Global Voices Online » 2007 » July

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Arabeyes: A Protest for Every Citizen, Al Qaeda and Iranian Provocation

Amira Al Hussaini · 14:40

Locked doors at a university campus, daily demonstrations on busy main roads, an article attacking Bahrain in an Iranian newspaper, Al Qaeda's attacks in North Africa and the death of cultural magazines - on and off-line - are some of the topics being discussed by bloggers writing in Arabic in Bahrain, Algeria and Jordan.

Bahrain: Locked Doors

Bahrania, from Bahrain, writes about arriving to class to a locked classroom and the debate which followed on what students fear most about job interviews.

حاول فتح الباب فرآه مقفل .. تأفف وهذر فابتعدتُ – لا شعورياً – عن المكان بمسافة أكبر من المسافة السابقة. ظل يدخّن، أتذكر أنني قلت لأختي ذات يوم أن المدخنين أناسٌ كادحون! ربما كان هذا الشخص أحد الكادحين.
فتاةٌ أخرى تقترب من باب المبنى. تحاول فتحه، اقتربت منّي وسألتني: مقفل؟ أجبتها بنعم، رغم كون سؤالها عبثياً بعد إذ تأكدت من كونه مقفلٌ قبل انتظار إجابتي. هذه الفتاة لا تشبهني، إني أتقدم نحو الباب وحين يفاجؤني بكونه مقفل أضحك، كدت أقتلعه. خخخخخ
حضر الأستاذ، اتصل برجال الأمن وطلب المفاتيح
دخلنا الصف، الكراسي مرتفعة جداً، وليست مريحة على الرغم من كونها (راقية) نسبة لكراسي جامعة البحرين .. أحد الشباب قال: تعودنا على الفقر يا أستاذ. ضحكنا جميعاً، وأعتقد أن توارد الخواطر ضمّ الجميع
أعاد الأستاذ جوّا من الجدّ للصف بسؤالٍ مفاجئ:
ما الشيء الذي يخيفك في مقابلة التوظيف؟
تم تمرير السؤال
حتى وصل لي
قلت
ما سبق ذكره
قال: فقط؟
قلت: تقريباً، كما تخيفني مقابلة أشخاصٍ جُدد، وقد لا أرتاح لبعض الملامح والوجوه. وكل ذلك قد يؤثر على سير المقابلة.
سألني وهو يضحك
كم مقابلة حضرتِ؟
ولا واحدة، كنت أعتذر عن الحضور حين أسمع أصواتهم في الهاتف، ما زلت أبحث عن صوتٍ يشجعني على الحضور
قال مندهشاً: كيف؟
لم أعلّق أكثر.

He tried opening the door and found it locked. He started grumbling so I found myself unconsciously moving further away. He continued smoking. I remember I once told my sister that smokers were hard working people. He could have been one of those. Another girl approached the door and tried opening it. She came to me and asked me whether it was locked. I told her: “Yes.” I found her question a waste of time as she had already discovered for herself that the door was locked and didn't need an answer from me. This girl is not like me. When I approached the door and found it locked, I laughed and was about to tear it open.. haha..
The professor then arrived and he called security to open the door. He brought back seriousness to the class with a surprise question: “What is the thing that scares you most in a job interview?” Students took turns answering the question until it came to me.
I said: “All that was said before.”
The professor asked: “Is that all?”
I replied: “More or less. I am also afraid of meeting new people, whom I may not feel at ease with their features and faces. That may effect the job interview.”
He asked me while laughing: “And how many job interviews have you sat?”
I replied: “None. I would apologise from attending after hearing their voices on the phone. I am still looking for a voice which will encourage me to attend.
He asked surprised: “How?”
I did not comment further.

Bahrain: A Protest for Every Citizen

Still in Bahrain, Butterfly comments on the number of protests in her country and how a day doesn't pass by without one.

