12:12 12/12/12 !!!

Today is a remarkable day ... 

It is the last repetitive date in our lifetime as the next one will be on 1/1/2101.

Enjoy it.

Mohaly

832) Which Answer is Right?!

Over the past week, some of the readers said enough with politics, while others said we need you to write more about it. So, let's read together this story about differences in perceptions and views, and you can either just enjoy the story, or reflect it on politics.

"Several citizens ran into a hot argument about Life & Creator, and each one could not agree to a common answer. So they came to Buddha to find out what exactly Life is. Buddha asked his disciples to get a large magnificent elephant and four blind men. He then brought the blind men to the elephant and told them to find out what the elephant would “look” like.

The first blind men touched the elephant leg and reported that it “looked” like a pillar. The second blind man touched the elephant tummy and said that an elephant was a wall. The third blind man touched the elephant ear and said that it was a piece of cloth. The fourth blind man hold on to the tail and described the elephant as a piece of rope. And all of them ran into a hot argument about the “appearance” of an elephant.

Buddha asked the citizens: “Each blind man had touched the elephant but each of them gives a different description of the animal. Which answer is right?”"

Now, we do love and see Egypt in many ways and forms and have different answers to the same question; How can Egypt rise and be better?! So Which answer is right? Actually all of them are, but all together. The only way for us to see the path to a better Egypt is to see it together. The Elephant was bigger than all the  blind men, and Egypt is bigger than its parties and sects.

Mohaly

831) Kolena Gaber Salah !!

As if I am posting that post today ...Post 700 

after more than 2 years and a revolution.

Nothing has changed ... 

Nothing has changed... 

Nothing has changed.

Gaber Salah is not a coincidence ... 

Gaber Salah is the new Khaled Saeed, 

and hopefully the last one.

Mohaly

830) "Bab El Khoroug" .. Is it our Way Out?!

Since the mega split that happened in the 19^th of March Referendum, and many Egyptians – if not most of them- are wondering; “What is our WAY OUT?” Where are we heading? .. It has been discussed on TV, Radio, Newspapers, Social Media, everywhere except among those who have the power (SCAF and now Ekhwan). No roadmap was drawn or a path was set that can contain people together and work on the long term (as always mentioned in this blog).

Less than couple of weeks ago I had a board meeting at Nahdet El Mahrousa, and my fellow board member, and AUC colleague Ayman Ismail - a great guy by the way - has insisted that I don’t go home unless I buy a copy of the new Novel for Dr.Ezzeldin Choukri Fishere -a former diplomat and professor of political science at the American University in Cairo-  “Bab El Khoroug ; The Exit Gate or The Way Out”. His persistence made me go buy it and even start reading on the same night … The weird thing is I really couldn’t stop reading till the following night where I spent the whole Friday in reading more than 500 pages till I finished the novel with a floundering mind.

The novel analyzes and predicts the political situation of Egypt from 1990 until 2020 through the eyes of Aly Shoukry, the president’s translator and then secretary for information, as he witnesses the revolution and its aftermath. The novel is written as a letter from the Aly to his son, explaining how he ultimately came to betray his country’s nuclear plans to strike Israel and US presence in the area using secretly acquired arsenal.

It was very daring of Dr.Fishere to publish it in Tahrir Newspaper on periodical daily episodes and committing to his readers without even finishing it specially it is concerned with ongoing actions… Dr.Fishere says, “I have been preoccupied by its plot and main characters for a few months, and I had this urge not only to write it but to get it out to the public. I felt if I didn't do it now, it will be overtaken by events – because it is a novel interwoven with current events.” The beautiful and unconventional thing about the Novel is that although you know the end, you keep a real suspense all over the reading, and you can easily relate to each and every single incidence as if you are an eye witness.

“Bab El Kheroug is not just about the bloody upheavals of a divided Egypt, but also about the life and loves; regrets and lessons learned; joys and struggles of the kind and introverted Aly. The characters in Bab El Kheroug are directly involved in the government or politically active in some way. Empowered, active and hopeful, albeit stuck in a vicious cycle, these characters are the product of Egypt’s revolution; they did not exist before January 25^th, 2011.” says Asmaa Abdallah, a journalist.

“The old world is receding, but the new one is not there yet. Bab El Khoroug is a beginning, a door I am trying to open for myself and my readers. Maybe all I want is to be able, in ten years, to tell the world: I told you so!” Dr.Fishere adds. The interesting thing is that some of the predicted incidents have already happened in the last couple of months after publishing the episodes.

