Blaming the victim is a tactic utilized both by harassers and their enablers. To think that, through what she is wearing, a woman is “inviting” you to verbally or physically violate her is almost as disgusting as the act itself. What’s more, it’s a claim that’s easily refutable – just ask the multitudes of niqabis and hijabis that have lewd comments hurled at them on a daily basis. My own wife, a hijabi and mother of two, was walking – WITH OUR DAUGHTER – in the mall just last week when a couple of guys ogled her and made some snide remarks. This is not, nor can it ever be, “3aadi.”

Thankfully, a number of initiatives have set out to combat this societal plague, including today’s dedicated blogging campaign (follow the hashtag #endSH on Twitter). Another tech-savvy approach to rooting out sexual harassment on Egypt’s streets is Harassmap, which digitally plots incidents reported by users through sms, email or Twitter. While these efforts are all worthwhile, I find there is a dearth of Islamically-oriented approaches to solving this problem.

One way khateebs and da3ees (not just in Egypt, but around the Islamic world) can help combat harassment is by reviving the ethos of futuwwa, or Islamic chivalry. Futuwwa encompasses a number of virtues, modesty and chastity being operative in this circumstance. Although Ramadan is always an opportunity for renewal, this aspect of the Holy month should be particularly emphasized this year in the wake of Egypt’s glorious revolution. As such, I truly hope all those who will be leading Friday prayers or spreading Islamic knowledge will take the time to highlight the need for our youth to start living a more virtuous, chivalrous lifestyle.

A while back, Imam Zaid Shakir wrote a wonderful piece on the essence of futuwwa. Although it is largely in terms of one’s duties with regard to marriage, it nonetheless a very worthwhile read for all the bachelors out there. I’ll close here with a quote from the article:

Islam is not a religion of empty laws and strictures but one which points towards a higher ethical order.

Still, Father’s Day in recent years has nonetheless been an opportunity for reflection. It’s both a solemn occasion, reminding me of my dad’s passing seven years back, and a chance to be grateful for my own foray into fatherhood. With each year, too, I realize how intertwined my past is with my present. A recent Freakonomics podcast highlighted this point all the more.

In the episode Things Our Fathers Gave Us, Dubner and Levitt recount the most important life lessons that their fathers taught them. By design I’m sure, I too began thinking about the gems that my dad passed down to me over the years. As it turns out, the most important bit of knowledge my father imparted on me was likely unintentional.

In his younger years, my dad was quite the risk taker. The fact that he decided to move to America when he had no opportunities lined up, little knowledge of the language and a wife and child back in Alexandria underscores this fact. This proclivity of his ebbed and flowed once we were all settled down in New York. He would continue his entrepreneurial ways, opening first a clothing store and soon after transitioning to a halal grocery store, but these were always side endeavors as he spent the bulk of his working years a civil servant for New York City. He would at times overreach and thereafter often overcompensate. When he found that sweet spot though, he was at his happiest.

And therein lies the somber economic truth of fatherhood. We all, as men, want to do something grand. When we step past bachelorhood, however, we can no longer take the risks that previously drove us to do great things. Once we cross over into married life and have kids, the opportunities to throw caution to the wind dramatically decrease – or, at least, are dramatically less viable. We get set in our ways and, especially if we dare to take a chance and fail, resolve to fly under the radar and “play it safe.”

Put differently, there is an invisible hand that guides all fathers toward a mundane life.

My father – through his resolve and determination; his successes and failures – taught me to always be on the lookout for those fleeting opportunities to do what you truly want in life. In short, to be happy, you MUST take risks – calculated, considered, but risks nonetheless.

Every moment of my life that exceeds the ordinary is owed in no small way to this priceless lesson my dad taught me.

Thank you, baba. Allah yerhamak…

Switch and bait

As I wrote about in the previous post, one of the primary reasons that the protests were originally demanded was to insist on the creation of a presidential council. This civilian body would either supplant or supplement the role of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), depending on one scheme or the other. Since I already wrote on the folly of this position, let me address the claim that such calls are either on the periphery of or  altogether absent from the protesters’ agenda.

