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Philippines: ‘Desperate Housewives' Uproar Continues

Tonyo Cruz · 23:45

lingua → es

SFist reports on Saturday that the Desperate Housewives scandal involving purported racist remarks against Philippine medical school continues.

For several weeks now, the Filipino-American online petition has not stopped drawing support, with signatures now reaching 121,793 and counting.

Atheista.net is unconvinced of the arguments of those who claim that the continuing protests are “going overboard”. He lists the main arguments of those who oppose the protests and rebutts each of them:

1. Filipinos are too onion-skinned/ over-sensitive. I really don’t know how people can see this as an over reaction. Philippine-trained doctors were maligned for millions of people to see. This could have very real and palpable effects on the practice of Pinoy doctors who work in the US. People will fight when they are being aggrieved and that is what some doctors are doing. And assuming without conceding that we are OVERLY SENSITIVE, so what? I’d rather be in a group of people who would defend their pride as opposed to a group who would simply act like pushovers when they’re being ridiculed in a grand stage. It’s not about being good sports - the people being dissed didn’t sign up to be the targets of unsubstantiated comments regarding their competence.

2. Filipinos are racists too. Isn’t this a gross generalization as well? Assuming without conceding that we are racist, does this mean that we give up our right to fight back whenever we are subjected to what we consider as racial profiling? This issue has nothing to do with the entire discussion because it doesn’t prove or disprove anything. Calling the entire Filipino community is a stretch in itself, but even if it were true, it doesn’t remove our right to feel offended and ask for legal reparations .

3. There are more important issues. It is the issue NOW. Deal with it. Try pushing your other advocacies on other blogs that push for it. Profiling and discrimination are just as important as any issue. Also, not the state and society’s inability to police whatever problem you forward does not remove the right of people to be passionate in other things.

4. The Philippine Education System SUCKS. Assuming without conceding that it is true, the products of the Philippine Education System will still be subject to the regulations and requirements set by the regulatory boards in the US. They will take the same licensure examinations as the US-educated medical graduates. In short, they’ll be assessed using the same standards. Ergo, even if the school system is bad, there are existing checks in the system that could weed out those who are mediocre.

Taking a different tack from other bloggers, filipinasoul.com asks:

Did Manny Pacquiao’s win over Marco Antonio Barrera give countless Filipinos the courage to speak up about the Desperate Housewives issue?

expressions calls for more accountability in media in light of this episode:

People behind TV shows should be more sensitive in conceptualizing each episodes that they produce. Television shows should be more responsible and discern social responsibility that is of great public interest.

According to EllenTordesillas.com:

Many middle-class Filipinos in the country and abroad find it convenient to tolerate Gloria Arroyo’s fake presidency believing that they are not affected by it. The Desperate Housewives incident proves the overwhelming extent of the disrepute that Arroyo has brought to the Filipino nation.

Fears of an anti-Filipino backlash from within Hollywood appear to be unfounded, according to a Philippine Star report. The Bayanihan Blog Network also confirms this.

LuisTeodoro.com analyzes the issue as a media critic:

Who’s going to be targeted usually depends on who’s the US’ perceived enemy of the hour, and while the latter may currently include North Koreans, the current disfavor of the month are Arabs, particularly Iranians.

US pop culture is not pro-actively sensitive. Most of the time it reflects the attitudes, biases, fears and beliefs of the majority. And why not? Its writers, directors, and producers are themselves children of the same majority culture.

Right now the majority is not so much concerned with Filipinos as with “the enemy within”—meaning the Muslims and Arabs living in the homeland. As for Filipinos, well, they’re certainly not the enemy, being from a country that’s been so supportive of US policies and so ingratiating in its mendicancy it’s way past embarrassing.

and points to what could be the real reason behind the continuing protests:

That’s what made the remark about Philippine med schools particularly painful. Like the government they thought they’ve left behind, Filipinos in the US work hard to be accepted. They keep their mouths shut when other minority groups are insulted and injured. They vote Republican in US elections to dispel any suggestion no matter how faint of “radical” views. They work at their long A’s and O’s and try to speak with a twang. They prohibit their children from speaking Filipino.

It’s a shock to discover that despite it all, despite the effort at deculturizing themselves, and despite the smiles and the patronizing, seeming acceptance of the white majority, they remain outsiders in a culture that, regarding itself as superior, disdains others.

Elsewhere, the Philippine Anti-Defamation Coalition explains why it is easy to miss the point about the outrage, and laments that other Holywood watchdogs didn't get the point either. It says the issue gives Filipino American History Month this October in the US a fresh angle to combat racism and bigotry and to promote understanding amid diversity.

2 comments · »»

Arabeyes: Eid Al Fitr Celebrations (Part 2)

Amira Al Hussaini · 19:05

The Holy month of Ramadan culminated with Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations throughout the Muslim world. Here's what bloggers are saying about the occasion in the second of a three-part series. Today's tour takes us to Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.

