Egyptian Americans in motion, meeting minutes

SUMMARY OF IDEAS & POTENTIAL NEXT ACTIONS
Rallies may be very effective IF LOCAL MEDIA IS NOTIFIED
We need a concise and consistent message that we can all converge on to be giving out to our peers as well as be able to rearticulate in an interview or in social networking conversations
We need to have a solid presence with media outlets
We need to reach out to government officials
Demonstrations in the next couple of days will be very important
If we can focus on the media outlets over the next couple of days will be key
SUGGESTED NEXT STEPS
From Hossam via chat “Omar, can you please prepare the list of talking points in "sound-byte" format, and please post it to the facebook groups so we can speak with a unified message” (Omar Atia & Ayman)
Transition “Egyptian diaspora supporting the January 25 2011” to start new facebook page actions to be taken by this group (Ayman Khafagi)
American-Egyptian Alliance sent a letter to Mrs. Clinton – perhaps we can work along with them since they are already organized (Sameh)
Each person will reach out to local congress people with the only request to stop supporting Mubarak – all we want is that they stop supporting Mubarak – as soon as possible (note on facebook page with links for local congress people – call not email)
On the facebook page exists a list of contacts for many media outlets around the country – reach out to local media suggest they interview you (All)
Any additional media contacts add to the facebook page media list
Rally in front of Egyptian consulate for midwesterners on Saturday January 29
Next meeting will be Friday 2/4 10pm EST for this group and we will provide information
via facebook page that will be formed new – if new meeting time is needed, we will call for it sooner

A suggested Egyptian American support strategy for the revolution

The Egyptian people's will is to have absolute freedom and absolute social justice. The Egyptian people are confident in their ability to self-govern, to have a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
On the other hand, the US wants freedom and social justice for Egypt as well but without taking any risks on it's own interests.

We, Egyptian Americans, should do our best to realize our brethren's will. We should convey to the US, government and people, our will and our confidence that we can establish the first true democracy in the middle east.

Succeeding in isolating the current regime, Mubarak, from his strongest allies, the US, will get us one step closer to our goal. This is a major task but I'm sure we can do it.

If you want to work with us please join us tonight in our conference call at 10 pm EST, check the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129581897107397&index=1

Contact information for news outlets to contact about the imminent massacre in Egypt

nytnews@nytimes.com
executive-editor@nytimes.com
managing-editor@nytimes.com
news-tips@nytimes.com
thearts@nytimes.com
bizday@nytimes.com
foreign@nytimes.com
metro@nytimes.com
national@nytimes.com
sports@nytimes.com
washington@nytimes.com

جريدة لوسن انجلوس
readers.rep@latimes.com

جريدة U S Today
editor@usatoday.com

لندن اكسترا

loudounextra@wpni.com
amy.kovac@wpni.comm
eghan.louttit@wpni.com
bernsteinp@washpost.com

ذا ويك
kerin_o'connor@dennis.co.uk
simon_davies@dennis.co.uk

جريدة ميرور
rnews@mirror.co.uk
picturedesk@mirror.co.uk

جريدة ذا هيرالد
letters@theherald.co.uk

ذا اندبيندانت
newseditor@independent.co.uk
legal.department@independent.co.uk

صحف المانية

Die Zeit
zeitiminternet@zeit.de

تلغراف
redactie-i@telegraaf.nl

دي تاستونج
office1@gamla.org.il
leserbriefe@linkszeitung.de

استراليا
woche@tpg.com.au

كندا
dasecho@videotron.ca
redaktion@dasecho.com

رومانيا
journal@journal.lu
abonnement@journal.lu

الصحف الفرنسية

لاموند
masson@lemonde.fr

فرانش ماجازين
editorial@francemag.com
dimanche@ouest-fr
ance.frdirect@humanite.fr

لا اكسبرس
abonnements@lexpress.fr

ايطاليا
web@publikompass.it

اسبانيا
اية بي سي
publicidadinternet@abc.es
economia@abc.es
deportes@abc.es
cultura@abc.es
sociedad@abc.es
espectaculos@abc.es
fotografia.madrid@abc.es
tv@abc.escomunicacion@abc.es
gente@abc.es
ilustracion.madrid@abc.es
diseno@abc.es
internet@abc.es

إل بايس
atencionclientes@prisacom.com

صحف روسيا
sch@chuvashia.ru

القنوات التلفزيونية

الجزيرة
documentary@aljazeera.net
doc.participate@aljazeera.net
doc.production@aljazeera.net

الجزيرة الانجليزية
press.int@aljazeera.net

الحرة الامريكية
media@alhurra.com
comments@alhurra.com
comments@alhurra.com

قناة الفرنسية
webdesk@france24.com

Human Rights Watch
Washington, DC : hrwdc@hrw.org
New York : hrwnyc@hrw.org
Berlin : berlin@hrw.org
Brussels : hrwbe@hrw.org
Chicago : chicago@hrw.org
Geneva :hrwgva@hrw.org
London : hrwuk@hrw.org
Paris : paris@hrw.org
San Francisco : hrwsf@hrw.org
Toronto : toronto@hrw.org

Human Rights First
New York Headquarters : feedback@humanrightsfirst.org

هيومان رايتس واتش
mena@hrw.org

شبكة الناجين من الألغام
Marwa@LSNmena.org

المركز الدولي للعدالة الانتقالية
info@ictj.org

مراسلون بلا حدود
rsf@rsf.org

الخط الأمامي، المؤسسة العالمية للدفاع عن مدافعي حقوق الإنسان
info@frontlinedefenders.org

