My Scroll ... September 2012

“History, whether bad or good, should not be forgotten.”

September 2

DC: Time to stop [dithering]* Paralympics [live]n [pictures]*Recession drives [inventions]*Q&A Squating [law]*Poetic [science]. The sky [above]*The [Klink]*Dancing [bear]


September 4

Government shake [up] @tame!@*[Ellie] is [all] [Gold:]. Natasha's Gold on [Gold!]*The future is [Science].Heart [works]*Organic [scam]*Garden [raccoon]*50 years of James [Bond]


September 5

New Government [interactive]*The Wang [particle]. Science isn't [mystical?]*Tiger [Tiger]. Dressed [chicks]*[UK]:[Convictions] for Egyptian[assets].Artists protest [Egypt]'s [constitution]


September 6

UK more [competitive].Waaay [better:]*Michelle [Obama]*Paralympics [Technology][video].Stem cell hope for [spines].Map of[genome] [function]*80 [talent].Art on [ice]


September 7

PM the [poet]*[No 10] [Boosting] the [economy]*Faster [acceleration]*Nick Clegg is right to [soften]*Battersea Power [Station]*Chinese[nap]


September 8

Paralympics top [moments]*Olympians own [honours] [list]*The stars [above]*Airport [enquiry]*Elections [Obama]*Mammogram [risk]*Cool [smoking?]


Setember 9

2012 exceeded all [hopes].Nature's [Plympians].[Future] of Olympic[park]*Hollande; a beatle at [heart]*Hindsight is no [trick!]*Origami [Art]*White [horses]


September 10

[This][end][ceremony][was][ just] [the] [begining]*Egypt is [open] for [business].Gangster [state]... and @WHAT?!@


September 11

Expanding [Heathrow]*A larger [colider]*Never give [up]*Men's struggle to get [pregnant]*New [words]*Hop [off!]*Insect [Olympians]*Congratulations [Egypt], well [done!:]


September 12

Olympiads Victory [Parade]. CQC [whistleblower]*In a [wheelchair]*Black hole [eater]*Male [nanny]*Hague with Mursi in [Cairo]

September 13

Quantum [uncertainty] * Where is your [heart?] . Stem [cell] [hearing] * Ma's [bike] * First colour [film]*Animal [magic]


September 14

Kate and William in [Malaysia] *Peace * A fraudster behind the Prophet's video [click] .. [Nobody] should die or be [hurt] because of a fraudster * Peace


September 15

The film maker: Nakoula Basseley Nakoula [The Mail] * and how the 'film' came to attention: Mr Khaled Abdullah [The Telegraph]


September 16

[Chief] Moucer @Reshuffled!@.Cat [nap]: *Economy: Green [shoots]. Income levels to [rise]*Bond in a single [molecule]*Hope for cancer [naturally]*Religious fundamentalists against [freedom]


September 18

Inflation [down]*Stress n heart[attack].Grow up in the countryside risk [Alzheimer's].Rat [meat]*Thr rush in the [skies].Dark energy [camera]*Curious [gorillas]*Ooh [la la]


September 20

[Sctottish][referendum]*Did Jesus have a [wife?]*Retreat on [demensia?]*Why police not [armed]*Online [university]. New exams, higer [standards?]*The [particle][dance]


September 21

US condemns Anti-Islam [film].Guidelines on social media [prosecution]*So you want to be a [GP?]*Free bus pass benefits[health]*Warped [space].Sunlight [graffiti].Prisoner [Art]*Thieving [cat]


September 22

A day to remember [No 10]*World [Demensia] [Day]*War of [principles]*Brunei's Royal[wedding] *Buy your [own].Cook your[own]*Swimming [horse]*Animal [kingdom]*Finland National [Park]


September 24

Big [government]*Training in the [Gulf]*Dark [matter].Why is science [important]*Egypt's  [ultra] [rich]*Sagrada Familia[lights]


September 25

DC in NYC, will [Letterman] [cope?:] *Beautiful [unnatural:].Christie's underground [auction]*IMF global growth [warning]*Nine meals for [health]*Human [hamster].Changing sea [level]