Kuwait:

Our first stop is in Kuwait where Marzouq from Z District describes the chaos which happens when Eid is announced:

“This really only happens in Eid, everyone goes into a frenzy doing something. I found out it was Eid from my barber, he gave me a call telling me it was Eid tomorrow and to come by asap. It was 6:40pm, and I waited for prayer before heading out around 7:10pm on the bike over to the barber. The streets were insane, I thought it would be relatively empty like the days during Ramadan. The traffic would start usually around 8:00pm but I was mistaken and there was lots of traffic.

I was really enjoying myself during this ride with the cool weather but everyone was just insane. I could tell at least 30 - 40 cars were squeezing the middle lane on purpose so that I couldn’t get through and it was really annoying me but I was thinking let me get through this traffic calmly and then I take off from all these idiots,” he writes.

Libya:

Libyan blogger Benghazi Citizen (Ar) discusses an issue irking many Muslims - and that is the difference in the beginning of Eid and the sighting of the new moon in different Muslim countries.

مضى رمضان و استقبلنا عيد الفطر المبارك…كل عام و الجميع بخير
أقبل العيد بالنقاش التقليدي(زعمه ليبيا صيامها اللي كان صح و الا لا؟؟)ء
أظن أنه من الواجب على الأقل محاولة توحيد الاعلان عن رمضان و عيد الفطر على امتداد الأمة,طالما أن السوق المشتركة و الغاء الحدود و توحيد الموقف السياسي باتت شطحات خيال لا أمل في تحقيقها,ليس في أعمارنا على الأقل
لست أدري مارأيكم بموضوع الحسابات الفلكية لتحديد بداية الأشهر القمرية…شخصيا أظنها طريقة جيدة طالما العلم يمنحنا الأدوات لتحقيق هذا ,ولا أظن أن في ديننا الحنيف ما يمنع
أظنه أمرا لا بأس به على الطلاق,و على الأقل سيوحد رأي المسلمين بشكل لا لبس فيه….
ماذا تظنون أنتم؟أتوافقونني الرأي أم تخالفونه؟؟؟

“Ramadan is over and we are welcoming Eid Al Fitr. Wishing everyone a happy Eid. Eid was welcomed with the traditional debate: Did we fast at the right time in Libya or no?? I feel it is our duty to at least try and unify the announcement of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr across the Ummah, especially now that a common market, canceling boundaries and unifying our political stance is a figment of our imagination and beyond reality - at least not in our lifetimes. I don't know what your opinion is about astronomical calculations to decide on the beginning of lunar months.. Personally, I believe it is a good way especially since science provides us with the tools to achieve this. I also don't think there is anything in our religion which prohibits that. I believe it is something with nothing wrong with it and which will unite Muslims. What do you think? Do you agree with me or not?” he asks.

Lebanon:

For Lebanese blogger Rami Zurayk, Eid is a festival of eating. He notes:

“Beyond its religious significance, this is a celebration of eating. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, and in the Eid, they revert back to normal eating schedule. Families meet to have BIG lunches, and the street food shops operate at full capacity: sweets, savory, fruit drinks. When I was a kid, itinerant vendors used to sell small plates of pickles for a few cents of a Lira. So I'm indulging.”

Palestine:

Palestinian blogger Catholic Sunni Shia shares Zurayk's sentiments and announces that she will fill her stomach on Eid. But she also gives us a sneak preview of what is in store for her once family and friends gather at her house for the Eid get together!

“Today my job will be to eat. There will be tons of people over later, my mother and other assorted family members have been cooking non-stop since last night. I will do a lot of listening today. Because the overwhelming majority of those invited here tonight are totally deranged. I like to sit back and listen to crazy people talk with little or no participation from me. I have an “uncle” who is 90 and wears a Kangol. He pays teenagers to beat each other up. Then he praises strength and ostracizes the poor unsuspecting awkward teen that can't fight back. He's one sick bastard. His wife is 50 and counting the days till he keels over. My sister will make up clever names for everyone: powder, pool-table legs, wedge of cheese nose, dirty complected, fat hyena, etc. She's a real bitch but she's hilarious most of the time. My brother will just say absurd things to everyone all night long,” she explains.

For obvious reasons, Catholic Sunni Shia's post is a must read!

Israel:

Our last stop is with Israeli blogger Imshin, who notes the Eid Al Fitr attires Muslims wore to celebrate the event.

“how many of the Muslim girls managed to look gorgeous and sexy in their Eid el-Fiter finery, even though they were wearing the meant-to-be-modest head covering. For me it’s always strange to see them with their head covered but wearing tight jeans with sparkly bits. Mind you, the more religious women seem to don big shapeless dresses and a superior pious look. Many of the girls in the park yesterday, however, appeared to be wearing the head covering more as a fashion accessory.

I’m not judging anything here. It’s just interesting for me. The dress code of Jewish religious women, from the various groups, is just as fascinating in my mind. As is the dress code of secular young Israeli women for that matter.”

Part One of the series is found here.

1 comment · »»

Celebrating festivals, feasting and donating smiles

Mathy Kandasamy · 15:57

lingua → hi

Last Saturday Muslims all over the world celebrated Eid ul-Fitr that marks the end of Ramadan. Abul Kalam Azad a Chennai blogger shares his experiences. His children eagerly distributing festival sweets to friends and neighbours, His youngest daughter preparing a project detailing Ramadan with her non-muslim friend's help. Azad ponders that one day his daughter might work with her friend on a similar project for Deepavali.

