"And I think the lack of US Muslim radicalism can be explained by looking at class. The charts in the Post made the following useful comparisons between US and UK Muslims:

College education. 59% of US Muslims have a Bachelor’s degree or higher (compared to 27% of the population). In the UK, only 12% do (compared to 17% of the population).

Income. 52% of US Muslims make $50K and above (compared with 45% of the population). Although there aren’t equivalent numbers for the UK, the chart indicates that UK Muslims earn 68% of non-Muslims and have the highest unemployment rate in the country.

I think that explains a lot, and much more than the ideological/culture argument does. After all, you have two similar religious minorities living in Western secular nations — but with vastly different levels of radicalism. Of course, correlation does not causation make, but I’ll stick with class until I hear a better explanation." (Publius Pundit)

I think it is possible to be tickled to death.

Yes, SilverKey has a color blind web designer and his article on color blindness got 100,000 page views in less than 24 hours after being listed on digg.com.

SilverKey Egypt August 2006 - yeah, every developers gets two monitors. The wall behinds show some left behind screen prototypes for systems that we are working on. Yes, the whole office is full of various screen prototypes and db diagrams. In this picture you have an Indonesian, a Morrocan, an American and Egyptians.

just in case you are wondering.

Today I woke up late - 8.30, 2 hours later than the usual 6.30 morning call - I went out and find a spring like Cairo morning weather. There are days where I feel pessimistic about the future of this country, but not today.

This weekend I hung out with a friend, who belongs to the high class of Egyptian society and used to have a friend named Dodi who died in 1997 in a fatal car crash in London.  It was interesting to see how the high class live their lives here - it's the same lifestyle lived in the upper strata of society in the Western World.

No, I am not about to go into the tirades about how bad income equalities is in Egypt (for the fact our breakfast probably cost more than a month salary for a lowly government employee with 3 kids) nor frown upon their lifestyle.

I am a capitalist pig afterall. People should be able to spend and live the way they want it to be.

I have little care about income equalities - I think it matters little in a developing world. What I care about is the massive reduction of poverty and improvement of quality of life, not income equality.

"It may sound a bit odd but that's really what I felt in Egypt that I don't feel in my war-torn city; for the first time in 3 years I felt the restrains of government…I told one of my colleagues I feel safe in Baghdad despite the dangers, I may feel afraid of terrorists or random violence but I never fear the government and that's not only how I feel, Iraqis are not afraid of expressing their differences with the authority because we in Iraq have more or les became part of that authority the day we elected our representatives while terrorists and militias are nothing more than temporary phenomenon that unlike constitution and elections have no solid foundations." (Iraq the Model)

"The majority of Indonesian Muslims still believe a secular state is more suitable for the country than an Islamic or Western-style liberal system, a survey found.

But the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) also recorded increasing fears among respondents that fundamentalist groups are systematically working to establish an Islamic state through the implementation of sharia-based bylaws.

A total of 69.6 percent of the 700 respondents (88 percent Muslims) from the 33 provinces said the inclusive Pancasila ideology was the most ideal political system. Only 11.3 percent believed that Indonesia should adopt an Islamic political system similar to that in the Middle East.

"We're rather surprised with this finding," LSI executive director Denny J.A. told a press conference here Thursday. "This corroborates the old belief that Muslims here are mostly moderate.""

(NY Times)

I discovered her last year - since then, it's been a strange, twisted and psychedelic journey. I would not have it any other way.




She might look innocent here, but in reality she's an Ice Cream eating monster.

We are the only company in Egypt that has a color blind web designer. His article "How I (color blind person) see the world" just become the top post on digg.com for the week.

"The terms Islamic nationalism and pan-Islamism have a negative connotation in the West, where they are associated with fundamentalism and terrorism. But that is increasingly not the case in Egypt. Under the dual pressures of foreign military attacks in the region and a government widely viewed as corrupt and illegitimate, Islamic groups are seen by many people as incorruptible, disciplined, efficient and caring. A victory for Hezbollah in Lebanon is by extension a victory for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt."

