Going, going ...

The quest for Freedom continues ...

They have to ... because dictators can seriously damage your brains! Like hers were ...





Libyan TV presenter saying that since adoption is 'haram' or 'forbidden in Islam, that adopting the UN reselution 1973 enforcing a 'no fly zone' over Libya is haram too ....


"Islam encourages those suitable and able to take needy children in to raise them like your own as an equal member of the family, but not to change their names or hide information re their origins from them."


Related:
David Cameron: 'This is not about Libyan oil' [click]
Gates: Libya turmoil could destabilize Egypt, Tunisia [click]

TV interview ...

“Going on TV; sometimes you think of perfect things to say and things to talk about but then you don't get a chance to say them ”

Egyptian TV now operates with lots more freedom than before and so, the mix on offer is becoming much more interesting too. I am sure this is drawing a much wider audience than before from Egypt, The Arab world and Egyptians residing elsewhere around the globe too. Great improvement so, best wishes and good luck Egyptian TV, I have now converted from other satellite channels to you :-)

But ...

There are still some presenters who like their own voices so much, they never give their expert guests a chance to get a word in edge ways! Interrupt, interrupt, interrupt!

What is the point of inviting guests in then?!

Guests are then either polite and just accept the interruptions to the detriment of the audience, interrupt the presenters in a failed attempt to get their views across, become visually tired, frustrated, stressed and perhaps forget vital points of what they intended to say as a result, or just firmly ask the presenter to allow them to speak! ... and good for those too! @@

It doesn't look good on TV when all this happens, but more importantly, the audience feels that the whole exercise didn't add anything new to them and they feel cheated! Some presenters are more aggressive than others in this regard and to those, us, the audience, demand;

Stop interrupting!

Or do we have to come and protest in front of the TV building in Maspero to get our voices heard?! Well, everybody's doing it, why not us the viewers of Egyptian TV too?! >0_0<

If it is about air time limits, then this indicates lack of preparation before going on air when a presenter must discuss same with guests to avoid 'running over'. Or, if live, allowing a guest to speak without interruption actually helps control time too. Or you can give the guest an idea how many minutes are allowed for an answer then interrupt to remind them towards the end if they don't oblige, then stop.

Then again, maybe this tactic was needed in the past to control what is being said, but with this new era of freedom, there is no need for doing that because there no ceiling on what should or shouldn't be said anymore, the reason for the increased popularity. Then there are some who think they are expert on everything and keep talking over and above the guests! Medicine, law, finance, agriculture ... even animal husbandry! ... you name it, they'll interrupt and speak over the guests! Why invite and pay for outside expertise and guests then if those presenters know it all?!

This practice is very unprofessional and reflects badly on those presenters themselves and makes them look so small!

Then there are others who are good and very popular presenters, but who allow their guests, either in the studio or on the phone, to take a few valuable minutes to pay praise to them, and their fathers who happen to be famous media personnel too, instead of concentrating on the topic at hand! To those, please move in with the revolutionary spirit which is intended to take you and Egypt forward. What matters in a democratic, modern and fair society is that it values every member. That is YOU and, hopefully, no longer who your dad is or what he does/did. I personally think that a certain presenter lets himself down badly by allowing this kind of fake exchange to take place on air! Same presenter also addresses his distinguished guests as 'ma3aleek' or 'highness'! He did so with the new PM, who is an esteemed academic, engineering expert and distinguished professor in his own right. The professor left a previous lucrative government position because it clashed with his principals. He also joined the protesters in Tahrir Square either before the change or after, hence, for the modest man he is, I don't think he would want to be addressed as 'ma3aleek' or that it suits him. Egyptian rebels are never 'ma3aleek'! So, please call him and those like him what they are, in this case, Professor Dr Essam Sharaf - this is big enough and is what he is ... and it also sounds right!

Other presenters do the same too with expressions like 'pasha' and 'beeh' as well as 'ma3leek' and the like, forgetting that those titles were abolished with the ousting of king Farouq in 1952 because the system that merited them was downed with the king. However, corruption during the past rule artificially and unofficially brought them back to represent new money and power, but they were fake since there was no system behind them. Add to that that they were used as a tool to represent dictatorship powers mainly to intimidate and affirm a status that did not exist.

I believe that unless there is a new system in government to allow for those titles based on merit, and there isn't one since Egypt is no longer a kingdom, that those artificial and without merit titles should no longer be used because they only aid the spread of the arrogance that existed during the past era at a time when Egypt needs to concentrate on building herself back ... and for that to happen, Egypt definitely needs to rid itself of that!