We have to work together and establish a new generation that gets over what we are facing now and looks at the future in a different way. This is in my opinion – Mohaly- is our only way out.

Mohaly

Link to an Interview with Dr.Fishere about it .. Click Here
Link to the Novel ... Click Here
Buy it from Dar El Sherouk.

829) Close, Lock, and Seal !!

Since the Islamic stream came to power, I have noticed that there are certain words and expressions that prevailed over others like Closing, Banning, Controlling, Dominating, Monitoring, ..etc rather than Opening, Creating, Cooperating, Respecting,.etc. There are many incidents and issues, but lately the Egyptian society, media, and intellects, were consumed in the issues of closing stores at 10pm, and banning the porno sites. Actually, I am for having a regulation for opening and closing of stores, and I am against the negative effect of porno sites. However, I totally refuse both decisions..

Let me start with the latest, PORN Sites...Before you think that I am promoting Porn Sites, just answer the following questions:

1. Does the government have a certain definition for Porno sites? Other than the explicit fornication sites, do you consider an article or a blog, or facebook page that contains people on the beach or scientific illustratiomn of body parts as porn? What is the criteria for classifying or banning a website?
2. Do people log onto porno sites by their own will, or is it obligatory in the web browser? I.e. If someone decides not to log to porn sites, will he/she ever be exposed to them unless he/she digs for it?
3. Can we really technically control it? I worked for 10 years in the Internet field and managed mega portals like Microsoft Network, and I can assure you that the 100+ Million pounds they gonna spend will be invain as there are many ways to open these sites ranging from stuff for free to application for $10 or $15!! needless to say that the Internet in Egypt will be slower as well.
4. Who will pay the 100 Million Pounds (announced in Al Ahram)? and how does this come as a priority in public spending?
5. Did anyone consider the side-effect of this decision in our world positioning in the Telecommunication and Internet field? 

I am afraid that this kind of banning will be a Trojan horse for controlling the content of the net, and blocking whatever pages or application the government doesn't like .. famous bloggers like Wael Abbas, or Alaa and Manal or Mona El Tahaway or even this humble blog can be banned just for claiming that they contain something "doesn't fit with the values of the society" .. Give me a break!!

Moving to the 2nd very much related issue, Closing the Shops @10 and restaurants @12 ... Let me throw a couple of questions as well:

1. On What basis was this decision taken? 
2. Why cant it wait till the election of parliament to be fully discussed and apply it in the right way at the right time?
3. Did the government consult with the owners, and civil societies to study the pros and cons?
4. Did the government consider the Egyptian culture with all its ups and downs and how to apply the decision while taking it into consideration?
5. What alternative solutions will the government provide for the side effects of the decision (like increasing in un-employment, security issues, fighting illegal trade and "ghorza" that will flourish after closure hours,...etc).

Again, I am afraid that it is all revolving about the same ancient obsolete ideology of banning and bestowing !!!! the divine supreme government that has "ra3aya" or "3abeed e7sanhom" not civil citizens.

Mohaly

828) Shari3a, Social Justice, and 3abdo Moota !!

May be the title looks like "samak, laban, tamr hendy" (complete chaos) , but actually the three mentioned topics are extremely related in Egypt after Jan 25th. May be it is a a new version of the be old trilogy of Man, Life, and Control. 

I really wonder what do the people in power (Islamists) really want? Ok, they want the application of Shari3a Law, so what?! The vast majority of our laws t driven from Shari3a, or they want a special interpretation of shari3a that keep them having an upper hand over the people in a way close to what the Catholic Church had in the Dark Ages?!

I am actually optimistic when it comes to this point in specific, because no matter how they try, the Egyptian people wont change easily regarding their perception about life and religion ... A short visit in history will tell you how many sects and groups had governed Egypt, and it has always ended up with its own unique interpretation.. just a unique blend of all.

What really worries me is the change of Culture ... There is a deep change in the Egyptian character that has been always known for decency, kindness, helping others, motivated with the least praise...etc. This culture is changing fast to the opposite and it is clear from the people in streets, protests, songs, movies, writing...etc.. and I consider this change as the root for all evil.