إعتصامات .. إعتصامات

يكاد لا يمر يوم في البحرين دون ان نشهد فيه تظاهرة أو اعتصام لدرجة اننا لم نعد نستطيع حصر هذه الاعتصامات واسبابها. وبسبب خروج هذه الاعتصامات عن نطاق السيطرة وانتهائها بمواجهات عنيفة بل دامية أحيانا مع قوات الشغب لم يعد الكثيرون متحمسون للمشاركة فيها

التظاهرات والاعتصامات عندنا للأسف تفتقر الى النظام والتركيز وتؤدى الى تعطيل مصالح الناس بسبب تنظيمها في شوارع رئيسية تؤدى الى مرافق مهمة. والمحصلة ان قوات الشرطة تقوم باغلاق هذه الشوارع بينما نظل نلف نحن ممن لا ناقة لنا ولا جمل فيما يحصل بالدوران في متاهات مغلقة طوال اليوم حتى تنتهي هذه الاعتصامات وتدب الحياة مرة أخرى في شوارعنا التي لم يكفها الاعطال الناتجة عن أعمال الطرق والاصلاحات الشبه يومية لتنال منها الاعتصامات من جانب آخر

Rallies… Demonstrations…There isn't a day which passes in Bahrain without a demonstration or protest to the extent that we no longer can track those rallies and the reasons behind them. Because those protests are now out of control and end with violent and sometimes bloody confrontations with the riot police, not many people are keen to take part in them. In our country, demonstrations and protests are unfortunately badly organised and end up annoying and delaying people because they are held on main roads, which lead to vital areas. The end result is that the security forces close the main roads and we, the people who have no interest in the rallies have to go around in circles all day long until the demonstrations are over. It seems that the roads which haven't suffered from road works which are on going everyday have no escape from the demonstrations.

Algeria: What's on Iran's Agenda?

From Algeria, Salam Baroudi writes about claims by a hardline Iranian conservative that Bahrain belongs to Iran and should be returned to it.

هل بدأ موسم التحرشات الإيرانية بالعرب؟حماقة تلك التي قام بها “مستشار” المرشد الأعلى للثورة الإسلامية في إيران ورئيس تحرير صحيفة كيهان المتعصبة في طهران عندما قفز على مقتضيات الظروف السياسية التي تعيشها بلاد فارس وأخلط أوراق اللعبة الجغرافية والتاريخية بأوراق المفاعل النووي والحصار الذي تتعرض له إيران فحاول جر مملكة البحرين إلى عرش كسرى، في الحقيقة هذا تطرف سياسي قد يؤدي إلى مغامرة عسكرية ومن حق العرب بعد هذا الجنون والغرور الإيراني الذي قد ينتهي بها إلى مايجري في العراق..

Has the Iranian season to provoke its Arab neighbours started? What the “adviser” of Iran's Supreme Leader and editor of hardline Kihan newspaper in Tehran wrote was stupid when he when jumped over the political situation the land of Persia is going through and mixed the papers of the political and historical games with the papers of the nuclear reactor and the sanctions Iran is facing when he tried to pull the Kingdom of Bahrain to the throne of Khosro Parviz. In reality this political extremism could lead to a military adventure and it will be the right of Arabs after this madness and arrogance on the part of the Iranians (to reply) and this could result in a situation similar to what is happening in Iraq.

Algeria: Al Qaeda in North Africa

Still in Algeria, Saber Blaidi writes about the questions raised by the Al Qaeda attack in Algeria.

لا زالت العملية الانتحارية التي نفذها تنظيم القاعدة في بلاد المغرب الاسلامي، على ثكنة للجيش الجزائري بمدينة الأخضرية شرقي العاصمة، تثير المزيد من الاستفهامات، لا سيما بعد أن طفت العديد من نقاط الظل الى سطح العملية، بعد المعلومات التي أدلى بها التنظيم

The suicidal attack conducted by Al Qaeda in North Africa on the Algerian Army in the town of Al Akhdhariya, East of the capital, continues to raise a lot of questions, especially after a lot of points have come to the surface, following information made available by the organisation.

Jordan: Death of Culture Magazines

Our last stop today is in Jordan, where Essam Hamoud laments the death of cultural magazines on and off-line

أن تعمل على موقع ثقافي أو مجلة ثقافية يعني أن تعمل لاجل لا شيء والاحتمل الكبير أنك خاسر في العملية
نتيجة تيقنت منها مؤخرًا تمامًا..
المجلات الثقافية مشروع ليس ربحي.. والأصح مشروع خاسر ولن تعود به بنتيجة تذكر إلا الطباعة المكلفة والديون والقراء المعدومين ونخبة قليلة منهم تنتقدك وتوجهاتك..
إذا رغبت في إصدار مجلة ثقافية فهذا يعني أنك وزير الثقافة من لا يجد حرجًا في الانفاق عليها وحتى من دون وجود قراء.. تطبع وتوزع وتسترجع والنتيجة لاشيء.

