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Showing posts with label Reflections-تأملات. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflections-تأملات. Show all posts

21.3.11

ظاهرة الاستفتاء

"كل ما يأتي إلى مصر يتمصر"
كما قال الشاعر العراقي مهدي الجواهري، وقد أثبتت هذه العبارة صحتها طوال أيام الثورة المصرية وحتى بعد تنحي الرئيس السابق ما زالت تثبت صحتها!

فالشعب المصري هو الوحيد القادر على تحويل الاستفتاء من مجرد استفتاء عادي إلى ظاهرة فريدة من نوعها! وعلى الرغم من أني لم أحضر استفاء من قبل ولا أعرف كيف تكون الاستفتاءات إلا أنه كان هناك عدة مظاهر غريبة لا أعتقد أنها تمت للاستفتاءات العادية بصلة! بعضها حدث في الفترة السابقة للاستفتاء والبعض الأخر حدث لي أثناء وقوفي في الطابور للإدلاء بصوتي، حاولت هنا كتابة بعض هذه المظاهر على سبيل المثال وليس الحصر.

  •  الاستفتاء اللا سياسي:
    • بالرغم من أن الاستفتاء يخص تعديل مواد سياسية، إلا أن بعض المصرين نجحوا في تحويله إلى أمر عاطفي بحت! فتري في الشارع ملصقات عليها صورة خالد سعيد ووالدته ومكتوب تحتها "صوت ب لا عشان أمي تاخد عزائي"! (أو شئ من هذا القبيل).. ما العلاقة بين التصويت ب لا وعزاء خالد سعيد الذي توفي منذ ما يقرب من عام! دعك من كرهي التام لعملية الكلام على لسان الموتى هذه، فما أدراك إذا كان ما يزال حياً أليس من المحتمل أنه كان سيصوت ب نعم؟!
    • هناك أيضاً ذلك الإعلان في أحد الصحف القومية الذي يحث المسلمين على التصويت ب نعم من أجل الإسلام! فعلى الرغم من أني ضد الرأي بأن الدين لا دخله له بالسياسة (لأن الدين منهج حياة متكامل) ولكني لم أستطع فهم الصلة بين قبول التعديلات والإسلام، فلا يوجد في المواد المعدلة حلال أو حرام!
    • أنا أعترض إذاً أنا موجود:
      رأيت هذا النموذج للأسف في لجنة الاستفتاء، البعض يشعر أن الفرصة قد واتته أخيراً ليعترض ويرفض ويصوت ب لا دون أن تأتي النتيجة النهائية ب 99% نعم.. فكيف يمكنه تضيع هذه الفرصة الذهبية؟!
      وهناك أيضاً من كانوا يصوتون ب لا فقط لأن الأخوان صوتوا ب نعم، أو صوتوا ب نعم لأن بعض المسيحيين صوتوا ب لا!
      وفي كلتا الحالتين هم لا يهتمون حقاً بالمواد المعدلة، المهم الاعتراض!!
  •  القدوة:
    أحد المظاهر التي لم أستطع استيعابها أيضاً كان إعلان أخر في جريدة المصري اليوم لعدد من "الفنانين" مثل منى زكي وأحمد حلمي وعمرو سلامة وغيرهم من الشخصيات "المحترمة" (كما ذُكر على أحد المواقع) يحثون فيه المواطنين على رفض التعديلات الدستورية! حقاً لا أفهم لماذا يعتقد هؤلاء "الفنانون" أنهم خبراء سياسيون وواجبهم أن ينصحوا الناس! ولا أفهم أيضاً لماذا يصر بعض الناس على أن أي شخص "محترم" هو شخص خبير ودائماً على صواب!!
    لم يقوم المصريون –في اعتقادي— بهذه الثورة ليأتي أي شخص ويملي عليهم ما يجب فعله! فالمصريون في ميدان التحرير لم يكتشفوا فقط أن لديهم صوت، بل لديهم رأي أيضاً وعقل قادر على تكوين هذا الرأي دون تدخل من أحد.
  • الديمقراطية:
    هل نحن شعب غير مؤهل للديمقراطية حقاً كما قال نائب الرئيس –المخلوع— عمرو سليمان؟! فكل ما رأيته في الأسبوع السابق للاستفتاء كان محبط للغاية، الكل يحاول إقناع الأخر برأيه دون المحاولة للاستماع لوجهة النظر الأخرى، الكل متمسك برأيه بطريقة مثيرة للدهشة حقاً! لم أجد (غير القليلون للغاية) من يعرض وجهتي النظر بحيادية تامة ويترك القرار النهائي للطرف الأخر (فهذه في نظري هي الديمقراطية!)، فأغلب الندوات التي تم عقدها لمناقشة الدستور كان المُحاضر يعرض فيها وجهة نظرة فقط.
    دعك من الهواية المفضلة لدي البعض باتهام كل من يختلف معهم في الرأي، فكل من يقول نعم يفتح الباب للإرهاب وكل من يقول لا يعطل حال البلد!
  • الطابور الأطول:
    ذهبت في الصباح للإدلاء بصوتي ولكن بسبب الزحام الشديد والتزامي ببعض المواعيد اضطررت لترك اللجنة، ثم ذهبت إلى لجنة أخري في المساء، وفي كلتا اللجنتين كان دائماً الطابور الأخر هو الطابور الأقصر والأسرع! وعلى الرغم من الشكوى المستمرة ممن يقفون حولي من بطء هذا الطابور وسرعة الأخر إلا أن أحدهم لم يترك هذا الطابور البطيء لينضم للأسرع!
    مما جعلني أتسأل لماذا ينظر بعض الناس لما عند غيرهم ويستمرون في الشكوى دون محاولة تحسين أوضاعهم؟!
    (عندما وصلت لباب اللجنة أكتشف أن الطابورين بنفس الطول والسرعة تقريباً)
  • م جاتش عليّا:
    لسوء حظي كانت تقف أمامي سيدة "حاجزه" لعائلتها، وعندما أبديت اعتراضي أخبرتني أحد أقاربها (التي أتت بعدي بساعة!) إنها "م جاتش عليها"!!
    كنت أريد أن أسألها لماذا أتت لتدلى بصوتها إن كانت تعتقد حقاً إنها "م جاتش عليها"؟ فهي بعد كل شئ مجرد شخص واحد لن يعطلني وقوفها أمامي ولن يغير صوتها في نتيجة الاستفتاء على أية حال!

