tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22473665828402616162024-03-06T01:11:34.292+02:00The Other Side of MeI speak my mind, therefore I'm aliveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.comBlogger379125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-70276168941331464142016-07-08T00:12:00.001+02:002016-07-08T01:36:12.998+02:00Censoring an Iranian Love Story - A Book Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.1216px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shahriar Mandanipour’s</span></span><span style="background-color: #f8f6e0; font-size: 12.576px; line-height: 20.1216px; text-align: justify;"> </span><i>Censoring an Iranian Love Story</i> (2009, Translated by Sara Khalili) is one of the strangest and most interesting books I read. You see, I always had a thing for Persian culture, but being an Egyptian today I know it is almost impossible to be able to witness its greatness through my own two eyes. So when I found Censoring an Iranian Love Story, it was like a treasure to me, hoping it would give me an idea about the modern-day Iran without having to visit! So let me tell you a thing or two about this book.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Story</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As Raha Namy puts it in the <a href="http://quarterlyconversation.com/de-censoring-an-iranian-love-story" target="_blank">Quarterly Conversation</a>, Censoring an Iranian Love Story is a multi-layered story. This - more than slightly - surreal tale tries to give numerous details about the Iranian culture and censorship in a mix of real and fictional story layers that continuously intersect, sometimes confusing between what is real and what is fictional, making it hard for the non-Iranian reader to build a real idea about Iran.</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Layer 1</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The innermost layer is the love story between Sara and Dara, whom we don't know if they're completely fictional or based on real characters. Sara is senior student in the University of Tahran studying Iranian Literature, coming from a middle class family that falls behind by the year as a result of the increased inflation that is not met by an increase in her father's pension. She seems normal, but has a revolutionary soul. However, being in a country with very tight limits to freedom of speech, this revolutionary soul is mostly seen in the dark, away from the government's and the "Campaign Against Social Corruption's" eyes. Sara is an avid reader and so has a membership in the local library, this is where Dara first finds her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dara too used to be a student in Tahran University studying cinema, he was about to graduate before he got detained for being a communist. When he was finally freed after two years, he found out that he was expelled. Dara's family too used to be middle class, but has already fallen far behind as result of the father and son's detentions for being communists. This has led to the father losing his job, as well as his will to live, and the son being unable to find a decent job as a result of losing his almost acquired university degree. Oppression has turned Dara into a passive, defeated person, but one who still loves his country with all his heart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are also two secondary characters of the story. The first is Mr. Sindbad, Sara's suitor who has a story of his own. Mr. Sindbad came from a very poor family, but was able to fight his way into a government job. He was never into politics and wanted nothing more than the stability that would help him lead the simple life he's living. After the Islamic Revolution, however, he found out that this won't be possible, and that if he wants to continue to live at all, then he'd have to learn to be somewhat a hypocrite. Thus, by hypocrisy and brilliant ideas, he became one of the most powerful and richest businessmen in the country. The other is Dr. Farahad, one of the country's most famous surgeons, who is loved and respected and sees poor clients for free. Dr. Farahad appears a few times in the story in very different and confusing settings.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sara is first introduced to the reader holding an interesting sign in a student protest; it has "DEATH TO DICTATORSHIP, DEATH TO FREEDOM" written on it, she's only a few minutes away from her death. But at last minute, Dara finds her and begs her to abandon the sign and leave with him. This is after one year of exchanging letters through a code they used in library books. When they finally get to the dating stage of their relationship, they have to think of places to meet so that they won't get caught (according to the author women and men who are not direct kin can get arrested if found together). So they meet in a hospital's emergency room, a mosque, an internet cafe and keep their relationship mostly online.</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Layer 2</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Comes after this, the layer where the author and the censor work together in writing the story. We're introduced to Mr. Petrovich, who works in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and has the responsibility of revising all books prior to giving a publishing permit. In this layer the author sometimes acts like a god to his characters, telling them what to do and what not to do. Mr. Petrovich, on the other hand acts like a divil, trying to ruin the beauty of the love story thorough wanting to change the storyline or sending other characters in the story. At other times we find the characters working their own destiny and deciding what to do for themselves, despite the author's and censor's intentions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The writer always thinks of what Mr. Petrovich would say and so we'd find him sometimes striking out his own words, because Mr. Petrovich wouldn't give the book a publishing permit otherwise. He also sometimes has to give more details about his love story characters in this layer, because they're details that the censor won't approve. Thus, he gives his readers an idea of how Iranian love stories may lose their depth as a result of censorship.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The layer between <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.1216px; text-align: justify;">Mandanipour and Mr. Petrovich is a story in itself, but to make matters more complicated, there is sometimes an intermingling between Layer 1 and Layer 2's characters that sometimes turn so surreal that you wouldn't know what to get out of it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.1216px; text-align: justify;"><u>Layer 3</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.1216px;">In this layer we find popular fictional and non-fictional characters from other literary works and real life coming to the story to give symbolic descriptions. There's the hunchback midget's corpse that keeps appearing in different places to different people. Then ghosts of other writers. Then an Assassin's phantom. Then poets who died some hundred years ago. These characters are mostly symbolic, and this is where surrealism reaches its peek, making it sometimes weak and thus very hard to grasp what the author is trying to tell with his symbols. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.1216px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.1216px;">One interesting, yet one may argue clichéd, use of characters is how the author used Nizami's poem, Khorsow and Shirin. This poem is about a love triangle between a king (Khorsow), a Romanian woman (Shirin) and a poor man (Farahad). Shirin ends up marrying Khorsow and they make sweet love. When Sara and Dara met in the emergency room, they meet a bride named Shirin who was raped by her groom, who is also called Khorsow, and she is saved by Dr. Farahad.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.1216px;"><u>Layer 4</u></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.1216px;">The outermost layer is where the author finally writes in non-fictional, first-person. He explains different aspects in the Iranian culture and different types of censorship. He tells stories of his own experiences and gives summaries of Iranian classics that are mostly used for symbols. This layer was almost always my favorite. It is here that the author talks of self censorship that was used by poets hundreds of years ago. During that time, they used to use similes from nature in describing a woman's body or a love making scene. He thus explains that censorship sometimes helps get the imagination going.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.1216px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.1216px;">Then he goes on to explain government censorship today, and how they have power (and dirty mind) to sexualize everything. But that's not all, there is all the social censorship, where girls are not allowed to have boyfriends, or to talk to boys they're unrelated to for that matter. With all these levels of censorship, it become impossible to write, or even live, a real love story in Iran.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Overall Critique</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book as a whole was more than anything confusing, with the never-ending intermingling between fact and fiction, as well as the different story layers. There is depth in the protagonists of the main story, but the elaboration on them is mostly cut through to discuss other things. The love story is extremely weak, but one may argue that this is exactly the writer's point; you cannot write a love story in that sociocultural setting. I, however, have sometimes felt exaggerations in the extent to which Iranian couples can't be together. The fact that this book, being published in 2009, and does not have one mention of cell phones makes me wonder. Same with Iranians being unable to watch movies and listen to music. What happened to VPN? I know from living in a country where censorship does exist (although far from that extreme, in some cases at least) that people always find ways out. What with Iran and Saudi Arabia (and Egypt, too) being among the countries with highest online pornography consumption (according to unofficial lists). Yes, literary works sometimes need to reach extremes to be more interesting, but again, not separating fact from fiction makes this problematic.