What is a poet without words?
What is a light without rays?
What is the truth without proof?
What is a candle without flame?
What is a river without water?
What is a flag without nation?
A failure of purpose. A rotten myth.
And that is what my senses tell me when I am distant.
Where is thou truth? Be true to yourself.
For words can do a lot, but not solely turn into actions and reality.
For waves can carry you far, but not necessarily to the shore.
For light can mean guidance, and sometimes even doom.
For life awakens in the springtime, gaining energy to survive throughout the year.
For life can be life, and death can be death, but your perception of both is what makes them true.
For you can be me and I can be you.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
خواطر توقعية لتأجيل محاكمة مبارك للثالث من أغسطس المقبل
ورد في نشرات الأخبار اليوم أنه تم تأجيل محاكمة حسني مبارك و نجليه و حسين سالم الى الثالث من أغسطس المقبل. و في هذا السياق علينا أن ننتبه للنقاط التالية:
١. سيقع ميعاد الجلسة الأولى في شهر رمضان و هناك احتمال شديد أن المحكمة ستؤجل المحاكمة مرة أخرى لبعد العيد
٢. بعد العيد ستتم انتخابات مجلس الشعب طبقا للدستور الذي عدل بعد الاستفتاء و الذي يعطي الحق لأعضاء مجلس الشعب القديم - و الذين انتخبوا بالتزوير - و أعضاء الحزب الوطني السابق و أعضاء المجالس المحلية في الترشيح. و سينجحون. و من الضروري اضافة أن مبارك لم يمضي بعد على أى مستند يثبت تنحيه أو حتى تخليه عن منصبه، ففي
أغسطس سيعتبر قد انتهت فترته الرئاسية. و بذلك يكون مبارك قد أنهى فترته الرئاسية طبقا لما طالب به من تعديلات في بنود الدستور و شرعية دستورية من وجهة نظره..
فأين ما يحقق الشرعية الثورية و التي طالبت بانتخاب مجلس رئاسي يضع دستورا جديدا بأقصى سرعة و حل المجالس الشعبية؟؟؟؟؟؟
فهل هذا يحقق مطالب الثورة و شهدائها؟؟؟؟؟!!!!!
١. سيقع ميعاد الجلسة الأولى في شهر رمضان و هناك احتمال شديد أن المحكمة ستؤجل المحاكمة مرة أخرى لبعد العيد
٢. بعد العيد ستتم انتخابات مجلس الشعب طبقا للدستور الذي عدل بعد الاستفتاء و الذي يعطي الحق لأعضاء مجلس الشعب القديم - و الذين انتخبوا بالتزوير - و أعضاء الحزب الوطني السابق و أعضاء المجالس المحلية في الترشيح. و سينجحون. و من الضروري اضافة أن مبارك لم يمضي بعد على أى مستند يثبت تنحيه أو حتى تخليه عن منصبه، ففي
أغسطس سيعتبر قد انتهت فترته الرئاسية. و بذلك يكون مبارك قد أنهى فترته الرئاسية طبقا لما طالب به من تعديلات في بنود الدستور و شرعية دستورية من وجهة نظره..
فأين ما يحقق الشرعية الثورية و التي طالبت بانتخاب مجلس رئاسي يضع دستورا جديدا بأقصى سرعة و حل المجالس الشعبية؟؟؟؟؟؟
فهل هذا يحقق مطالب الثورة و شهدائها؟؟؟؟؟!!!!!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
A post just to post...
Post-revolution Egypt is weird. We believe we are liberal, democratic and accept other points of view, while we do not. The simplest proof for that is the nausea we feel whenever someone supports or feels sorry for Mubarak, or even says that he has in fact done something for his country. I can't write anymore. I'll continue this later. But right now, I'm just going to post this in order to post. Cheers...
Monday, May 23, 2011
Today, I say #NoSCAF
I used to love the army and feel proud and touched whenever I saw a soldier or army officer on the street. Until the bitter truth hit me. The whole facade of them protecting and saving the revolution was fake and fading. Tantawi is nothing but one of the many figures that ran after Mubarak, kissing his feet like he was some God, and getting everything he wanted out of that. Besides being part of the corrupted system, he also used the system in his own favor. Other than that, one can trust neither the highest-rank army officer, nor the small soldier standing in the street. And here is why: officers do what Tanatwi wants them to do, and soldiers need to obey the orders of their officer. So if one day Tantawi says "Shoot!", the little soldier will have to shoot. And where will the little soldier let out his frustration about having to blindly obey orders? Of course, on the detainees in prison.