First, there were the early reputable reports that a presidential council was a central tenet of the #May27 movement:

In response to reports that the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces is considering pardoning Mubarak and his family in exchange for the transfer of all their property and fortune to the state, Facebook pages have been launched calling for a second Egyptian revolution, on May 27, to replace the Council with a civil presidential council.

~MEMRI Blog

Second, there was the following analysis by @Sandmonkey from earlier this week that indicates that a call for a civilian council was firmly on the minds of central figures from the revolution:

Third, in today’s Ahram Online (which, incidentally, is an entirely independent entity from the State mouthpiece, Al-Ahram newspaper), the point is once again underscored: “The initial invitation circulating on Facebook for a new day of mass protest, scheduled for Friday, had as one of its first demands the formation of a presidential council.” It’s worth noting, too, that the picture accompanying this story is of the ballot from March’s referendum, an allusion to the undemocratic prerequisites that are necessary for the formation of a new civilian executive body.

Last, yesterday evening I attended a meetup for Tweets from Tahrir and took the opportunity to ask some of the key figures from #Jan25 what they hoped to accomplish on #May27. A new civilian council, in some iteration, remains a central concern. However, how this potential usurpation would manifest – let alone what role #May27 plays in this scheme – was sadly elusive.

Playing (dirty) politics with the Revolution

Even setting aside the implied (though still obvious) political motivations that are part and parcel of any call for a civilian council, there’s no denying the explicit interests promoted through a widely circulated and recognized list of demands.

The primary flier, distributed in hard copy and digital form (you can find the original Arabic document and a rough English translation here), listed three sets of demands under the headings “economic,” “political,” and “freedom.” The later two categories contain more or less widely agreed upon points (though I can probably pick a knit here or there). The economic demands, however, most assuredly do NOT represent majority will.

Among the flier’s ludicrous appeals is a call for not just a minimum wage, but a MAXIMUM wage. Already squarely left of center, the list goes on to tip the needle all the way to the edge of the spectrum, demanding price controls and – wait for it – A REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. Why not just hang a “Closed for Investment” sign on Egypt?

With this obviously skewed manifesto, the groups behind #May27 clearly tip their hand. What they seek is not the “rescue” of Egypt’s glorious revolution, but an end around the democratic system they disingenuously claim they’re fighting to preserve. You can’t insist on sweeping economic policies prior to the election of a representative government while at the same time decrying a perceived curtailment of your civil liberties. That’s hypocrisy par excellence.

If tomorrow’s protest is indeed meant to “save” the Revolution and not advance parochial interests, then let me ask a simple question: If it was the Islamists that were disadvantaged in the upcoming elections, if it was their activists that were being periodically harassed and arrested, would these self-appointed guardians of the Revolution still see fit to call on Egyptians to descend on Tahrir?

The answer, to anyone paying attention, is clear.

A lost opportunity

In concentrating far too narrowly on interests far too niche, the organizers of this protest missed a golden opportunity to truly unite Egyptians once more. Had they simply promoted this event as a means to lend your voice to the issues universally agreed upon – the need for greater security, the need for regime members to be held accountable for their deeds, and the need to give our economy a shot in the arm – the support would have been tremendous. As it was, petty earmarks were heaped upon these most common denominators, rendering the entire endeavor both incohesive and incoherent.

I hope that somehow, some way tomorrow’s protest moves Egypt in the right direction. For the aforementioned reasons, however, I can not in good faith support what I perceive to be a thinly veiled power play masquerading as an unadulterated bid for freedom and civil liberties. Here’s hoping, too, that we can move forward and learn from our mistakes.

A costly gambit

On it’s face, the gripes of Egyptian bloggers and revolutionaries seem reasonable; a military junta – let alone one with such an Orwellian title – is not what the #Jan25 revolution was fought for. Yet interim military rule is what we got and, more importantly, it’s what the majority of Egyptians voted for. The March 19 referendum, which passed with an overwhelming 77% of the population voting “YES”, effectively solidified the SCAF’s executive role and, crucially, designated a time frame for handing over these appointed powers. Therefore, installing a presidential council that would go on to oversee a new constitution and postpone parliamentary elections (the main sticking points for those who voted “NO” in the referendum) would essentially undercut the result of the first free and fair vote in Egypt’s history (a pretty long history at that).