Many people may have got offended by the latest movie "3abdo Moota" but a simple fact is that it had scored the highest movie premier income in the history of Arab Movies (and $1 Million in 3 days). This tells you that this kind of culture is now spreading and actually  is prevailing -without any exaggeration. 3abdo Moota is what they call "She3ar El Mar7ala" or the slogan of the current period/era. I was worried about Egypt when "7ena Maysara" movie was released almost 5 years ago (see post 350), and now I can see this culture standing on a solid ground.

What I want to say is that Shari3a won't help changing the culture back as it was there most of the time and wasn't the reason for the change in the 1st place; but the extreme pressure and injustice that happened throughout the last half a century specially in the last 10 years were the main reasons for this change. The only way back is to have a clear and strong applicable strategy to bring Social Justice to Egypt, and without that neither law or Shari3a will be able to bring Egypt People to what they were.

Time is passing fast, and every year the new culture of aggressiveness, selfishness, laziness is fixing its roots, and every year we will waste will make it harder and longer to change ... At a certain critical point, we wont be even able to change as it will be THE real, final, and genuine Egyptian Culture where 3abo Moota will be the icon of the typical Egyptian citizen then...

So my question now is: Is Social Justice a priority? and if Yes, how and when it will be achieved?

Mohaly

827) Egypt ... Deal or No Deal ?!!!

President or No President, Constitution or No Constitution, Government or No Government, Parliament or No Parliament, Trails or No Trials, Protests or No Protests .... Simply everything and its exact opposite that I am afraid one day it is going To Be or Not to Be. Egypt became a big darkroom where groups of blind people are left together going in ALL directions and NO direction at the same time !!.. Everybody is running, shouting, and even stepping on others, although we are in a deep need to hold hands and find our way up to switch on the light.

After 20 months from the 25th of Jan "Revolution", things are not only in complete unrest, but also the vision, path and even the vehicle are not clear at all.. Each group is living in a separate schizophrenic bubble where they only talk and don't even listen to their own words to the extent that"Contradictions" can easily win the best title for such stage... Liberals aren't liberal enough to accept differences, Salafi's are not following the right Salaf in dealing with others, and socialists are not doing any benefit on any social level,  Ekhwan are not tolerant enough to deal with such huge responsibility that they cant handle alone and where they failed to get Egyptians to be "Ekhwan" in this nation.. Even felool, you can't accurately describe what is meant by the term anymore!!! Simply Every Thing and Its opposite...Kol 7aga wel 3aks!

This is the situation about almost everything in Egypt now ... So is it a Deal or No Deal?! The problem is there is no one offering a DEAL; however, everybody is saying NO DEAL !!!

Mohaly

826) In Love & Respect ..!

Which is most needed Love or Respect ... If you have 2 choices only; would you live with someone who loves you but doesn't respect you enough, or someone who loves you but doesn't love you enough?


Dr. Emerson Eggerichs says: "We believe love best motivates a woman and respect most powerfully motivates a man. Research reveals that during marital conflict a husband most often reacts when feeling disrespected and a wife reacts when feeling unloved.  We asked 7,000 people this question: when you are in a conflict with your spouse or significant other, do you feel unloved or disrespected?  83% of the men said "disrespected."  72% of the women said, "unloved."  Though we all need love and respect equally, the felt need differs during conflict, and this difference is as different as pink is from blue!"


I personally if I cant have both as much, then I would choose Respect over love, as love can't stand for feeling disrespected (and that is a relative word from one person to another). If I don't feel respected, I can't even express love and care. 


What about you?


Mohaly

825) Morsy 3ala el Korsy !

So today Egypt is finally having a civil and elected president. Congratulations to President Morsy.. Although I am not a fan of him, and anti-ekhwan all the way, but I pray for him to be able to lead the country through these hard times. I will support him when he needs it and will criticize him when he deserves it.

In this occasion, I am posting his own promises for the first 100 days of his presidency (1/7 to 10/10) so that we can keep an eye on what he did and what he didnt achieve. This will be an indicator about his presidency term (if he will make till the end). You can follow that up on http://morsimeter.com/ as well.

It was so Ironic that Mubarak moves from Torah to Military Hospital in Maadi, and the Parliament is dissolved so Morsy has to oath in Constitutional Court in Maadi next to the Hospital ending up with the old convicted president and new elected president couple of meters away !!

P.S. I just hope that one day we aren't gonna say President "Mohamed Morsy Mubarak" .. !

Mohaly

824) Revolution 2.1 !!