أتمنى حقاً ألا أرى المزيد من المظاهر الفريدة بعد ظهور نتيجة الاستفتاء ب نعم برغم من اعتراض الكثيرين!

24.12.10

Free Your Mind!

*This was originally written as a facebook note

You know what, today I discovered how much I'm really blessed...
I'm blessed because I don't have people who like things I write or links I share only because everyone else does so!
During this game of “inbox me a number and I’ll write something about you in my status”, a guy wrote this status “Dear facebook you can have this nickname… أرض النفاق!”, and I think that it’s –unfortunately- very true.
I am blessed because I don’t have people who post hearts on my wall because I am Miss Popular! And I'm blessed because I know that those who do that to me do it because they really mean it, and when they say “I miss you” they say it because my absence from their lives has affected them.
I am blessed because I don’t have 785 friends in my friends’ list, 75% of whom I hardly know!
I am blessed because I don’t find it necessary to write “happy birthday” to people who won’t really care if I wished them a happy birthday or not, and most probably they won’t even notice if I didn’t. And as for those people who would care and notice, I always find better ways to wish them a happy birthday.
I am blessed because I believe that: Actions speak louder than facebook posts!
And finally, I am blessed to have people like you in my life, so true… so not fake. So please stay always as you are.

“It’s better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you are not” ~ Andre Gide (A French writer, humanist, and moralist who received the Nobel Prize for Literature)

17.11.10

A Message to the Universe 2: Healing Phase

Dear Universe,
Being extraordinary is not about people who surround me, it is just who I am. I do not need anyone to make me feel good about myself, or that I have the ability to do whatever I want, because simply I believe in ME.

I will not let anything bring me down. No one shall make me feel inferior. Hard times are there so that I grow stronger and wiser. For me, the lesson behind any problem is more important than the problem itself; that is how I can turn obstacles to opportunities.

I may not be able to change the world, but I sure can change myself. I do not want to be part of the problem but rather be the solution. I will not complain about how bad and rude people have become or how unjust this country is; I will simply take the first steps to change everything I hate by being the change I want to see in this world.

I have learnt that happiness is never in the huge but rather in these everyday little blessings. Happiness is in the smile of an innocent child, in the satisfaction of an old grandmother. Happiness is about counting the great blessings I have, not about focusing on what I missed. It is about building the perfect future rather than regretting a painful past. Happiness is in giving not in gaing. It is in the smile I draw in someone's face. Happiness is a way of life, not a destination.