September 26

10 things to know about [Letterman]*Mystery of fab [4]*Cartoon v [cartoon]*Stand up for [women].Wiki Women of [science].Science museums had their [day?].Man on [Mars?]*Egypt reopens renovated [tombs]


September 27

PM at UN [General]Assembly[No10].DC: Arab spring not [over].Assets [unfrozen]*The changing [NHS]*Int Peace [day]*Mona [arrested]*Universe [view]*Cross-eye the sailor [cat]


September 28

DC in Brazil [No 10] *Space [shuttle],Phantom [mountain]*[NHS] [on] [high] [alert]*The Britishisms are [coming]* *Oscar the [dog]


September 29

DC:Economy [growing] [stronger]and on [EU] and [visits] Rio shanty [town]*Magna Carta [overrated?]*Hollande's top [tax] *Sleeping tablets cause for [demensia]*You [view]


September 30

DC [liked], even in a [favela!]*To borrow or not to [borrow]*Elderly no NHS [discrimination]*GP [change].Melting[medicine]*Holiday [rights]*[Flat][sale]*Mirror [mirror]

We have differentiation from other communities. Our history is the critical differentiation. We should be out shouting it from the roof tops - we are an historic community. We are a real town

67th UN General Assembly 2012

President Barack Obama of the USA 25 September 2012


President Mohamed Mursi of Egypt 26 September 2012

[Arranged in order of appearance]

Prime Minister David Cameron of Great Britain 26 September 2012[no longer on youtube]

The three c0-chairs statements [click]

  

More from the UN:

Whose [picture] [is][it][anyway?]

Water Sellers Lane ...

  

 Ya leel ya eeny ya leely yaaa einy

Oh long night, oh my eye [awake all night]

على مين على مين على مين

Ala meen, ala meen, ala meen

Whom are you kidding, whom, whom?

على مين يا سيد العارفين

Ala meen ya seid el'arfeen

Ya master of the knowlegeable, whom?

 على مين 

Ala meen 

Whom?

بتبيع الحب لمين

Betbee' elhob lemeen

Whom are you trying to sell your love to?

 أه لمين

Ah, lemeen

Ah? who?

ان كنت جاى تغنى

Eza kont gai teghani

If you're coming to sing

 روح اسأل أبله انا مين

 Rouh es'al abla ana meen

 First go ask who I am

ما تروحش تبيع المية

 Ma terohsh tebee' el maya

Don't go selling water

 ف حارة السقايين

 F haret esa'ayeen, aah!

In Water Sellers Lane, yeh!

 ياما لك ف الحب ضحايا

 Yama lak fel hob dahaya

So, your love has many victims

 بيحكوا عنك روايات

beyhko anak rowayat

Of you, they tell many tales

 بيقولوا انك بتألف

Bey olo enak bet'alef

 They say you make up

ف الليلة سبع غنوات

Fel leila saba' ghenwat

Seven songs every night

  والغنوة الواحدة ف ليلة

 Wl ghnwa elwahda f leila

And for every song, every night

تلحنها سبع مرات

 Telahanha saba' marat

You make up seven tunes

وتروح تانى يوم وتقولها

W terouh tani youm w te'olha

And the following day you go singing [to the victims]

 بحنان ودموع وأهات

Behanan w demou' w ahat

With passion, tears and sighs

ان كنت فاكرنى منهم

En kont fakerni menhom

If you think I am one of those [victims]

 

 روح اسأل أبله انا مين

 Rouh es'al abla ana meen

 Go first ask who I am

ما تروحش تبيع المية

 Ma terohsh tebee' el maya

Don't go selling water

 ف حارة السقايين

 F haret esa'ayeen, aah!

In Water Sellers Lane! Yeh!

