As I admitted previously, when I first read Azazel, I was not really sure how to feel. Growing up I was constantly injected with ideas totally the opposite of what Azael suggested.
- The Coptic population was under oppression all the time. Anything to the opposite was not even remotely discussed.
- Arius and Nestorius were two heretics that nearly destroyed the entire Christian faith if it wasn't for the bold resistance that the church made and so forth....
In our history school books, the period of Christian Coptic Egypt is totally ignored. Furthermore, the history told by the Church itself, under the best circumstances, is biased and ambiguous.
However, this is not what it is all about or what matters most.
Azael is not just about history and finding the truth.
The book (and then the discussion) is a rare invitation to think and question. Unfortunately a feat perceived by many as a heresy/crime in itself these days.
Three Major points really arose my interest during the discussion:
1) Everything Changes and Humanity Remains:
The same people who built the Pyramids are the same people who embraced Christianity are the same people who built El Azhar to enlighten the entire Moslem world. Civilization, religions, perceptions of religions and world orders. Everything changes but humanity remained.
2) We are still dwelling in past and ancient ideas when the future is ahead of us: We as Middle Easterns have the rare gift of dwelling ruthlessly over the past. We are very good in remembering selectively and fighting futile battles over issues that perhaps mattered 1400 to 2000 years ago. The world has moved on. It is really simple: No one should kill in the name of religion, no one should judge and condemn in the name of religion and No one should rule and own in the name of religion. All throughout history this model failed. Today is no different.
3) Discussions, Ideas and Taboos is our country: Why are we (Egyptians) always so on the edge? We cannot, in the most part, stand discussion and debate? Especially when it comes to religion. Actually, as Youssef Zeidan said during the discussion. We cannot tolerate anything even ourselves!!!
As said in the old play Bel 3araby El Faseeh: We cannot discuss politics, religion, race, sex or football. What has happened to us?
Anyway, the discussion was fabulous in every respect. IT IS the time for change. This could be very well the start...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Road, The Machine and Literature (2): The Great Gatsby
"No one really knew who Gatsby was"
F. Scott Fitzgerald can hardly be identified as a "Road" writer. Almost all of his works were dedicated to account for the Post World War I America. The period identified by Fitzgerald himself as the "Jazz Age." After the Great War, the States experienced an unprecedented era of economic prosperity and growth. An entire social class of newly rich families appeared and indulgence in luxury became a trend. This was further accompanied by the total dominance of material pleasures as well as disregard of morals and values. This is precisely what The Great Gatsby is all about.
In 1922, Long Island (NY) was divided into two distinct parts: West Egg where all the New Rich lived and East Egg where the Old Aristocracy resided. A young man, graduate of Yale, called Nick comes to live in West Egg. His next door neighbour is an incredible mansion belonging to a mysterious millionaire called Jay Gatsby. The other side of the bay, in East Egg, is the house of his second cousin Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is married to Tom but their marriage is in trouble. Tom is short tempered and a brut. Anyway, Nick knows that Tom has an affair with Myrtle Wilson the wife of a mechanic whose home and workshop are on the road from East Egg to New York City. In his vast Gothic house, Gatsby throws lavish parties each weekend. One day, Nick gets invited to one of those parties and he ends up meeting Gatsby himself who turns out to be quite young, charming but mysterious at the same time. As time goes by, Nick and J. Gatsby become friends and Jay confides into Nick that he used to love his second cousin Daisy. Also, he asks him to arrange a meeting between them. Nick agrees. The reunion starts awkward but ends up in reviving the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. The story goes on till Tom realises the affair and a tragic end is then inevitable of course.
The story, as mentioned earlier, is not a road story. However, all throughout, the characters are driving from their Long Island homes to New York City (and back certainly.) A lot of the key events happen during these short trips. Tom introduces his mistress to Nick in a drive to the city. Gatsby starts approaching Nick regarding Daisy in also a similar trip. A major sign of Gatsby's wealth is a Yellow "Beautiful" Roadster. Ultimately, the key event of the novel is a car accident that occurs to the Yellow Roadster while Daisy is driving it.
It was just 1922 and cars were relatively new to the society. Fitzgerald meant for this new sign of modern life to play an integral part of his chronicles for this age.
For more about the Novel: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby
For the full Novel: http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fitzgerald/f_scott/gatsby/
F. Scott Fitzgerald can hardly be identified as a "Road" writer. Almost all of his works were dedicated to account for the Post World War I America. The period identified by Fitzgerald himself as the "Jazz Age." After the Great War, the States experienced an unprecedented era of economic prosperity and growth. An entire social class of newly rich families appeared and indulgence in luxury became a trend. This was further accompanied by the total dominance of material pleasures as well as disregard of morals and values. This is precisely what The Great Gatsby is all about.