Some bloggers/protesters justify their stance by insisting that democracy is more than voting – it’s civil rights, transparency and rule of law. Quite right – but tell that to the Egyptian people who’s first taste of tangible democracy you want to revoke. Even better, tell them  that you’re revoking it in the name of democracy – that you’re doing it for their own good – and see how trusting they are of your “liberal” vision.

Pot, meet kettle

Irony doesn’t begin to describe it. The same people who rose up against authoritarianism are promoting a kind of democracy in which a fussy few impose their will on the many. They are, in this way, not far from the Birthers in America who are irrationally concerned with overturning a democratic result they see as illegitimate, despite all evidence to the contrary. I say Birthers and not, for example, the Tea Party because at least the later managed to organize, form a platform and get elected. As entirely counter-intuitive as it sounds, Egypt’s disgruntled revolutionaries can actually learn something from the Tea Party.

In addition to annulling a prior vote, many protesters would love to see provisions put in place to regulate future votes in accordance with their worldview. Specifically, the influence that the Muslim Brotherhood are likely to have in upcoming elections doesn’t sit well with these self-appointed guardians of Egypt’s democracy. Instead of taking on Baba Hosni’s tactic of protecting the ignorant masses from themselves, however, it seems more prudent to try and convince them of the revolution’s aims. Who knows, maybe you can even salvage the little credibility revolutionaries still have with the public.

Confounding ineptitude & ambition

All this isn’t to say that there aren’t legitimate grievances to be had with the SCAF; they’ve had more than their share of missteps. Moreover, they are a military dictatorship, after all, so it behooves all in Egypt to remain vigilant and skeptical. While not giving the army a free pass, however, it’s crucial that we EQ our expectations a bit. A few reminders:

1. As military dictatorships go, this is probably the best situation one can reasonably expect given that Egypt has a conscript army and that the leaders of the armed forces have given every indication that they want to handover power as fast as possible.
2. The way the army deals with problems is not akin to the way things are done in the civilian world. Imagine if El Baradei was suddenly given the responsibilities of a Five Star General and you get an idea of the position the armed forces are in.
3. To expect accountability is fair, to expect it to be real-time is not. So long as there is no evidence of a cover-up or other such serious breaches, time is a privilege we should be willing to grant.

So, to sum up, I find those who offer full throated defenses of the SCAF and those who exaggerate the Council’s faults equally misguided. I’m all for #noSCAF, but in due time. So long as there is no evidence – beyond conjecture, rumor and conspiracy theory – that they intend to extend their reign against the will of the Egyptian people, I’ll grant them some finite rope. The moment there’s any indication of an ulterior, nefarious scheme, then – and only then – the time for “cooler heads” will have passed.

It might seem like a random time to switch up my site’s design. Not so.

In addition to last week being Cinco de Mayo (which, incidentally, is NOT a celebration of Mexico’s independence), it  was also my 28th birthday. Too selfish/cliche a reason to virtually redecorate? Very well. It was, perhaps more notably, also the one year anniversary of my temporary exodus from America’s shores. At first, marking this occasion may seem just as self-centered as acknowledging the random date I was born on. Any other year, that may very well be the case; these past 12 months, however, were a bit outside the norm.

It wasn’t so much what happened to me, but what happened around me since embarking overseas that’s worth commemorating. Life changing, history making events were plentiful. So – with an eye on the past, but fully focused on the future – it feels like the right moment to kick off TheAlexandrian 2.0

To usher in this next phase, I deliberated whether or not to make lofty promises of an exponential growth in content quantity, but decided against it given my previous failures living up to much more mundane proclamations. That said, a site revamp should provide enough motivation to kick start my creative engine. Only one way to find out…

Stay tuned.