That said, I am enjoying your new freedoms Egyptian TV ... keep up the hard work :-)

... and btw, some 'well known' Arabic channels are guilty of interruptions, sometimes all of the above too ....


"Please let the guest talk!"

VOID!

“I don't burden him with election things other than that we won. He's aware of the victory. He's happy.”

Unprecedented turn out! Over 18 million out of 45 million eligible voters, or a whole 41 unheard of in Egypt %! Well, during the past era, all elections were rigged, and people knew that so the majority did not bother with elections at all. Not the case in new democratic Egypt as everyone, elated with the new freedoms, wanted to take part and have their voices heard and be part of Egypt's new future. All those who can and in a carnival atmosphere, as is now known about the Egyptians, queued at the polling stations ...

But then, what happened?

The people of Egypt voted 'YES'!

Dear ooooo Dear! ... because in effect, the Egyptians voted to revive the dead monster! Only, I actually knew this was going to happen but had very much hoped I would be proven wrong! But I wasn't ... and for a while I felt gutted! And so did most of the educated class in Egypt who mostly favoured a 'No' vote ...

Then you think, the Egyptian media has been urging the people to vote 'yes' and was voicing same since the announcement of the referendum. It also kept on saying that in a democracy one has to respect the wish of the majority, then keep quite and let the officials get on with it whatever the outcome ... but no! For this was not a fair vote! And, in a democracy, when the voting system is not fair, ie, is proven to have been biased in favour of certain groups over the others, and gained through deceptive means, that this would render the whole process 'Nul and void'! That's what happens in a true democracy! And so this one should be made void too! Good first 'democratic' excercise though, providing no harm is done ... and providing one learns from the lesson ...




How a 77.2% vote was achieved then?! Well, first, the government so keen on a 'Yes' vote for some reason, maybe because the Army is being watched either locally or internationally, felt pressured to hand over powers quickly. Or because they genuinely believe this will aid stability and end the chaos that ensued following the revolution. Or because they don't like the job, or whatever. Even though mistakes made through rushing such delicate and decisive future affairs which will shape the country's destiny may trigger further unrest and more demonstrations in Tahrir Square and/or elsewhere, and that would cause bigger disturbance and render the country again in chaos instead of the calm beginning to take place now that there is a new trusted government. Not very desirable especially if unrest keeps reoccurring because things are not done right the first time!

Re the vote, it seems there was a wrong message going to the simple man in the street telling him/her that a 'yes' vote was tied to the return of normality to life on the streets. That production would continue, tourists would come back, etc, etc. So, it became like a national duty to vote 'Yes'! How democratic was that?! And why have the excercise at all in this case?!

Following that, whoever was charged with the design of the polling forms then came up with a design that would persuade the voters to go for a 'yes' vote ... that's simply by placing the 'yes' vote to the right of the form and colour it green , while a 'No' vote is to the left and is in black!
... and if you are a simple person, illiterate or ill informed, as roughly about half of all those who voted or more were, which one would you go for? Imagine the form being in a foreign language that you don't know to get how that feels .... :-)

Would the 77.2% 'Yes' result have been very different if the order was reversed?
How about this? 'Yes' is still in the right, would it make a difference if it was on the left?
Like this above? Does the green colour itself have an impact on the prediction of voters behaviour hence outcomes?

Of course it does! Green is associated with 'positive', hence a 'Yes' vote! I myself use it all the time here when I want to indicate hope and positive feelings and many other people do too whether they believe if such things make a difference or it is just a 'hopeful' excercise and nothing else - like myself ... But it does impact people's behaviour nonetheless, the reason why it should never be used in the design of election forms. However, it was used in Egypt! Contrasted with black too, which when coupled with the heavenly green, indicates 'bad', evil', or negativity. However, on it's own and used uniformally on a form for either a 'yes' or a 'No' vote, black loses this effect, when green doesn't, even if it was the only colour used! Soooo, naughty, naughty whoever designed this form ....

Amazing how you can influence people using colour alone! But couple that with the message blasted every minute by the media that a 'yes' vote would aid stability and end 'chaos' and you are on your way to 'victory' ...

Then there were other vindictive influences too, most properly unanticipated by the government, but they did arrive on the party scene! ... and more 'others', including the National Democratic Party who were in charge during the past rule and who are, for various reasons, not disbanded yet! ... and rather than a democratic vote, the scene became that of a circus ... and democracy suffered, hence that 77.2% 'victory'! However, that aaamazing figure which any western democracy can only dream of when it sleeps without covering it's back, is way better than the 99.999% of the past era ... and the people are jubilant about that so ....