May be many of you feel lost or shocked after the late decisions of suspending the parliament and constitution and passing on Shafik..etc.. Actually I feel completely the opposite, I feel more relaxed. Why?

- Becuase by now people have seen the reality of the "Ismalists" and that they are just another power seeker.

- Becuase by now people have also seen the reality of SCAF with all its bad and good sides.

- Because by now people should have learnt the lesson of working together (Hamdeen/AbouElfetoh/Ali..etc)..and preparing our candidates and offering a strong opposition and an alternative to the unbiased Egyptian people..

- and finally Because now we are playing in the daylight ..i.e 3al makshouf, and it is much better to play it this way specially for the revolutionists.

So again, I do feel the path is really long but we can see clearly now, and it is up to us to stand still or go through it armed with the belief that who laughs last, laughs best..

It is a new phase of the revolution, a more serious, long term, and deeper ... It is Revolution 2.1

Mohaly

823) The Bright Side of the Elections !!

I have been -and still- outside Egypt since a week, and it made forget all about the debates and remember 1 thing ; I love this country and won't give up ... Regardless who is the president or who will take power, this was, is, and will always be our country, and we will always fight for its prosperity and our rights ...

There is always a bright side, and the 10 Million who voted for Thawra candidates & Dostor Party can be a great start .. Let's not surrender to despair, and know that it is a life time battle, and we owe it to ourselves, and our children...

May God Bless All Egyptians 

Mohaly 

from Dubai

Published Article ::: Cairo's Magnetic Attraction !

This is my latest article published in AUCToday Magazine about Cairo. May 2012

Mohaly

822) If Only !!

Do you realize that if your aim is happiness, you will never be happy !! Yes how ironic, but happiness is an abnormal and temporary status where if reached can't be always maintained... What we should aim for is satisfaction as this can be manageable and permanent, and when happiness comes we enjoy it, and try to prolong it but we shouldn't take it for granted.

"If only" turned out to be the mother of all sadness because we willingly make our happiness pending on something that if happened, there is a 99% chance that we won't be happy... there will be something else that we will be looking for and saying "If only I have this".

Know what you have, and enjoy it, and know what you don't and work for it. The real happiness comes from making use of your blessings and working hard to achieve your goals; other wise, welcome to the infinite loop of "If Only!".

Mohaly

821) Job Opening: Matloob Ragel !!

The newest advertisement trend in Egypt ... Employers are bored and need real men !

Mohaly

820) The Eye of the Beholder ... !

A man was sitting at the corner of a cafe holding a pen and writing something..

There were many people sitting there watching and wondering..

An old man thought that he is writing a letter to his mother..

The Teenager thought he writting a letter to his love..

The kid thought that he is drawing..

The Merchant thought that he preparing a deal..

The Employee thought that he is calculating his debts..

Everyone is explaining others behaviour according to his interests, and everyone sees others through his values, so .... Don't judge People according to what you see..

Do what you are convinced with coz you will never please all people no matter what you do..

Mohaly

819) Do we know how to Love Her?

This question may look like it is out of context of what is going on in Egypt and the hot political war taking place on all fronts. However, I see that question in the CORE of the events. I am asking again Do we know how to love? I am afraid not ...

I have been involved in many discussions, public debates, and lectures whether I am attending or delivering, and I can say that most of what I have seen was about people hating each other for just having a different opinion. Discussions seemed to be more of trying to terminate the oponent instead of understanding or even considering the other point of view. No chance to talk, express, no willingness to communicate or negotiate or even educate! "Mooto Beghayzekom!!" What kind of motto is that?... Do we know how to love? I am afraid not ...

If we know how to love, we would have loved our country ... we would have shared, sacrificed, compromised, communicated, understood, supported, and respected each other, and as long this is not happening, I am afraid we don't know how to love her...

Mohaly

818) 7ad Fahem 7aga?!

Does anyone really understand what is happening in Egypt?!!! 

Can you tell me your top 3 concerns in light of what is happening now on all fronts (presidential, constitutional, governmental, trails...etc).

Mohaly

817) The Revamping Generation !

I have always hated following other steps without re-thinking about why did they do it, how, and what are the other options. Although I tend to be a very organized person but I do question all traditions, systems, and norms. May be that is why till now I still can not feel fitting in our society although I have been living in Egypt for most of my life.

