Insha'allah

Oh it's been awhile my nonexistent blog followers. I'm not sure why I even feel compelled to post right now. Boredom, perhaps?

So since I last posted Mubarak has stepped down as the president of Egypt. A blessing for sure. And now Egyptians are left to figure out their democracy. It's painful and unnerving to have so much uncertainty but hopefully one day it will shine as a beacon of democracy in the region. Insha'allah.

Unfortunately, the news out of the Middle East hasn't been easy to swallow lately. Libya, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen are just a few of the countries that have seen young people and those just fed up with their regimes take for the streets. Libya is in all out war right now and the U.S. did get involved. I agree that it was necessary but understand why it makes everyone (American and Middle Eastern) a little uneasy.

The most troubling of all the stories that have come out of the region lately have been the ones about the mistreatment, rape, harassment, and torture of women at the hands of the military in many of these countries. It is both disgusting and shameful. If for nothing else, I hope these demonstrations help us get the word out that women are not treated equally in these countries, regardless of the laws or of the religion. Trust me, this is NOT a Muslim problem and anyone who tries to convince you that it is should not be trusted. 

In other horrifying news, Michelle Bachmann is running for President. Shoot. Me. Now.

I sincerely hope the next campaign season is not focused on the situation in the Middle East, because I know that if it is, it will be dominated by the ignorance on the right. We shouldn't stand for such nonsense, but I know we will, and there will be Americans who agree with their fear mongering bullshit.

Anyway, I'm not sure when I'll get back on these thing or if it's really worth keeping up. I should be looking for a part-time job so I can go to graduate school sometime this millennium....Insha'allah. 

For those of you who don't know. Insha'allah means God willing in Arabic.

Whatalife!

So the last few days have just been breathtaking and stressful. I really can't explain the mix of emotions I feel as I have watched the Egyptian revolution. On one hand, I am SO PROUD to be Egyptian right now and to see my fellow Egyptians fight for the freedoms and liberties we take for granted in America. If democracy wasn't great, none of us brown people would be here to begin with! But it is also very painful to see the chaos and destruction. Egypt is absolutely beautiful. My family was supposed to be there in just one week and I was so excited to show my husband the beautiful African nation my ancestors are from. The place I was conceived! TMI? Maybe.

Anyway, to see buildings burn, people die, and museums looted just breaks my heart in a way I really can't explain in words. Saturday night was really rough for me. I couldn't stop crying. I just want my motherland to be ok. I just want to be able to visit it one day soon and show my husband (and one day my future kids), the beautiful place that I come from. 

Egyptians are both extremely passionate and sometimes very stubborn, but they are a loving people and I know they are doing this because of their love for their country and for each other. They are sick of being given anything less than what they deserve. 

Hosni Mubarak has been tolerated for so long because yes, he's been tough on terrorism, and yes, he has grown the economy and tourism. But where has the money gone? In the pockets of the Mubarak family and his other colleagues. The Egyptian people have never seen any of it. The lack of a organized garbage pick up system is enough of a clue as to how the country works. Remember when they slaughtered all the pigs in the country for fear of the swine flu? It was an uneducated and misguided decision that disproportionately affected Christian Egyptians and left the streets of Egypt filled with trash. I also remember the story of many Egyptian men who were depressed that without finding a stable job, they could never get married, and therefore are left to find other means to make a life for themselves, sometimes turning to fundamental religion to fill the void.

There are so many stories in my family alone. For instance, why is every educated person in my family a teacher? Because Egyptians don't get to choose their career paths and even when they do Christians are rarely given the opportunity to become professionals in a trade such as medicine or business, but rather are told to become teachers. (One of the major reasons my father came to America in the first place. If you know how impatient my father is, you understand why he could NOT be a high school science teacher.)

So as Egyptians (and yes, Egyptian-Americans), we wait and pray. Christian or Muslim, we pray for our people, for their freedoms, and for peace in our beautiful country. 

I'll leave you with this great song (by a Lebanese singer, ironically enough). Please disregard the terrible grammar and spelling in the translation. English is not his/her first language. ha.

Close the light!

I guess I'm blogging now. I've thought about doing this for years and I have finally taken the plunge. I would have done this earlier, except I'm constantly afraid someone, somewhere will judge me for it. I have many fears but chief among them are a) I will be a huge disappointment to my family, and b) I will be judged.  I think my fear of being judged by people I respect is mostly due to my Egyptian roots. In a typical Egyptian-American household you probably hear the word, "haram" or "shame" on a regular basis. 

Just today my father, a man who I strongly think could have his own entertaining "Shit-My-Day-Says" like Twitter account, voiced his grave concern over the behavior of the Egyptian protests. The Egyptian middle class, and largely the young people who can't find jobs and therefore can't have a stable personal life either, are protesting like crazy today. While I see them as being inspired by the current events in Tunisia, my dad sees it as"copy-cat" act with no meaning or purpose.

"These people are stupid. And they're all kids. Where are their parents? Ehhhh I don't know."

God, I mean can't you see the hope in the revolution at all? My Parents: Christians who claim persecution, but are largely ok with the status quo? It just confuses me.


So why did I name this "close the light." Because it's just a very Egyptian thing to say. Sort of like "Where are their parents?!" Plus this is my blog, I can do and say what I want!


So as impending doom may be falling onto my motherland, I patiently await our American President, currently shaking hands, and making his way to the front of the House Chamber to deliver his 2011 State of the Union Address. I'm excited because in addition to being a burdened Egyptian. I am also a giant nerd.


Let's see if Boehner cries!