Dear Universe, I have to be myself because life is too short to be anyone else. I cannot waste my life regretting what had happened or feeling sorry about what could have been. I cannot let others control my life or wait for a hero to make it better for me. I have one life to live, so I better make the best of.


Yours sincerely,
Alaa Essam El-Feqi

21.10.10

A Pen & A Paper

Words! I just love this word "words". I love to see words next to each other. And what I love more is creating these words: holding an empty white paper and filling it with words, words that carry meanings, meanings that can change people's lives.

As a child, reading was my favorite activity. I dreamt that one day I would write a book that people would enjoy reading and it might even improve their lives. I wanted to imitate those people who helped in shaping my identity.

And I did imitate them.. I started writing when I was in preparatory school, but till today I can say that only two or three pieces of what I wrote are worth reading from my own point of view. Maybe because I started as an imitator that now I cannot create my own ideas?! It didn't seem to matter to me, as long as I write and create, as long as I put my ideas and the ideas of people smarter than me on paper .

But lately, it seems like my mind has gone blank. Every time I open my blog to write about a topic that had been occupying my mind, I don't find any words to express my thoughts; some other times I write a phrase or two then save the post as a draft. This made me really sad, because writing was one of the few hobbies I had.

Today, however, I decided to go back to the old writing methods; I decided to use my real pen, instead of the key-board, to fill an empty paper with words, even if they are meaningless, and it did work.

My dear blog, forgive me, but I love my notebook much more than you...

12.9.10

For Future Family Reunions

For any coming family reunion please do the following:

  • Unless you are asked for advice, stop telling people what they should do in their lives, because honestly no one wants to take the advice of a person he sees only twice a year!!

  • Stop commenting on everyone's outfit, makeup, etc!

  • Don't you ever tell a girl that she has gained a lot of wight since the last time you saw her and start preaching about how she should lose weight before getting married or else she would never be able to return to how she was before!!!

  • Never ask a newly married couple if there are any expected babies!

  • Don't tell the unmarried how important marriage is and how they should put it before their career or college!

  • STOP saying how much the younger generation is spoiled and the older one used to be more responsible, ethical, hardworking, etc.

  • Don't talk about people behind their backs thenin order to appear honest you start saying what you said behind their back in a better, friendly laughing manner!

  • And finally, if you don't have something new to say, shut up and stop repeating the same boring conversations you repeat every single reunion. (You might as well record a tape and play it every reunion instead!)

20.5.10

A Message to the Universe (1): Uncertainty

Dear Universe,
I’m in an endless journey towards maturity. I do lots of foolish things. I see things from my own perspective, which is very limited, and act according to it. I make mistakes no one makes but me. Sometimes I act like a three-year-old girl, thinking that I’m the wisest ever.



Dear Universe, I hate my stupidity. I hate my limited perspective and my childish mind. I’m not even sure that, when I grow older, I’ll grow any wiser.



Dear Universe, I’m not talented. I have no special abilities; I cannot draw, write, sing, compose, dance, create, understand others’ feelings or even express myself. I also don’t have any super natural powers; I can’t fly, read people’s mind, move things without touching them, or control minds. I’m just like any other human with nothing distinguishable.



Dear Universe, I just wish that someday, with my limited mind and abilities, I would do something of significance.



Yours Sincerely,
Alaa Essam El-Feqi

14.5.10

Being Bilingual in an Arab Nation

Being in the third year (the year before last) in college, I started worrying about my career after I finish and all these stuff. So, I started asking some of my graduate friends about the most required skills I should have and write in my CV. To my surprise, they all agreed upon two things: second language and computer skills.
As for the computer, I sure agree about that, we are in the age of technology after all, everyday appears a new gadget! But what surprised me is the second language thing.
I live in Egypt, which is -supposedly- an Arab country. My mother tongue is Arabic, my culture is that of an Arab nation, why then should I have a second language in order to find a proper job?!
When I thought about it, I found that it's not only about finding a proper job; it's become a style of life! I have lots of friends who speak English most of the time, thinking that by doing this, they will appear more educated or something. I also know some people who can't express themselves in Arabic, even though they were born in Egypt and raised here. And the strange thing is that they don't feel ashamed of themselves or even think that there is anything wrong with them.
Could globalization be an answer for this strange phenomenon? Then why don't people in America and England speak Arabic? Or does this globalization process works only one way?! Or maybe it's the effect of the English colonization, but I think that people use a second language nowadays more than they used to do during the colonization times.
Well, I think it's just a natural result for the European and American ideological invasion which the Arabs follow blindly.
I know some people may think that it's highly ironic to write about such a topic using another language other than the language I'm trying to restore in our Arab society; but the truth is, I, myself, am a victim of the education system in my country. I was in a language school and when I finished it I joined a department in college in which everything I study is in English. Yet, that doesn't mean that I use words like "Hey dude!" and "cool" in my everyday life conversations; and I also don't my ignore my own language favoring the English one; on the contrary, I do enjoy reading Arabic books and articles and try to develop my written Arabic.