It’s not often I wake up to news that shocks me. Not only am I a millennial, but I’m also a New Yorker. That is, I’m pretty much as jaded as they come. Still, even I couldn’t help but be utterly captivated by the news that “Public Enemy #1″ was gunned down in Pakistan.

My thoughts immediately turned to the past – to 9/11 and the city I called home, to the raw emotions that these memories evoke. As I gathered my thoughts and considered this news in the context of present circumstances, however, my feelings become decidedly more “meh.” I settled down in front of my computer, along with a record number of Twitter users, and sent the following out into the ether:

If I had to guess, I’d say that Osama’s death is going to be met on the streets of Egypt with indifference far more than indignation.

The reality is that OBL was a perceived super-villain in the West far more than he was a perceived super-hero in the East.

In truth, he wasnt that super in either direction. OBL ceased to matter in a real way long ago – his death, as his latter life, is symbolic

That said, I’m sure the victims of 9/11 are feeling a very REAL sense of relief, joy and, perhaps, closure from Osama’s death.

To those affected by 9/11 OBL’s death is meaningful in every way. Here’s hoping, too, that his death brings some peace to the AfPak region.

(Grabbed from MuslimMatters’ response to the news)

My instincts were pretty spot on. The issue didn’t organically arise in any of my conversations throughout the day; even Egypt’s Twitterers were so over it by noon. Indeed, the only time Bin Laden talk sprung up was during my cab ride home, as a consequence of news radio and my cabbie’s affinity for conspiracy theory.

The New York Times also picked up on this apathetic tone in their survey of Arab reactions:

But most remarkable perhaps was the sense in countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and elsewhere that Bin Laden was an echo of a bygone time of ossifying divides between West and East, American omnipotence and Arab weakness, dictatorship and powerlessness.

Put differently, Egyptians have more important things on their mind these days; patting the US on the back or lamenting the death of someone who was responsible for untold suffering just aren’t high on the priority list. If Mubarak was still around, it may well be a different story. Egyptians during the previous era would often latch on to anything that, by proxy, would allow them to show their distaste for the regime – protesting anything related to its closest allies, Israel and America, was low-hanging fruit.

Today, however, the people of Egypt and the broader Middle East are too busy making history to be concerned about the past. So for those expecting the usual spectacle of flag burning and shoe waving, you’ll have to make due with file footage from back when Egyptians were easily distracted. We’re just too focused to be bothered right now.

In the years to come, there will be more than enough time for reflection. Today, however, Egyptians are focused – anxiously, yet optimistically – on the road ahead. Hoping to do my part in the rebuilding effort, I recently applied to be a part of the Young Leaders Visitors Program, a stimulating initiative hosted by the Swedish Institute.  Below are some ruminations on the challenges facing #NewEgypt taken from my application.

***

1. What are the challenges of the 21st century in your context?

The challenges facing Egypt are numerous, but its human capital is tremendous. So, the key underlying challenge seems to be bridging the gap between the country’s growing needs and its untapped resources. Put differently: How do you get more young Egyptians to actualize their potential? On the front end, this means improving the quality of education, particularly as concerns elementary and secondary schooling. The current status quo of ineffective classroom teaching and time-consuming private tutoring is simply unsustainable if progress is to be made. On the back end, it means developing a professional culture in which creativity and independent thinking is nurtured, not stifled. Of course, buttressing these changes – or really any change for the better – would be a legitimate, stable and participatory political system. This was the chief goal of the revolution because ordinary citizens realized that as long as there wasn’t a genuine apparatus for the people to be heard and their will acted upon, the majority of Egyptians would intellectually and economically stagnate while a select few profit. Now, there is finally hope that such a government can be realized, yet there is still much work to be done.