Ketupat Rice Cakes

With festivals can food be far behind? .:Myfriend:. from Malaysia shares information about Ketupat, an integral part of Eid ul-Fitr in Malaysia.

The month of October also marks the beginning of the festival season for the Hindus. First comes Navarathri Navarathri literally means nine nights and the female deities are worshiped during this period.

Kolu

In Tamil Nadu, India special dolls are displayed in elevated steps named Kolu. Nanani from Tamil Nadu walks down the memory lane describing her experiences of setting up the display with her children. While Thulasi's pet cat Gopalakrishnan invites everybody to visit his home in New Zealand to view the Kolu.

Navarathiri in Sri Lanka

Navarathiri is celebrated differently in Sri Lanka. Selli, Australia writes in detail about how the festival is celebrated at schools predominantly. She says that there were no Kolu display in Sri Lanka but every morning would commence with prayers in schools, homes and temples. On the tenth day several special dishes would be served at school. The same ritual takes place at homes but on a smaller scale. Kana Praba takes a jaunty walk down the memory lane reminiscing about his teen-age years.

Fava beans Sundal

Ukkarai

Seeyalam

Food is an integral part of any festival especially during Navarathiri. Jayashree Govindarajan, Mumbai shares some of the traditional recipes. Lentils play a key role in all the special dishes prepared for Navarathiri. Some of the dishes she has prepared for Navarathiri include Ukkarai, a sweet and it's spicy version Seeyalam. Generally Sundal would be prepared and distributed by everybody. Jayashree served Mochchai payaru Sundal (Fava beans Sundal) today.

Navarathiri is the theme for the monthly Indian food-blog event Jihva for Ingredients (JFI). And Indira of Mahanandi, the brain behind JFI is also collaborating on a worthy project this month. She introduces Feed a Hungry Child (FAHC) fund-drive and requests bloggers to donate smiles..

Indira says,

With the help of volunteers, FAHC has begun to supply feeding kits to 14 children and their families in Palakkad district of Kerala in India, since April 2007. Now FAHC needs our help. The fundraising goal is $ 3,360. I think we can do it easily. Please click the Chip In button at the top right of the site, and contribute whatever you can. If you require additional incentive to contribute, check out the contents of feeding kit and try to remain unmoved.

And she along with fellow food-bloggers have also arranged for some raffle tickets, majority of them donated by Suvir Saran, prominent cookbook author and chef. One of the coveted prizes is a dinner for two(wine included) at Suvir Saran's restaurant “Dévi” in New York. Detailed information can be found here.

2 comments · »»

Meet Maggid Mjengwa - Tanzania's Photoblogger

J. Nambiza Tungaraza · 15:33

lingua → jp

Maggid Today, we are introducing you to Maggid Mjengwa. Daniel is one of the leading photobloggers from Tanzania who has been trying to combine blogging, photography and political activism. Apart from being a very active blogger, Maggid is also a well-known columnist for a Swahili weekly in Tanzania, RAI. He shares his time with us to talk about his love for writing and how he got involved with electronic media.

You are best known as one of the RAI newspaper columnist. Can you talk a little bit about how you started to write?

I started writing since I was a student at Tambaza Secondary School. It is way back in the early 80’s. To be exactly, I wrote my first newspaper article when I was in Form Three. The then CCM Youth General Secretary, Seif Khatib visited our school and talked about atrocities being committed by the then Mozambican rebel group, MNR (now known as RENAMO). I left the meeting area with a strong feeling that “ I must write to express my feeling and other friends feeling at that time. I wrote; “ Youth Ready To Fight MNR”. The article was published by the Daily News.

Briefly, I meant that we (youth) were ready to put down our pens and take up arms to fight MNR alongside Mozambican government troops. I do also remember, that during my time at Tambaza Secondary School I took initiative to start a school newsletter. Using a pen and a piece of paper I wrote newsletter and pinned at the school notice board. Seeing many students including teachers reading what I wrote did actually encourage me to continue writing. I hope you Nambiza was one of my readers. You and I went at the same school during the same period I now describe.

What impact does your writing – especially in print media - have on the public?

I no longer write for RAI as a columnist, I have decided to step aside to give chance to other emerging young writers. I will remain a reader and a freelance writer. I have a feeling that my writing has impact on the public. I have noticed a number of my ideas being implemented even by authorities concerned. For instance, some weeks ago, Education Minister announced government plans to introduce sports, like football as a subject in some of our secondary schools, a sort of football schools. On top of that, the government plan to start diploma Course for Sports in one of our Teaching College. It is the theme I wrote about in the past. Surely, Government might come up with the idea from within, but I believe, authorities read what we write, and we definitely, influence to some of their decisions.

What do you think can be done to empower the people whose problems you so much talk about?

Education, education, education…. I think we need to start with providing a better education to ordinary people at the grassroots level. I have opportunity to visit, stay and talk with the villagers. Wherever I go, I almost hear same stories. People know their problems, they can solve them, but they need tools, and this important tool is education that can help in bringing awareness. To get to Know their rights and obligations. Knowing how to present their cases, how to make their irresponsible leaders accountable. Indeed, many do lack education and in many cases, basic education.