To work on a cultural site or a cultural magazine means that you are working for nothing. The bigger possibility is that you are the loser in this equation and this is a conclusion I have become sure about lately. Cultural magazines aren't a profitable project. In fact it is a losing project which will not result in any profitability - except for expensive publication bills, loans, poor readers and a handful of people who will be criticising and directing you. If you are interested in publishing a cultural magazine, it means that you are a Minister of Culture, who is not ashamed of spending money even if there are no readers. You will be printing and distributing and the result will be nil.

3 comments · »»

Lusophony Day: Learning Through Connectedness

Jose Murilo Junior · 14:10

lingua → pt

We wanted to celebrate the Lusophony Day, as an opportunity to post about the recent launching of the Global Voices website in Portuguese. A quick googling around the keywords brought up the July 17th inspired on CPLP's foundation, but as we kept searching other dates appeared like the May 31st for UNESCO's Portuguese language day, and the November 5th as a new proposal from Brazil. As we could not find common ground in the Lusophone world about the day to celebrate its connectedness, our post about the Lusophony Day turned into a question: what is the meaning of Lusophony across the many Portuguese speaking blogospheres?

(more…)

1 comment · »»

Korea: Cleaning Up Classrooms: Duty or Violation of Human Rights?

Hyejin Kim · 07:07

lingua → pt · es · bn

I remember when I was in school, every year I had to bring to class rags that my mother made with old clothes. We students had to push heavy wooden desks and chairs to the edge of the classroom and then crouch down and wax the wooden floor. On a weekly basis, groups of students took turns tidying up the classroom that seated 50 or 60 students. Recently, I heard that my older sister regularly visits her children's primary school to clean up the classroom instead of her children.

Through a news report on “Cleaning up classrooms: Is it a part of education or a violation of human rights?”, the topic has recently become hot in Korea. Teachers appeal that it is getting hard to make students clean up and that parents give pressure to schools not to let students clean up the classroom because of their busy schedules with after school tuition courses. On the other hand, human rights organizations focusing on teenagers and the Korean Teachers & Educational Worker’s Union insist that forcing students to clean up is a violation of human rights. While these groups argue that the statement that cleaning up is part of education is for administrative convenience, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education emphasizes that students need to learn a sense of responsibility.

Bloggers are divided on this issue: While some of them consider cleaning up their own classrooms to be practice of good behavior, others regard it as squeezing labor out of children and criticize teachers’ attitude.

Chang-gong asks what ‘human rights' have to do with this issue.

‘인권’이 무엇이길래 이렇게 아무곳에서나 나타나는가?
자신들이 사용하는 물건, 공간을 청소하는 것이 당연한 것 아닌가?
자신이 사용하는 물건을 정리하고, 교실이나 화장실, 운동장 주변을 쓸고 닦는 것을 가리키는 것도 교육이다. 청소원을 양성하는 것이 아니라 당연히 해야할 일을 가리키는 것이다. 그렇게 함으로서 거리에 쓰레기를 버리면 힘든 청소를 해야한다는 것도 느끼고 쓰레기를 버리지 말아야 한다는 것을 인식하고 그렇게 행동할 것이다. 즉, 교육인것이다. 하기 싫어하는 것을 시키면 인권침해인가?

How come we make such a big deal about ‘human rights' on any issue?
Isn't it natural to clean up things one uses and space one belongs to? Education involves tidying up things we use and sweeping the classroom, toilets, and playground. It doesn’t mean training janitors, but teaching things students should do. Through it, they recognize that throwing trash on the street means someone should clean it up and they learn that they should not behave like that. It is education. Is making students do what they don't want a violation of human rights?

Another blogger suggests the real problem of education, authority.

학교 청소를 거부하는 아이들이 많아지고 있다는 인터넷 기사를 보았다
네티즌들의 반응은 다양한듯 하면서도 대체로 하나로 모아지고 있다
누구는 학교다닐때 그런생각 안해본줄 아나. 애들이 제정신이 아니다. “교육”의 근간이 무너졌다. 그러나 사람들은 문제의 본질이 무엇인지 간과하고 있다. 문제는 청소가 교육의 일환이라는 인식에서 출발한다…

I read an article that students refuse to clean up their schools. Netizens' responses are various, but their opinions generally have an agreement. Who would want to clean up when they were at school? Kids are crazy. The basis of education has collapsed. But we disregard the real source of problems. The problem starts from the prejudice that cleaning up is part of the education.