2. How do you tackle those challenges on a day to day basis?

Under the old regime, there was a pervasive mindset in Egypt that one’s efforts would only get them so far and that it ultimately mattered more who you know – and, at times, who you bribed – rather than what you know. Complementing this belief was a feeling that, “If those above me are not held accountable for their actions, then what’s to stop me from doing what I need to do to get ahead?” This trickle down corruption permeated all classes and all facets of society in recent decades. The revolution, by sweeping aside illegitimate politicians and promising to indict fraudulent businessmen, did much to curb this mentality. For this trend to continue, however, a new ethos needs to take hold – one in which hard work is rewarded, negligence is punished and corruption isn’t tolerated. This positive indoctrination should, of course, start in the classroom. Yet it is up to adults to set the example by no longer acquiescing infractions that have become commonplace or, as Egyptians say, ‘aady. Building a sense of community (through, for example, beautification projects and food drives) will also be crucial in this process, as it will engender greater pride in and responsibility over one’s surroundings.

3. Clash of Civilization or Clash of Ignorance? What do you think? Solutions?

To the extent that there is a “clash,” it’s certainly fueled by ignorance much more than any hardwired antagonism between East and West. What’s more, it’s an ignorance owed to misinformation as much as, if not more so, than lack of information. In America, particularly over the past year, it is clear there are individuals bent on instigating rifts for their own political and financial benefit. In Muslim-majority lands, prior American and European acts of war and sabotage have made distrust of those two entities the default and made it easier to believe conspiracy theories over claims of good intentions. Therefore, it seems more of a chasm between, than clash of civilizations. The solution – dialogue and engagement – is simple in theory but has thus far proven difficult in execution. In the coming years, however, as borders increasingly blur, as information is more widely disseminated and as communication becomes virtually instantaneous, the task of building an informed and respectful public should become easier.

***

5. What do you think your generation will be remembered for?

Without question, my generation will be remembered for the revolution that began on January 25, 2011 and ended triumphantly eighteen days later on February 11, 2001. This correlation, however, is for better or worse. While historic, the resignation of Hosni Mubarak was by no means conclusive. Even as I type, decisions are being made and alliances are being formed that will shape Egypt for years – perhaps even generations. So suffice it to say, the jury’s still out. I’m reminded in this instance of Zhou Enlai, Chinese Premiere from 1949-1976 and avid student of European history, who when asked about the implications of the French Revolution reportedly said, “Too soon to tell.” In the context of the #Jan25 revolution, such a reply at this stage would be an understatement, to say the least.

After living through one of the most historic epochs in Egyptian and world history – on the ground, in the sky and overseas – I thought what better way to chronicle the experience than with a select timeline from my Twitter feed. And so, here’s Revolution 2.0 as witnessed by TheAlexandrian…

Tuesday, January 25

On the plane to #Egypt from JFK. First time riding EgyptAir’s new fleet. Seems fitting. #Jan25

However remote it may seem, part of me can’t help but wonder if there’ll be an #Egypt when we land – at least as I’ve come to know it #Jan25

Wednesday, January 26

Landed in #Egypt a few hours ago. After settling, opened my PC to find FB & Twitter blocked. As this tweet evidences, there are workarounds.

Thursday, January 27

Sitting in Cilantro (cafe), working. Later on will go to City Stars (mall) to buy a printer. Protests aren’t enveloping…yet #Egypt #Jan25

Went dark for a while due to Vodafone’s kowtow to the Mubarak regime. In CityStars rt now, u wld never think this cntry was on the brink.

Whoa… “@HNassef: Confirmed: HSBC has withdrawn all cash in its ATMs accross Cairo #Jan25“ #Egypt

Maybe that’s why I haven’t felt the protests. Haven’t left this area. “@Egyptocracy: Streets in Heliopolis and Nasr City are calm.” #Egypt

I’ll be there!!! “@3arabawy: There will be protests tomorrow in Nasr City FINALLY!:D At Rabaa’a Adaweya Mosque, Salam and Fatma el-Zahraa.”

–BLACKOUT–

Wednesday, February 2

Back on the Web. Haven’t scanned the net and Twitter too thoroughly yet, but I – we – felt your support. Thank you. #Egypt

So by now this is probably cliche, but let me just underscore that NOBODY expected things would get this REAL this quickly in #Egypt

Look thru my timeline, one of the last tweets sent out before the blackout was abt how Egyptians were in the mall as if it was biz as usual

It’s truly amazing how fast civil society can just breakdown in the blink of an eye.