Besides being a columnist you are also a blogger, how and when did you start to blog?

I started to blog in September 2006. Yes, a year has passed since I started.

What was your inspiration?

I saw other Tanzanians starting to blog. I got inspired by our blog-guru Ndesanjo Macha. But, then I saw my brother Issa Michuzi using blog to publish his photos and get people to talk about those photos. I’m very much interested in photography. I have taken photos since I was at secondary school. Then I thought, why not re-cultivate my photo interest using blog? And there I started.

Does your blog have a theme or does it focus on a particular issue?

Well, my blog has different themes. It covers social, political, and economical issues. I do also emphasise issues regarding to environmental protection. But the main focus of my blog is the common woman and man in Tanzania. The marginalized ones. The focus should be to the ordinary Mwananchi (Citizen). In my blog, the normaly marginalized and voice-less Mwananchi should come first. My blog should be the voice of the voiceless. Of all what we discuss in the blog, must reflect and have an impact to the common Mwananchi.

How would you describe your blog?

It is like a village, a platform for people to express their views freely. People do express their views in a civilised way. Very rarely, you can read abusive language in my blog. I do not filter peoples comments, I think it’s a good thing. I believe in a free-word, let people speak their minds. You think, you write down your opinion, you publish and there you are, others will read what you think at that particular moment. And in doing this, you are free to expose your real name or remain anonymous. And that is the great thing with the blog, if a blog is used in a good way, it is very democratic, indeed.

When you spend time online are there any particular blogs you read regularly?

Yes, a number of them, and the list can be long.

Besides being a blogger, do you belong to, or consider yourself a member of any other online community?

Yes. I belong to Jambo Forums and Tanzanet as communities.

How do you define these communities, what is the difference between those communities and the blogging communities?

They are good communities, a lot of intellectual discussions and debates are going on out there. One can learn a lot if you are a member, and the latter is the difference from the blog. You do not need to sign as member in a blog. You can get in and out whenever you need.

I have noticed that more than once you have promised your readers that you would follow up on the issues raised in your blog. Two posts are of particular interest. Let us start with a post in Hii Ndio Mwananyamala Inatisha. You posted a photograph of a very squalid street in Dar – Es – Salaam. Immediately your readers started to scream, because they believed that the residents could do something about the neighbourhood, and they asked you to collate their opinions and follow up the issue with the ward councillor, Mama Sabrina, did you follow up?

Yes, I made some follow-ups on the issue of Mwananyamala Bwawani. I have been back to the street, there are no changes so far.
I checked with Kinondoni’s MP Mr. Idd Azzad. I live 500 Kms away from Dar. I t can be difficult sometimes to make follow ups with such a distance away. My plan is to meet him and together we go to the said problem area. I hope I will manage to do that in the near future.

And another post in late august was about environment,you posted a photograph of the hills surrounding Iringa town in Southern Tanzania, very barren hills I should say, then comments started to pour in, some very constructive solutions were put forward, again you promised to take those comments to the authorities. What happened?

Yes I did. I started with ward councillor, I gave the document containing ideas from people in the blog on how to contain the situation. A councillor is a CCM member, some CCM regional election meeting came in between. And myself have other duties to execute in the job I do. I have been away in Singida, central Tanzania I came back to Iringa recently. I will make some follow-ups and give feed-back to people in my blog.

Do you think that activism can be carried out online? What are the possibilities of such activism having a noticeable impact on the ground?

Yes, activism can be carried out online and can have impact on the ground. We on the ground have a golden opportunity to straight face people responsible when we find out that there are issues discussed or debated online that need clarification, or questions raised that need answers. Sometimes I feel we have not real realised this opportunity and fully utilised.

Whether or not you identify yourself as an activist, what does activism mean to you?

To be active in fighting to bring about radical and positive fundamental changes that serves the interest of the majority in the society.

Questions:Do you think that bloggers will be able to play a significant role in this new kind of activism?

Answer:Yes I do, but I am afraid that many bloggers do not understand that they can influence positive changes in the society through blogging. It is possible, if it is serious blogging on serious matters.

What do you do when you are not writing or blogging?

Apart from the job I do, I like reading, go out in the nature, do jogging and watching football, I ‘ m fond of football. I like dancing and listening to the music as well.

Before I go, I should congratulate you for the community development work you do, not long ago you handed over soccer jerseys and other equipment worth millions of shillings to young people. You have shown initiative, you asked people to do something about the kids and their soccer, and there you go, the kids got what they need.
Maggid thank you for your time.

It’s my pleasure.

6 comments · »»

Egypt: Additive and Subtractive Thinking

Gr33nData · 14:25

Additive and subtractive thinking is the topic of today's translation from Arabic. Do we pick and choose the values we like from ideologies or do we simply 'subtract' them from our consciousness because there are aspects in them we don't agree with?
This post written by Egyptian blogger Eyad Harfoush in his blog Lel Fagr Noghared (Singing to the Dawn), compares ‘Additive Thinking' to ‘Subtractive Thinking'.