I feel that sometimes we do exaggerate about our traditions and put some taboos and concerns without even questioning it. You may say that is different in the new generation, I'd say yes to an extent. However,   the majority are still adoring the "group-think" style where everyone if following what is there without not even questioning is it the best thing to do or not.

That is clear on the social, cultural, and even on the economic and political levels..

On the socio-cultural level people tend to consider the traditions are sacred even if it become a show-stopper or create a bottle-neck. Check marriage and the copy and paste procedures and problems, education and its copy cats graduates, entertainment, tv programs...etc.

On the Economic level, we have this tendency of copying the success without assessing why did they succeed and is the surrounding environment and our capabilities are suitable to repeat theirs or not (you can find a whole street selling the same commodities just because one or two shops were successful at a certain point in time). Also, the tendency to save in banks and not do any investments or take risks, the tendency to buy very low quality product many times instead of buying a better durable one that have the same life span, the tendency to spend money without any balance or relativeness with income to show off (like Mobiles), or own mood (Cigs or Drugs)..etc.

Even now on the political level, people just go with the flow ... Of course people have the free right to choose and select, but do they really do? Does everyone for example selecting Abou Ismail, is really doing so because he or she are convinced of Abo Ismail and his values, vision, and strategies? I have checked all the referendums in Egypt in the last 100 years, and we never said NO, not even once.. and the highest percentage a No got was like these days last year (22.8%). The rulers of Egypt know this and always play on that line of thought.

What I wanna say is that Jan 25th Revolution has been losing on many fronts, but if we take a deeper look we can see that there is an important factor that everyone has been ignoring ... THE REVAMPING of all our norms and traditions ... The younger generations (below 40) and specially university students are coming up with different values that are much more powerful than their parents and elders... SCAF, Ekhwan, may seem winning now, but who will conquer the future.. who is leading the change .. Who will be there to witness in the first place... It is these young generations. My bet is on them, and I will be putting my effort and time in supporting my, and the younger generation to be able to lead and change this country on the medium and long terms. That is the only hope I have now after all what happened to us over the past 14 months..

Can't say I am still Optimistic as I was a year ago, but I still have a lonely hope, and I cant afford to lose  it as well.

Mohaly

816) El Kella El Mondassa El 3alamy El Kawny !

Today marks the 1^st anniversary of “El Kella El Mondassa El Masry El Araby El 3alamy El Kawny” of Facebook. When I established this group I wasn’t thinking it will be as big as it is now (more than 1000 member), as it was mainly a direct reaction for the Referendum results and feeling that we are really a minority. But since then it played a big role in securing, reinforcing, and releasing the feelings and thoughts of its members, especially that it is a closed group that doesn’t allow anyone in except through invitation. I cant deny that it affected the amount of writing here on the blog, but I am getting back to normal rate lately.

The group is a social-liberal group that welcomes all those interested in developing the country without certain dogmatic ideology specially the “fallen” corrupted regime supporters and those for the Religious country or Military role. The group is always fighting to keep it this way. However, it succeed in attracting a different array of people whether in age, experience, location, gender, religion…etc that very much enriched the discussions and guided our thinking.

In its 1^st anniversary I would like to thank the members – specially the active ones & the admins, and they know themselves :) - who had a great impact on me throughout this year and helped me pass through very hard times specially the period between Mohamed Mahmoud incidents till Port-Said, and they are still giving me support, hope, and sometimes fun as well... A Vitual Family :)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY YA MONDASEEN :)

Mohaly

I am asking all those interested and see themselves matching with the criteria to join us at http://www.facebook.com/groups/200114613345308/?bookmark_t=group

815) 2om El Donya !

All the Mothers are getting a present from their beloved ones today. While Our greater mother أم الدنيا is getting slapped everyday by its selfish and opportunist sons. We are sorry Egypt, but we are still keeping the faith in you and will always love and respect you without waiting for any rewards other than seeing you where you really deserve.. May God help us to do so.

Mohaly

814) Suzanne for President ?!!

So ... What if Suzanne Thabet (wife of ousted president) decided to run for president of Egypt in 2012 Elections?

Before you say no way, tell me what can keep her from running?
- Felol? Shafik the Super felol is running..
- Age? She is 71, younger than many candidates..
- Gender? other females are already running..
- Accusations? Nothing official, she is officially "clean"..
- Experience? No one has more "experience" than her ..
- Populairty? "Mubarak Sons group" are hers too !
In addition she is the pioneer of El Kera2aa lel gamee3 (Reading for all), so she can handle El Bara2a lel gamee3 and El Re2asa lel gamee3 (Presidency for all)

So seriously, what keeps Morgana from running supported by Ali Baba and the 40 thieves in Torah?!