If you take a look at history, Islamic groups are incorruptible, disciplined, efficient and caring when they are not in power.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts the most. It is not whether your leader is a cleric or not. In fact, IMHO, for Indonesia, our best president in the past decade has been  Abdurrrahman Wahid, a cleric with a worldly view and a wicked sense of humour.

""But there is no doubting Wahid's commitment to interfaith harmony.  He tells Indonesian Muslims that they can learn from Christianity and Christian life, and has dispatched armed members of Nadhlatul Ulama to protect Christian churches from Islamist violence.  Not long ago, one of Wahid's Muslim adherents was killed when he discovered a bomb in a church and used his body to shield the Christian worshipers from its blast.  That stunning act of selflessness is a powerful reminder that Muslims no less than non-Muslims have a great deal riding on the defeat of the Islamofascists -- and that we will not win the war against radical Islam without moderate Muslim allies like Wahid.""


It is a problem when your leader is a cleric and he starts to think that his position is a God given rights. Heck, it is a problem when he is not a cleric - and starts to think he owns the country.

Power corrupts - no matter who you are. What you need is a system that allows check and balances so no one sit on the top of power structure - so you can be at the top of the power chain for a limited period of the time before a great leader falls into its own bullshit and has history condemns him.

I would support religious governance if it means morality in the large, instead of morality in of the small. But that never happens. The first thing any moralistic leadership arise, they start making life less joyful by banning personal actions - because it is easy - instead of building and creating nations and society that contributes to the wealth of humanity.

If you eat it, your father dies - if you don't, your mother dies. (Indonesian proverb)

bleh, my lunch was terrible  - I am feeling sick.

17 August 1945,

"
PROCLAMATION

We, the Indonesian people, hereby declare the independence of Indonesia.

Matters concerning the transfer of power, etc., will be carried out in a conscientious manner and as speedily as possible.

Jakarta, 17th day of August, 45 (note: Japanese calendar year)

In the name of the Indonesian people

<<Soekarno/Hatta's signatures>> Soekarno - Hatta"'

It's probably the most compact declaration of independence ever but the ramification was huge. Soonafter had to handle and deal with the Dutch/Allied Powers invasion. The revolutionary war lasted until 1949. We won. Yay.

I really now discover that balancing life-work is really hard. Before, I just ignore it.

"I have little information and I am sure @ has considered this decision carefully but let me put out some observation about the cost of delaying this.

- There are moments in history where organizations or people made grand gestures that really make a difference - Nixon going to China, a bunch of kids starting exchange among the ruins of Germany and France, ..

And I think going to Lebanon soon is that grand gesture from @ - soon after war ends, @ comes in for peace. That's a grand gesture.

And the next generation of @ Lebanon will remember that.

I know security is a concern, but I think it is proper to listen to the to-be-deployed team and their willingness to take the risk.

-
How many students or especially Arab students who are willing to go and deploy in Lebanon right now for recovery effort?

The recovery efforts require massive amount of highly educated and motivated people and I think it's an opportunity for @ to start in Lebabon with a momentum. Lebanon is in the news and in everybody's mind. You can 'exploit' that. If you do fund raising or introducing @ effort in the region, you have a cause that people automatically identify with.

War and peace is no longer a mere ideological discussion on forums and blogs.

- There is also a matter of 'gut feeling', the one that drive a lot of @ers in doing their good work.

IC is coming in two weeks. You stand in the plenary and announce yes, war happens, but we won't back down either - and see the whole plenary standing in ovation.

There won't be any applause when you say "delay". Why? because that decision although it can be rationalized, it cannot be felt and experienced. And 'experience' matters - if you can't feel it, it ain' matter.

- I tend to bet on people than on circumstances and if I'm losing the good people, circumstances can go and fuck themselves - I will go with people.