I was never caught by the army or the state security, but I have a picture of what is going on. And today, I will say NO to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces. They want to replace a dictator, but not his ways. And that needs to change. I do not have any other options in mind, but something has to change. And change starts with being aware of a problem. #NoSCAF
I was never caught by the army or the state security, but I have a picture of what is going on. And today, I will say NO to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces. They want to replace a dictator, but not his ways. And that needs to change. I do not have any other options in mind, but something has to change. And change starts with being aware of a problem. #NoSCAF
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Man and the King
I wrote this piece almost two years ago. This was our status quo that we CHANGED!
A Messenger told a man to go see the king, for he had important questions. It was the 4th of May 2009.
King: Introduce yourself.
Man: I am but your servant, me Lord.
King: I am giving you the chance to introduce yourself as a human being.
Man: You never taught me how, me Lord.
King: Then tell me what you think of me. This is a one-time chance. It will not be repeated to either you or anybody else.
Man: You are my Lord.
King: That is a fact, not an opinion.
Man: My Lord, if I speak freely, will I leave this palace and head home in a safe manner.
King: You have my word.
Man: May I speak frankly, me Lord.
King: You may.
Man: You have always done as you pleased, without taking my well-being into consideration. My opinion means nothing to you. You sit up there, while I crawl down here, accepting your decisions, even when not agreeing to them and suffering their consequences. I dared once to speak up, and as I did, I fell as fast as I had risen. How do you expect me then to introduce myself as a human being or even shape an opinion about anything? And why does my opinion matter to you now, after about 30 years of dictatorship and my blind following.
King: Your opinion does not matter to me.
Man: Then why do you ask of me such things, me Lord?
King: Because I am planning to remove the slightest ray of hope in my massive population. No change will occur as long as my authority has the upper hand.
Man: But me Lord, if I may say something.
King: Speak frankly and honestly. You have my word.
Man: You already removed every ray of hope.
King: If that’s so, then why are you still speaking?
Man: You told me to be honest, and I obeyed you as I always did. You promised me I’d leave unharmed.
King: I lied.
Man: The same way you always do. Happy birthday, me Lord.
The man never returned home. 13 years later a new king found a corpse in the basement of the palace in a room entitled "Chamber of people who hoped for a change". The corpse had been brutally murdered and thrown into the chamber on the 4th of May 2009, the police claimed. Yes, that’s our kingdom
A Messenger told a man to go see the king, for he had important questions. It was the 4th of May 2009.
King: Introduce yourself.
Man: I am but your servant, me Lord.
King: I am giving you the chance to introduce yourself as a human being.
Man: You never taught me how, me Lord.
King: Then tell me what you think of me. This is a one-time chance. It will not be repeated to either you or anybody else.
Man: You are my Lord.
King: That is a fact, not an opinion.
Man: My Lord, if I speak freely, will I leave this palace and head home in a safe manner.
King: You have my word.
Man: May I speak frankly, me Lord.
King: You may.
Man: You have always done as you pleased, without taking my well-being into consideration. My opinion means nothing to you. You sit up there, while I crawl down here, accepting your decisions, even when not agreeing to them and suffering their consequences. I dared once to speak up, and as I did, I fell as fast as I had risen. How do you expect me then to introduce myself as a human being or even shape an opinion about anything? And why does my opinion matter to you now, after about 30 years of dictatorship and my blind following.
King: Your opinion does not matter to me.
Man: Then why do you ask of me such things, me Lord?
King: Because I am planning to remove the slightest ray of hope in my massive population. No change will occur as long as my authority has the upper hand.
Man: But me Lord, if I may say something.
King: Speak frankly and honestly. You have my word.
Man: You already removed every ray of hope.
King: If that’s so, then why are you still speaking?
Man: You told me to be honest, and I obeyed you as I always did. You promised me I’d leave unharmed.
King: I lied.
Man: The same way you always do. Happy birthday, me Lord.
The man never returned home. 13 years later a new king found a corpse in the basement of the palace in a room entitled "Chamber of people who hoped for a change". The corpse had been brutally murdered and thrown into the chamber on the 4th of May 2009, the police claimed. Yes, that’s our kingdom
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I cannot choose a side...