 سيبك م البحر اللى انت

 Seebak m elbahr elly enta

Leave that sea you

غرقته نار ودموع

Garakto nar w demou'

drowned,  in fire, and tears

 والامل اللى انا طمعته

Wel aml elly ana tam'ato

And forget that hope I made greedy

 وخليته يموت م الجوع

W khaleeto yemout m egou'

Then let it starve to death

والليل اللى مالوش آخر

 Wel leil elly maloush akher

And your night that has no end

 والقلب ابو شوق موجوع

 Wel alb elly abo shou'a mawgou'

And the heart with all the pained longing

 سيبنا م الهم ده كله

Seebna melham da kolo

Leave all this heartache

 نتكلم ف الموضوع

Netkalem fel mawdou'

And let's talk straight

 العشرة عايزة ضمان

El'eshra ayza damana

Living in harmony needs guarantees

 وبوليصة للتأمين

 W bolisa lelt'ameen

An insurance policy

 اكتبها لقلبى بنظرة

Ektebha l'albi benazra

With one look, write it for my heart

 تتقال من غير تلحين

Tet'al men gheer talheen

And say it, without the tunes

 من غير ما تشيلها وتمشى

 Mesh qerba tesheelha w temshi

Not you carrying a water bag and walking around

 ف حارة السقايين !!

F haret el saqayeen

In water sellers lane!

 ما فيناش حاورينى يا كيكة

 Mafinash hawreeni ya kika

No playing around, we're not in a football match

 ما فيناش لف ودوران

Mafinash laff w dawaran

No turning or twisting

 ما بقاش فى وقت يا روحى

Ma ba'ash fi wa'at ya rouhy

No time left, my love.

 للشكوى والهجران

 Leshakwa wel hegran

For complaining and desertion

لك ماضى كله سوابق

 Lak madi kolo sawab'a

You have a past full of offences

 ف الحب مالوهش امان

Fel hob ma lohsh aman

That can't be trusted with love

 وانا عايزة حب حنين

Wana ayza hob honayn

And I want love with kindness

مش حب يودى لومان

 Mesh hob yewadi loman

Not love that would end me in prison

انا عمرى ما احب الخاين

 Ana omri ma aheb el khayn

So [Beware], I don't take to betrayal

 ولا احب الكدابين

Wala ahb el kadabeen

Nor like those who lie

ما تروحش تبيع المية ف حارة السقايين

Ma terohsh tebee' el maya f haret elsa'ayeen, aah!
So don't go selling water

In water sellers lane, yaa!

I've just found out that Christie Dubai has less than two weeks ago conducted an Eastern Art auction. Right at the top of that was a collection by the renowned but not so much valued yet in the west Mahmoud Saeed, An Egyptian lawyer with a hobby who turned professional when he was 50. Mahmoud had a very distinctive style and only painted Egypt, her nature as well as her culture and her people. Very distinctive, he had that unique three dimentional effect as well as the use of symmetry in his paintings, his art, be it portraits, nature or still life, always gives that sculpture effect, you almost feel the picture is so real, it grabs you inside the painting and gets you to join in, to become part of the piece yourself, then you could even hold a conversation with whatever else is inside ... and sit and talk for hours ... you can't just glance and pass by with Mahmoud Saeed.

Prior to the auction, the items in his collection had modest estimates , all well below the half a million dollar mark. Very small for the unique artist he was, but then his most famous painting, Les Shadoufs [below] managed to sell for nearly two and a half million dollars, the highest price paid in the collection, the rest mostly sold for well above the million dollar too. Still very small in comparison to the sometimes rubbish we hear sells for tens of millions, sometimes hundreds, in western auction rooms IMO. So, watch out for Mahmoud, he has huge investment potential IMHO again, I hope you're watching 'The Tate'!

Les Shadoufs, or 'the water pumps', is his most famous painting around the Art circles. This  particular painting has a very special feel of a style that almalgamates modern contemporary art with ancient Egyptian art; the straight lines and somewhat symmytry of the scene coupled with the curves he used do depict the female peasants, and the earthy though unnatural brown colours and the striking distribution of light in all his work. Notice that the donkey in Les Shadoufs, for example, has a size that does not correspond with the human size next to it, and if those men in the painting stretched their arms to their side, they'd probably end below their knees. But that doesn't matter; for it adds to the primitiveness of the scene. The shadouf was an ancient Egyptian invention that is still being used, although now less and less, to pump water in some parts of Egypt to this day. Long before running water, sellers made bags out of sheep and cow skins and used to fill those up then deliver the water to homes, either carrying those bags on their backs or using carts powered by donkeys. In large-ish numbers then, they always lived close by their place of work and where the source of the water was. That used to be called 'Water sellers lane'.