Thursday night: At the mall, Friday: Marching w/ my brothers and sisters; Saturday: Queuing in a supermrkt line for hrs while tanks circle

By Saturday night, I’m in front of my apartment with a Swiss army knife and the metal extender of a vacuum defending my family #Egypt #Jan25

The pace of change, especially for a nation accustomed to NO change, has been absolutely dizzying. Yet, we yearn for more. #Egypt #Jan25

Here’s the bottomline, (again, forgive me if this has been mentioned ad nauseum – blackout hangover), Mubarak just can’t be trusted #Egypt

In theory, a transitional period with a seasoned leader at the helm is optimal. What we have is a seasoned cheater and killer #Egypt #Jan25

Our beloved army has sold us out. Violence against Mubarak? Dont even think about it. Violence in the name of Mubarak? Go right ahead #Egypt

There is no underestimating the level of unease and fear felt by Egyptians young and old as they watch events unfold in Tahrir. Ya Rabb…

***

Just got back from ‘asr prayer. Tensions mounting as outside the masjid debates continue btwn Mubarak-leave now and Mubarak-leave later

The “let Mubarak leave later” folk confound ideal of transitional leadership w/ reality of corrupt dictator trying to maintain power #Egypt

My turn on night watch. To Nasr City residents: ur youth will protect u even as ur army deserts u. To criminals: keep out – for ur own good.

Thursday, February 3

So after agonizing over the decision for a number of days and nights, I decided to take my family out of The country for a few weeks.

If it was just me, the thought wouldn’t have crossed my mind for a second. Even if just me and my wife, I could have made it work.

But the thought of one of my little girls falling ill & me having to search for a worthwhile doc amidst the chaos was too much to bear.

As we took off this morning, I broke down. I haven’t cried like that since my dad died. Truly, I felt as if I was about to lose a loved one.

To my brothers and sisters that I left behind, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers and I yearn to return to you already.

And I’ll never forget my brothers in (makeshift) arms who stood guard with me the past five nights. You are the REAL army in #Egypt

Friday, February 4

Waking up this morning w/ my wife and kids in Sweden both put my heart at ease & caused it to ache like never before. Allah yehmeeki ya Masr

About to go pray in the safe confines of the Taby masjid while my brothers and sisters defend my freedom in #Tahrir. May Allah protect u all

***

The dual conspiracy theories of menacing forces from w/in and w/out dictating this uprising go hand-in-hand and are entirely baseless #Egypt

***

Getting ready to take the wife, kids & in-laws to Stockholm’s (no doubt much more subdued) protests. From Sweden to Cairo…with love #Egypt

Saturday, February 5

AJE has been hammering the point all morning that nothing big came of the rally yesterday and that pro-reform opposition is losing momentum.

I never got the impression tho that yesterday was an all-in gamble, just another offensive. Admittedly, it did come off a bit anti-climactic

Complementing today’s pessimistic AJE meme is this scathing analysis in FP http://ow.ly/3QPpg Gist: opposition out-maneuvered by Mub & Army

Main challenges for those advocating immediate abdication IMHO: 1) perception that they have no plan for “what’s next” (short & longterm)

2) Growing popular desire for normalcy/unabiding fear of prolonged chaos, & 3) mounting suspicion of foreign infiltration (thx to state TV)

***

Abt to visit my wife’s relatives. I’m told theyre straight loyalists. One even said “In my day, we respected our leaders” El sabr ya Rabb…

Sunday, February 6

The EGP opens a lot stronger than many expected. Currently at 5.92 compared to 5.85 before the crisis http://ow.ly/3R6rw

I can’t overstate how worried people were about a total currency collapse in the early days of the uprising. I heard numbers in the 7+ range

In that first weekend after the “day of rage,” as things got really REAL, people were virtually praying janazzah on the Egyptian Pound.

Obviously there are more important things to worry about than exchange rates as people die in the streets, but one still needs to look fwd.