The well informed have since been questioning the ethics of the speed with which this vote was organised and the lack of preparation before hand on the results too. They also question the ethics of the Islamists doings as well as their claims to 'righteousness' when they organised a campaign to influence voters to say 'yes' through mosques, leaflets, banners, etc saying it was a religious duty to vote 'yes'! Even trying to drive a rift with the copts too ... well ... and you don't need to be simple to be persuaded by part or all of the above of one or more method will have an impact, or indeed all those side effects combined will too ... and who knows what else was out there trying to influence people somehow too!

Why mix religion and politics unless it suits some to do so and it will since they are, together with the NDP, the only organised group available now?! ... They must never be allowed! And the other groups who can take Egypt forward are not ready yet ... for that they need time ....

So, how would that vote have turned out had it it been fair?! I don't know, I didn't get to vote because the Embassy was not instructed to carry out such duties as I was told when I enquired.

But the bottom line is, not many people trust the results of this vote or that they were fair! ... because unless the voters were very well informed and had a solid decision before going to that polling station already, the above persuasive tactics used on the vulnerable electorate ruined the results!

It makes you wonder, in this new experience, how many really knew what they were doing?

Apparently, in the case of this referendum, only 22.8% did! That's why those said 'NO' to a dead constitution! Because they knew it would kill the revolution if the dead constitution was allowed to live again!

But that's not the end of the matter either, for this dead monster is still full of nasty surprises! One of which now states that following such a 'yes' majority vote on a referendum, the Army has to hand over powers to the judiciary! ... no one expected or paid attention to that point before this referendum was commissioned ....

And so, The Army declared that the referendum was never to do with the handing over of powers but about which should come first, parliament or president? They said that handing over will not be the case. The Army also said that they will now issue a constitutional declaration in the next few days to take the country forward ... I hope they will finally put an end to the miserable monster too before it bites anyone else!

And, good on you Egyptian Army, no harm done by that old constitution yet! I hope that now the esteemed generals headed by Field Marshal Tantawi, whom everybody likes and respects as well as trust, will let that monster lie where it belongs ... in the past ... and good riddens too! I hope they also realise that 'democracy' and 'speed' do not marry well and that the people of Egypt prefer to still be ruled by their much beloved Army rather than jump into an abyss where Egypt would be plunged into darkness rather than the bright and prosperous future that awaits her ... if and when her 'dignified men' play her cards right! Amazing this Om Kolthoum song in my previous post about Egypt talking of herself ... the right time to let you know generals and FM Tantawi, to listen to her every word ... then take your time to do what she, mother Egypt, wants you to do ... and how she trusts you are capable of doing same ... and Mum, is always right! ;-)

One of her wishes would be to get a new 'solid' constitution before you take any further steps towards real and lasting democracy whether you want to elect a parliament first and president last of the opposite. Whichever, you need that firm foundation or the whole building would become feeble and weak, it may even collapse soon after all the wasted effort ... build her on knowledge and ethics, she says ... and on the honour of her dignified men ... that is what she means by 'firm foundation' and she promises you lots when you do that.

It's up to you only to build that firm foundations ... alone ....

Time to protect her too, because this revolution is not only what the people of Egypt have been awaiting for the longest of time, but the resulting liberation and freedoms did not only introduce Egypt to the world, but introduced the Egyptian people to the world too. The whole world now came to love the Egyptians for the peaceful, friendly and loving people they are and how that came across in the freedom fields of Tahrir Square ... as a result, the Egyptians now have whole peoples around the globe as friends ... It is up to The Army to protect this gain too as a matter of national duty now ....

... and representatives of those friends of Egypt have been flooding in offering support and visiting Tahrir square to see for themselves where it all happened. Everybody around the globe knows that sunny by the Nile Square now, and everybody knows that Tahrir means 'Liberation' and think of Egypt when thinking of liberation too. Egypt has now been globally conjoined with peace as well as freedom, yet another unique to Egypt ...

I hope this momentum will not be lost by allowing those who may ruin it all to come to the top. The world's eyes are on you Egypt now, watching ... and since it is The Army that is in charge, then the world's eyes is on The Army too. The globe is anxiously waiting to see what Egypt does next, will she be able to pull through? Will she master that democracy puzzle after all? And the answer must be 'Yes', of course she will! As usual! She has dignified men after all!

It is the Army's responsibility now to keep that momentum. That's by not rushing things that only allows self-serving bullies, of whatever nature, to come centre stage and ruin it all ... and by taking care of Egypt which all Egyptians want and will work towards ... Egypt must now become a global success story ... and she will ... As always ....

Egypt can not be hushed or rushed! Egypt needs time ...

So, take your time and do it right first time ....