I like Les Shadoufs, but I think Mahmoud's genius was in his painting of women in general and of 'banat bahary' or 'Coastal girls' in particular. Or some of those women who lived from around the turn of the twentieth century and until the early 70s when Egypt was less conservative. They mainly lived around the coast at the top of the Delta by the Mediterranean sea, although some could be found around Cairo and the Delta too. I think you can tell from the top two pictures, and the song I added to draw my own picture, that those girls were the epitome of femininity yet at the same time, they were some of the wildest as well as most feisty of women. So basically, if you see one, and they do still exist, beware of 'Banat Bahary', they are what you call here 'killer queens'. Although I do not think they have their match anywhere, those are exclusive to Egypt.

Beautiful but mostly illiterate, they live in the poorer and heavily populated areas where neighbours have lived side by side from birth. The girls can't, most of the time, even write their own name and use their thumb print instead. That said, they are some of the most independent women you can meet. Just stroll into any coastal market around Alexandria, for example, and they'll be there dressed in a long tight chemise that resembles a men's Jalabya but with a slit on the side to just above the knee, and a scarf decorated at the top with all sorts of beads, colourful silk balls and the like, and all that real gold! These girls do not believe in banks, and so, all their worldly possessions are either put in bricks and mortar or is carried in nearly pure gold around their wrists, ankles, and necks. Career wise, they usually end up becoming a 'me'alema' or  'gov' as you would say of a man here and they do employ men to work for them, And the men know, very well, who they are dealing with, and so the business, be it selling fish, vegetables, meats, even scrap metal, used car parts ... use your imagination, runs like a clock ... for although these women never received an eduction, they can calculate the largest of sums, for they have a computer for brains ...

... and once work is done, the 'ladies' go home for a bit of late lunch and a nap, get dressed in all their glory, gang and go out ... fishing

No more chemise with a few open buttons on top and the slit on the side, look at the painting on top, Mahmoud's most famous in Egypt, and the young actress in pink and a black shawl in the middle, for that's exactly how they are when they go out. Long and tight around the curves lower cut silk dresses with all the usual gold and colour decorum, plus loads more, and a 'Burka', decorated with yet more 21 carat gold coins for those able enough or fake ones for those who can't. Those are crocheted and so, are full of holes, the 'Burka' hardly covers but 'invites' instead - then that 'Melaya laff' or silk black sheet which she wraps around ... and re-wraps around as it keeps falling and revealing ... and off she goes walking around the neighbourhood with her friends - and heheheheheeeee will be the sound you hear from those 'ladies' as they half dance for a walk, often to their own imaginary rhythm similar to that of this song, and loudly tick tok their chewing gum as they stroll along chatting and laughing ... no care in the world!

We hear, though they make it their purpose to attract attention, and keep it, they hardly ever get sexually abused or stalked, for who would dare! ... 'Lady' here doesn't shy away from head butting an offender if she can and some do, or holding her high heeled pink slippers decorated with bits of mirror glass to a man's head, and she won't advise him on where is the nearest hospital either. If he dares to complain, well ... or, if she can't deal with him alone, which is a rared, why not go crying to her male brothers, cousins, the neighbours, their friends - who then proceed to beat up, to a good and bloody hiding, any man who goes over the limit of just passing a sweet compliment on the scent, or the 'walk', the loud laughter, or the dress, the ... And who said you can't wear what you like, be as loud as you like, or as flirty as you like, and walk the neighbourhood in peace?! Providing you're armed and have your army for protection of course! ... and there is no spinsters here for since they never give anything for free apart from the exibit they put on show themselves, or when that black 'Melaya laff' keeps falling and gets pulled up around the head and shoulders again and tightly held around the waist and hips, these women always marry the men they beat up the most, but not before they get the biggest possible dowry and yet more gold for it too - but then once married they are so loyal, very defensive of their men and their families, they spoil them no end ... and they don't like any males in their kitchens - they don't believe in 'equality' you see - but once married, those real girls, as they're usually called, then do revert back to the kittens they really are, those of the big cat type!