그러나 과연 얼마나 많은 교사가 진정 학생이 학교의 주인이라고 생각하며
학생이 자기가 학교의 주인이라고 생각할까?
스피커에서 장학사가 온다는 교무실의 전달이 떨어지면 부리나케 일어나 교사의 지시를 받아 니스를 칠하거나 양초로 학교 마루를 열심히 칠해야 했던 초등학교(그때는 국민학교)시절. 책상을 뒤로 밀고 애들이 청소를 하는데도 같이 도와주는 선생님? 아쉽게도 나는 단한번도 본적이 없고 선생님은 그런 일을 한다는 것을 상상해본적 없다. 물론 하고싶어서 하는 애들이 몇명이나 되었을지도 모르겠지만 왜 선생님은 안하시냐고 묻는 애들도 못봤다. 하라면 해야 하니까.
반항이나 대드는 것은 상상할수도 없다. 물론 예의에 어긋나는 것은 경계해야 한다. 그러나 “왜” 하는지는 적어도 알고 해야 한다. 그러나 우리나라 교육은 그것을 악으로 보았다. 인간은 본능대로 행동하는 개 돼지가 아니라 왜 하고 왜 하지 말아야 하는지 고민을 하는 이성을 가진 존재인데도 그것을 철저히 무시한 것이다. 그것이 현재 한국 교육의 가장 심각한 폐해이다.
그리고 그 권위의식…
쓰레기가 떨어져있으면 지나가는 애한테 “야, 주워”라고 말하는 선생님은 봤지만 자기가 쓰레기통에 넣는 선생님은 글쎄 …나만 못봤는지도 모르겠지.
존경받는 스승들은 자기가 그만큼 학생들에게 뭔가를 깨닫게 하기 때문에 존경을 받는 것이지 뭔가를 많이 하라고 해서 우러러 보아지는 것은 아니다.

But how many teachers think that students are the central figures of the school and how many students think that they are the central figures of the school as well? I remember at my primary school if there was news that school inspectors would arrive soon, we had to wax the classroom floor with candles instantly. When we pushed desks and chairs to the edge of the classroom and cleaned up, were there teachers helping us? I never saw the scene. It was impossible to imagine teachers doing such a kind of job. How many students would like to do that job? Of course, we students could not ask why teachers don't clean up. Because we had to do if they ordered us. It was impossible to resist it. We have to watch out about not being polite. But at least we should know ‘why' we have to do it. But it is regarded as the evil to have that question in our education. We’re not dogs and pigs to follow their instincts. We think about why we have to do something and why we should not do other things. But our basic thought is disregarded. It is the most serious problem of Korean education.
And that perception of authority…
I saw teachers who ordered students to pick up trash, but never saw teachers who do so by themselves. Maybe I’m the only one who doesn’t come across such a kind of teacher.
Teachers are respected by students because they make students recognize through the teachers’ behaviors, not how much they order students.

On the other hand, there is the opposite opinion.

그냥 하기 싫어서 선생들이 시키는 꼴이 보기 싫어서(그 권위라는게 싫어서) 선생들이 사용한 공간까지 내가 청소해야되나 싶어서 이런 간단한 이유를 나름대로 논리들로 포장해서 시부렁시부렁 되는데 그런 학생들 보면 참 안타깝다. 교사는 급식지도, 청소지도 등등 수업말고도 맡은 바가 많다.
우리나라 도덕교육에서 가장 중요시 되는 부분은 ‘습관화'이다.
초등에서만 강조되는 것이 아니라 개념들이 중요시되는 고등교육에 있어서도 이 ‘실천을 위한 습관화'는 매우 중요하다.
“자신이 거쳐간 자리를 깨끗히 하는것.” 이것은 매우 중요한 덕목중의 하나일 것이다. 도덕시간에 그런 덕목들을 배우고 습관화 하는 것도 중요하겠지만 우리나라에서는 그런 시간이 매우 부족하다 여겨 가정과도 연계하여서, 청소, 급식 등등의 학교 생활 내에서 꾸준히 습관화 할 수 있게 하도록 하였다. 이런 좋은 의도를 단지 자신이 하기 싫다는 이유로 나도 인권이 있으니 명령받을 필요 없다는 이유로 거부하는 우리나라 학생들이 참 안타깝다.
물론 쓰레기를 줍지 않는 선생님 등등
나쁜 선생님들도 있다는 것에는 동의한다.
하지만 그런 꼴 때문에 화가 나서 “나도 안 할래!”
이건 아니라 본다.
저 사람이 무단 횡단 하니 “나도 무단횡단 할래!” 이래야 되나?
무엇이 옳은 자세라고 생각하나? 스스로 자신이 있었던 이곳 저곳을 청소하려하지는 못 할 망정 “청소부 아줌마를 고용하자.”"선생들도 청소 도와라.” 라는 말부터 먼저 나오는 요즘..
요즘 학생들의 정신상태가 과연 진보된건지 바르게 커가고 있는지 궁금하다.