Peace and prosperity for Egypt ... always x



Related:
Breakdown of referendum results [click]
The Egyptian model [click]
First post-Mubarak poll crystallizes democratic forces’ weakness [click]
Prominent Egypt Salafi proclaims victory for religion in referendum [click]
What was religion doing in the debate on the Constitutional amendments? [click] and [google]
We do not fear Brotherhood's rise to power: US Senator [click]
Youth Coalition condemns religious polarisation during Egypt's constitutional referendum [click] and [click]
Egypt's future is uncertain and troubling [click] and [google]



" 1971 constitution, you are VOID! Rest in pieces!'

For Egypt, Vote 'NO'!

Because EGYPT deserves better!

Egypt speaks of herself
Singer: Om Kolthoum
[In classic Arabic hence translation may not be perfect]

وقف الخلق ينظرون جميعا كيف ابنى قواعد المجد وحدى

Humanity stood still watching

How I lay the foundations of glory alone

و بناة الاهرام فى سالف الدهرى كفون الكلام عند التحدى

Throuhout history the builders of The Pyramids

When challenged, will not satisfy with talk alone

انا تاج العلاء فى مفرق الشرق و دراته فرائد عقدى

I am the crown of glory dominating the junction of the east

With it's traditions but beads strung for my necklace

ان مجدى فى الاولاياتى

A first in my decorum

عريق من له مثل اولاياتى و مجدى

Steeped in history

And who else has my firsts and my glory?

********

انا إن قدر الإلاه مماتى لا ترى الشرق يرفع الرأس بعدى

If The Lord desired death be my destiny,

The east will not lift it's head upon my demise

ما رمانى رامى وراح سليماً من قديمٍٍ عناية الله جندى

No archer aiming at me was ever safe

For The Lord forever cares designating me my soldiers to protect me

********

كم بغت دولتُ عليا وجارت ثم زالت و تلك عقب التعدى

How many nations attacked me and intruded

Then retreated upon my challenge

اننى حرةً كسرتُ قيودى رغم ركب العدى وقطعت قدى

I am free, I broke my chains

Despite their strength, I broke the shackles

آترانى و قد طويت حياتى فى ميراثً لم ابلغ اليوم رشدى

Can you otherwise envisage me with a life layered with such inheritance

And not have matured yet?!

*********

ام من العدل انهم يريدون الماء صفواً و ان يقدر وردى

Is it justice they want my water

When my roses shrivel with thirst?

ام من الحق انهم يطلقون ألأثد منهم و ان تقيد أثدى

Or is it right when they let their lions loose

When they want mine tied?

نظر الله لى فأرشد ابنائى فشدو الى العلا أى شدى

The Lord looked at me, then directed my children

Who took me upwards to heights of prosperity reached by no other

انما الحق قوةُ من قوى الديان امضى من كل ابيض منى

For 'right' is of god's power,

A belief, deeper and stronger than any other

*********

قد وعدت العلا بكل ابيًًٍ من رجالى فأنجذو اليوم وعدى

I promised prosperity to all those dignified of my men

Today is your day to fulfill my promise

و أرفعو دولتى على العلم و الأخلاق فالعلم وحده ليس يجدى

Raise my nation on the acquisition of knowledge

And on ethics, for knowledge alone does not suffice

نحن نجتاز موقفا تعثر الآراء فيه و عثرة الرأى ترضى

We are now passing through a phase of conflicting opinions,

but there is always an agreeable side with such variety

فقفو فيه وقفة الحزم و أرمو جانبيه بعزمة المستعدى

So stand determined and consider sides

With the will and the ability of the ready

*********

انا تاج العلاء فى مفرق الشرق و دراته فرائد عقدى

I am the crown of glory dominating the junction of the east

with it's tradition but beads strung for my necklace

ان مجدى فى الاولاياتى

A first in my decorum

عريق من له مثل اولاياتى و مجدى

Steeped in history

And who has my firsts and my glory?

Related:
Egyptians cast their first free vote for decades [click]
Egyptians vote on constitutional change [click]
Tahani al-Gebali: Say "no" to constitutional amendments [click]
Pressure to vote 'yes' in Basateen [click]
Thugs prevent ElBaradei from voting in Moqattam [click]
Election Monitors: citizenship overshadows violations [click]
Early results of Egypt referendum updated as they come in [click] and [photos]
Amendments betray the spirit of Egypt’s revolution: "No" campaigners [click]

[Pssst! Old constitution finally laid to rest! ]

Armed Forces announces Egypt's interim Constitution [click] and [google] and [more]

Egypt is going to the vote ...