Puuuure Vulgar! ... and didn't Mahmoud brilliantly caputure the whole 'Banat Bahary' personna in his paintings! I'll leave that for you to decide ... but ...

Beware of the 'girls', and their Eastern European immitations who now perform all over Egypt to depict the history of what once was, now that the off spring of those girls, though still as independant as ever, and as fiesty and as playful, they have turned more conservative in dress - the originals you only see now on film, theatre, or in a painting  ... so do watch out for Mahmoud Saeed, and ....

Enjoy your Sunday :-)

 Couples who share the housework are more likely to divorce [click]

Art:The blood sport for the ultra-wealthy [click]
From Cairo's [past]

Sam's
Tree at The Tate [click]

At this party ...

I don't want to be the only one here 
.

Telling all the secrets - 
.

Filling up all the bowls at this party,
.

Taking all the laughs. 
.

I would like you 
.
To start putting things on the table
.

That can also feed the soul 
.

The way I do. 
. 

That way 
 .
We can invite
.

A hell of a lot more
.

Friends

Hafez

 

Obama ...

"President Barack Obama has been "incredibly calm, incredibly steady, and incredibly measured" in his handling of the anti-US protests in the Muslim world, a top [US] official said Sunday."

... and this is exactly how I felt too during these riots because of that foolish 'film'. As the chaos spread like wild fire aiming for US Embassies around the Middle East and beyond, I was wondering how it was allowed to spread the way it did. Which is uncharacteristic for Egypt in particular since such reaction has never happened before when similar incidents, like the Danish cartoons for example, which caused violence elsewhere but never in Egypt. I suppose the reason was that given the number of protests that take place now that new found freedoms are being over exercised, the now famous square is hardly ever empty. Coupled with the inflamed reaction caused by that film among the lower social groups both then led to the spark that first surrounded the American Embassy. The 'film' was first shown on a private satellite TV station who decided to air without thinking of the consequences of this action.

I could see on television that the majority of those who did that loud protesting including the dismantling and tearing of the American flag were of the same caliber as those who attacked and attempted entry to the Ministry of Exterior during the months following the revolution when I was in Cairo. A mob composed of mainly young teens and others from lower social groups who are also more fundamental in their views of religion despite their lack of real understanding of what that means - or they would have not done what they did. The same thought is now being debated in the Egyptian media with everybody also asking why was the situation not put under control much earlier. Of course, I wonder why was the situation allowed to start at all?! That the film was insulting and thus inflammatory, objection to it's content could have been handled with a much more peaceful means using the media, diplomacy - and even an orderly and organised peaceful protest that ensures thuggery will not be left to interfere instead of allowing the situation to get out of control the way it did, and ending with many innocent police personnel as well as protesters now infilterated by thugs falling injured due to all the stone throwing and the tear gas used in an attempt to control the angry crowd. That said, I am relieved there was no such harm as happened in Libya or elsewhere. The black flags used during what actually took place are just a crude attempt by simpler people to show anger and nothing more IMO.

With regards to the USA, I was hoping relations will not suffer as a result. Specially because President Obama already has his own presidential elections only a few weeks away in November to worry about and the possibility that film reaction incident can adversely affect his campaign, but will it?! Then president Obama, although rightly wanted those who used the mayhem as cover and were responsible for the deaths in Libya punished, his administration did all it can to try to calm the inflamed situation which by then had spread to many other countries. The statement of US Foreign Secretary Mrs Clinton denouncing the film as disgusting was a good move hoping to cool down tempers, for example ...