In 1922, Long Island (NY) was divided into two distinct parts: West Egg where all the New Rich lived and East Egg where the Old Aristocracy resided. A young man, graduate of Yale, called Nick comes to live in West Egg. His next door neighbour is an incredible mansion belonging to a mysterious millionaire called Jay Gatsby. The other side of the bay, in East Egg, is the house of his second cousin Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is married to Tom but their marriage is in trouble. Tom is short tempered and a brut. Anyway, Nick knows that Tom has an affair with Myrtle Wilson the wife of a mechanic whose home and workshop are on the road from East Egg to New York City. In his vast Gothic house, Gatsby throws lavish parties each weekend. One day, Nick gets invited to one of those parties and he ends up meeting Gatsby himself who turns out to be quite young, charming but mysterious at the same time. As time goes by, Nick and J. Gatsby become friends and Jay confides into Nick that he used to love his second cousin Daisy. Also, he asks him to arrange a meeting between them. Nick agrees. The reunion starts awkward but ends up in reviving the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. The story goes on till Tom realises the affair and a tragic end is then inevitable of course.
The story, as mentioned earlier, is not a road story. However, all throughout, the characters are driving from their Long Island homes to New York City (and back certainly.) A lot of the key events happen during these short trips. Tom introduces his mistress to Nick in a drive to the city. Gatsby starts approaching Nick regarding Daisy in also a similar trip. A major sign of Gatsby's wealth is a Yellow "Beautiful" Roadster. Ultimately, the key event of the novel is a car accident that occurs to the Yellow Roadster while Daisy is driving it.
It was just 1922 and cars were relatively new to the society. Fitzgerald meant for this new sign of modern life to play an integral part of his chronicles for this age.
For more about the Novel: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gatsby
For the full Novel: http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/f/fitzgerald/f_scott/gatsby/
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Road, the Machine and Literature (1)
Keeping my promise to the CBC Core Team (and being a fanatic cars enthusiast), I started to research the role that automobiles played in literature. Inevitably, my search took me into a broader spectrum: The literature, of all sorts, written linking together road, man and machine.
Whether or not we are actually on a road, life remains a fascinating journey. However, in an actual car or motorcycle this journey becomes much more exciting.
Literature related to journeys and travels has been there since ever .
The first examples that could come into ones mind are Homers Iliad and Odyssey. Although it does not qualify as a "normal" road trip however the Odyssey might be the first solid example of Journey Literature. The epic poem mainly describes the 10 years trip that Odysseus embarks on to reach his hometown Ithaca after the Trojan Wars. At the mean time his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus have to fight all the suitors that attempt to approach the beautiful queen. Everybody believes that Odysseus is dead except for Penelope. To escape his suitors without much confrontation she promises them she will choose among them upon finishing sewing a pullover. All through the day she worked on it and all through the night she undone her daily work. The ten years just passed like that!
For the full text of the Odyssey: http://www.mythweb.com/odyssey/
Very informally and without any organization or methodology, I decided to discover more authors and novels all related to Journeys, Roads and Cars/other means of transport. Some will readily come to mind like "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and for others the connection will be more obscure like the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I will leave the pavement and embark on my own journey and I hope you guys enjoy..
Whether or not we are actually on a road, life remains a fascinating journey. However, in an actual car or motorcycle this journey becomes much more exciting.
Literature related to journeys and travels has been there since ever .
The first examples that could come into ones mind are Homers Iliad and Odyssey. Although it does not qualify as a "normal" road trip however the Odyssey might be the first solid example of Journey Literature. The epic poem mainly describes the 10 years trip that Odysseus embarks on to reach his hometown Ithaca after the Trojan Wars. At the mean time his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus have to fight all the suitors that attempt to approach the beautiful queen. Everybody believes that Odysseus is dead except for Penelope. To escape his suitors without much confrontation she promises them she will choose among them upon finishing sewing a pullover. All through the day she worked on it and all through the night she undone her daily work. The ten years just passed like that!
For the full text of the Odyssey: http://www.mythweb.com/odyssey/
Very informally and without any organization or methodology, I decided to discover more authors and novels all related to Journeys, Roads and Cars/other means of transport. Some will readily come to mind like "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac and for others the connection will be more obscure like the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I will leave the pavement and embark on my own journey and I hope you guys enjoy..
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The Latest Sports Scoop: The Mubaraks' Falcons are Ready
Well, I'm not a big fan of Egyptian Papers. However, for some ambiguous reason, I bought Akhbar El Youm today. Scheming between the old, silly and plain lies articles I reached the Sports Section in the enormous 4 parts paper. The Head Title in the Sports section read as "THE FALCONS ARE READY FOR THE CONFRONTATION"
The first thing that came into my mind is that Hassan Shehata, also for some ambiguous reason, decided to change the name of the National Egyptian Football Team from the Pharaohs to the Falcons. I turned in the pages to find the article and confronted the ultimate shock.