3.5.10

إعتذار

دايماً بعتبر نفسي شخصية غريبة، ساعات بتعلم حاجات من ناس حواليا ومش شرط يكونو قريبين منّي، بالعكس ممكن يكون حد متكلمتش معاه غير مرتين بس أتعلمت منه حاجه متعلمتهاش من ناس أعرفهم بقالي سنين، وده مبيدلش بإي حال من الأحوال إن مش الحد ده أحسن من الناس دي. ممكن حد يقول كلمة قدامي أو يعمل تصرف معين يغير في شخصيتي من غير حتي ميكون واخد باله..
من كام يوم كنت بتكلم مع بنت قلتلي كلمة علقت معايا أوي، "لو متعرفينيش يبقي متحكميش عليّه" ( أو حاجه زي كده D: )، ورغم إني ممكن أكون سمعت الكلمة دي أو كلام زيها قبل كده كتير، بس ربنا أراض إن المره دي بالذات هي اللي الكلام يعلق فيها معايا.
لما روحت فضلت أفكر في الناس اللي حكمت عليهم من غير معرفهم بجد، أو الناس اللي علاقتي بيهم علاقة "سطحية" وحكمت عليهم من أول إنطباع أخدته عنهم أو حتي من كلام الناس عنهم.  يااااه!!!!! أنا في كذا حد عملت معاه كده! أنا إزاي بعمل كده؟! طيب هو معني كده إني ظلمت الناس دي؟! أكيد ظلمتهم.. طيب هم ممكن يسمحوني؟ لو أنا كنت مكنهم كنت حسامحهم؟ مش عارفه...
أعتقد إن الحل إني أبدأ بنفسي وأبطل أحكم علي أي حد مهما كان، أولاً لأني مش في مكانة تسمحلي إني أحكم علي أي حد، ثانياً أنا بني أدمة زيّ زيهم وزي مهما ممكن يكونو بيغلطو أنا كمان بغلط، علي الأقل أنا مش متأكدة من غلطاتهم بس متأكدة من اللي أنا بعمله، مما يعني إنهم أحسن منّي.
أنا ححاول أشوف الحاجة الحلوه في الناس ومديش لنفسي الحق إني أحكم علي أي حد، وأكيد لو عملت كده حبقى مبسوطة أكتر وأنا بتعامل مع الناس كلها
أنا حبدأ بنفسي... =)

(ملحوظة: الكلام ده أنا كنت كتباه لنفسي، فأنا بأعتذر لو في أخطاء في اللغة أو لو الأسلوب ركيك :))

24.4.10

The "It was nice to meet you" Attitude

One of the most things I dislike in people is the "it was nice to meet you" attitude. You know when you meet someone you hardly know and after you say hey, how are you then you find him saying "it was nice meeting you" and you know that he does not really mean it. In situations like this, I find myself unable to reply so I give them a fake smile.
Also people who keeps saying "I love you" over and over again with no occasion at all are really weird! Well, it's ok to show others how you feel towards them every now and then, but it's sure not ok to keep buzzing around like the most annoying bee in the world, it's really makes the one you addressing your feelings to very uncomfortable! It's really awkward!
For me, I would rather be rude than be fake. I know that sometimes truth does hurt but it's better than just pretending that everything is perfect! I have tried so many times to be just like everyone else, to be fake, but I always failed. So, I've finally decided that I won't change my attitude to please people, let them call me rude, call me stupid, call me whatever, I'm just who I am and I am not going to change for anyone's sake.
Well, I'm not that rude after all, don't get me wrong. I don't go around telling people how ugly they look like or stuff like that; I just hate to say what is not true. So, if I told you that I miss you, then I would really mean it. And if you ask me what's my opinion about something I dislike, I'll probably tell you how to make it better.
So, for heavens sake, be yourself and stop being so fake. This will make all the difference.