I would like new Egypt to seek the friendship of everybody if she is to return to her rightful place as beacon of leadership and peace spanning the whole region. Proof that she is able to assume that role again is through how the whole situation has now faded away as soon as Egypt put matters under control. That said, there was no surprise here when President Obama made a comment saying that Egypt was "not an Ally nor an enemy". For although this in reality is the definition of the relationship between the two countries since there is no formal alliance as in NATO or the like, I thought that what was a strong relationship is now 'one notch down' instead of a one up on the 'friendship' scale as I had always hoped and still hope.

Egypt now is like a freshly divorced woman who is trying to find her own identity and her own way forward. That in a similar situation will always not be as steady or as desirable and will always take time. Hence, I sincerely hoped this remark does not mean a notch down in cooperation too - but it seems this is happening already as I've just heard on Egyptian TV that the Embassy who has resumed work yesterday has issued a notice saying that the American Consular Section will be closed to the public except for Americans needing their services while in Egypt but not to issue visas to Egyptians. There was no indication when will this stopped service be resumed. I was saddened by that because Egypt now needs more friends not less and because the majority of Egyptians did not participate in the US Embassy incident, and specially none of those who usually need and use the consular services. Those, as well as most middle classes and above Egyptians think the USA is a major partner and valued friend and are hoping Egypt and the USA would build more on that and not drift apart because of an ugly piece of rubbish made by a criminal with bias and the subsequent reaction by the few who happen to also get all the media attention. There was only a few hundreds around the embassy. There are nearly 90 million people in Egypt, they do not all feel the same as those who caused all the chaos.

Matters have calmed down now and have mostly faded away in Egypt and as a result, other countries are mostly following suit too. Why rather than my previous assumption that the 'film' incident may harm Mr Obama's re-election campaign, I now think the opposite is true and that the Obama campaign is actually now the stronger because of what happened. And I also see an incredible opportunity for better and more trusting relationship between all concerned as well. President Obama has been a reasonable president for the duration of his current tenancy at the White House. Of course, being President of The United states is the toughest job in the world and so, there will always be those who do not agree with one policy or another. But on the whole, I feel this president has been one of the most successful with regards to the Middle East, and that's because he's been the most compassionate all round. I think this is Obama's presidency's most prominent feature. Hence for me, the above statement made by that top US official sums the whole presidency's well and why I sincerely wish Mr President Obama success at this coming USA elections in November. Of course, though this is something for the American people to decide, that decision does and will affect the whole world. I do not know much about his opponents in that election but when I hear or read, as in the link right above, what those had to say about that 'film' episode, I dread what might have happened if someone else was in Obama's shoes and was having to deal with the whole episode instead!

Nothing against Mr Romney since I do not know much about him, but with the Arab Spring and all the new democracies popping up everywhere, world stability needs an experienced president. One who can do precisely what Obama did during this film chaos, keep his calm and have the compassion to understand that teething democracies need time to learn and time to mature and deal with them accordingly and with steady hands ... exactly what current Mr President did. This now unique experience in a politically and economically turbulent world is a huge advantage to President Obama and one he has over his any competition, and one that has now been further highlighted by how steady he dealt with the 'film' situation. The reason why I feel that full diplomatic, including consular services, should resume work in Egypt as normal to emphasise this very same point ... I hope his campaign will take note of that unique to Obama advantage, his foreign affairs experience in particular. In any endeavour, you don't train staff to that level and during turbulent conditions then let them go and install novices instead ...

and I also hope Egypt will realise the importance of that same point, President Obama's compassion, calm and steadiness in comparison to others past or potential, and that very experience too. I hope she will then positively cooperate with him for the benefit of her own stability and that of the whole region. To do this, they will need to change the ways the old regime adopted when while themselves playing lip service to the US they were also encouraging anti-sentiment amongst the ordinary people. Which then mainly affected the lower classes who were then the loudest as seen during this embassy incident. Of course this was done as one of the 'divide and control' methods used by the regime and hence this never represented the whole picture which is much milder than what you hear sometimes re the US in Egyptian media. Therefore, until trust is rebuilt on firmer basis of real cooperation and friendship instead, that Egypt will be either placid in it's portrayal of America and her current president in the Egyptian media during this election period and beyond. This will then positively affect his election campaign too.