Eyad writes:

فكما نعرف جميعاً أن الجمع هو عملية حسابية تؤدي للنمو عن طريق التراكم، و أن مقابله الطرح هو عملية حسابية تؤدي للضمور عن طريق التناقص ، و بنفس المنطق تقوم ثقافة الجمع بمراكمة المثل العليا، حيث يمكننا أن نرى في كثير من الناس و المجتمعات و التجارب الانسانية عناصر ايجابية و مثالية ، و ليس في كل الناس لأن بعضهم يكون كالكائنات الذبابية لا خير و لا ايجابية فيه على الاطلاق ، ثقافة الجمع تتميز عن ثقافة الطرح أنها لا تحتم علينا أن نقسم الناس بتقسيمات حادة الى خير مطلق و شر مطلق، الى نور و ظلام، فالحياة خليط بطبيعته

As we all know, addition is a mathematical operation that leads to growth by the accumulation of its components. Subtraction, on the other hand, leads to decay due to becoming less. Based on this logic, additive thinking tends to add the various morals we meet in our lives to each other. We may see many positive attributes in many societies and characters - for sure not everyone has such positive attributes, as some are like flies which are totally useless. Anyway, additive thinking is the opposite of the subtractive one that tends to divide people into either absolute good, or absolute evil, and nothing in between, absolute light and absolute darkness, while life by nature is a mixture of this and that.

The point is that, when people who believe in subtractive thinking meet others with various good characteristics and morals, they may just ignore them because they find some other characteristics that they may not like. For them it's either take it as a whole or leave it, even if they are going to miss much by doing so.

Eyad further elaborates:

فمعتنق ثقافة الطرح مثلاً، سيتحتم عليه أن يرفض و يكره جمال عبد الناصر بسبب الممارسات الدكتاتورية، و يكره جيفارا لكثرة مغامراته النسائية، و يكره نصر الله لعقيدته الشيعية، و يكره محمد عبده لهجومه على الفكر السلفي، و يكره مارتن لوثر لتجاهله تعاليم الاباء الاوائل للكنيسة، و يكره غاندي لأنه فضل القومية الهندية على الانتماء الديني بما في ذلك دينه الهندوسي، و يكره محمد علي باشا لطموحاته الشخصية الامبراطورية، و يكره ماو زيدونج للمآسي التي سببتها سياسة القفزة السريعة، و هكذا نخرج في النهاية بلا حصاد من التجارب البشرية بعد أن طرحنا المثل العليا لوجود نقائص بها، و هذا خطير، و لهذا اعتنق بثبات ثقافة الجمع، و هنا أذكر للتوضيح ما أتفق فيه و أختلف مع كل من الرجال الذين أضعهم فوق رأسي، فليس معنى حبي لهم أنهم فوق النقد أبدا

People who believe in subtractive thinking will sure refuse and hate Abdel Nasser because they believe he was a dictator. They will hate Guevara because he was a womaniser and will hate Hassan Nasrullah because he is Shiite (nearly all the Egyptians are Sunnis) and will hate Muhammad Abdou because he was against Salafism, and will hate Martin Luther King because he ignored the teachings of the old church, and will hate Gandhi because he gave priority to his Indian nationality more than his religious doctrines, including his Hindu religion, and will hate Muhammad Ali - he ruled Egypt in the 19th century - for his personal ambitions to become an emperor, and will hate Mao Zedong for the side effects of his economical vision. At the end of the day, they will not get any benefits from any of the experiences that mankind has passed by, as they prefer to ignore all the ideals just because they see some negative aspects there. This is really dangerous, and that's why I believe in the additive thinking and I'll try to mention the positive sides and the negative ones I see in the characters mentioned previously. Those characters that despite my great respect to them - I still believe that I have the right to criticize them.

أحب جمال الرجل و الزعيم، أتفق معه في رؤيته للزومية الكرامة الوطنية حتى يعيش المواطن سعيدا و أتفق معه في حتمية الحل الاشتراكي لمجتمعنا، كما أتفق معه في استراتيجية التعاون و التنسيق العربي كتوجه استراتيجي اقليمي كالاتحاد الاوروبي و الولايات المتحدة و ليس كنعرة قومية، أحب فيه الشرف و نزاهة اليد عن مال الدولة و الالتزام بتمثيل الطبقة الوسطى التي انتمى اليها ، و أحب فيه العزيمة و صدق الهمة التي مكنته من تحرير الوطن و الغاء الملكية و هو أصغر مني سناً ، كما أحب فيه أنه أحب العرب فبادلوه حبا بحب ، … لكل هذا أحب جمال و أضعه دوما نموذجا للبطل و الرجل و الانسان جميعا
و أختلف معه في سياسات القمع، فقد كان مثول تجربة الدكتور مصدق في ايران امام عينيه هاجسا مخيفا ، حين استطاع الامريكان ان يجهضوا ثورته، و غاب عن جمال ان مصدق لم يكن له الرصيد الشعبي في ايران كالذي تمتع به جمال في الشارع المصري بعد حرب عام ست و خمسين ، فلم يكن جمال يحتاج للقمع للاحتفاظ بقوة الثورة و سلامتها، كما أختلف معه في تطبيقات الاشتراكية الثورية التي تهدف للحصول على تأييد طبقات بعينها بغض النظر عن الاضرار بالمجتمع ككل، و أختلف معه في تأثره العاطفي بصداقاته في اختيار القيادات و الذي تمثل في خطيئتيه، عبد الحكيم عامر و الذي
اجهض انجازات الثورة عسكريا و أنور السادات الذي أجهض باقي الانجازات في كل الميادي