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I generally don't mind surrealism, in some parts of the book I felt that it's too much, making the reader actually miss the story itself. The symbols all through the story were sometimes clichéd and other times too much to take. As for the writing itself, it was far from creative. In fact, it mostly felt like you had the writer sitting in your living room telling you the story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Without really getting into politics, the author actually got into politics. We see how revolutionaries like Dara were defeated and are now busy just trying to live. We see how even those who were "good" Islamists were abolished from the political scene and had turned into brothel visitors. We see how hypocrisy in modern-day Iran can lead to reaching the top of the ladder. We see how Iran wanted to enrich uranium while its citizens are suffering from increased poverty by the year. Most importantly, we see how women, throughout different eras in Iran were oppressed and sexualized, be it under dictatorships or so-called freedom. We see that revolutionaries did nothing when women were forced to cover up their bodies and spirits, when they have been treated as a shame. We also get into the sociocultural aspects of marriage and relationships in Iran. We see how marriage is the families' decisions more than the bride and groom's. We see how every relationship has to happen in the dark, we see how one of the main deal makers or breakers vis-à-vis marriage in Iran is money and social class. Mind you, these are all the author's opinions, I know nothing about modern-day Iran.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Egypt and Iran: enemies that are so much alike</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know nothing of modern-day Iran, but I know a lot about Egypt and the similarities are striking. Although Egypt and Iran's diplomatic ties have become at least not so strong following the Islamic Revolutions, and although some religious fanatics in both countries see us the other as enemies or infidels, for following different Islamic sects (Egypt is mostly Sunni and Iran is mostly Shite), both being middle eastern countries, one can't help see the similarities. Both Egypt and Iran are countries of great civilizations that have been great, and are not anymore. Both countries were once so modern, but have become something else as religious fanatics took over people's minds. When Islamists managed to take power in Egypt for a short period, there was talk of closing shops at 11:00 pm in a country that never sleeps, just like what happens in Iran. People started to talk about a "Campaign Against Social Corruption", just like that of Iran. Women were very much sexualized, just like Iran. Thankfully, the Islamist rule in Egypt lasted only a year, but there are still a lot of sociocultural similarities between Iran and Egypt. Some Egyptian families still wouldn't want their daughters to have boyfriends, marriage is still the decision of families, sociocultural and governmental censorships exist, sexualization and sexual discrimination exist. But most importantly, both Egyptians and Iranians can't help sticking their nose in other people's businesses.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are also similarities between what happened right after the Egyptian and Iranian Revolutions, but I won't get into that too; if you go back and read layer 1 you'll get what I mean. My point is this, being someone who hasn't visited Iran, and would probably not be able to visit any time soon, I can't say that this author's idea of Iran is correct. But the similarities between us and this author's idea of them, makes me feel that he might be correct, and that one may build an opinion based on some of his. It also made me think of how sad it is, how similar we are, yet we're enemies.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-52754127112758330022016-02-08T21:28:00.001+02:002016-02-08T21:29:16.136+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 15: Expansion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tuesday, February 8th, 2011</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wael Ghonim's interview gave an even greater momentum to the Revolution. Tahrir today is full, more than it has ever been. The Square itself could not carry all protesters, thus the protests and the sit-in expand in neighboring streets, reaching the parliament and cabinet buildings. It expands in Cairo and all over the Good Land, and it becomes unstoppable even more than it already was.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every time we seem to lose hope something happens to make the dream come closer...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_7.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-14055338863773072522016-02-07T22:48:00.001+02:002016-02-08T21:29:58.096+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 14: civil disobedience <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Monday, February 7th, 2011</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On days like this, when there is no million man protest planned, it's up to those at the sit-in and the loyal protesters to keep the Revolution's momentum going. And these people take their duty seriously. Tahrir Square and other squares all over Egypt are full, yet again. People feel that this may take longer that what we've first expected, and this surely is something to worry about, but to this moment resilience still wins.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The plan to keep people busy with work has failed miserably; they instead have started protesting at their workplace. And instead of having one Square filled with protesters, we now have a full Square as well as many other protests all around Cairo and elsewhere. This has happened without any prior planning, but since it did, calls for civil disobedience emerged. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wael Ghonim is finally released, and his first televised interview leaves everyone speechless. It was rational and emotional, it was heart-felt and wise. When he cries for the martyrs he bring tears to eyes all over the Good Land. He makes so many believe, and gives endless hope. Ghonim played a big role in the planning for this Revolution, and tomorrow he shall play another role.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After it was announced that the Muslim Brotherhood would be meeting with Omar Suliman, the Square is now completely free of the Brotherhood members, and it's still full...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_6.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_8.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-50802089208061047432016-02-06T21:54:00.002+02:002016-02-07T22:48:57.445+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 13: life and power<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sunday, February 6th, 2011</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On a pharaonic temple's wall, our ancestors usually carved this: "the pharaoh is full of life and power". The pharaoh, unlike what is commonly known, in prosperous times the was a just, respected and loved ruler, he was a symbol of Egypt. Thousand of years later, and the Good Land is again filled with life and power. Walking around the squares of liberty all over the country, you feel life dazzling out of every pair of eyes of the young and old, you hear the power echoing in every chant.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone is back to work, but since the curfew hours start at 3:00 pm, it's a half day. The trace of worry that lied in the back of our heads; that people might not be able to protest having to go to work, is now gone. Today is the first of the week's three million man protests, and the call is more the answered. Tahrir Square is full with protesters and festivities.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Muslim Brotherhood are set to meet with Omar Suliman again tomorrow, to discuss power transition...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_5.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_7.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-79473019720339669022016-02-05T22:25:00.001+02:002016-02-06T21:55:38.346+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 12: rhythm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Saturday, February 5th, 2011</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After one week of the country's public and private sector being completely closed, it is now announced that work will resume tomorrow. Protesters ignore the announcement, and make one of their own. There will be a million man protest every other day; on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday. If Mubarak doesn't leave by then, there will be another escalation on Friday.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By now, the Revolution has acquired a stable rhythm, and the numbers of protesters have grown all over the Good Land. Everyone now knows the best route from their residence to the Square. They know what's best to wear and what not to wear. They know when to visit and how long to stay. They know what to take to those at the sit-in; it may be something as big as a tent or just a bag of cookies. Those at the sit-in know when to sleep, and where to sleep. They know when they should guard and when to be guarded. They know who they should trust and who not to count on.<br />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The demands of the Revolution are hung on one big banner in the middle of the Square, they can be seen clearly by protesters at the Square, by people at home by the army helicopters that still hover over protesters, by State Television cameras that barely show footage of the Revolution, and on monitors set at the Supreme Council of Armed Forces' operation room. They are loud and clear, and it clearly looks like this Revolution shall see no end until all these demands are met.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wael Ghonim is still missing and no one knows where he may be. Ghonim forcefully disappeared eight days ago, just like many have been disappearing until this day, five years after the Revolution....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_4.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_6.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-30595880827180425582016-02-04T15:47:00.001+02:002016-02-05T22:32:43.891+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 11: the spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Friday, February 4th, 2011</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When you've faced death more than once in ten days, you acquire strength that overcomes fear, and when this happens, nothing really matters anymore. When this happens, you can stand against army tanks and fighter jets and continue to be as resilient as can be. When Egypt faced death on January 28 and February 2 all walls came down, one by one, fear died, talk of reconciliation dissolved, and the unpredictable feature was not a reason to worry anymore.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so, on February 4th, the turnout in Tahrir Square and all other squares of the Good Land is far higher than that of the previous days. The spirit too is higher, much higher than the helicopters that keep hovering over our heads and are met with chants that our louder than usual. Spirits are much higher that the last floor of the State Television building where an ugly old man sits trying to figure out what else to say to turn people against the Revolution. And they're definitely higher than voices of shouting taking place at the never-ending Supreme Council of Armed Forces meeting, headed by Mubarak.