Mohaly

813) Sar7'et Kalam ... صرخة قلم !

صرخة فى قلب العدم 

صرخة بطعم الألم

صرخة من غير ندم

صرخة حر ضد الخدم

صرخة شهيد إتعدم

و شباب كتير إتظلم

صرخة رافعه العلم

و بتدى الظالم بالقلم

صرخة ملل

صرخة أمل

صرخة تحدى

فى وش البجم

صرخة لكسر الطوق

صرخة علشان نفوق

و نرجَّع رأسنا لفوق

و نحقق الحلم اللى إتحَلم

Mohaly

812) Ya Wad Ya Mo2men !!

يعنى إيه متدين؟

أيوه أنا عايز أفهم؟

يعنى بيصلى و بيصوم و بيزكى و يحفظ قران؟ 

و لا بيحترم الناس و عادل و كريم و طيب و بيتقى ربنا؟

و لا اللى بينجح إنه يقنع الناس إنه متدين؟

و لا اللى وشه سمح و يريح و عليه علامات التقوى؟

و لا اللى مطول دقنة و حالق شنبه و عنده زبيبة و رافع بنطلونه؟

و لا اللى بيدخل لفظ الجلالة بين كل كلمة و التانية؟

و لا اللى بيقضى حاجات الناس لوجه الله؟

و لا اللى بيمنع الأذى عن الناس و يقف جنبهم ضد الظلم؟

و لا العضو فى جماعة أو حزب دينى؟

طب مين اللى يقرر إنك متدين؟

إنت؟

أهلك؟

أصحابك؟

حزبك؟

إستفتاء؟

طب لو إنت متدين ده بيديك أى حقوق أو مميزات زيادة؟

طب لو أنا متدين و إنت متدين و إختلفنا فى الرأى .. كلام مين فينا اللى يمشى؟

طب لو إنت متدين و الناس متفقه على ده ... بس كذبت و نافقت و ظلمت و.. و.. تبقى إيه؟

طب لو أنا بصلى و أصوم و أزكى و بأتقى ربنا فى رزقى و شغلى و أهلى بس بؤمن بأفكار حرة (ليبرالية) أبقى إيه؟

الإيمان هو ما وقر فى القلب وصدقه العمل،

 قال تعالى: "قالت الأعراب أمنا قل لم تؤمنوا ولكن قولوا أسلمنا ولما يدخل الإيمان فى قلوبكم".

الإيمان قول وعمل.

و لا إيه يا واد يا مؤمن؟

Mohaly

811) Women of Glass !

I once read in an old book of philosophy that women are like a chip of transparent glass that you can see through if you were keen on wiping it off carefully. This piece of glass if was really clean you will see your reflection within as if it is hidden there inside.  If you broke it someday it would be hard to get it back in place, and even if u managed to, there will always be clear scars that will hurt you every time you pass your hand on.

Women indeed have their touch and fingerprint on men's lives.  Sometimes a painful one but mostly the complete opposite. Everyday that passes I realize how much I do need a caring woman in my life.. I cant deny that no matter how much work I do or success I achieve in life, there is always that hollow feeling that hunts me specially when I am back home whether alone or with family. I do realize that a man is never in balance without a caring woman in his life. 

إنت مش إنت من غير ست

Mohaly

MOH@LYICS ... Round 6

I cant believe it has been 5 years already since this blog has started (27/2/2007) .. Although it is a virtual blog, but it has played a big role in keeping me motivated and alive.. This last year was very heavy, it started by lots of posts and continuous writing and motivation, and ended by temporarily loosing the ability to write anything after PortSaid massacre that I still can't believe its cruelty till now..

I thought a lot about closing the blog on its 5th anniversary, but I decided not to, and give myself another chnace. I am resuming writing next week in-shaa-Allah and I really wish that the 6th year will be better than the 5th and continue writing about development and construction instead of sadness and disappointment.

Thank you my dear readers and blog followers for making this blog alive.

Mohaly

I won't be writing anything for a while as there are no words to describe what I feel.

May God Bless the lost soles.

Mohaly

810) The Economy Drag & "3agalet el Entag" !