I love Gamal Abdel Nasser as a person and a leader. I agree with him in his vision towards national dignity so the people can live happily. I agree with him that the ultimate solution for our society is socialism. I also believe in the importance of strategic cooperation and the coordination between the Arab nations, like that between the members of the EU and the United States, which is not based on nationalism. I like his honour and his lack of corruption when it came to the State's coffers and his insistence on representing the middle class he belonged to. I love his strength and strong will, which enabled him to liberate the nation and end Royalty when he was younger than me. I also like the way he liked Arabs and how they liked him back. And for all this I like Gamal and always put him as an ideal hero and person … While I disagree with his policies of repression as Dr Mossadegh's experience in Iran unfolding in front of him was a scary obsession, when the Americans were able to foil his revolution. What Gamal didn't see what that Mossadegh did not enjoy the support of the Iranian masses like he did on the Egyptian street after the war of 56. Gamal did not need to resort to repression to maintain the strength of the revolution and safeguard it. I also disagree with the way he implemented his revolutionary socialism, which sought to ensure that he got the support of certain classes at the expense of society as a whole. I also disagree with his emotions that affected his choices and led his friends to occupy leading positions in Egypt, which represent his downfall, such as Abdel Hakim Amer, who ruined all the military achievements of the revolution, and Anwar El Sadat, who destroyed all its other achievements.

أحب جيفارا الرجل و الثائر الذي نبذ زخارف الوزارة و الحكم بعد تحرير كوبا و فضل عليها الموت مجاهدا لعدو بلاده و مدفعه في يده ،… ، أحب فيه مؤسس استراتيجية الغوريللا التي تعتبر عماد حرب الضعفاء ضد الجبابرة، و التي أخذت منها كتب التسويق استراتيجية تحمل نفس الاسم دون ان تنسب الحق لصاحبه، كما أحب فيه ميله للفقراء و توحده معهم
أختلف معه في المذهب الشيوعي الذي أراه غير مناسب للطبيعة البشرية التواقة للتميز ، و أفضل عليه مذهب الاشتراكية العلمية التي تعطي مساحة للتميز و السبق مع ضمان الحد الادنى من الحياة الانسانية غذاء و كساء و مأوى و علاجا للمواطن بمجرد كونه مواطنا

I like Guevara as a person and a revolutionist who left the ministry and the governmental position after liberating Cuba and preferred to die fighting his enemy. I like his establishment of the Guerrilla War strategy which is considered the cornerstone of the wars between the weak groups and the tyrants - a strategy that marketing books borrowed and made Marketing strategies based on it without giving credit to him. I also like his bias toward the poor.
I disagree with his communist vision, which I believe is not compatible with the human nature that is eager to excel. And I prefer practical socialism which gives people a chance to excel while guaranteeing the minimum levels necessary for human life like food, clothing, medicine and shelter to citizens to it.

Eyad then continues to point out the positive as well as negative sides that he sees in the examples mentioned above.

Disclaimer:

I may not agree with every single point written by Eyad, and so do you, but you know it's the additive thinking that makes you try to pick positive values there regardless of those points that you do not like or agree with.
I am not professional interpreter, and sometimes some phrases and expressions are not easily translated into English, so I try my best to pick phrases from the English language that give the same meaning.

0 comments · »»

Special Coverage: Burmese protests 2007

Solana Larsen · 08:20

lingua → pt · jp · mg · bn

It's not often that bloggers become a primary source in a global news story. Recent protests in Myanmar simply would not have been as big a story if there weren't brave people on the inside (and outside) willing to risk everything to spread news, photos and videos via the internet.

Burmese bloggers have even become a news story in their own right, attracting headlines from across mainstream media, and outrage when the internet was blocked by the junta in an attempt to silence them.

At the peak of the protests, Global Voices' South-East Asia editor Preetam Rai posted daily reports, links, and translations with the dedicated help of our Burmese authors. We have collected these posts on a Special Coverage page that includes links to articles written about Burmese bloggers in mainstream media, and further links to citizen media campaigns in support of the protesters.

As MSNBC's tech blogger, Will Fernia reports:

For international news of this nature Global Voices should be your first click, not just for news but for further links and translations. It's certainly better than randomly clicking through blog directories for worthwhile blog content.

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Iran: Students protest against Ahmadinejad at Tehran University

Hamid Tehrani · 06:04

lingua → pt · de · jp · bn · zht · zhs

Hundreds of Iranian students protested President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presence at the University of Tehran on Monday, October 8. According to Al Jazeera, students chanted “Down with the dictator!” as he delivered a speech to mark the start of the academic year. Several bloggers published photos and comments.