I would like to also commend Britain and Germany for showing the same steady approach despite their embassies being attacked in some countries too, as well as the way with which the European Union and Italy handled the situation and for their hospitality during President Mursi's visit which took place while the film saga unfolded. I watched that on Egyptian TV too.

The Egyptians are to be commended for their swift-ish control of the troubled surroundings of the US Embassy in Cairo as well, given the current situation with the continuous protesting and the not yet so organised security apparatus. Same goes to all those countries who have so far followed Egypt in condemning and putting a stop of all the violence. This whole sorry episode is now well behind us all I hope - and in it's place, I hope again, an opportunity to build real trust based on understanding now that Middle Eastern countries understand more how the US functions, and the US appreciates how currently vulnerable those who are newly born to democracy ... and help them pass the pains of the teething phase.

Of course, as a Brit, we have a 'special relationship' whereby my Big Boss cooks burger for Mr President when he visits London, and Mr President tucks my Big Boss into bed over the skies in America and feeds him Hot Dogs [not while he's asleep! @@] when he visits ... so, I'm still hoping for more friendship with the USA for Egypt too, maybe not as far as that 'extra special 'we cook, you tuck' one yet, but I remain optimistic ...

Good luck Mr Obama, President of the United States of America, I sincerely hope you will secure a second term soon because I feel the world is changing, in that it is moving towards an era of 'friendship', and you can do everything one needs doing with that. Why I sincerely trust this will be secured more while working towards peace and prosperity for all with you staying in that oval office.

All the best brothers and sisters in America. You have a good man here, I hope, like me, you too see that and decide to keep him.

Good luck Barack Obama ... and BTW Mr President, your name was Barack Obama when you won those elections the first time round too ...

... and where there is a will ... eh?

Let's hope ....

:-)


President Obama CV [click]
Obama has consolidated his lead [click] 
Netanyahu in anti-Obama ad [click]
Conservatives expect Obama win [click]
Mitt Romney, the New Mike Dukakis' [click]
And on Middle [East] [click][video][video]
Randy's 'I am dreaming of a white president' [click][song]
Mitt's Libya comment [click]
This video may kill Mitt Romney's chances [click]
Egypt’s interior ministry confronted by deep-rooted wrath [click]

Sam's: Perspective please [click]

Perspective please

As soon as I hear of it, I had a feeling there was going to be a reaction to this demeaning to Islam and the Prophet film in Egypt, specially given how fragile Egypt is now following the turbulence caused by the revolution.

However, despite knowing this film was not made by 'America' nor carried the views of the Americans, but was the act of one or a few biased individuals, I was afraid anticipating what might happen following it's spread. That said, not in my wildest dreams did I expect this whole thing to spread this wide or end up in the death of an Ambassador and three of his staff in Libya or the storming of other embassies elsewhere too, let alone all the injury to those involved in protesting, disturbance and the like too.

Was I affected myself by that film, which I only saw the day or so after this whole thing broke out? Yes, it's not a nice film so of course I was hurt. But then I am aware, for years now and even way before the Egyptian revolution of January 2011, there is a group of Coptic Egyptian expats living in the US who are, unlike the peaceful majority, are radical and are hostile to Egypt they take every opportunity to defame Islam in general and Moslims 'in Egypt' in particular - and do that in whatever sort of media they can find. Hence, they have posted many videos of hostile nature on youtube, for example, and for years. The Egyptian authorities and the most educated public of all faiths in Egypt have been aware of this for years too and nobody approves of their doings and as I understand, a few of those individuals had been so hostile before they had their Egyptian nationality withdrawn as a result too. So when this film became known to me, I didn't even bother looking for or watching it since they've done so much of similar though not as graphic over the years, their actions have now hardly any influence. But since the eruption of all the protests in different Muslim countries, I looked for and had a look at that particular 13 minute trailer of the so called 'film'.