They just don’t want to do it. They just don’t like teachers’ authority. They just think why do we have to clean up the space used by teachers. With these reasons, students argue. Watching these students, I feel hurt. There are many things teachers should do from teaching to instructing students how to eat meals and how to clean up.
What we regard as the most important learning in our ethics class is ‘practice’ in secondary school as well as primary school. “To clean up place where you use” is one of the most important virtues. It’s important learn it through ethics class, but due to the shortage of time, we learn it from family to school activities, such as cleaning up and meal service.
It is painful to watch students who refuse it because they just don’t want to do it and they don’t want to get ordered under the pretext of human rights. I agree that teachers who don’t pick up trash are not good models. But because of that we are angry and say we don’t want to do it, it doesn’t make sense. It is the same as when you see jaywalking, you say you will do so because others do. Is it the right attitude?
Students insist, “let’s hire janitors” and “Teachers, you should clean up too” rather than cleaning up by themselves. I wonder whether students at present grow up properly.

Another blogger agreed with this opinion.

네이버뉴스에 참.. 욕나오는 기사를 읽게 되었습니다.
내용인 즉,
교실 바닥을 청소하는 것은 받아들일 수 있지만 복도나 화장실 등 공동이용 구역을 청소하는 것은 부당하다는 것입니다.
“왜 제가 해요?” 반발하는 학생들이 생기고 있으며 선풍기를 닦으라는 선생님의 말에 아이들은 “사전 통보되지 않은 청소를 왜 내가 하느냐”고 따졌답니다.
결국 선생님이 남아서 청소하고 갔답니다.
이런 폐해를 막기 위해 한 선생님은 자발적으로 애들이 교실청소시 기타를 치면서 노래를 불러주고 있답니다.
왜 이렇게까지 되었습니까? 이게 도대체 뭡니까?
도 어릴적 선생님에게 많이 맞기도 했고 미워도 해봤습니다.
그러나 이건 아닙니다.
이렇게 까지 해야합니까?
학교는 인간을 교육하기 위한 방편입니다.
예로부터 학교라는 단체는 가장 효율성이 좋은 사회화 도구로 여겨져 왔습니다.
그런데 이게 뭡니까?
아무리 자식이 귀해지고 사회구조가 평등, 인권존중, 개개인의 존엄성 확립으로 가고 있다고는 하나 이건 정말 말도 안됩니다.
선생님이라는 분이 왜 이렇게 나약해졌습니까?
이 사회가 구조적으로 모순을 향해 치닫고 있다고 생각하지 않으신지요..
미웠던 고마웠던 나의 선생님들이 눈 앞에 그려집니다.
정말 이 사회의 구성원으로서 하염없이 분통해집니다.

I read some ridiculous news. It was about how cleaning up classroom floors is fine, but public places, such as halls and toilets, are not fair for students.
“Why do I have to do that?” There are students who are against it and some students even refused when teachers ordered them to wipe out pans, ‘Why do we have to clean up even though we didn't get any notice in advance.” In the end, teachers cleaned up. In order to prevent this conflict, one teacher plays guitar and sings songs while students clean up the classroom. What on earth is going wrong?…
When I was at school, I was scolded by teachers a lot and hated them too, but this is way too much. Do we really have to do this? The school is a means to educate humans. From the past, schools have been regarded as the most effective means to be socialized.
But what is this? I know children are important and our society turns into an equal society, respecting human rights and privacy. But this issue doesn't make sense.
How come teachers become so weak? Don't you think that this society is contradictory? I think about teachers I liked and hated. As a part of this society, I feel mad.