Voices of Freedom

Jomhour reminds us that last year, Amir Kabir University students protested Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presence there and burned his photos. The blogger adds that students at the University of Tehran chanted slogans for freedom and liberation of several jailed students. The blogger writes a message to Ahmadinejad:

What happened in Amir Kabir University, what you heard in Tehran University, are the voices of freedom that you do not hear, or you do not want to hear… after more than two years in power, you show that you have no idea about universities.

The blogger has also published a series of photos from this event:

“Invitation card please!”

Avayeh Daneshgah (means ‘voice of university') says [Fa] that Ahmadinejad came to the university surrounded by many security agents. Hundreds of students chanted “Down with the dictator!” and raised the photos of three jailed student activists. The blogger says only students with an invitation card could attend Ahmadinejad's speech, and claims that pro-Islamist Basiji students came from other universities to support Ahmadinejad.

Ghomar Asheghaneh says [Fa] it is strange for Ahmadinejad to consider himself the president of all Iranians when he only accepts students bearing invitations. He writes:

During his speech, Ahmadinejad did not answer students' questions from an open letter asking him such things as what happened to our oil money? Why is there gender discrimination in universities? And what about jailed students?

Mohmmad Ali Abtahi, former vice president and blogger, points out the irony [Fa] that the president of Columbia University was allowed to insult Ahmadinejad in front of the whole world, but that Iranian students had no right to ask questions from Ahmadinejad in Tehran.

“Absolute Freedom”

Tribune Azad has published several photos of the students' protest and asks [Fa] why someone [Ahmadinejad] who says there is absolute freedom in Iran, needs to order security agents to repress Iranian students. The blogger adds that even in the heart of Tehran, Ahmadinejad needs heavy security forces to move around.

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El Salvador: Bloggers and Journalists

Tim Muth · 04:45

lingua → bn · es · pt

The intersection points of blogging and journalism are many and varied in El Salvador. Journalists are bloggers. Bloggers write about journalists and vice versa. Although El Salvador is a country where most people can't spend significant amounts of time online, the ever-growing number of bloggers in El Salvador is starting to influence public debate.

Discussions about the role of blogs were sparked when the conservative El Diario de Hoy newspaper ran a piece titled Cybernetic Proselytism [ES] which warned of supposed dangers from blogs including “disinforming, disorienting and denigrating,” all resulting in prejudice to democracy. In particular, the writers of the article warned that blogs were going to be used inappropriately by political parties leading up to national elections.

Jorge Ávalos, a blogger who also is a journalist employed by El Diario de Hoy, responded [ES] with with a quotation from Álvaro Rivera Larios in the digital periodical El Faro:

Pero es obvio que algunos sectores de nuestro país no ven con buenos ojos que se forme una ciudadanía crítica. Lo paradójico es que esos mismos sectores le teman a la posibilidad de que los blogs desinformen. Lo que temen esos sectores es la pérdida del monopolio informativo e ideológico que durante años han ejercido sobre la opinión pública salvadoreña, es decir, le temen a la pluralidad de informaciones y visiones que abren las nuevas tecnologías.

But it is obvious that some sectors of our country don't view happily that a critical citizenry is forming. The paradox is that these same sectors fear the possibility that blogs will disinform. What these sectors fear is the loss of their information and ideology monopoly that they have exercised for years over Salvadoran public opinion, that is to say, they fear a plurality of information sources and visions which new technologies open up.

Ávalos is one of several journalists in El Salvador who write their own personal blogs. Among others are Paolo Luers, Juan Jose Dalton, and Ernesto Rivas-Gallont. Interestingly, both Luers and Rivas started their blogs after having disagreements with the periodicals for which they were writing.

Do professional journalists bring something extra to the blogosphere? Reflecting on this question, Ávalos quoted a comment from the forum LibreOpinion.net on the value of the personal blogs of professional journalists:

Yo veo con mucho entusiasmo el hecho de que algunos periodistas estén en la blogósfera, porque nos permiten conocer puntos de vista de la noticia que ellos persiguen sin las ataduras que les impone el medio para el que trabajan. Es una labor ya no tanto de reportar sino de opinar respecto de la noticia, y tal periodista, creo yo, sí ha pasado por la etapa de investigar, entrevistar, tabular datos, etc.

I view with much enthusiasm the event of some journalists being in the blogosphere because they permit us to know points of view that they perceive without the strictures imposed on them by the media for which they work. It is a labor not so much of reporting, but of opining, with respect to the news; such a journalist has already gone through the stages of investigating, interviewing, tabulating data, etc.

Journalist blogger Rivas-Gallont is a well known figure in El Salvador. Among other positions, he was formerly the country's ambassador to the United States and is a columnist for the country's largest daily paper, La Prensa Grafica. Rivas-Gallont started his blog Conversations with Neto Rivas [ES] after La Prensa Grafica reduced the space available for his regular column in the paper, and he needed more room for his writing. Rivas-Gallont recently commemorated the one year anniversary of his blog:

Eso es lo que hace interesante y dinámico a un blog. ¡Qué aburrido y monótono sería que todos estuviéramos de acuerdo en todo! Esta publicación no es una manifestación de amor a la madre. Esta es una publicación de ustedes y para ustedes, donde todos expresamos libremente lo que pensamos, sin temor a represalia alguna. Un regalo de la libertad de expresión que, como debe ser, apreciamos en nuestro país.