***

It’s amazing how much the older gen is concerned w/ a “respectful” and “dignified” exit for #Mubarak. When was the last time he was either?

And the old breed always bring up his war service. As if, what, that gives him carte blanche to steal from and murder his countrymen? #Egypt

I mentioned yesterday that we were visiting my wife’s relatives, some of whom are FIRMLY in the let-Mubarak-stay camp. So, yeah, FIREWORKS.

Their arguments were mostly logical, same ones heard in the street: fear of prolonged instability, thinking no one else can take charge, etc

Then there were the highly illogical ones, also common in the street: revol is orchestrated by foreign entities, vulnerability to invasion

Mind you, my wife’s uncle is a respected physician, yet he’s CONVINCED that Israel, America, Qatar & Iran are conspiring to undermine Egypt

Yes, you read that right. Israel, America, QATAR AND IRAN!! *headdesk* I mean, how does one counter such an argument?

Monday, February 7

Wael @Ghonim = Change We Can Believe In #Egypt #Jan25 #Tahrir

Watching @Ghonim break down, I couldn’t help but wonder if #Mubarak has ever shed a tear for a single life he’s taken.

We’ve been given the false dichotomy of “stability” under eight months more of #Mubarak and his regime, or turned Cairo into Baghdad. #Egypt

In reality, the choice is btwn a bright future for Egypt, w/ individuals like Wael @Ghonim leading the way, or the stiffing of that future.

Tuesday, February 8

The Wael @Ghonim interview that reignited the revolutionary spirit in #Egypt (with English subtitles) http://ow.ly/3Sml1 #Tahrir #Jan25

This isn’t a revolution of some bratty kids or secular elites. This is a revolution of ALL the people for ALL the people. #Egypt #Tahrir

Ir7al ya3ni imshi!! Yimkim mabif7amshi!! #Egypt #Tahrir #Jan25

Wednesday, February 9

Steady as she goes… (via @Amiralx) Egyptian Pound closed at 5.8775 to the dollar #Egypt

Except for Revolution 101… RT @KimFoxWOSU FYI:#AUC…#Tahrir campus will be closed tfn. #Egypt #Jan25

Thursday, February 10

Still speculation, but reports of #Mubarak handing over power to Omar Suleiman (or alternatively the “army”) seem to be gaining steam #Egypt

If there was pressure on protesters to let #Egypt return to normality before, it’ll be magnified exponentially if #Mubarak steps down #Jan25

Wael, com’on bro, that’s totally dubya of you… RT @Ghonim: Mission accomplished. Thanks to all the brave young Egyptians. #Jan25 #Egypt

I love @Ghonim as much as the nxt guy, but maybe he shd be a bit more judicious with his tweets. The whole great power, responsibility thing

All these rumors and counter-rumors are dizzying. Maybe he stepped down but didn’t remember? Dude is 82. #justsayin #Egypt

***

Hearing a pitch for a condo in Boca Raton #ReasonsMubarakIsLate

Can’t remember where he put his passport #ReasonsMubarakIsLate

Waiting for #Mubarak to show up and give his freaking speech already! #ReasonsMubarakIsLate

He heard from the minister of information that nothing was happening today #ReasonsMubarakIsLate

Has the same PR team as LeBron James #ReasonsMubarakIsLate (…gonna take his talents to south Jeddah)

Prank calling @andersoncooper #ReasonsMubarakIsLate

***

What does that even mean?!? “@AymanM: #Mubarak delegated some responsibilities of power to #OmarSuleiman not all out xfer of power #egypt”

@spekulation: @TheAlexandrian Dishes? Trash? Car payments? Gutter cleaning? #responsibilities

@TheAlexandrian: @spekulation What a dick this guy is.

***

The big losers this evening? People of #Egypt. A distant 2nd? Omar #Suleiman. Lost ALL credibility & lost opportunity to improve his cntry.

Going to pray. I suggest all do the same. Signing off…

Friday, February 11

Jumua…ummm…#mubarak?