It seems that this argument leads to the issue of conflicts between teachers and students. A blogger, marimo, says,

난 다른 곳은 그냥 다 쓰는곳이니까 그렇다쳐도 교사들이 쓰는 곳은 스스로 청소했으면 좋겠다.그러니까 교무실이나 교직원 화장실, 교사 휴게실 등등..
용역을 주는곳도 있지만, 기사보니 아직 학생들이 청소하는 곳도 있는 것 같다.
지금은 학교 졸업했다만, 학교 다닐때부터 마음에 안들었다. -_-;
스스로 할 수 있는일을 왜 굳이 시키는걸까.
그렇다고 애들이 교실청소 안하는 것도 아니고 ‘자기가 쓴곳은 스스로 청소한다' 라고 가르치려면 교사들도 그래야 하지 않을까.
선생님이 직접 대걸레 들고 하는거 보면 애들중에도 그거 보고 알아서 하는 애들이 있겠지.

I hope that teachers clean up places they use, such as teachers' lounges, teachers' restrooms, their rest area and so on. Reading the news, it seems that students still clean up those places.
I didn't like it when I was at school. Why do they order students even though they can do it by themselves? Students clean up their classrooms. Don't they have to teach students ‘Clean up places you use'? If teachers carry cleaning towels, there must be students who will follow.

3 comments · »»

Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome

Salam Adil · 02:09

Politics is the order of the day this week. Events in Iraq can be confusing at the best of times - so why not let Iraqi bloggers put things straight. But it is not all dry subjects, I also have snipers in Baghdad, two weddings and a funeral. And, if read to the end, the kittens are back!

A poem by ZZ

Dead House

In the hallows of my soul
the brown birds sing
One tried to build a nest of stone
and broke a wing
The windows of my eyes are shattered
a dead house I stand
and all of God’s sun will not bring in
enlightenment…

Too long the ghosts of tomorrow have wandered
unabated
through these aging walls
too long
they have made this arid structure
their home

They walk this soul in silence
for them the brown birds sing
hating transition
unlike me
they already know
there will never be spring…

If you read no other blog post this week read this one…

Mohammed recounts the harrowing story of being targeted by a sniper:

At 9:00 we were at Antar Square and as soon as we got down from the taxi and walked a few steps near the Olympic club, I heard a gun shot!! It was loud with echo!! … Then there was another shot …..It was so scary, so close and so loud, my wife was in panic, she was so scared I pushed her from the side-walk to the building wall (so that we would be a harder target) there was no one in the street but us. We stood there for a few seconds, then there was silence, we decided to continue, we walked and just before the concrete ex-checkpoint there was a gunshot and I saw the impact of the bullet beside me, another one in front of me, I pushed my wife to the nearest building and we hided there

He concludes:

The sniper thing isn't new, but it's the first time that I've been in the situation. It's a very difficult situation; I don't know when will death get me!!! I have cheated him many times now.

The Week in Politics

Zappy gives his definition of progress in Iraq. Bottom arrow reads “Target to be reached scheduled as of 09 April 03 04 05 06 07 2105″

There is another war rumbling - this time over water. Baghdad Connect explains:

Baghdad has become the first modern capital in the world to actually experience the Water War which is widely thought to be the future world war III.

There wasn't any fresh drinking water in large parts of Baghdad and for 4 days. We had a mere of 5 liters of water a day in our house of 4 bedrooms.

In some areas the water trickled down to zero since last week. The invaders had cut off the water in Al-Khadimiya area since morning as a retribution for Al-Khadimiya’s residents’ support for the Sadrists.

The Water War commenced since the confrontation between the Sadrists and the invaders backed armed forces escalated in El-Shula, Al-Biya, Al-Thawra and Al-Ammel – all have been isolated separately.

The Shaqawa looks to an Iraq after America leaves:

I do not think Baghdad would be better. Right now the Sunni terrorists will attack the Americans and the Shi'a, so only the Shi'a will be attacked. Also the Americans try to stop some of the Shi'a from attacking Sunnis (sometimes innocent ones and sometimes terrorists) so without the Americans the Shi'ite fighters will be more powerful. What does that mean?

In Baghdad it means more fighting but also some areas can be safer if the Shi'ite militias can act like they want. In other areas like last year in February probably some groups like the Mahdi Army will commit crimes against innocent Sunnis and more violence will be there. In the south of Iraq I think that the Shi'ite groups should take over security and be very tough. …

When the USA leaves also I think other countries will try to be stronger in Iraq. This means especially Iran and Saudi Arabia and Arabs. … Iraq is a site of battle for everyone unfortunately… None of them care about Iraq or Iraqis, and usually they hate Iraqis or at least hate the Shi'a….