It won't happen again that you get a Lebanese-Syrian-American MCP with 6 years of international @ experience that come in and out and live in Lebanon even during the civil wars, saw first hand the carnage and destruction of war and have strong ties to the place. We are arguing about the war here and Nisrin has families in the mountains that have to deal with the situation on the ground as we watch on TV.

And @ would lose her with this delay.

Again, when you are faced with circumstances vs people, bet on your people.

Always bet on your own people." (nomadlife)

My visa in Egypt expires in 08/05/2006. Yes, you are reading it May, I was reading it August.

D U M M Y

A small, concentrated, very specific and niche approach to city guides.

"Malaysia is expecting a court ruling any day now that could shake society to its foundations: does a Muslim have the right to convert to another faith?

A Muslim by birth, Lina Joy decided to become a Christian, marry and raise a family. But in Malaysia, where Islam is the official religion, this is an affair of state, not conscience."(Reuter)

It is absurd that this is actually a state issue in the first place.

Read my lips, state must stop trying to save our fuckin' soul. 

Fear is a strong emotion - one of the core emotion that we have over anything else - it is part of our essential surviving tool. It is good to have healthy respect for fear as it tries to tell your something is amiss.

On the other hand, fear only deals with your survival, not your desire for life.

“lei deve pretendere di vivere un mondo migliore,  non sia contente di sopravivere” (“you must demand living in a better world, don't be content to merely survive”)

Couraggio, as without it, there is no wonder and discovery - no new bonds - nor opportunities.

Let's the stastistics of life take their chances on life, but as long as you  keep moving forward, they will never catch up.

"
In my opinion, what really is the reason of that problem is that Frida as an SN didin get any kinda of preparation before she leaves Kenya. I mean that the 1st thing ppl say to their SNs is how to deal with culture shocks and how to respect the cultural differences. I think we as AIESEC Egypt cannot blame ourselves cause of an SN who does not want even to listen to others opinion."
(etravels)

Above is a snippet from one of the local  @cers in responding to the email that one female trainee from Kenya. She's mainly complaining about the staring and catcalling she got when she walked on the street of Cairo.

"There is a lot of cultural differences between Egypt and where i came from especially in terms of people's attitude. I find it very uncomfortable that people (except guys) cut-call and stare a little bit too much; doesn't matter the age, young or old. Didin't their mums ever tell them it is rude and idiotic to stare? No it is not uncomfortable; it is annoying."

Getting catcalls all the time while walking on the street is harassment folks. There is no requirement to understand it. You can see the quoted posting come from a dude. It is very immature to blame "the preparation of @ Kenya" for the female trainee. What are they going to do? "Please girls, make sure that you get used to getting stared by old men and dirty looks while walking on the street in Cairo".

You cannot prepare someone to get used to getting harassed. Catcalls is rude and embarassing.

For guys reader here, there's no way we can understand how it feels.

No wonder plenty of local women here wear headscarves. Good idea.

And yes, any good impressions you get from the famous Arab hospitality go out of the window because of the daily barrage of these hostiles "innocent acts".

That it is part of "cultural understanding" is no excuse. If it is really part of the culture, man, that's nothing to be proud of - it's a national tragedy. There is no dignity in bothering women on the street.

My bed broke yesterday.

You cannot change the world by being reasonable (Read "AIESEC Lebanon is delayed for one year")

“Sharon never had to prove he was Sharon,” the official said. “To be prime minister of Israel, the Jews must trust you and the Arabs need to fear you. Sharon had those qualities. Olmert still needs to prove that he is Sharon.”

The result, he and others argue, is that Mr. Olmert has responded with a ferocity in Lebanon that Mr. Sharon would not have chosen. At the same time, Mr. Sharon’s neglect of Hezbollah’s arsenal left Mr. Olmert far more vulnerable.