One of the things that frustrates me the most when meeting people and discussing the Egyptian Revolution is the famous sentence: "You - revolts- ruined our economy".. It has become a cliche to the extent that people started believing and acting upon it.

I wonder how great was the Egyptian Economy during the past 30 years! Let me ask some questions may be I am fooled and the "Angles" in SCAF are right:

- What is the average income for Egyptian Employees before & after Revolution?
- What is the ratio between executives and employees salaries before and after Revolution?
- What is the real unemployment rate in the Egyptian Market before & after Revolution?
- What is the relation between the prices and salaries before and after the Revolution?
- What is the collected percentage of taxes required by Billionaires vs. Employees before and after Revolution?
- Who is responsible for not containing the security vacuum that in turn affect investments and tourism?
- Who is responsible for not taking any serious steps towards getting back the stolen money in and outside Egypt?
- Who is scaring investors with their statements about burning Egypt and civil war?
- Who is the one who has an open budget that directly takes its feed from Egypt resources and is refusing to even discuss it?
- Who owns all the Egyptian uninhabited lands, and how can they play a role in getting it down to its real prices? (unless they are happy with the current ones).
- Who is still adopting the same economic strategies and still borrowing billions keeping the next governments trapped?
- Who spent 200 Million pounds on a useless referendum and 1 Billion on a puppet Shura council?
- Who is prolonging the Transitional period that in turn extends the status quo.?

Answer these questions first, and then talk to me about "3agalet el Entag!".

Mohaly

809) 25 January 2012 ... Celebration or Revolution ?!

On 11 Feb and after couple of mins of Omar Soliman's announcement, I tried to call my very close friend Sherif Saleh to celebrate ... I didn't wait till he answers and went on saying MABROOOOOK.. I got a weird voice on the other side saying "who are you?", I answered "aren't you Sherif?", he said no, I said: "that is ok Mabrouk anyway", he surprisingly said: "Mabrouk for what?!! this is bad, army is bad..." I wasn't capable of discussing or even thinking, I just wanted to celebrate so I told him: "thank you, and enjoy the victory" ... Now after a year, I am still asking myself was he right, should I have chosen not to celebrate?!!!

A picture is better than 1000 words ... I have summarized the incidents of the year in these 20 pictures that symbolized each event ... I think the answer to the question (25 Jan 2012 a celebration or a Revolution?) is clear..

Mohaly

808) You will never Win if you never Begin !

Hope is born from the womb of Despair ..

Mohaly

807) Who is the winner?!

An Irony of life and of the international education system too..

Most of the distinguished, attentive, clever and sharp students get technical jobs like Engineers, and Physicians.. while many of those who come behind as average pass college and post-graduate MBA, and become the administrators of the distinguished ones.. Those who fail or below average.. may just go deal in any business, have good connections / work with dirty politicians, and control all of the above !!

Do we need a complete paradigm shift in our systems? I guess so..

Mohaly

806) 2011 ... Is it Over?

Now what?
Is 2011 really over? This "centennial" year?
A year that witnessed the fall down of 4 regimes (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen) and the 5th (Syria) is on the way, and change in all the Arab governments ...
A year that witnessed the split of Sudan, and withdrawal of America from Iraq...
A year that witnessed the death of tens of Egyptian & Arab Intellectuals (Anis Mansour, Ahmed Bahgat, Saad El Shazly, Hegazy, Khairy Shalaby, Mahmoud Hafez,...etc) and Celebs (Kamal El Shenawy, Omar El Hariry, Hend Rostom, Gom3a El Shawwan, Talaat El Sadat,....etc)  almost ending a whole generation of writers, thinkers, and actors..
A year that witnessed the killing and death of Qaddafi, Ben Laden, & Kim Yong...
A year that witnessed the marriage of the century in London, and the disaster of the century in Japan.
A year that witnessed the first world wide protests in more than 80 countries at the same time...
The year that witnessed the 10th anniversary of 9-11 that seemed nothing beside its events ...
A year that contained events of a century in 12 months!

Now 2011 is over, what do we expect from 2012?
Do we expect a more peaceful Egypt where people start thinking with their minds instead of their hearts?
Do we expect a more fair world where fierce capitalism is replaced with a more just economic system?
or Do we expect more of power struggle and split among Egyptians, and more injustice in the world?

Will 2012 be the end of the world, or the start of a new one?

Mohaly