This is a message I sent to a friend who used to live in Egypt, but moved away. And I felt like what I wrote came from the heart, so I decided publishing it.
Hey Michael,
it's been a long time. So far everything is ok. Demonstrations and bloodshed going on, and the Pharaoh still won't leave. I haven't attended any of the demonstrations so far, because my dad won't let me out of the house under these circumstances. Internet and mobile-phones were cut, so that communication between the demonstrators would become impossible.
Since we live a couple of kilometers outside Cairo, we do not really "live the action", if you know what I mean. The consequences will show in a couple of days, concerning lack of food and supplies, the economy-fall, the internal unrest and maybe even the growing rejection of ordinary Egyptians towards foreigners, due to the Egyptian media propaganda. Egypt as a whole is forced into confusion due to one person.
So far, he has no intentions to leave before the elections in September and he claims he does not even want to be the president anymore. A lot of people are starting to believe what he says and promises, although he almost never fulfilled any vows he gave in the past 29 years. Two well-written speeches and a bit of pressure on the people's tearglands, alongside with the spread of fear among the population initiated by the tens of thousands of escapees of several prisons around Cairo and the propaganda of Egyptian TV-channels, made the trick.
Now, Egyptians are fighting each other, because thousands were paid to lead demonstrations supporting the regime. Tahrir-square has turned into a massacre. I personally believe that we are on the verge of a Civil War, since regime-opponents claim they won't leave the streets unless Mubarak leaves. Molotov-Cocktails, military tanks, and flying stones and bricks have become a main part of the whole story. Buildings and police stations were burning, and the whole police staff even disappeared for two days - ironically, those were the days the prisons opened their doors.
We sit here, with a new appointed government, a vice-president - which is the first of his kind in the Mubarak-regime -, and pictures and stories about a war going on downtown. And the regime claims, it has fulfilled everything the demonstrators asked for on the first day of demonstrations - the 25th of January 2011. Yet, they fail to see that one of the main demands were "Mubarak has to leave." But one could talk to a wall, it would not make any difference.
The Egyptian media is one of the criminals that should be held responsible for the unfortunate events that are taking place.
I understand the people who are downtown fighting to bring Mubarak down for a positive change. I understand the people who want him to stay for old peace's sake. I understand the people who are telling everyone to go home so there would not be any more casualties. Yet, I cannot choose a side.
This message turned out to be really long. Was not my intention. I hope you guys are fine. Take care now.
Gehad
Hey Michael,
it's been a long time. So far everything is ok. Demonstrations and bloodshed going on, and the Pharaoh still won't leave. I haven't attended any of the demonstrations so far, because my dad won't let me out of the house under these circumstances. Internet and mobile-phones were cut, so that communication between the demonstrators would become impossible.
Since we live a couple of kilometers outside Cairo, we do not really "live the action", if you know what I mean. The consequences will show in a couple of days, concerning lack of food and supplies, the economy-fall, the internal unrest and maybe even the growing rejection of ordinary Egyptians towards foreigners, due to the Egyptian media propaganda. Egypt as a whole is forced into confusion due to one person.
So far, he has no intentions to leave before the elections in September and he claims he does not even want to be the president anymore. A lot of people are starting to believe what he says and promises, although he almost never fulfilled any vows he gave in the past 29 years. Two well-written speeches and a bit of pressure on the people's tearglands, alongside with the spread of fear among the population initiated by the tens of thousands of escapees of several prisons around Cairo and the propaganda of Egyptian TV-channels, made the trick.
Now, Egyptians are fighting each other, because thousands were paid to lead demonstrations supporting the regime. Tahrir-square has turned into a massacre. I personally believe that we are on the verge of a Civil War, since regime-opponents claim they won't leave the streets unless Mubarak leaves. Molotov-Cocktails, military tanks, and flying stones and bricks have become a main part of the whole story. Buildings and police stations were burning, and the whole police staff even disappeared for two days - ironically, those were the days the prisons opened their doors.
We sit here, with a new appointed government, a vice-president - which is the first of his kind in the Mubarak-regime -, and pictures and stories about a war going on downtown. And the regime claims, it has fulfilled everything the demonstrators asked for on the first day of demonstrations - the 25th of January 2011. Yet, they fail to see that one of the main demands were "Mubarak has to leave." But one could talk to a wall, it would not make any difference.
The Egyptian media is one of the criminals that should be held responsible for the unfortunate events that are taking place.