Leaders of Hezbollah and its sponsors said they did not expect Israel’s harsh counteroffensive. However ferociously he had fought Yasir Arafat and Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza, Mr. Sharon never reacted that way in Lebanon while prime minister. In 2004, he exchanged 430 prisoners and the bodies of 59 Lebanese for an Israeli citizen taken by Hezbollah and the bodies of three Israeli soldiers held by the militia. Hezbollah calculated that his more moderate successor, Mr. Olmert, would be open to similar negotiations."

(NYTimes)

If you are reading the press on the West, they always talk about the "Arab Street" opinion. Let me bring you some perspective from the Redneck land of America obtained from Redneck Texan with his dancing girl :)

I will provide commentary later.

"Fundamental Islamists take over our embassey in Iran and hold hostages for 444 days and we do---nothing.
Fundamental Islamists are trying to eject the Soviet's from Afghanistan and we-----give em a hand.
Fundamental Islamists attack our Marines in Lebanon on a peacekeeping mission, and we-----pull out.
Fundamental Islamists blow up an airplane over Lockerbie Scotland and we-----throw some bombs at Ghaddafi, he gets the message.
Fundamental Islamists kill our troops on a peacekeeping/humanitarian aid mission in Somalia and we-----withdraw.
Fundamental Islamists try to blow up the world trade center, and we ---- catch some of the perps, and otherwise do nothing.
Christians are killing Muslims in Yugoslavia and we----bomb the crap out of the Christians, and commit peacekeeping forces.
Fundamental Islmaists blow up the USS Cole, and we ---do nothing, and our administration even obstructs the investigation.
Fundamental Islamists blow up two embassies in Africa, killing hundreds and wounding thousands and we-----bomb a pill factory.
Fundamental Islamists knock down the Twin Towers, and we-- finally get pissed." (Pofarmer)

"What AT refuses to understand is that he is preaching to the choir, and that the people he loves to come here and insult are going to be the people he's going to expect to protect him from backlash in the event of a major terrorist attack. The vast majority of Americans, including myself, understand and support the Muslim community and believe that these lunatics do not represent the vast majority of Islam. But with each insult, accusation of bigotry, indulgence in moral equivalence and especially, refusal to categorically condemn terrorism for what it is, as opposed to a reaction to an external stimuli, that confidence and support dwindles and erodes. And when AT finds that there is no one to speak up for him when the angry mob comes, he will have no one but himself to blame." (JM)

" Great comment Metin...seriously.

It will take continued dialog and discussion between cultures, and societies, and religions, as well as scholars, and educators. And we must allow for the proper environment for them to be able to do so.

But that sounds like a pipe dream to me.

Bottom line to me seems to be the bad guys and their supporters have the good guys out gunned....and out balled.

Even if half the Muslim world were to stand up and denounce the radicals the radicals will simply gun them down on the street. All the good intentions in the world wont accomplish anything if they can be silenced with a well placed bullet or bomb."  (RT)

Commentary

Let me start by saying Peace Must Pay, in the form of secure civil society, solid social fabric, high level of education, respectful interconnection between cultures and nations. We are in the era where a small empowered group of people can change the world, for the bad or the good. You  do not need to become a head of Germany in 1930's to fuck up civilizations. All you need is  a rich dad and a wacko Egyptian doctor friend and kills a couple of thousands of people and benefits from the defeaning silences from billions of people.

You can change the world by killing less people nowadays. Societies must care otherwise we will lose. We need to stop making enemies of people that are different and disagree with us - because the real enemies lie lurking in the shadow bidding their time when mistrusts among societies have reach a bottom before making their final damage.

About religious conflicts, be it Islam, Judaism, Christianity, etc - religions do not kill  - religious people do.

And I have come to the conclusion some people just do not fit to have a religion. Maybe we can do a proper fit and test everytime one embrace a religion.

Apparently my previous Middle East Peace Proposal is not received well. So here comes another attempt to crack this hard problem.

Good morning from the region of wars and tribulations.