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jokes, music, drawings and songs spread all over the Square and elsewhere. Everywhere you walk there is a reason to be inspired, everywhere you look there is a reason to believe that this Revolution shall succeed. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Photographers take out their cameras again, bloggers their notebooks, and filmmakers their camcorders, and they take the Revolution of the Square and to every single home, through social media.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the afternoon, there are Muslim and Christian prayers for the Revolution's martyrs in Tahrir. You could hear the tears in the praying voices, you know that there is something that was broken and could only be mended by our Revolution's success. But as soon as the prayers are over, and the first voice starts chanting "people demand toppling of the regime", grief turns into a powerful rage that can overthrow a million regimes. The whole Squares chants as one person, and it's not us who are tearful or afraid anymore.... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_3.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_5.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-79800709725879838212016-02-03T21:52:00.001+02:002016-02-04T15:48:37.848+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 10: unity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thursday, February 3rd, 2011</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the battle the Good Land becomes calm, but it's a fearful, angry calmness. Everyone remains in their place; those in the Square remain in the Square, those at home remain at home, but those who support Mubarak disappear. The Square that was yesterday divided between those who are full of hope and those about to give up is now united under faith that they will topple Mubarak, and fear of what may happen on this day or the next day. To bring back the spirit, protesters call for another million man protest on Friday.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Internet finally being back leads people to see what others think. Yesterday everyone was fearful, angry, or at least dumbstruck. Today they are able to speak their mind more easily. To this day, many may have thought that there is unity, that everyone was supportive of the revolution, at least until the "emotional speech", but social media make the difference in opinions clear. Opposing pages emerge, and on each, discussions turn into intense fights.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two Facebook events are created, one calls for the million man protest and the other asks people to stay at home. Couples, friends, parents and children, siblings are divided between being with and against the Revolution, and some stop talking to each other. Everyone believes they are right, and they want the rest to agree with them. In days to come, we will figure out that what we're experiencing is far from the divisions we'll have to go through after the 18 days and up until this day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While outside we discover divisions, the Square is again united, and remains united...</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_2.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_4.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-41224946407885611232016-02-02T22:24:00.002+02:002016-02-03T21:53:02.523+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 9: the battle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Internet blockade is finally over, we're back to the 21st century, or so we think...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The "emotional speech" that Mubarak gave had a powerful effect, even in Tahrir Square. Especially since the reconciliation dialogues were attended by several groups, including parties, popular figures and the Muslim Brotherhood. Having no leaders, protesters don't necessarily listen to what they're being told, except of course for the Muslim Brotherhood. Nevertheless, after a million-man protest, The sun rises on the Good Land to relatively empty Square.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Outside Tahrir people say we had enough gains, protesters should end their sit-in. They say Mubarak's an old man who should be respected. They say that these "kids" have nothing better to do. They simply turn against the Square. The Internet brings more discussions and disputes between families and friends, those with and those against the Revolution.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mubarak's supporters decide to make their own demonstration and it's in tens as opposed to the thousands who are still resilient in Tahrir. Media try frame things differently; screens are split into two, and on the supporters' side the camera angle is so narrow. Conversely, on the protesters' side the angle is much wider. Yet, it is clear, that the numbers on both sides are very different.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the Square the spirit is far from festive; </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">r</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">umors of Mubarak supporters coming to Tahrir are more worrying than usual</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Small numbers arouse a fear of being attacked, they make some doubt if they'll be able to oust Mubarak, they make them doubt this being what people want.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Discussions are angrier than the usual, on one side people talk with rage and disappointment and on the other people's words are filled with the hope they're trying to linger to. At the entrances some try to get in and are stopped by the committees; they're either thugs or supporters of Mubarak who try to pick up fights. In Abd El Monem Riad Square several fights take place, right next to the army personnel who do not interfere. Those who succeed in getting through the committees, then turn out to be supporters of Mubarak, or circled by protesters and taken out of the Square. No one is chanting, everyone is anticipating, several times people run to the entrances ready for a fight, and several times some come back badly injured, and inside the Square we're not sure what is going on. Everyone is waiting for something to happen, but no one can imagine what is going to take place.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Things change in just a few minutes, when camels enter the Square. We call it the Camel Battle, but it wasn't just camels. It starts with thugs on camels and horses going fast in order cause a stampede, and it ends with Molotov cocktails, and some even say snipers. When the camels enter everyone is </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bewildered, no one knows what is actually happening, it is hard to believe that in 2011 someone would use camels to disperse a sit-in. But once people register, the fighting starts, and the Square that was becoming empty is filled again. People use anything they could find to fight back the thugs, and they quickly regain ground. Meanwhile, the army is watching...</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Protesters then find themselves pulled out to Abd El Monem Riad Square. Molotov cocktails are thrown at them from over 6th of October Bridge, and people start talking of live ammunition. The injuries keep increasing, until they reach over a thousand, and in the process eleven lives are lost. Meanwhile, the army is watching...</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We spend a dark night, not knowing what happened or why it happened, and to this day, five years later we still don't know. By midnight, the fight is over and Tahrir Square is cleared from all who do not belong. It is full again, and the sit-in continues, but this night, not a person inside or outside the Square is able to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A camel is killed in the process...</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_3.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-47906089255285610652016-02-01T23:34:00.000+02:002016-02-03T21:53:16.718+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 8: art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Tuesday, February 1st, 2011</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They asked for a million, and more than a million they've got. Tahrir Square is full and so is El Qa'ed Ibrahim Square in Alexandria and several other squares on the Good Land. Yesterday's organization actually paid back; it's one of the few times when we, Egyptians, manage to be in a crowded area without disasters happening. We don't hear of pick-pocketing, sexual harassment or fights. It's a festive revolution, teaching the world how to have fun while revolting.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Good People were always known to be creative, bringing beauty to life in the hardest of times. For 30 years this creativity was hidden under hypocrisy and fear, under acceptance and silence. Then the volcano of arts erupted with the Revolution; a stage is set in Tahrir, and every few minutes a new chant is voiced, then a new poem, and a new song. Jokes are made, and stories are told, people draw on the ground and elsewhere. The Revolution is not an act of anger anymore, it's resilience made stronger with laughter.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We're still living in an Internet blackout, but it doesn't matter. We're able to reach the whole world, we make it to every news channel, and we're always the first and longest piece. We make it to the headline of every newspaper and the cover of every magazine, all over the world. People look up to us; our Revolution is extraordinary on all possible levels...</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the Palace, they find a new weapon; touching emotions. They keep saying Egyptians are emotional, and it seems that this time they know what they're doing. Mubarak gives his second speech since the start of the Revolution, and this time he plays on emotions. He promises not to run for another term and says that he spent all these years as president because he loved this country. And it actually works; in the media different hosts give a summary of the speech while tearing up, people staying at the comfort of their homes tear up too. Yet, in Tahrir, it is once again ignored...</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_31.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_2.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-51152948269968878732016-01-31T11:45:00.000+02:002016-02-02T09:17:28.291+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 7: rumors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Monday, January 31st, 2011</span></b><br />
