤل شعبية التليفزيون امام شبكات الضخ الفورى فإن الكثيرين حتى الآن يتلقون أخبارهم المفصلة والاساسية من خلال التليفزيون ومتابعة شبكاتهم المفضلة. ولكن عندما تعرض الاخبار بغير تساو وبغير توازن ومخالفة لبعضها البعض يُحرم المشاهد الذى لا حول له ولا قوة من القدرة على رؤية الحقيقة الموضوعية الصادقة

وما تقدمه وسائل الإعلام فى الولايات المتحدة من انقسام هو بمثابة إثبات مدى الانقسام الفعلى فى الولايات المتحدة عامة. وللأسف سوف يستمر انعكاس هذا الانقسام ليزيد التفرقة بين افراد الشعب الأمريكى

لمزيد من مقالات د. عزة رضوان صدقى

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UPDATED: Liverpool turn down £150 million offer from Ittihad Jeddah to acquire Salah: Sky Sports News

Ahram Online

Mahmoud Elassal , Friday 1 Sep 2023

Liverpool has turned down a verbal offer worth £150 million from Saudi Pro League champions Ittihad Jeddah to acquire Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, a source told Sky Sports News on Friday.

The same source has told Sky Sports News that Ittihad are prepared to go to £200 million to sign the 31-year-old super star.

Earlier on Friday, the New York Times-owned The Athletic sports website reported that Ittihad Jeddah made a proposal worth over £100 million with significant add-ons to acquire Salah from Liverpool, but that offer was immediately dismissed and given no consideration by Reds management.

According to The Athletic, representatives from the Saudi side had a cordial conversation with Liverpool director Mike Gordon late Thursday who affirmed that Salah was not for sale and considered the matter closed.

In recent weeks, Salah has attracted substantial interest from Ittihad Jeddah who are reportedly willing to offer him a record-breaking salary that would make him the highest-paid player in the world.

Throughout the week, Saudi media platforms continued to fuel speculation by claiming that Salah had agreed to join Ittihad Jeddah in the Saudi Pro League.

However, Salah has explicitly stated that any potential move would require the approval of Liverpool's management and coach Jurgen Klopp.

Moreover, Jurgen Klopp emphatically reiterated on Friday that Salah will not be leaving the club, despite numerous claims in various Saudi media outlets suggesting that Ittihad Jeddah is on the verge of securing the services of the star player.

According to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Aawsat, Ittihad Jeddah is prepared to offer Salah a weekly salary of £1.5 million and an improved offer to entice Liverpool into accepting the deal.

Saudi Arabian clubs have made significant investments in players this summer, securing high-profile signings such as Liverpool's midfield veteran Roberto Firmino.

The Saudi Pro League has recently welcomed renowned players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane to Al-Nasr, Karim Benzema to Ittihad Jeddah, and Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)