In an article spanning a Full Half Page was an in depth analysis and latest news of the Ramadan Football Tournament in which Alaa and Gamal Mubarak are playing. The Falcons turned out to be nothing but the name of the Mubaraks Team. This "International" tournament is taking place in the prestigious Stadium of Palm Hills. Also, this event is obviously arousing the interest of approximately 5 people (the entire line-up of the Falcons), the editor as well as mom and dad Mubarak of course. Hence was the extensive coverage in the so-called "National" Paper.
Seeing this, I decided to take part in this unprecedented interest in popular sports and Ramadan Tournaments. My son Ferry (4 years old) is taking part in the Bowling tournament of his school. Also, I am playing Tennis in the prestigious El Shams Club Open Ramadan T. Accordingly, I will send our photos to Akhbar El Youm accompanied with some "Kofta" comments and see what happen. Our photos, I assure everybody, will be a lot nicer than the huge published photos of the two Mubarak brothers pursuing their Football endeavours.
In a country devastated by Inflation (25%), Illiteracy (50%+) and hundreds still buried in Dweika, The Mubaraks took a stand: They played football in Palm Hills.
Thank you,
Over and Out
From the Pavement - Mafroos
Samih
The first thing that came into my mind is that Hassan Shehata, also for some ambiguous reason, decided to change the name of the National Egyptian Football Team from the Pharaohs to the Falcons. I turned in the pages to find the article and confronted the ultimate shock.
In an article spanning a Full Half Page was an in depth analysis and latest news of the Ramadan Football Tournament in which Alaa and Gamal Mubarak are playing. The Falcons turned out to be nothing but the name of the Mubaraks Team. This "International" tournament is taking place in the prestigious Stadium of Palm Hills. Also, this event is obviously arousing the interest of approximately 5 people (the entire line-up of the Falcons), the editor as well as mom and dad Mubarak of course. Hence was the extensive coverage in the so-called "National" Paper.
Seeing this, I decided to take part in this unprecedented interest in popular sports and Ramadan Tournaments. My son Ferry (4 years old) is taking part in the Bowling tournament of his school. Also, I am playing Tennis in the prestigious El Shams Club Open Ramadan T. Accordingly, I will send our photos to Akhbar El Youm accompanied with some "Kofta" comments and see what happen. Our photos, I assure everybody, will be a lot nicer than the huge published photos of the two Mubarak brothers pursuing their Football endeavours.
In a country devastated by Inflation (25%), Illiteracy (50%+) and hundreds still buried in Dweika, The Mubaraks took a stand: They played football in Palm Hills.
Thank you,
Over and Out
From the Pavement - Mafroos
Samih
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
In Hiding
Inside me are so many things. Feelings, ideas and desires are constantly brewing. Under the stern surface of my being, destructive currents are raging. How can I want so many things I do not have the right to? How do I crave to enjoy so many guilty pleasures? I do not know. One thing I know however, I do not want to fight it. Without remorse I just bury deep deep inside any sign of guilt; a smile on my face.
We go on about our lives pretending. Nothing is really the way it seems. We hide the monster with a sheepish look and fake virtue with cheap courtesy.
Lust is killing me but I don't have the right to even blink.
Crave but do not look, look but do not touch, touch but do not taste,... I curse civilization, morals and society common ways.
I hope no one blames me for this. But from time to time, I will release the wolf to get out for a big feast .
We go on about our lives pretending. Nothing is really the way it seems. We hide the monster with a sheepish look and fake virtue with cheap courtesy.
Lust is killing me but I don't have the right to even blink.
Crave but do not look, look but do not touch, touch but do not taste,... I curse civilization, morals and society common ways.
I hope no one blames me for this. But from time to time, I will release the wolf to get out for a big feast .
Monday, August 25, 2008
Today Veena Died
More than 7,500 people die on Egyptian Roads Every day. We are all used to read such figures and news in the papers.
Today my friend Veena became a number in this dark and cold statistic.
At 34 years old, on Ein Sokhna Road, on a normal Friday Veena died when her car crashed and burned.
We all have so many circles of Friends: Close friends, distant friends, business colleagues and all sorts of acquaintances/relatives. I knew Veena for around 15 years. She was my sister's best friend, at one point, and has been always in my "Gray" friendship area. Up to her marriage, 5 years ago, Veena used to through a Pre-Christmas party. So, for 10 years I got invited to this event. Her close friends helped in preparing the food. Her "gray" friends were supposed to bring small gifts and everyone was supposed to exchange gifts with everyone else in the spirit of the Christmas season. In all due honesty, I never helped with food and never got gifts. However, there was no need to worry. Every year for careless outcasts like me, there was a bag of gifts that Veena prepared. Where we got our small presents and took also some to give to others.