“We are now working toward a more politically feasible design, not round, but stretched in length. It's an evolving process for our dreams to go Mars and have a nice habitat there, and not just repeat what cavemen have done.”

... on a referendum, a 'constitutional' referendum ....

Only ... its a dead constitution!

Eh?! I might hear you say ... because you see, that constitution passed away the same day the former president, Hosni Mubarak, was made to give up office, and that was on 11 February last, or just a little over a month ago. You see, that same constitution specified that in order for itself to remain alive, that the president must hand over his powers to his deputy if he leaves office for any reason, dead or alive, but it then goes on to say that if these powers are not passed over to the deputy, it would die; morto! ... that's the constitution that is ... well, power was not passed over to the deputy, and the constitution has therefore died! .... and has been sooo DEAD since 11 February 2011 ...

... but it hasn't been pronounced dead though .... No!

Instead, a consortium, as is the thing to say these days, of legal men in the know, decided to make believe a few veins here and there of said corpse could be sellotaped, then for the corpse to be put on a life support machine until they use it 'temporarily' to elect a new president! ... then bury the corpse and fix the country with a new constitution soon after!

Sounds fantastic, looks fantastic, then it must be fantastic?! No, not to those legal ones in the know ....

... and that's what the Egyptians are going to go to the vote for in two days time! To consider, in their expert opinion, whether a corpse on a life support machine is a suitable medium to elect the next president of 'democratic' Egypt!!

Eh?!

Now that's me saying that this time ...

You see, although one clause of said dead constitution allowed Mubarak to rule for 30 years, this has now been amended to only allow for an initial 4 years to be extended one more time and that is it ... fair and good, actually, Brrrilliant! ... but, that's still 8 whole years of new president elected through a corpse from the valley of the dead! ... and, corpse, since it is very dead, is in no condition to touch his current extensive powers either! So the man can still rein supreme! And I say man because that's what the amendment speaks of; a 'he'! ... and that cuts me out! I can't dream of ever becoming president of Egypt, since I am no 'he'! :-(

“At some point in time, a decision will have to be made. My concern is that decisions affect people.”

But that's not all, for 'he' has to be over 40 years old ... and no upper limit! ... and so, all those aspiring and eligible to be president at the moment who are 70 and well over are allowed into the race, actually, that's all there is on the table at the moment! ... meaning that whoever wins that race amongst them, if no younger ones put themselves forward and steal the show, will be well in his 70s if not way above 80 when they finish their double term! ... I have nothing against older people, but although I respect and admire many of those names currently contesting for the job, I wonder why should Egypt have to put up with another model similar to Mubarak [now 82] when she is full of young talent, and by young I mean in their 40s and 50s?! Then the 'amended' clause excludes those married to non Egyptian nationals or those with dual nationalities or born to dual or foreign nationality parents, either one or both ... and so, I am out for the second time ... and so are all my kids, and Dr Zewail ... Because the 'amendment' now states that we're all undeserving Egyptians! ... but not the young at heart 70 plus year olds! ... retirement age in Egypt is 60 ....

Then again, I had no intention of running for office myself, nor do my children 'at the moment', nor do I favour Dr Zewail in particular, or reject him, because I haven't heard from all the candidates so far and therefore, have no idea what vision each of them has for the near or far future of democratic Egypt for me to choose proper - but Dr Zewail is now out. I am already pained at the extensive talent lost to that presidential office because of that amended clause! I find it not only discriminatory, but hurtful too!

Because, although I can understand that presidents must not themselves hold dual nationalities, why can they not be married to someone who is?! As for 'his' parents, why exclude those whose parents are Egyptian but live abroad, hence hold another nationality? For example, why can't those like Dr Zewail put his second nationality [American] on hold, USA permitting, while he is runs for or if he is in office then claim it back once he loses or finishes duty if he wants? I don't know about international or human rights laws re doing that holding a second nationality bit, or whether this is possible at all, or about that deliberate exclusion of 'shes'. But to exclude his children too from running in the future is unfair s well as a great loss of well grounded experience, expertise and talent to Egypt, some of the very ones capable, qualified and equipped enough to take NEW Egypt to newer heights on the global scale!

BTW, the British Deputy Prime Minister is married to a Spanish woman ... Dr Zewail, as but an example, as well as being an Egyptian/American, also has a Syrian wife ...

But then, one musn't be selfish during those needy times for the future and prosperity for Egypt must always remain paramount ... and since this is a temporary measure until a new constitution is made, better forget about those unfair exclusions and their implications ... and I will for now ....