Iraq is a country with rivers and holy places and deserts and mountains and history and many kinds of different people. But it is surrounded by bastards and criminals.

Omar sees signs of a shift in policy of the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki against the Sadrist Movement. He writes, “You probably heard about the message Maliki sent yesterday to the Sadr movement demanding they clarify their position from the violent elements among their followers. It wasn't as tough a message as we were hoping but it's still an interesting step that broke the fear barrier that Maliki put between himself and Sadr.” but Baghdad Connect puts the rift more blatantly:

Al-Maliki has, for the first time and unintentionally, uncovered the big game behind the myth of the Shia crescent, when he coined some Sadrtists elements as Baathists in disguise!! Which triggered the ancient struggle within the Shia sect between one faction that supports the Ayatollah state (in favor: Maliki, Hakim, Iran, the invaders, and the Baathists) and the counter faction that supports Ahl El-Bayt state - which stipulates a future emergent Imam that will rule the nation (in favor: Sardrists and Ahl El-Sahan)

When the invaders wage propaganda warfare by insinuating Muqtada’s escape to Iran, they are in fact playing the internecine deep-rooted faith differences between the Iranians and the Shia culture of Iraq. If Sadr is in Iran it means his large number of his followers are left without a divine providence and will be under the merci of Ayatollahs. Bear in mind, more than 70% of Iraqi soldiers that fought the Iran-Iraq war were Shiites!

The draft Oil Law is being given a rocky ride by Hammorabi:

[George Bush] and his Generals inside Iraq are trying to glue the rips but not to cure the whole situation. On the other hand they want the oil new system to be agreed and signed by the government and the parliament so quickly to control the oil of Iraq. Almost all Iraqis are opposing the new system about the oil. It is going to create more chaos and resistance. Indeed some of the resistance groups threatened to kill any one who is going to sign the new law about Iraq oil. George W Bush and Dick Cheney are trying to get their own companies to control and steal the Iraqi oil.

And he hints at frustrations within the Iraqi Shia community against Iran:

Indeed we do not know how and Iranian origin person like Dr. Shahrastani who is the present Oil minister became and oil minister in spite of many other Iraqis who are more experienced in this field?

A new anti terrorism advertisement in Iraq gets reviewed. Iraqi Mojo links to a YouTube clip and adds, “I find it strange that Al Arabiya is funded by the Saudi government, and yet they continue to broadcast these ads, while Al Jazeera no longer airs them” while Truth About Iraqis is somewhat taken aback by the obviously non-Iraqi accents of the actors:

a man is being beaten and asked whether he is Shia or Sunni. After being beaten to a pulp he manages to say “I am Iragi”. The letter G (pronounced ghee) is used.

No Iraqi would EVER EVER EVER say Iragi. They would say I R A Q Q Q Q I.

Pffffffffffffft.

Meanwhile, the American army are efficiently losing hearts and minds bombing a busy shopping street in Mosul. Aunt Najma posts photos and writes:

What the reason was, I do not know.. but the American forces did a horrible thing when they threw missiles from their plane on Al-Majmo3a street (the most active street in Mosul just in front of the university, full of computer, mobile, clothes and other shops).

Two Weddings and a Funeral

Even at one of the poshest Iraqi weddings in Jordan (they can afford Adel Ogla as the entertainment), Iraqis find a reason to cry, writes Yasamine:

Iraqi women bumping into each other started the common conversation, one asks the other are you residing here or visiting?” Um Hussam answered “just visiting, and how about you?” the other replied “I have decided finally to stay in Amman.”

“What about your house did you sell it or rent it?” asked Um Hussam. “Neither” answered the lady, “we left with barely the shirts on our backs, following a death threat.” Then with a sigh the lady asked “we haven’t met for such a long time, remember our weekly gatherings, God our lives have been turned upside down?” Um Hussam , responded idly “I only see people when I come to Amman , as for Baghdad I do not go out. Every once in a while I go to the doctor and that’s it or to see my sick mother.”

Aunt Najma attends her cousin's wedding. But being in Iraq has its own problems:

There were some Iraqi soldiers close by the house, they knew there was a wedding because of all the beeping. They usually get too excited and fire their arms when the cars pass by. My aunt opened the window and specifically asked them not to. My cousin's car arrived before us, and me, being the one in charge of videoing as usual, had to get there before they entered the house.. I left our car and ran towards the house, and the soldiers decided it was time to fire.. I was so ANGRY I really wanted to turn and shout at them but I was sane enough and decided to go on. I'm sure for few moments after the shooting the video would be all shaky!