My grandmother used to say that is one of God's blessings that we forget our departed beloved ones. Farid, Veena's son, is only 4. He does not know his loss. He will not just grow-up without the only person who will love him unconditionally; he will grow-up without the memory. How could this be a blessing?
By pure coincidence, I have met Veena less than 24 hours before she passes away. She was leaving a restaurant at the same moment I was getting in. We just bumped into each other. In a very short, common conversation, she told me that she was going through a rough patch with no further details. I told her to hang on without providing any real support. I do not feel bad about it. We shall meet again eventually. This is the only solid fact in our life.
From the pavement – Very Sad
Samih
Today my friend Veena became a number in this dark and cold statistic.
At 34 years old, on Ein Sokhna Road, on a normal Friday Veena died when her car crashed and burned.
We all have so many circles of Friends: Close friends, distant friends, business colleagues and all sorts of acquaintances/relatives. I knew Veena for around 15 years. She was my sister's best friend, at one point, and has been always in my "Gray" friendship area. Up to her marriage, 5 years ago, Veena used to through a Pre-Christmas party. So, for 10 years I got invited to this event. Her close friends helped in preparing the food. Her "gray" friends were supposed to bring small gifts and everyone was supposed to exchange gifts with everyone else in the spirit of the Christmas season. In all due honesty, I never helped with food and never got gifts. However, there was no need to worry. Every year for careless outcasts like me, there was a bag of gifts that Veena prepared. Where we got our small presents and took also some to give to others.
My grandmother used to say that is one of God's blessings that we forget our departed beloved ones. Farid, Veena's son, is only 4. He does not know his loss. He will not just grow-up without the only person who will love him unconditionally; he will grow-up without the memory. How could this be a blessing?
By pure coincidence, I have met Veena less than 24 hours before she passes away. She was leaving a restaurant at the same moment I was getting in. We just bumped into each other. In a very short, common conversation, she told me that she was going through a rough patch with no further details. I told her to hang on without providing any real support. I do not feel bad about it. We shall meet again eventually. This is the only solid fact in our life.
From the pavement – Very Sad
Samih
Saturday, July 12, 2008
More Hassan and Morcos
Yes the movie is not that good. Yet the subjects it deals with are becoming further and further an interest to everyone.
I ate my pop corn, watched the simple minded script and listened to the direct conversations of Adel Imam and Nour El Sherif. This doesn't really matter. What matters is that I remembered. I remembered how throughout my childhood and university days the issue of religion was handled so simply with no sensitivities, clinched fists and huge anger (from both sides...)
I remember that our neighbor had 2. Then she got pregnant. Although a devote Muslim she took upon herself to fast 3 days every year for Virgin Mary if she gets a girl. Now Riham is a Physician, married with 2 children and her mom is still fasting.
The first day of every Ramadan, I used to pass by my Grand Parents neighbor. Guedo Ismail used to give money to all the kids in the building on the first day of Ramadan every year (the reason he gave us the money of the first day of Ramadan and not during the Feast still is unknown till this day.) I did not live in the building. I got the money nonetheless.
And a million more example, I can remember; as I m certain that most of us do.
I always believed that we Egyptians were the happiest people on earth. While everyone else was only celebrating a certain set of holidays and vacations, we had double of everything. Egypt is the only country on this planet that celebrates two new years eves, 4 big holidays (Iftar Feast, Christmas, El Adha Feast and Easter) and Sham El Nesim that is a purely Egyptian invention.
I am Egyptian living in Cairo. I've been raised in Heliopolis and happen to be Christian.
This is what the movie is all about...
I ate my pop corn, watched the simple minded script and listened to the direct conversations of Adel Imam and Nour El Sherif. This doesn't really matter. What matters is that I remembered. I remembered how throughout my childhood and university days the issue of religion was handled so simply with no sensitivities, clinched fists and huge anger (from both sides...)
I remember that our neighbor had 2. Then she got pregnant. Although a devote Muslim she took upon herself to fast 3 days every year for Virgin Mary if she gets a girl. Now Riham is a Physician, married with 2 children and her mom is still fasting.
The first day of every Ramadan, I used to pass by my Grand Parents neighbor. Guedo Ismail used to give money to all the kids in the building on the first day of Ramadan every year (the reason he gave us the money of the first day of Ramadan and not during the Feast still is unknown till this day.) I did not live in the building. I got the money nonetheless.
And a million more example, I can remember; as I m certain that most of us do.
I always believed that we Egyptians were the happiest people on earth. While everyone else was only celebrating a certain set of holidays and vacations, we had double of everything. Egypt is the only country on this planet that celebrates two new years eves, 4 big holidays (Iftar Feast, Christmas, El Adha Feast and Easter) and Sham El Nesim that is a purely Egyptian invention.
I am Egyptian living in Cairo. I've been raised in Heliopolis and happen to be Christian.
This is what the movie is all about...
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