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The sit-ins and protests on the Good Land continue to grow and so does the will of protesters. In Tahrir Square and Alexandria, protesters call for million-man protests tomorrow. The square becomes much safer, and now that protesters are not worried about their lives, they start organizing themselves for tomorrow. There is a place for the tents, and a media area, and restrooms. All square entrances are secured by people's committees who check IDs and search whoever gets into the square. Then there are </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">different routes for entering and exiting the square. As the Internet remains blocked, protesters rely on international media to relay their messages of encouragement and reassurance to attract more people to join the protests.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mubarak is given until Friday to resign, after which there will be a million-man protest by the Presidential Palace. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At home, which is pretty close to the Palace, Mubarak's residence and several military areas, we're locked in by tanks and barbered wire. There is only one street that can take us out, and once the curfew hours begin, this street too is closed...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meanwhile, the government is calling for a dialogue with the opposition, yet what happens in the Palace remains in the Palace. Their strongest weapon, however, is rumors. Rumors about the intentions of protesters and who they're working for; stories are told of 6 of April Movement being financed by foreigners, and members taking a training on vandalism in Serbia. On State Television they bring a woman who says was a member of the Movement, and she tells how she found out that their intentions were far from what they're voicing. They bring a man who cries because he says he was deceived on January 28th and joined the protests and is now regretful. Then rumors about what people are doing in the Square; popular actors and otherwise speak of a sex festival, of gays and lesbians and group sex, and of someone giving out KFC meals to protesters. Rumors of the country being on the verge of breaking down, a civil war, or being occupied by Israel, or Iran, or anyone else who may be interested. Rumors of Mubarak supporters making a million man protest on Tuesday, which may lead to both protests being dragged into violence, causing thousand of deaths. And rumors of protesters moving out of Tahrir Square to the State Television Building or the Presidential Palace, which would be met by open fires from both the army and the neighborhood committees.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for the army, they're sending SMSs, promising never to turn brutal on the protesters. But promises, for some, are made to be broken...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_30.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/02/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-59337837857157215622016-01-30T02:00:00.000+02:002016-02-01T11:27:41.666+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 6: neighborhood committees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sunday, January 30th, 2011</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the night falls and up until next morning neighborhood committees are in control of guarding the Good Land. All night we hear gunfire and shouting every few minutes, but the looters fail to get into the area. Our committee and the ones around it cooperate together to ensure the whole area is safe; the ones closest to the main street act as the frontline, if looters succeed to pass this line they're met by several other committees. The cooperation is also in the type of weapons, at the frontline there may be molotov cocktails, followed by pieces of cement from the sidewalk, then glass bottles. And, for everything there's a philosophy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If someone enters our neighborhood after the curfew, they're stopped by a middle aged lady leading the area's frontline committee. If she doesn't know you, she'll ask for your ID to make sure you live in the area. Then you'd pass through barricades set by the committee (may be big 4*4 cars or trucks), and you may be searched. Depending on where you're going, you may need to bring out your ID or be searched more than once.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In old black and white movies you'd find security personnel roaming streets, shouting "who's there?" to scare thieves away. This is only in black and white movies; most of us have never seen this happen in reality. And so, when people know that there are people in the staying out to guard them and their property, they feel safer, even knowing that there are hundreds of criminals at large.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Saturday night, the army is said to have deployed more personnel to help the neighborhood committees, and so they work together to capture thugs. On that night, and other nights to come many people are arrested, looters and innocents, all civilians, and all shall be tried in military courts. Later we will have to fight for their right in fair and just trials in civil courts, a fight that continues for five years, to this day...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As things get calmer for the committees, more talking happens, and the old Egyptian tradition of building strong friendships between neighbors comes back to life. Those at home show gratitude by bringing down food and drinks every few hours. One time it's a chocolate cake, then coffee, and hot chocolate, then cookies. They talk and eat, and that thing that was born as a result of horrible circumstances, becomes a wonderful gathering that people enjoy, even though they're sleep deprived...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Tahrir Square and other squares of the Good Land the sit-in continues. Now that things are safer, they try to organize themselves, and the sit-in keeps growing. There are solidarity protests and events all over the world, and international media show a 24-hour coverage of the Revolution. The government fights back by keeping its channels in denial. They also shut down Al Jazeera bureau and cut their signal off Nilesat. Al Jazeera fights back; they air from other satellites and continue their coverage through calls from protesters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Internet remains cut-off....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_84.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_31.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-68136011193404770662016-01-29T23:34:00.001+02:002016-01-31T02:47:39.230+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 5: revolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Saturday, January 29th, 2011 </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After Rage Friday ends, it becomes clear to everyone that we're witnessing a revolution...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The 12-hour curfew ends at 6:00 am, that's when we leave. Mobile networks are finally working, but data is still blocked, so we turn on the radio to hear the news and I finally understand why I kept hearing gunfire last night. Several prisons were opened and prisoners, criminals and otherwise, are set free. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For some reason, criminals who are let loose decide not to go hide, or rest. They decide to go directly to work, and the looting and vandalism begin. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We pass by the ring road, there are burning tires and burnt vehicles. As the radio anchor explains what happened last night, we see it happening. We pass by Carrefour and we see the looting as it happens; people are carrying whatever they can and walking without any concern, a bus is waiting for some of them. What we see happening in Carrefour has happened elsewhere, in banks and ATMs, malls and different shops, all over Cairo. Many times these places were set on fire after being looted. On the radio a woman is calling in, she says she tried to call the police last night after several shops in her street were broken into. Her call was answered indeed, she was told that security will not take any action, she should tell protesters to take care of that...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Given that the security forces have fled, people decide to have neighborhood committees take control of guarding their homes and property. </span>From every house a person or more goes down to their street to guard it, armed with whatever may work as a weapon; firearms, cutlery and knives, swords, rocks from sidewalks, glass, Molotov cocktails, baseball bats, even broomsticks. Those who have dogs bring them to the committee, or the gathering that brought old friendships back and created new ones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The army personnel are guarding important government buildings and museums, and it does not appear that they're protecting people. They ask people to empty the streets before the curfew in order to be able to arrest the criminals who were let loose from the government's prisons. In Tahrir Square, however, the sit-in continues to defy the curfew for the second day, the army does not take any violent action...for now. People outside the square are scared of the thugs, the level of panic is at its highest.</span> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Inside the Square people have more issues to worry about; would the army disperse the sit-in that keeps on growing? What would tomorrow bring? If Mubarak doesn't resign, what other steps could be taken to escalate? They know the revolution will continue, but it's not clear how.<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="font-size: medium;"><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the Presidential Palace, Omar Suliman and Ahmed Shafik are sworn in as vice president and prime minister, and the focus on this remains only inside the Palace. There is more important news that make it to international media: death. It seems that hundreds have lost their lives by the hands of the security forces yesterday in different parts of the country. Soon the numbers will turn into persons, and the persons will keep the flame of this revolution burning....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rumors continue to circulate: there's a dispute in the army; the curfew will be imposed for real this time; a coup will end this revolution; people are being killed by snipers in side streets near Tahrir Square and Ministry of Interior. State television, after spending a day of denial, now starts talking of foreign conspiracy; Israel, Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah are all accused of starting this revolution and breaking into prisons. Everyone chooses a "truth" to believe.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The country feels dead, all private and public sector companies are closed tomorrow. Life only blooms from all the Tahrir squares on the Good Land....