***

“We wld like to inform the people of #Egypt: It is mostly cloudy today, winds coming from the West, chance of rain”#Armystatementprediction

We’ve heard the people of #Egypt & know ur angry…OK, well if there aren’t any questions… *cartoonishlyfastexit* #Armystatementprediction

Is it just me, or does the army statement seems almost a carbon copy of #Mubarak speech from yesterday?? #Egypt #Jan25

Wow, my #Armystatementprediction tweets weren’t far off. *sigh*

***

Azharis in #Tahrir raising their hands to the sky as they supplicate. An action done by the Prophet (pbuh) in times of calamity. Ya Allah…

Heading out to jumua in Sweden. Allah yehmi el sha3b el masry we yerham shuhada2na (OUR martyrs, ya #Mubarak). Ameen ya Rabb…

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Cautious – and that’s an UNDERSTATEMENT after yesterday – optimism that something significant will be announced this evening. #Egypt #Jan25

Reports coming in that 20mil people across #Egypt are in the streets protesting: 1/4 of the population & overwhelmingly peaceful #Jan25

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAHU AKBAR! #Egypt #Jan25 #Mubarak

All in this ummah should pray two sincere rakats of shukr. Tomorrow is brighter, by the will of Allah #Tahrir #Jan25 #Egypt

Gotta say, I’m really never gonna get tired of seeing that half minute clip of (FORMER) VP Soleiman announcing the end of #Mubarak‘s tyranny

For the past 2 1/2 weeks all eyes were on Umm el Donya…and you didnt disappoint. Good night & congrats to the people of #Egypt Ta7ya Masr!

Saturday, February 12

Good morning #Egypt…good morning #freedom

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I won’t lie, I was one of those who spoke ill of #Algeria (and Algerians) during its futbol spat with #Egypt. Mostly tame, but still…

I think I speak for all Egyptians though when I say to the people of #Algeria we are with you! Nous sommes avec vous! Viva la révolution!

]]> http://www.youssefchouhoud.com/2011/02/my-twitterography-of-the-jan25-revolution-in-egypt/feed/ 4 http://www.youssefchouhoud.com/2010/12/everythings-amazing-and-nobodys-happy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=everythings-amazing-and-nobodys-happy http://www.youssefchouhoud.com/2010/12/everythings-amazing-and-nobodys-happy/#comments Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:48:25 +0000 Youssef Chouhoud http://www.youssefchouhoud.com/?p=559 I took a bit of a hiatus these past few weeks as I finished up a huge project that’s been a long time in the making (more on that later on); but now I’m ready to finish out the blogging year strong and hit the ground running in 2011.

To get the ball rolling, here’s a clip I came across – an oldie, but goody - apropos of this season of year-end reflection. Enjoy!

Normally, the appeal of right-wing parties skews to the middle-aged and near-retirement demographic. That’s the case for the Tea Party and I figured that would also be the case for Europe’s more intense right-wingers given the continent’s more intense lack of fertility. That, apparently, is not the case – at least not in Sweden.

According to this graphic I pulled off of Wikipedia (which the post’s author grabbed off of a Swedish language site), the SD party garnered much of its support at the voting booth from those aged 18-30, particularly the younger portion of that subset. (The spreadsheet highlights those who were more likely that the average Swede to vote for the SD party in green, just as likely in white, and less likely in red, with the numbers in the “votes” column analogous, seemingly, to standard deviations.)

I suspect that these youth were guided by economic anxiety and uncertainty about the future, yet this call to fear didn’t swing young voters in America, for instance, to the Tea Party. Indeed, those aged 18-29 represented the smallest subset of supporters in the Gallup study on TP demographics back in April. Moreover, exit polls from the election indicate that those aged 30 and younger voted for democrats 60% of the time.

So what gives? Well, I haven’t seen other data on the subject, but it’s certainly distressing to think that the current crop of civically minded youth is riding the wave of right-wing hysteria to the voting booth. For, if that’s the case, the widespread anti-immigrant sentiment we see across Europe today will be nothing compared to what’s in store for the continent once this generation sheds the remaining vestiges of their liberality into middle age.