And 24 Steps to Liberty writes a eulogy to a fellow journalist who was murdered recently in Iraq:

He was amazing. I never saw him without the beautiful smile on his face. When we reported on news conferences, we joked about the government and what it had to say. We were always sure that there was nothing in the conference that would help the Iraqis. We always thought the conferences were made to fill our newspapers only.

Although he worked for another newspaper, a competition to the one I work for, we never felt competing with each other. He called me to check quotes, he asked me to send him transcriptions. And I did. …

When I told him what “Feeh” meant, he didn’t get it. But that’s how we ended our phone calls. Even the one a few weeks ago, when he called to talk about something private, he said “feeh” at the end. He said “I didn’t forget.”

He was a brave, professional journalist and a human being. That’s why they killed him…

Iraqi will always miss you Khalid. You won’t miss anything. But we will miss you.
Feeh Khalid. Feeh

And finally…

Baghdad Girl is back! And cat bloggers every where can breath a sigh of relief. With titles like “I just want to carry them…” and “Happy and sad” you know you will be getting a regular dose of cuteness. Now everyone join in with me… aaah!

1 comment · »»

Honduras: An Introduction to Honduran Blogs - Part 1

Aaron Ortiz · 00:05

lingua → de · pt · es

Editor's Note: We welcome Aaron Ortiz as our newest contributor to Global Voices Online. This is his first article, in which he provides an introduction to the Honduran blogosphere. He blogs regularly at Pensieve, an outstanding bridge blog written from the capital city of Tegucigalpa.

Photo by Matthew Hogg and used under Creative Commons license.

The blog phenomenon has been slow to move to Honduras, but it's starting to take root. If you google “Honduras blogs” you'll find that 90% or more are not written in Honduras or by Hondurans. Most of them are written by people from the US. The few Hondurans who blog are usually in the computer science industry like myself, or in their teens.

One might venture to classify blogs written in Honduras into 4 broad categories:

* Expat blogs, written by people from the US

* Tech blogs, written by computer geeky Catrachos like your servant

* Personal blogs, written by young Hondurans

* High culture blogs, written by the Honduran intelligentsia

Notice that I didn't include travel blogs. That is because most travel bloggers blog not only in or about Honduras but everywhere in the world.

By far the expat blogs are the most abundant. Here are a few of them.

Expatriate blogs

La Gringa's blogicito (lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com) is one of the most widely read of these. It tells the tale of a gringa who moved to La Ceiba, Honduras in 2001. Her topics range from gardening to politics, and are full of practical wisdom and culture shock. Her easy-to-read style and sharp sense of humor has made her very popular among the expatriate community. She is vocal in calling for reform in Honduras, and for others to start blogging about the current issues in Honduran politics and society.

Little Wooden Man (www.littlewoodenman.com) tells the tale of a Canadian couple who move to the Honduran outback of Juticalpa, Olancho, and experience the surreal Honduran culture. Their blog is fresh and entertaining, but sometimes serious and philosophical. Many fellow bloggers and I have been drawn to its frank discussions of the pain of losing someone, religion, sexual harassment, wacky humor, and the “strange” customs and language of Honduran people.

Honduras Sprouts (hondurassprouts.blogspot.com) is the ongoing tale of another American lady who has just moved to Honduras a few months ago with her Honduran husband. Her pictures of her adorable family and tales of life in San Pedro make this blog a en excellent picture of expat family life. Topic include local critters, food quality, the fourth of July, and cutting the grass, Honduran-style.

Honduras living (hondurasliving.blogspot.com), by Don Godo, is another great blog, although entries are not as frequent as in the others I've mentioned. Nevertheless, where else would a future expat learn about health insurance, what beer to drink, or whether to try to build a house by “remote control”.

Hondubirding, (hondubirding.wordpress.com), by Daniel Germer. I'm not sure Daniel is from the States, his Spanish is that good, but his blog is written mainly in English. Daniel is a biologist, an aspiring naval officer, and as the title of his blog suggests, a fan of bird-watching. This site has some of the best pictures of the Honduran cloud forest that can be found on the internet.

By now there are more Honduran blogs than can fit into an article of comfortable length, so come again next time for a rundown of the abundant Honduran Tech blogs.

9 comments · »»

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