</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_57.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_30.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-23558933482154619242016-01-28T23:30:00.000+02:002016-02-02T09:14:56.923+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 4: rebirth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The country wakes up to a total digital blackout; mobile networks follow the Internet, leaving hundreds of thousands of families not knowing what the fate of their loved ones will be in hours to come. I'm not able to overcome my fear, but my family and I decide it won't be possible not to be part of this. We join the rally leaving from Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque in Mohandeseen...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">People say the moment you join a protest fear dies, they lie. The moment I join the Rage Friday protest my fear dissolves in a much bigger and deeper awe, one that overcomes all other feelings. It's a collective dread that screams out of every heart, deep with worry that this revolution won't make history...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On our way to the mosque following the prayers we see CSF trucks and personnel everywhere, helpless, but ready to kill. We reach the mosque and people start to gather, CSF leave us be, for now. Tens gather, someone starts to chant, numbers grow, chants become louder. The tens turn into hundreds, we start to move and it feels like a dream, we become thousands. Soon it becomes impossible to see the beginning or end of the demonstration. Chants are so loud "bread...freedom...social justice", voices seem as confident as can be, but if you listen closely you'd hear the fear. I chant for the first time in my life, sometimes as loudly as my voice can get, other times my it is locked in my throat behind the tears that are not of happiness or of fear. I'm so torn between being unable to believe that this is finally happening, and trying to breathe every moment of it. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I look around to take in all the faces around me, the diversity is striking. But quickly the faces fade, and we're all reborn, turning into one big entity with one voice, walking to the one destination, to Tahrir - liberty.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As our chants get louder "people demand the downfall of the regime", and the trace of trembling in our voice fades away, more people start to look out their windows, from behind their shades. Our rally is joined by the one coming from Boulaq, turning us into an unstoppable stream of power. We reach Tahrir Street and the rally stops, I'm not very far from Gala'a Bridge, I can see what's happening there clearly. Without a prior plan, everyone takes their place; families go to the back and youth to the frontline. In the square before the bridge, sits an ugly CSF truck like a Nile Crocodile preventing everyone and anyone from crossing the stream to the prosperous land. CSF soldiers stand next to the truck like dark hyenas waiting for their prey. They're used to dispersing protests of a few hundreds, but this time they're drastically outnumbered.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We suddenly hear shots and we see people running, then the tear gas reaches us. An ambulance parks next to us and aids our injured. Then another shot, and another, yet another, and the tear gas fills the air. On the backlines we decide to keep chanting to let them feel how powerful we are, we shout to the top of our lungs. But gets worst, other shots join in, bird-shots, more injuries come to the ambulance. Then a tear gas canister is thrown on the truck and it catches fire, another reaches a balcony and it too is set on fire. Back where I stand people are waiting, everyone is praying silently, except for one woman in her late 70s. She's here alone and she shouts her prayers, hoping they'd reach those at the frontline.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After quite some time the fighting stops, three protesters climb the truck with a flag, and we continue walking. This time in small groups, we reach the square and the CSF have disappeared, but as soon as we reach Gala'a Bridge the tear gas becomes horrible, people run in all directions and we're stuck between two CSF groups. At this moment and many moments afterwards, groups disperse, families and friends are separated, some for now and others forever. I leave....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This protest continues to fight and succeeds to cross Gala'a Bridge soon after I leave. On Kasr El Nil Bridge they stop to pray, and are shot while praying.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the other side of the Nile* the fight continues; protests coming from El Hussein, El Azhar and Shubra meet in Downtown. Tens of thousands fight with CSF in side streets, tear gas reaches unbearable levels, leaving everyone unable to breathe or see. Some suffocate and fall, and quickly they stand again to continue the fight. Others fall, never to get up, but the cause is no gas. Snipers are above buildings, they shoot to kill. The cloud of tear gas keeps increasing, but then another, darker cloud joins in, fire. In the digital blackout, news travels through word of mouth; minutes later it's known that the National Democratic Party's building was set on fire. The fighting continues and gets fiercer, but protesters don't give up. They spread in side streets and take shortcuts away from CSF.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Land telephone lines are so congested that no one is able to call their homes. Two protesters decide to go check on their families, on their way they're stopped by a police officer. They're about to get arrested, but at last minute a colleague calls the officer. He tells him "we got the order", the officer without a word turns and leaves the two men. He gets into a car and leaves. Before the two protesters are able to figure out what happened, they see minibuses coming from Tahrir Square filled with police officers. The panicking buses and their riders go into the interior ministry and stay there. Still not getting what happened, the two protesters keep walking until they are met by a dark cloud, a police department is set on fire, personnel are running, and people are watching. A few streets further, they are met by another cloud, and another police department is on fire. When they reach their homes they will realize that the security forces have fled and are hiding in their ministry. They will also realize that many police departments in Cairo and elsewhere are on fire...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's just after 5:30 pm and I'm finally near a television, I now know the revolution is finally happening on the Good Land. Before Then an announcement comes on, a curfew is imposed all over Egypt as of 6:00 pm, and army personnel will be deployed to secure the country. We're in Mohandeseen, at least 30 minutes away from home in Heliopolis. We take October Bridge and are met by cars with panicking drivers going the wrong way, and tires set on fire thrown hear and there. We continue, until we're met by an army tank blocking the bridge, this is how I know that the NDP building is on fire. We go to Zamalek and see protesters running to Tahrir. We decide to go back to Mohandeseen and spend the night at my grandmother's. On our way, we have to go through Imbaba, and we find ourselves in the middle, between CSF personnel shooting their last shots before they flee, and protesters throwing rocks at them....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the police flees, protests finally reach Tahrir Square and a sit-in is started. Every person under the age of thirty has either never witnessed a curfew be imposed, or was too young to understand what was going on, this is probably one of the reasons why the curfew was completely defied....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On television, the army is on the streets; reactions vary, some are unwelcoming and others chant "the army and the people are one hand". On television, this revolution is not centralized, protests take place all over the Good Land. On television, someone calls upon people to go guard the Egyptian Museum because its security has fled. On television, the president speaks; he sacks his government, gives some threats, and is completely ignored...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't sleep at all, I lie awake hearing gunfire every few minutes....</span></div>
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<a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_83.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_84.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This part of the post was made possible by <a href="https://twitter.com/IbnGamalDin" target="_blank">@IbnGamalDin</a>, who generously shared the story from his vantage point and allowed me to write about it.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-88297877918439947052016-01-27T23:24:00.000+02:002016-02-02T09:15:58.902+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 3: anticipation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Thursday, January 27th, 2011 </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anticipation, excitement, and fear get us through the day. Tomorrow is either the beginning of a revolution or shall put an end to one. Two </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">days have passed and both parties now have time to think. Protesters set their plan last night, another day of rage, Rage Friday. They call protests after Friday prayers, the plan is so detailed that it's worrying. On Thursday evening the rallies' meeting points and routes are announced on the Facebook event. Now everyone, government included, know exactly where every protest will be, and when. How risky can this be? No government officials speak all day, but the CSF presence keeps increasing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Suez is still on fire, but elsewhere protests get smaller in preparation for tomorrow. Rumors fill the country; the army will take control tomorrow, all protesters will be shot or detained, a curfew/martial law will be imposed. In days to come, we shall know that rumors is one of the regime's strongest weapons.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A list of chants for tomorrow's demonstrations, that shall all end up in Tahrir Square and other squares on the Good Land, is put online. Shortly afterwards, Internet connection is cut almost all over Egypt....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He walks home after publishing his final post before the blackout, but he never reaches his destination. A car stops him and he's taken to a place he doesn't know. He's detained. Meet Wael Ghonim, one of We are All Khaled Said page's admins, back then, only known to a few, but this shall soon change. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_29.