As always, it's a crude and very badly made low effort 'film'. Of course it is offensive, as expected, but it doesn't stir much emotions but disgust in me since I knew it was made by biased bigots who, regardless of what they do, can not tarnish Islam in any way. Nonetheless, I felt it would stir the emotions of Egyptians who are not used to seeing such 'productions' because Egyptians have a law in the land prohibiting the defaming of any and all religions. Hence, they are not used to such deeds at all, specially those of more modest backgrounds, and why they would react to this type of film, even though it's not really worthy of any attention.

I have since also found out that the person involved in making the film is not only bigoted but is a criminal and a fraudster too. Hence, is it right it to give such character the attention, does it really matter what he says or does?! Not really, but I have no idea who dubbed this piece of rubbish of a 'film' into Arabic to draw the attention, or whether it was that same person who made the film, but it must have been intentional since whoever it was, they knew that by doing so, they would get a reaction - although I don't think they themselves expected this reaction to be on that scale.

Is it then right to give some bigots the satisfaction?! NOT!

I hope all the protesters would recognise that and cease the protests currently taking place in Egypt and in other countries. But specially for Egypt, my much loved mother country, and given how fragile she is at the moment, does she need the adverse publicity and it's impact on tourism or the stock exchange, for example, due to this reaction to an idiotic film made by a bigot and a criminal?!

Is there need for more protests and more injury and suffering due to this unworthy person/s? No! I sincerely hope Egyptians will not fall further into that bigot's trap and will rise above the nonsense made by such a fraudster. Either made alone, or with a few other negligent persons of no weight whatsoever, this 'film' is just that; rubbish.

Please do not give them this weight they crave.

Our faith and our prophet is much more valued to every Muslim than that!

And although Egypt had no hand in the killing of Mr Ambassador Chris Stevens and those others who lost their life in Libya, this innocent death has affected us all. Hence, my deep condolences goes to their families and loved ones, especially the mother of Mr Stevens, whom I hope she finds the patience in her heart to cope with her son's needless loss. This should never have happened.

... and Mr 'Bacile', who has now been identified as Coptic of Egyptian origin, and whether he is, whoever and wherever you are and those with you, I wonder, how can you sleep the night with all the harm and heartache you caused?!

Suffice to say, the Coptic Church has vehemently denounced the working of this man and those with him. An honourable stand by my Coptic brothers and sisters in Egypt as habitual ... and I've just heard on Egyptian TV that they have arranged to stand with their Muslim brothers and sisters in Tahrir Square peacefully protesting this Mr 'Bacile' film and are doing so now ...

Egypt is a moderate country with a huge history for tolerance, so mixed and intertwined are the Egyptian people, scientists can't even agree what race defined them in ancient times, and there isn't one to this present day, for in Egypt, there is just 'people'!

Welcoming to all and protecting mother of all, and I hope Egypt always stays that way.

Please, do not allow biased 'individuals' to badly influence you when their effort is so trifle, they should not have any impact. Hence, stop the protests and concentrate on making friends with everybody instead, work for prosperity, for Egypt's sake.

... and for the sake of global harmony and peace, I hope other protests would stop too. This idiotic so called 'film' is not worth it.

Peace


Anti-Islam protests escalate; Obama video at the bottom [BBC]
[The Guardian], [The Telegraph] .. and in London [The Mail]

Was this trash of a 'film' made in an obsecure back garden by an amateur who is a criminal worth all this huge adverse publicity that will affect all countries involved at a time of global economic uncertainty - and all the killings, the injury and the destruction to public property, and the resulting chaos by those who are now hiding behind it finding excuses to cause yet more carnage?!

This is not defending Islam, this is causing it great harm, please stop!

One man dead, protesters dispersed from around US Embassy and Tahrir Square [click]US Embassy in Cairo back to business as usual [click]
Egyptian stocks surge 3% as US Embassy clashes fade [click]

The 'film' maker: Nakoula Basseley Nakoula [The Mail]

And the person who decided to bring it to attention: Mr Abdullah [The Telegraph]
Fundamentalists against [freedom]

War of principles [click]