That is what is interesting and dynamic about a blog. How boring and monotonous it would be if we were all in agreement on everything. This publication is not a show of a mother's love. It's a publication of you and for you, where we all freely express out thoughts, without fear of any reprisals. A gift of freedom of expression that is, as it ought to be, something we appreciate in our country.

(Journalists who write their own personal blogs are a far cry from the blogs sponsored on the website of El Salvador's largest daily newspaper, La Prensa Grafica. That paper, now features 7 blogs on its website, including blogs dealing with sex advice, sports, music and criminal defense among other topics).

Yet the editorial position of El Diario de Hoy notwithstanding, the media in El Salvador is sometimes taking notice of bloggers as opinion leaders. Blogger Hunnapuh wrote about being invited to participate in a radio program roundtable with other bloggers. He describes the session in his post, A Night on the Radio [ES]. The panel of bloggers was asked to give their take on the upcoming election campaigns and the party strategies in the country.

Salvadoran bloggers have often written about journalists. In a tragic recent example, a young Salvadoran journalist was gunned down outside his family's home in Soyapango on September 20. Salvador Sánchez was a radio journalist for alternative media including Radio Maya Vision, YSUCA, and Radio Cadena Mi Gente. Sánchez reported on a variety of topics on the radio, including the protests and arrests in Suchitoto, gang activity, and political demonstrations. The killers and their motives are unknown.

The fact that this murder victim was a journalist created a question — was he killed because of what he reported on, was he just a victim of gang violence in his neighborhood, was this an attack on free speech or just an act of criminal elements acting with impunity against a young man. Blogger Hunnapuh set out in his blog [ES] three different journalists' accounts of the murder, and then concluded:

Por desgracia la investigación está en manos de una institución policial que ha ido perdiendo credibilidad conforme la han ido politizando mas para servir a los designios del gobierno actual que a la propia ciudadanía. No podemos afirmar que Sánchez fuese víctima de Escuadrones de La Muerte, pero tampoco debemos descartar esa posibilidad.

Unfortunately the investigation is in the hands of a police institution that has been losing credibility as it becomes more politicized more to serve the designs of the current government than its own citizens. We are not able to affirm that Sánchez was a victim of Squadrons of Death, but neither can we discard this possibility.

Finally, bloggers have been and will be writing about the journalist who is a presidential candidate. Mauricio Funes, a popular journalist in El Salvador, has been selected by the left wing FMLN to head its ticket in upcoming presidential elections. Since the elections are not until March 2009, there will be plenty of cyber-ink spilled over a passionate election.

2 comments · »»

Egypt: Efficiency

Gr33nData · 00:54

lingua → es

Efficiency is not just a scientific term used by Mechanical Engineers. The Egyptian blogger Ahmed Tharwat (Ya Marakby) decided to apply it on society as well.

Tharwat argues that government employees are inefficient and writes:

بيقولوا إن لو عندك إتنين موظفين شغالين في مكتب في مصلحة حكومية وكل واحد منهم بيشتغل بكفاءة 90% (الشر برة وبعيد) يبقى الكفاءة العامة للمكتب كله تتحسب إزاي؟ الكفاءة العامة هي حاصل ضرب كفاءة الإتنين الموظفين
يعني “%90 × %90 = %81″ .. مفاجأة مش كدة؟

طيب لو عندنا 3 موظفين في المكتب إياه .. وكل واحد كفاءته هي %90 برضه .. يبقى الكفاءة العامة للمكتب ده كام؟ هي حاصل ضرب كفاءة التلاتة موظفين
يعني “%90 × %90 × %90 = %73″ .. شوفتوا الرقم صغر إزاي؟

It's said that if we have two employees working in a governmental agency, and the efficiency of each of them is 90% (we must be dreaming for sure), then their net efficiency will be the product of the efficiencies of each of them. Ie. “90% x 90% = 81%”.

Now let's say that we have three employees instead of two,then their net efficiency will be “90% x 90% x 90% = 73%”, see how the number is getting smaller and smaller.

وعلشان ما أطولش عليكم .. لو عندنا في مصر 70 مليون مواطن .. وخير اللهم إجعله خير كان كل واحد فيها بيشتغل بكفاءة 90% برضه .. ممكن حد يحسب ويقولي الكفاءة العامة لمصر تبقى كام؟ إضربوا كده “%90″ في “%90″ سبعين مليون مرة وشوفوا هتطلع كام .. حسبتوها؟ مصدومين مش كده؟ أيوة .. الإجابة تقريبا صفر .. أيوة صفر

And to cut it short, the Egyptian population is about 70 million. And if each of them works with 90% efficiency, can you calculate the net efficiency of the Egyptian workers? Multiply “90% x 90%” 70 million times. You are astonished now, right? Yeah, it's result is almost zero. Zerooo!!

اللي أنا عايز أقوله إننا لازم نشتغل بكفاءة أقرب ما تكون لل 100% علشان الكفاءة العامة ما تقلش قوي كده لحد ما تبقى صفر

So, what I want to say here, is that we are supposed to work with almost 100% efficiency so that the result isn't as bankrupt and we don't remain zero.

3 comments · »»

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