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_57.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-48533598735158223592016-01-26T23:21:00.000+02:002016-02-02T09:16:24.098+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 2: not this time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">Wednesday, January 26, 2011 </b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the city that never sleeps, the few who choose to go to bed before 1:00 am like me wake up to an empty Tahrir Square. Through social media it becomes known that some time after midnight, amid a dark square alive with chants from Tunisia and ones that have for long been voiced by a few, CSF were given the order. At 12:35 am, the CSF trucks' sirens fill the darkness, then loud shots outweigh the chants. Tear gas and rubber bullets everywhere, in just 15 minutes, the few-hours long sit-in is cut short. People run to side streets, chased and outnumbered by supposedly humans in a devilish uniform. Detains are random, some go home, others disappear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The CSF didn't use live ammunition in Tahrir Square, but they did in Suez, thinking that international media will only focus on Cairo, thus this is the only place where they should play it smart. Rightly so, in our extremely centralized Egypt the focus is mostly on Cairo. Where they were mistaken, however, is that it's not just about international media anymore; time has changed. The news of shot protesters in Suez, of Suez turning into a war zone reaches the globe over social media.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The news of this violence keeps the rage alive. Not just in Suez, in Cairo, and all over the Good Land, those few who decide they won't be letting go, not this time, keep the momentum going. In the morning there was a call for a strike, but being a very short notice only a few actually strike.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I couldn't and didn't want to strike, I wanted to see what other people think, Back then I worked as a teaching assistant, and working in a university, I met a lot of people of different ages, beliefs and backgrounds. Most of my colleagues, were as hopeful as I was, but lecturers were different, not all of them were as hopeful, or saw a need for a revolution, others were just indifferent. Again I hear "Egypt is no Tunisia", this time from a Tunisian who has been living in Egypt for quite some time. I feel confused, but then I tell myself people I live among do not necessarily represent the Egyptian Society. I was wrong, in days to come I will realize that this is exactly the Egyptian society, but that's the story of another day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By midday Facebook and Google Services are all blocked, but that is no big deal to anyone; by then everyone had different means of accessing blocked websites. Soon enough, the government notices that this won't work, and it's only causing them an internationally embarrassing headache. So just a few hours later, after Hillary Clinton - then U.S. Secretary of State - expresses her "concern" about the digital blockage, Ahmed Nazif - then Egyptian Prime Minister - announces that nothing is blocked. And suddenly everything comes back.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The working day ends, and protests start to increase. By the Journalists' Syndicate and elsewhere, in Cairo and other governorates, people start to gather. But the government has learnt one lesson; they're not to let any protest continue. And so, the day ends with all protests being dispersed.... Yet, protesters have also learnt one lesson, that they shouldn't give up....not this time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">First Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_83.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-67149549146425462632016-01-25T23:12:00.000+02:002016-02-02T09:16:58.181+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget - Day 1: faith shall always win<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Tuesday, January 25, 2011</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On that day I am one of the many who don't think of joining the protests, I choose to be one of those following the events on television and social media rather than taking a positive action. Yes, I want to, but I am scared. Other people are not scared</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, thousands take to the streets in Cairo and elsewhere. The number of deployed Central Security Forces is probably unprecedented, but demonstrations coming from different parts of Cairo still make it to Tahrir Square, where it all began. Suddenly there are thousands of protesters, enough to call for something bigger, and so the chants for ousting Mubarak and bringing down his regime fill the air.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Television, as one would have expected, is a failure; there is almost no coverage of the protests. It is only Al Jazeera that is worth watching, but knowing that the Muslim Brotherhood are not taking part on that day, even Al Jazeera's coverage is far from sufficient. By midday, it becomes clear that social media is helping the protests by sharing their news and encouraging more to join, and so Twitter is blocked, together with some of the private newspapers' websites. Later, as the evening falls, protests start to make it to the evening news all over the world, except on Egyptian State Television.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then it happens, in Suez a demonstrator is killed, and he becomes the flame that keeps this revolution burning until January 28.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is the day many smell tear gas for the first time, and this is how the day ends. In Tahrir Square protesters decide to start a sit-in, but at night the CSF manages to violently disperse it, leaving millions of Egyptians not knowing what the fate of this still so young revolution will be. And this is where Suez plays its role.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we-forget.html" target="_blank">Previous Post</a> - <a href="http://mariam-saleh.blogspot.com.eg/2016/01/the-january-25-revolution-lest-we_29.html" target="_blank">Next Post</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-64095878775522203022016-01-25T16:07:00.001+02:002016-01-29T23:34:59.530+02:00The January 25 Revolution: lest we forget<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Five years from today a miracle took place on the Good Land, but it didn't take us by surprise. In Egypt, miracles are never a surprise. It was the best day in the lifetime of many of us who have never witnessed a collective hope for a brighter future. Maybe this is why when, five years from that day we're still far from that hope, some feel shattered and defeated. I was one of those people; I lost hope in the Good Land, the Good People, and myself. It's been five years, and the Good People have still not witnessed the change that many have given their lives, eyes or time for. It's been five years and the miracle has passed without leaving any trace, or so I thought. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Three years ago I've decided to give up, after the Muslim Brotherhood nightmare was over but people were still being killed and detained in the memory of that day, I've decided to push the memories of the January 25 Revolution to the back of my head. I've decided that they bring with them too much pain, pain of a dream that never saw the waking day. But yesterday, after the anger has somewhat calmed down, after more than two years of a status quo, I sat down and started thinking. The Revolution is the best thing that happened in that country, it's the best thing that happened to me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I decided that it's not over until we're over, until we lose hope. I found the trace the miracle has left, it's in us and it's what should keep us going. When you're at the age of five, you're only good for kindergarten, and it's only after you grow and learn that you're able to be in control. So I brought back all the memories I had, memories of the best of times, of the True Egypt. I almost drowned in the stream of nostalgia of a place that is out of this world. A place that has succeeded to be free of hate, that was so powerful yet had no weapons. A place where people smiled at one another, loved one another and cared for the well-being of every person alive, a place were justice existed and ruled....</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I could go on and talk about why I think the Revolution is still alive, I can try to talk politics and make all these comments that may seem smart. I could go on about how I feel that protests today would have led to nothing and how thankful I am that it is mostly calm, but I'd rather not. I'd rather not, because although my anger has calmed down, I still can't see clearly that road that would lead to a brighter future. This is why I've decided to go back to the past, hoping that remembrance may teach us something or two that may lead to a brighter future. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of my smartest moves was keeping a diary of the 18 days, it's one of the things that will always keep me proud of myself. In this post, I shall use my Tahrir Diaries to bring back all the memories of the greatest days of my life. The memories that should keep anyone assured that the Revolution shall never end until justice is in place.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day zero - Egypt is no Tunisia</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyday after the Tunisian Revolution succeeded to bring Bin Ali down, we all shared our thoughts of whether the same could happen in Egypt. Amid loud voices saying that Egypt is no Tunisia and stronger voices saying January 25, 2011 will be no ordinary day, nobody had a clear idea. Online and offline, at work and at home, on television and in newspapers, people talked. There were reasons to believe that January 25 will be no ordinary day; Khaled Said and many others who were tortured to death by police, parliamentary elections that were completely forged, the freedom ceiling that was getting lower by the day, plans of making Gamal Mubarak president, and a good example in Tunisia. But there were other reasons to believe that it will be just another protest: although there were different groups protesting every now and then, there was no strong presence in the street; Egyptians are known to be patient, after all, the Mubarak era was no Utopia and nothing much happened; and police brutality is so fierce that it would probably make people worry for their and their loved ones' well-being and stay home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With all these arguments and discussions going back and forth, there was this strange faith that took over many of us, faith that this day will change the path of history of the Good Land. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The call was made on Facebook, yes Egypt started a revolution using a Facebook Event. The event that was called for by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElShaheeed" target="_blank">We are All Khaled Said</a> had more than 80,000 guests and has reached over a million members. It didn't call for bringing Mubarak down at the time, but was merely a day against tyranny, torture and corruption, it was a Day of Rage. The event was finally shutdown by the government on January 24 at night. But the "damage" has been done; The event has done its job for now, and there was no turning back. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-40959950411339050672016-01-19T09:13:00.000+02:002016-01-19T09:13:00.276+02:00The Antique Khana of Egypt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was back in 1902 on the Good Land of our graceful Cairo - El Mahrousa - when our ancestors' treasures finally found a home to settle. </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">The idea of a museum for Pharaonic antiquities, however, was born earlier in 1835 in El Azbakeya during the reign of Mohamed Ali Pasha. The contents were then moved to a storage room in the Citadel, and later to an old royal palace in Boulaq through the efforts of the Great French Egyptologist </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Auguste Mariette.</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> After moving to another palace in Giza, it finally settled in Khedivate Egypt, when Khedive Abbas Helmi II ordered to build a museum for the Ancient Egyptian antiquities in Tahrir Square, which was then known as El Ismaeeilia Square (after Khedive Ismaeel, the father of the Khedivate Cairo architecture).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The current building, which Egyptians used to call the Antique Khana (the antiquities' chamber), was given its "neoclassical" style by <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">French Architect Marcel Dourgnon. It was built over a period of five years, opening its doors to the visitors for this first time on Saturday, November 15, 1902 to become the </span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">world's</span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"> first </span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">edifice</span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"> built with for the purpose of being a museum, according to Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities</span><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-align: left;">For over 110 years the Museum has been home to some of the Pharaohs' greatest treasures. But </span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">little did the Khedive and Dourgnon know that this building that carries history of the greatest of times would witness the epic of the Egyptian people's revolutionary movement that started a few years earlier, a few streets away by </span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">Colonel</span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"> Oraby between 1879 and 1882. Since then Tahrir square, where the Museum stands, has witnessed a century of fighting for freedom.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">This 107 chamber building features over 160,000 </span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">antiques,</span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"> telling stories of 5,000 years of the great history of the Good Land. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">The rich building carries stories on the inside and the outside. Take a voyage on the solar ship, walk through its chambers, you'll experience greatness in Ramsis II, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.003px;">unity in Narmer,</span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"> justice in Ma'at, wisdom in Thoth, </span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;">resilience</span><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"> in Horus, ladyhood in Isis, and intelligence in Anubis. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 16.003px;">On the outside you'll be carried through a hundred years of recent history's Legend of Osiris; the world-old fight between good and evil. It's those streets of Tahrir Square that carry history of the 1919 Revolution against the British occupation, the 1946 demonstrations against occupation and monarchy, the 1972 students uprising calling for a war against the Israeli occupation in Sinai, the January 25, 2011 Revolution against corruption and calling for justice, the June 30 protests against the Muslim Brotherhood, and many other tales in between.</span><br />
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<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16.003px;">A part of "Egypt, the Good Land" Project</b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"><b>Written by: </b>Mariam Saleh</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"><b>Photography by: </b>Mahmoud Gamal El-Din</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.003px;"><b>Full photoset found <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mahmoudgamaldin/sets/72157663226933985" target="_blank">here</a></b></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt30.0444196 31.23571160000005929.9344751 31.074350100000057 30.154364100000002 31.39707310000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-70728673362275548912016-01-08T00:44:00.001+02:002016-01-26T20:36:47.823+02:00Review: الباب المفتوح
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27731889" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447021132m/27731889.jpg" border="0" alt="الباب المفتوح" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27731889">الباب المفتوح</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1618207">لطيفة الزيات</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1490890640">5 of 5 stars</a>
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Every Egyptian lady should read this book. I can't say enough how empowering it is. It so clearly depicts the life of Egyptian ladies in the mid 20th century and how some of them decided to take control of their own lives, while others decided to stick to traditions. Things might have changed since then, but the fight still persists. Some girls still choose to marry someone because of their social status, profession or family. Some girls still let the men in their lives control them. Some girls still choose not try to find themselves, to think of themselves, to decide for themselves, or to be in control.<br /><br />El Bab El Maftooh is the story of Laila, a girl who has been raised to feel that she's less than men in everything possible, but has always felt that she can be more. Three men, the political events that took place then, and different incidents in her life drastically change her. And we're taken with Laila to a journey in search for the open door through which she'd find herself. <br /><br />Today many of us still need to understand the difference between a "Essam", a "Ramzy" and a "Hussein". These differences are not only ones that are concerned with a lady's love life or choosing a husband, they focus on the way ladies see themselves, think, plan and decide. Through the story of Laila with these three men and her three very different friends: Gameela, Sanaa and Adeela, Latifa El Zayyat sheds light on these important differences.<br /><br />A good part of the book is pretty similar to Faten Hamama's movie, but even in this part you get to know more details about thoughts of the different characters. But towards the end, there is a great part of Laila's journey of taking control that was not mentioned in the movie at all and which is actually the most important part of the book.<br /><br />I wish every girl would be as mentally and physically empowered as Laila became. I wish every girl would settle for no less than her "Hussein".
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1490890640">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-85829026604038426432015-10-09T16:58:00.000+02:002016-01-08T16:44:34.992+02:00The Spirit of the Nile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In our veins runs blood, in our souls runs the Nile. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our Nile is a tale as old as this country, a country that was set along its path. It carries teachings for all of us; people and rulers. Our Nile is the one source of unity that never saw division. It has witnessed the best of times, and the worst of times and kept us fed through it all. It has lived and adapted to change, change of land, people, atmosphere, and its own path. Even today, even with fights over its waters, we know it shall never give up on us. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's this water that tells stories of thousands of years. Stories of words still used although language has changed, feasts still celebrated although religion has changed, of recipes still popular although appetite has changed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Nile carries stories of hardships and great rewards. Of the flourishing land, defying death over and over. Stories of crops growing on its waters, of fish living in its depth. Of waters quenching thirst, fire, and love, stories of birth and of rebirth. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Listen closely, you'll hear of peace, of lovers united, of memories as old as time. You'll hear friends chatting away the warmth of summer nights, and poor families looking for somewhere to go and being welcomed only by the open arms of the Nile. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Look deeper for stories of our origin, of great discoveries; centuries and millenniums of conquests. For the Nile has never been only a source of food and water, but also of knowledge and wisdom. Learn of invasions, occupations, and colonies, of people trying and failing to change the Egyptian spirit that still runs as the Nile within our souls, although under rubles of life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A part of "Egypt, the Good Land" project</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Written by:</b><b> </b>Mariam Saleh</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Photography by:</b><b> </b>Mahmoud Gamal El-Din</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Full photo-set found</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mahmoudgamaldin/albums/72157659234474230/with/22014407242/" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-91693553343459539392015-09-10T23:20:00.000+02:002016-01-08T16:23:00.475+02:00The Fisherman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The wonders of the sea are not necessarily under water; in his boat, one can see the seven wonders...
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He moves from darkness to light with the sharpest of sights. He passes the strongest of obstacles with endless will. He catches "kheir", what he calls his fish, from a sea as deep as a demon’s eyes.