I understand the people who are downtown fighting to bring Mubarak down for a positive change. I understand the people who want him to stay for old peace's sake. I understand the people who are telling everyone to go home so there would not be any more casualties. Yet, I cannot choose a side.
This message turned out to be really long. Was not my intention. I hope you guys are fine. Take care now.
Gehad
Friday, January 21, 2011
So Alive and So Dead
I’ve never felt so alive and so dead…
I’m perfectly alive because I can feel and identify with everything around me. I feel, I sense, I process, I breathe, I think. I’m alive!
I’m perfectly dead because even though I can feel everything, I cannot do anything against the emotions and the happenings around me. I cannot act, cannot push myself, cannot manipulate the way I feel. I’m dead!
Life’s ought to be about something else then. Still figuring it out…
I’m perfectly alive because I can feel and identify with everything around me. I feel, I sense, I process, I breathe, I think. I’m alive!
I’m perfectly dead because even though I can feel everything, I cannot do anything against the emotions and the happenings around me. I cannot act, cannot push myself, cannot manipulate the way I feel. I’m dead!
Life’s ought to be about something else then. Still figuring it out…
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Life is not factual
It's not what we see; it's what we make you believe is real. And even the things you see, are not real. They are the reality we created for you.
Nothing is factual. Life is not factual. Then how are we supposed to write and talk about "facts"? Maybe life is just an illusion we create our own facts in. Yet, the real and true facts are somewhere outside our manners of perception.
Because as far as we know, our brains are not all-understanding, all-perceivable, all-knowing. And so, we live something that might be true or not. Mistake, isn't it? Yet, when you think about it, it's the only option we have.
Find inner peace. And get rid of your demons. They mess with your head. Forget what you just read.
Nothing is factual. Life is not factual. Then how are we supposed to write and talk about "facts"? Maybe life is just an illusion we create our own facts in. Yet, the real and true facts are somewhere outside our manners of perception.
Because as far as we know, our brains are not all-understanding, all-perceivable, all-knowing. And so, we live something that might be true or not. Mistake, isn't it? Yet, when you think about it, it's the only option we have.
Find inner peace. And get rid of your demons. They mess with your head. Forget what you just read.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
I am a Racist...
Yes, I am a racist. Not against a certain gender, nationality, ethnicity, or religion. I am just a racist against humanity. This weird species that decided to spread so fast and decided it could destroy the earth in whatever way it wants. This epiphany came to me in light of the recent events in Egypt - where I live and am from. To cut a long story short, a couple of minutes after midnight on new years' eve, a car-bomb went off in front of a Church in Alexandria, killing 21 Christians and wounding 100 Christians and Muslims.
This is by no way normal, but rather an act of shame and disgrace. When we have come to the point of brutally attacking and killing people in their Sacred Prayer-houses during their celebrations and prayers, we must admit that we really have come a long way from what we used to be. Especially in Egypt, Christians and Muslims used to cope with each other quite normally, without any problems. Yet, we have abandoned that fact some time ago. Now everything seems so far away that we do not even know where we had started. Tolerance, acceptance and understanding have been flushed down the drain. One can barely find anyone with a bit of conscience and respect.
What problems would such an attack solve? Where would such a life-style lead us to in some years? Where has our sense of humanity gone to? Utopia is not so bad and is achievable. So work on it.
If anyone plans on killing anything, it should be killing the hate and intolerance in people, not promoting it and forcing it to flourish. So to those who planned and executed the attack: Go to hell. You do not deserve to live in this world.
And peace to the rest of the world. Amen.
This is by no way normal, but rather an act of shame and disgrace. When we have come to the point of brutally attacking and killing people in their Sacred Prayer-houses during their celebrations and prayers, we must admit that we really have come a long way from what we used to be. Especially in Egypt, Christians and Muslims used to cope with each other quite normally, without any problems. Yet, we have abandoned that fact some time ago. Now everything seems so far away that we do not even know where we had started. Tolerance, acceptance and understanding have been flushed down the drain. One can barely find anyone with a bit of conscience and respect.
What problems would such an attack solve? Where would such a life-style lead us to in some years? Where has our sense of humanity gone to? Utopia is not so bad and is achievable. So work on it.
If anyone plans on killing anything, it should be killing the hate and intolerance in people, not promoting it and forcing it to flourish. So to those who planned and executed the attack: Go to hell. You do not deserve to live in this world.
And peace to the rest of the world. Amen.
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