That said, how do you make sure that the new president will not find loopholes in the revived dead corpse of the 1971 constitution that would allow 'him' to dictate whatever he likes once he is inside that office and have that included in the new constitution he will initiate?! ... and, given the scale of corruption rife in Egypt now as a result of the past rule, and you can't seperate that still ... how do you know if Mr new president won't turn out to be a sympathiser as well as friend of the last regime? ... or of certain groups currently struggling for power either openly or while wearing a veil?! ... lots more in these 'amendements' of the dead constitution to find disagreement with ... hence,

Why the hurry for a new president Egypt?!

There is a new Prime Minister who has just appointed a new government, and the man is working very hard to get stability and some order back in place. He has now also abolished the notorious National Security machine and intends to replace it with another organisation that won't have picking on the peaceful people of Egypt in it's agenda, and he wants to solve the economic stand still soon too as well as address all the individual grievances, etc. I do not know if it is wise to get a new president using that corpse of the constitution only to get a man who may well hinder the efforts of Dr Sharaf instead of directing and aiding him to success!

The corpse can not guarantee the positive side ... and leaves the door wide open to all the negatives ....

ElBaradei suggested a temporary presidential council composed of three civilians and a senior army personnel to lighten the load on the army instead of this rush to elect a new president, and hence, he urges a 'no' vote. Amr Mousa urges the people to vote no too ... and so does the young people of the revolution ....

I believe the ElBaradei solution is plausible and can take the country forward for a year or two using the extensive experience of those who will be on that council, hopefully ElBaradei and Mussa, maybe ex PM Shafik who has now decided to run for president too ... I would even say, why not even make that an 'opposition' to Dr Sharaf's government council instead of a presidential one? ... and have that made up of more prominent members, even 10 or more experts, to watch over the current government for one or two years at the most, and until a proper, well thought and tested democratic constitution is made ... and until young talent is identified and prepared to elect a president among them ... and until the people of Egypt, the majority of whom have just come out of the 'don't know about politics' cave, get the education they need before they come out to see the light then have real choice ... and that would lighten the load on the Army who have been extremely patient as well as hard working too ...

Let the dead corpses of that cave lie in that cave Egypt ... and block it's door shut solid....

On your way to democracy, you can and will do better!


Protect them from being wrongly influenced ... for most of the people of Egypt now need a hair cut first after being sooo long in that cave ... for nearly 6o years ... and before they can really join that democracy band ... and play in tune ... The right tune ...

And for that, Egypt needs time ... but she will get there ... very soon ....

And then, up, up, up will be her only way, her destiny .... :-)



Related:
Overview of Egypt’s Constitutional Referendum [click] and [google] and media [blackout]
Would the proposed constitutional amendments fortify Islamists? [click]
Egypt's opposition forms coalition to run for elections [click]
Amr Moussa against the amendments [click]
Dalai Lama: I do not want to be like Mubarak [click]
Head of constitutional reform committee points the way to democracy in Egypt [click]
Egypt's constitutional referendum: The debate continues [click]

Cairo Activists Now Struggle With Politics [click]
Egyptians widely divided over upcoming constitutional referendum [click]
Vote choice splits Egyptians [click]
Egypt's flawed transition [click] and [google]
Egypt: From revolution to referendum [click]
A woman's place in the new Egypt [click]
Post-referendum: Egypt chooses orderly revolution [click]
Sudan to send Egypt 5,000 cows as a present [click]


“I wish to have more time here, because I think the program is going to be very good with more practice. It's a very different atmosphere. There is a lot of emotion, passion for the game, but let he coaches have more time to explain what they're doing, and why.”

Opera: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia by Rossini - Act 1 Largo Al Factotum

Democrocat ...

It's democracy time in Egypt! ... and everybody is out ... talking ! ... and if you are novodemocracy, well ... I must say I do sympathise with Dr Sharaf and his new government! But, I hope that in the middle of all that yap, yap ... and more yap, that he doesn't forget that Egyptians enjoy a gathering, and they do like being together ... and they are a bit loud! Well, that's their nature ... and you can't change that! Poor professor Sharaf, what a job! ... but I know he can ... so, may god be with him :-)

Even the young ones came out too! ... and as loud as can be ....

First, the kids came out ... "with drums and assorted musical instruments, while others danced and cheered. Linking arms, they formed rings and skipped around each other."

Yes, that's the way kids, my type of protesting ....

“We are calling for preliminary adjustments to be made to the national curriculum ... We’re doing this for future generations, so that they don’t suffer like we did, so that they can have the opportunities we were denied”

And they have right too! Egypt's education was deliberately left to stagnate in order to produce obedient sheep rather than mentally strong and properly qualified young men and women able to compete on a global scale for the betterment of their country and themselves too ... but then those are able to think too ....