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the silent emptiness his reverberations draw hope. It may be his hobby, or just his source of living, but this poor man gives life, rich with health, to many. He lives between two blues, but never does he give up until he reaches the light of the open seas. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A part of "Egypt, the Good Land" project</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Written by: Mariam Saleh</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photography by: Mahmoud Gamal El-Din</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Full photoset found <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mahmoudgamaldin/sets/72157658191233801" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0Imbaba, Giza Governorate, Egypt30.1829588 31.02204219999998729.7436738 30.376595199999986 30.622243800000003 31.667489199999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-26686387775391369092015-09-09T00:52:00.001+02:002015-09-09T11:27:09.804+02:00Imbaba Bridge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Standing tall since 1912, Imbaba Bridge is one of the many underrated landmarks of Cairo. Designed in a time so different from today, this bridge has seen good and bad times more than any of us saw.</span> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">For more than a century this age-defying bridge has carried trains, cars, pedestrians, and carts passing over</span></span> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">the</span></span> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nile</span></span> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">between Cairo</span></span> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">and</span></span> <span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Giza.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The metal railway bridge that was given a royal design was constructed by the Belgian</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Baume</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">&</span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;">Marpent. It mainly carries trains heading south to Upper Egypt, taking many residents back to their hometowns. But it also has lanes for cars and pedestrians.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px;">Having a unique artistic style, Imbaba Bridge became one of the most popular cinema and photography locations. Different films, music videos, commercials and posters were shot there since early 1960s.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px;">So too in reality, the Bridge was witness to cinematic events. During the 1919 Revolution trains were blocked from passing over the Bridge by "<i>Anaber</i>" workers as part of the civil disobedience movement. President El Sadat, in his early days prior to the 1952 Revolution, has once slept over it. Finally, one of Imbaba's biggest January 25 Revolution protests have marched over this bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">mbaba Bridge carries endless stories of the Good Land's struggle for over a century.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>
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<h2 class=" meta-field photo-desc " id="yui_3_16_0_1_1441752616614_5074" style="clear: both; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A part of "Egypt, the Good Land" project</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Written by:<span style="font-weight: 400;"> Mariam Saleh</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photography by:<span style="font-weight: 400;"> Mahmoud Gamal El-Din</span></span></h2>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b>Full photo-set found <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mahmoudgamaldin/albums/72157658169314036">here</a></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0Imbaba, Giza Governorate, Egypt30.1829588 31.02204219999998729.7436738 30.376595199999986 30.622243800000003 31.667489199999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-19936511155975702302015-09-08T22:45:00.002+02:002016-01-26T20:42:25.698+02:00We’re the Millers: nothing too big, but laughter guaranteed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennifer Aniston together with Jason Sudeikis star in this comedy that promises to keep
you laughing from the start to the very end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>We're the Millers</i> is the story of David Clark (Sudeikis), a pot
dealer who after getting robbed, is forced to do illegal drug smuggling by
bringing a shipment in from Mexico. David gets the idea of making up a fake
family to go together on the trip in order to ease up security searching
procedures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rose O'Reilly
(Aniston) is David's neighbor who works as a stripper and has become sick of
her job. Together with David, a young nerd and a runaway girl they make up the
fake family and go on a trip to Mexico. During the trip many things don't go as
planned and the “family” faces the risk of dying or getting caught. It's their
creativity in lying to get out of this kind of situations that makes this movie
hilarious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>We're the Millers</i> is a funny and enjoyable movie with a strong
storyline that is full of action. Even though it is written by four writers, it
feels totally connected with almost no plot holes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chemistry between the cast can be felt
throughout the whole movie, which makes the acting feels so real. Even the
censoring of the Egyptian cinema was done smoothly and does not affect the
storyline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch this movie if
you want nothing too serious, you'll have a good laugh. It's not the perfect
movie kind that will leave you mesmerized for a week though. It has no special
effects or great cinematography, and it’s not the best comedy that has ever
been made. Yet if you're looking for a mind clearer then this movie is what
you're looking for. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-62822093002832151732015-08-13T17:15:00.000+02:002015-08-13T17:15:12.574+02:00A Disney Story that Actually Respects Women<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Frozen came to the big screen their was a huge fuss about it being the first Disney movie that doesn't teach young girls that's it's OK to "marry someone you've just met", as the lead characters have so clearly put it. They also say it's the first to portray a woman as a savior and focus on sisterly love rather than a prince charming. I do agree that Frozen is special and great, and a good shift in the Disney movies, but it's not one of a kind, or is it the first to portray a woman with a strong character, who is also a savior and not one to fall for a prince charming, just because, well, he's a prince and charming. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Comparing Frozen to Cinderella, Snow White or Sleeping Beauty would actually make it seem as a breakthrough; although these movies have some nice teachings they have indeed ruined the idea of true love. Yet there is another movie that is underrated, that had teachings about true love that are even greater than those in Frozen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, I'm talking about Beauty and the Beast. Belle was beautiful, but her beauty was not her asset; she was bright, curious and a hard worker. She didn't fall for the charming guy, just because of his looks and actually saw that he had a brain smaller than that of a snail. She gave herself in for the Beast because her love to her father was stronger than her fear. She was scared of the Beast, but her strong personality was not broken by him. She was able to say no, loud and clear, to what she did not accept. And later, she was able to see through the looks, and love the Beast for the character hidden under the barbaric behavior. At the end, Belle, the common girl, the bright, strong personality was able to tame the Beast, she was able to break the prince's spell. The common girl was the prince's savior.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Belle's character is so much more sophisticated and refined than that of Elsa's and Anna's. Elsa chose freedom over responsibility, while Anna was only moved by her love to her sister, but had no personality of her own. Belle's character is one which all fair communities should strive to bring up their girls to be like. And although the teachings are not said as clearly as they were put in Frozen, they are all there, and more. I'm happy I grew up watching Beauty and the Beast, and it's that movie that I shall want my daughter to watch and learn from.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because simply, this what I call true love.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2247366582840261616.post-23516240437952224402015-01-29T22:45:00.002+02:002015-01-29T22:45:36.944+02:00The Alpha Female<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A free spirit, with thoughts that take her up high. They say love sets you free, but it had locked her up in a thoughtless cell. Love of a selfish body, imprisoned on the ground, yet he thinks he's the jailer. She breaks loose, free of the deadly love...</div>
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"Come what may", she said as she stood with her head higher than the biggest mountain. "You don't know what you're doing", he replied with a seriously sarcastic tone, she gave him one look, then walked away. She walked without looking back, and with her she took his heart and soul. He watched her as she went further, but refused to call her name. He was too proud.</div>
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He knew she knew what she's worth, and he could do nothing about it. He had her heart but wanted her soul, and now that she left, he had nothing. The concrete ground suddenly felt like waves, the sunny day turned into a thunderstorm, she's gone. She left him, and went after her dreams. His warnings did not stop her, she was strong, not afraid of the unknown. She was too strong for him, too strong for a boy. "Your dreams are too big for a girl", he said, to which she replied, with not a breath of hesitation, "I'm a woman of great will". He couldn't handle her, he could never handle an alpha female; he's a boy, just a boy. She had him clinging to her, he felt empty. </div>
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She left, feeling free, free from a love that holds you back, rather than makes you fly. She knew someday she'd find her man, but she didn't care if it happened now or later, she wasn't waiting. Because she had herself, and she was ready to take the journey of her dreams alone. She knew when the time comes and she finds her man he'll give her endless support, but she also knew that she could do it alone, without him, without anybody. She has learned to be the person she loves, to be happy on her own, to enjoy solitude as she enjoys company. She has finally become the person she came to the world to be.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15272880832419180645noreply@blogger.com0