16.4.10

The "Check Your Inbox" Phenomenon

One of the most annoying phenomenon that happens a lot these days on facebook is the "Check Your Inbox" phenomenon. Every time I go through profiles of some friends, I find the whole wall full of "Check your inbox" posts.
In my opinion, this can only have one of two reasons: either these people are discussing secret affairs but at the same time they want everyone on facebook to know that they are doing that and at the same time also they are teasing them because they don't know what these secret affairs are; or that facebook became suddenly stupid and started hiding notifications from people or erasing messages before people get to see them.
And if you asked any of these people why don't they write what they have on their friends wall instead of all this ambiguity, they will simply say "We are professional dude! We don't write about our work on facebook walls!!" As if it's professional to discuss work issues in a facebok message!! If you want to be that professional, then why don't you simply send an e-mail instead of using facebook!! And if it's really that urgent, use your mobile phone to tell them to check their e-mail.
Well, some people have their excuses of course, I'm not generalizing. But others really write to each other on the wall as soon as they send any message, and I won't be exaggerating to say that I once opened a friend's profile to find every single post on her wall consits of these three words "Check-Your-Inbox".
So please, if you want to be professional, act like one, cause I'm really sick of all these "Check your inbox" posts...

Give Them a Hand!


I was on my way to college just like any other day, when I saw this old woman setting on the pavement and asking everyone who passed by her for something but they all ignored her; so I thought she must be a beggar or something and I decided not to look at her when I pass by.
Just when I was in front of her I found her saying "Help me stand up please, may God bless you"!!!!!! I was in a state of shock! WHY DIDN'T ANYONE WANT TO HELP HER?! WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THENKING WHEN THEY JUST PASSED BY WITHOUT GIVING HER A HAND???!!!
This state of shock made me unable to say a word; I couldn't even smile while helping the old weak woman. And while I was helping her to stand up, she kept praying for me.
I wanted to hug her! I didn't know what to do so I gave her a weak smile and left. But while I was waiting for the CTA, I couldn't stop thinking why did no one help her? What has happened to us? Since when did the Egyptians become so unhelpful?? We Egyptians are known as one of the most friendly people; how come they didn't help the old woman!
OK, forget about being friendly and helpful and all these things, but what about being Muslims! Haven't they heard what our prophet (peace be upon him) said "كان الله في عون العبد مادام العبد في عون اخيه"??
Maybe they didn't remember that at the time, but what about being a human!! whatever your nationality is or your religion, just having a heart that beats is still enough to make anyone pass by an old woman help her.

Or do you think there is unknown hidden reason I dunno for not helping her???

14.4.10

Life Has Taught Me!

(This was a note I wrote on facebook long ago)


Life has taught me...Share

13 July 2008 at 23:53
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1- DO care about people who love you cause they are more important than those you love.
2- DO NOT trust anyone.
3- DO NOT fall in love.
4- DO NOT complain to anyone but God.
5- DO NOT expect anyone to be there for you but you have to be there for everyone.
6- DO NOT depend on anyone but yourself.
7- DO NOT make the one you love number one in ur life, number one should be ur career, studying,etc.
8- DO NOT say how exactly do u feel cause people will either fool you or consider you impolite.
9- DO NOT dream big cause you do not always get what you want.
10- DO forgive people cause they are no angels.

*As for I do NOTHING from the above =D
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24-2-09

Well, I have written this note a quite long time ago and some of my views have changed, so I think I should rewrite this note

1- DO care about people who love you cause they are more important than those you love.
2- DO NOT totally trust ANYONE.
3- Do fall in love but always remember "علمت ان رزقي لن ياخذه غيري فاطمئن قلبي"
4- DO NOT complain to anyone but God.
5- DO NOT expect anyone to be there for you but you have to be there for everyone.
6- DO NOT depend on anyone but yourself.
7- Number one in your life should be GOD, then comes anything else, and if you have to choose between your career and your loved ones, ask GOD and HE will show you the right path.
8-Always think about what you are going to say even if it is something right, just think if what you are going to say will benfite you and others or not, this hould be your way in measuring anything in your life.
9- DO dream big but DO NOT get disappointed when you fail; always remember there is a second chance. And we always learn and gain experiences when we fail
10- DO forgive people because they are not angels.



*And as forme, I try my best to do the above things =)
**Write one thing that u have learned by experience (try not to repeat what I wrote as much as u can)
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(It's really important to look back every new and then and see the changes that happened to you over the time! =))