And how do you produce sheep?

You cram, cram, cram! No time to think! Just learn by heart and regurgitate at the exam room, done! But those are intelligent kids, and now they have an opportunity to object, then demand ...

"“easier, lighter” curriculum. “Exams are terrifying,” stated Mostafa Fahmy, 18. “We walk into the exam room and it feels like walking into an execution chamber, or a prison. We want to lighten the load, so that the students don’t suffer too much, psychologically.”

And they have right too! Good on you kids caring so much for what you should be taught so that you can take Egypt forward and up, 10 out of 10 for effort, stamina and endeavour! ... onlyyy, I hear that some of them later demanded exams to be totally abolished! Weeell ... kids will be kids after all ... but, if you have an opportunity, why not try? It's now 'democracy' after all, and ... won't that be just nice! Dream oooon ;-)

And then the Cairo uni students came out ... demanding ....

" Dismissal of president and deans"

Woooohoo! Why?!

"the National Democratic Party (NDP) policies which they implement curtail campus freedoms."

Ok, fair enough, but those professors were under an iron fist with own freedoms curtailed as well! And soon as the revolution took place, Professor Dr Hossam Kamel, Chancellor, or president, of Cairo University declared that he was to remove the State Security guards that were placed, against his will, around campus to curtail freedoms, either that of the students or the professors, and those have been removed already! However, the students are still protesting and are still demanding the removal of the president and all the deans ! Why?

... because they want to elect their own ... pick your own teacher sort of thing ... alraaaaaight! :-)

The reason is not very clear ... but they went and met with the new Minister of Education, during which meeting, he explained that electing this type of personnel doesn't happen anywhere in the world! Too true, but such a pity, isn't it? Well, it doesn't happen here in Britain kids ... and we've had democracy for centuries! But, we've never heard of that happening before ... and is not likely to happen in the future Either! Why?

Because, in a strong democracy, education of the future generations is sooo important, it is vital that you have the best administration in place to ensure same ... and you need the most serious, most efficient and most ... well, everything ... of academics to ensure that! That's why ...

You know, Cairo University, as well as many universities in Egypt once had international reputation for excellence, and despite the iron fist rule of the past era, they still hold their grounds well despite all the hindering they experienced on the hands of the previous regime. The reason why those unis can still hold their own is precisely because of the strenuous efforts by those very professors, deans and presidents! ... but now that oppression is gone, hopefully to no return, there is room for improvement, given the strength of those academics and the exceptional abilities of their students.

... and I had hoped that, like the younger ones above, that those students protesters would be demanding that instead of asking to remove those professors who fought tooth and nail for their students and their unis and not penalise them simply because those were appointed by the previous regime or because the students are joined by some other professors who may have a personal grudge against a dean or a president ... or any other agendas, that they'd demand fair educational opportunity and improvement over all instead!

For example, I know a few professors in Cairo uni and elsewhere and I have been present on numerous occasions when they spelt their frustrations on all the hidden, and sometimes not so hidden powers restricting their hopes and ambitions as well as their visions and ability to progress, either for their students or for themselves ... and the awful feelings that they could do nothing about it! I also know for a fact that the Cairo Uni president is not only a very dedicated, efficient and very capable professor but, as I hear, he is a modern man with a great vision too who, given the right chance, will be able to compete with the world's top universities in no time at all ... providing the now free staff operate within a true democratic framework together ... and bearing in mind that there was nothing good honest professors could do in the past ... now they can and they will. Only, I hope you don't lose them!

... and study continues at most unis in novodemocratic Egypt this Saturday ... and so, good luck students ... and I sympathise with you too professors, good luck and may god help you too ... :-)

Only, you know everybody, Egypt now has good friends ... and friends can always help, not only with the young ones, but in collaboration with your professors at your Egyptian universities, you should be calling for help shaping future education policy, proper reform! And reform is what we do here in Britain ... always!

I know, for example, that Egypt's private schools follow western systems of education, American, German, etc, but mostly the international version of our General Certificate of Education [IGCSE] and that's very well sought after. Well, won't it be nice if that was adapted and taught everywhere in government schools in Egypt too? ... as for unis, you need a new policy too. Precisely because, as your younger colleagues said ; " Education is the basis of progress ... for future Egyptian generations to compete in the global economy" :-)

Well, reform the education system in Egypt with a proper new policy with the help of BRITAIN and those serious teachers at our top universities here cooperating with your equally serious professors in your brand spanking new EGYPT! Teamwork!

... sooo, just ask the Brits to drop in ... actually, come to think of it, they might drop in anyway, for they are friendly like that! ....

... and they can help with lots, for Egypt now is a blank canvass ... and her only way is UP! ;-)


Then, as the world gets smaller and smaller, you never know, you might even end up having one serious prof in Egypt, and another in London ... won't that be fun?! ... youuu lucky ones! ...


Related:
Revolution restores student power to Egypt campuses [click]
Cairo University relieves faculty head of his duties [click]


Did I tell you? ... when I was seven or so, an uncle who was chairman of somewhere took me to work with him for a few hours. When I returned home, my mother told me to go do my homework, to which I replied; "Why do you want me to do all this work?! You say he's good, but all uncle does all day is write his name!" @@

Peace for Egypt ...

Egypt,

Forget about all the money, corruption talk ...

It is the devil's money, let it go! ...

You won't miss what you never had anyway ...

Let all Egyptians join hands ...

To say no to sedition!

And pray together for PEACE

And for you to rise ...

From sadness to joy ... and for


Love and peace for you ...

O, Mother Egypt

Related:
'Friday of National Unity' march planned after sectarian clashes [Click]
‘Dubious agencies’ attempt to crush revolution, says Moussa [click]
Govt pledges to thwart counter-revolution schemes [click]
Demonstrations across Egypt call for national unity [click] and [click]
Egypt’s tree of love [click]

Do you have a Facelessbook?

“Oppose not rage while rage is in its force, but give it way a while and let it waste

... only that rage won't waste! So long as 'agendas' remain outstanding and those who hold grudges have avenues on which they make their voices heard ... yes, 'social media', in our digital age ... the Internet!

“Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before - it takes something from him.”

... but the thing is, it is not about one man, it's about whole peoples of whole nations, each with a grudge thus each with his own anger ... all want to make a difference! Well, people can collectively voice this anger, like in a revolution ... and you can succeed in affecting some change, but then what?! Elated, you celebrate 'success' ... but you still have that personal grudge so, you are not done yet ... and so, you go back to your own agenda and your own anger and you go back to that digital 'socialising' to voice some more! ... but as you collect and collect together, you are fuelled by this ever increasing collection of anger ... but voicing that anger will leave, not just one man, but a whole people 'less than they had been before' ... anger is a killing thing after all ... and so, you end up living with more anger ... and now, with fear too ... but you keep on voicing, and voicing ... you can't stop ... because there is always someone to hear you, and always someone willing to join in ...

“Ignorance is never out of style. It was in fashion yesterday, it is the rage today and it will set the pace tomorrow.”

... and that now brings you all back to 'socialising' some more ... only the more you do so, the angrier and more fearful you become ... because you hear those voices of all those angry others ... and as you yourself go, loads more go too ... and more ... and more ... forever! Then agendas grow too ... forever ... and you never know who is watching too ... or who wants you to become angrier ... but you can't see them, because they too are faceless!



Cos though you have a voice and you have a face, all those others you meet don't! ... no, not on facebook, or the like. That's even if they, like you, upload pictures and use names ... because there are so many. And in the midst of all the adrenaline rush ... and the confusion, even that becomes irrelevant, they are still face less! Faces and faces and faces melting in one pot, they all become faceless! ... and so, to yourself, you become faceless too ... but not to those watching ....

Look at the picture right above, this is not a happy face, is it? Weird, that sad faceless face! ... it's a facelessbook to you! Do you have one? ... do you want one? ....



... a sad facelessbook ... so that you can join the sad, afraid and faceless people ....



... maybe even a sad, afraid and faceless globe ... so blue ....

and while everybody then fights everybody and things spiral out of control, you can even get caught yourself when you think you are trying to help ... because all those people you are trying to help are now so angry, and they are so afraid, they are not listening! ... and so you become angry too ... and if you have a bit of power and a bit of clout, you won't standby and let let happen, will you? ... and if you can't fix it straight away, you may even stop listening yourself! .... now you have more agendas and more angry people ... and more fear ....

... and it can get bigger ... and bigger ... and bigger ....

Wasn't it easier to look down that barrel of a gun? ... at least it had a face!

Digital 'socialising'! Are you sure you can make it better? ....

Where is all this digital 'socialising' taking the world to? ....


Pssst! Wrote this post in a moment of weakness and fear because of the effects of the 'counter revolution' in Egypt, and after watching a particularly savage piece on an Arab channel reporting, without any omissions, on what's happening in Libya and all the death and suffering.

I still wonder where all this 'socialising' is taking the world to, and hope for

Peace



Related:

What were the SAS doing in Libya? [video] and [google]
Hague personally authorised botched SAS Libya mission [click]
William Hague on back foot over 'James Bond' Libya mission [click]