منظمة كُتّاب بلا حدود :
malaf@kuttab.org

اللجنة الدولية للدفاع عن تيسير علوني
alonysolidarity@wanadoo.fr

المكتب الدولي للجمعيات الإنسانية و الخيرية :
ibh@noos.fr

رئيس لجنة حقوق الانسان بالبرلمان الاوروبى
richard.howitt@geo2.poptel.org.uk
richard.howitt@europarl.europa.eu

الامم المتحدة
iseek@un.org

American Immigration Lawyers Association
newsroom@aila.org
membership@aila.org

اوبرا وينفري
privacy@oprah.com

جامعات ومنظمات حقوق الانسان ومنظمات انسانية
info@ap.org
humanorg@mail.ecu.edu
m_pizzini@hotmail.com
neil@hann.org
uipress@uillinois.edu
info-en@wikimedia.org
redaktion@jungewelt.de
محامين فرنسيين contact@frenchattorney.com

جرائد و وكالات انباء اخرى

جريدة ماليالم نيوز
uae@arabnews.com

صحيفة العرب ـ لندن
arabuae52@hotmail.com

وكالة الأنباء الألمانية (DPA)
alexdistefano@hotmail.com

الوكالة الأوروبية المصورة
haider@epa.eu

جين انفورميشن جروب
mideast@janes.com

نشرة بلومبيرج
acritchlow1@bloomberg.net

وكالة رويترز- مدير إقليمي
andrew.marshall@reuters.com

وكالة سيبا برس
ferrari@epa-photos.com

إذاعة فرنسا الدولية
aureliencolly@hotmail.com

تلفزيون الأسوشييتدبرس
chloee@gmail.com

أرابيس ترنس ( الفرنسية)
davin@nomadslandfilms.com

وكالة الصحافة الفرنسية
christian.chaise@afp.com

وكالة الأنباء الإسبانية
fuad@efe.com

وكالة الصحافة الفرنسية
hassan.fakih@afp.com

دايالوج البولندية للنشر+ التلفزيون البولندي
jacek@eim.ae

هيئة الإذاعة البريطانية BBC ( قسم الإنجليزي)
jeremy.howell@bbc.co.uk

نشرة بلاتس
katedonovan@platts.com

صحيفة مادهيامم اليومية
abdusivapuram@hotmail.com

"إذاعة وراديو " مونت كارلو
djoudiae@yahoo.fr

شبكة الأنباء الدولية وانترنيوز
aslamcf@yahoo.com

صحيفة " العرب" الأمريكية
editor@nihalkamelnews.com

بلومبرغ
evers@bloombeg.net
evers@bloomberg.net

leserbriefe@bild.de

Egyptians, believe and knock off cynicism

Don't think that the chaos in Cairo is dangerous, remember that it was intended, we the people planned it. Remember that there were years of build up for it and remember that it was motivated by very legitimate causes. Let me remind you, we wanted national unity around basic rights, we reached that. We wanted to reach a critical mass of people, we have that. We were waiting for the tipping point and Tunisia gave it to us. This is a revolution, 20 plus years in the making, that is being realized. Don't be scared now, don't doubt and don't let emotions and shock paralyze you. This is the time to believe not to be cynical.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:S Ballenger Hwy,Flint,United States

We are all responsible for shooting Luqman Abdallah

Yes, I said it, we are all responsible. But before I explain why we are responsible let me share with you my reading of the events.

Fact: The FBI implanted an informant in the group lead by Luqman Abdallah in 2006.

Fact: Luqman Abdallah's group has anti-establishment views as well as an ideology prohibiting Muslim integration in the American society.

Opinion: The FBI is right to have an informant inside such a group. Such an ideology is worrisome to say the least.

Fact: The informant failed to find any evidence that the group was planning or thinking of planning any violent actions. Three years of good intelligence work didn't yield any evidence of terrorism.

Fact: Despite the extreme ideology of the group, they were very well known to offer shelter for the homeless and help the poor.

Opinion: At this point I see no reason for further pursuing such a group by law enforcement. I think that keeping the informant may not be a bad idea but beyond that this is a group with a corrupt ideology and benevolent actions. Law enforcement has no business putting away people because of their ideology. This is the job of the rest of the institutions of the society. The civil society should call such ideologies out and expose the weaknesses of their arguments. This was a job of Muslims like me. However, where were we? We weren't doing our job. We didn't work hard enough to convey the message of Islam as it is, a message of peace, tolerance and integration. These people were living in a very rough part of Detroit and we didn't do anything to help them with poverty, health care, education or at least providing a dignified life. This is the case for everyone, Muslim and non-Muslim, who live in this part of town as well as many parts of Michigan and the US. Many of us enjoy our easy lives and feel comfortable passing judgments over people like Luqman Abdallah for his ideology. This was the point where law enforcement should have stopped and we should have taken over.

Fact: The FBI decided to put away the group anyway and hence they asked their informant to provoke them to engage in criminal activities. The FBI has been successful in other cases to encourage groups to engage in terrorist activities.

Opinion: The FBI failed to move the group to violence despite the availability of firearms, the apparent lack of law and order in Detroit and the extreme ideology of the group. It's my belief that had the FBI been able to provoke Luqman Abdallah's group to engage in violence they would have done it. However, they failed and that's when they resorted to put them away for any other offense. Luqman Abdallah's leadership prevented his group from getting involved in terrorism. His leadership channeled his group's efforts in serving the poor and sheltering the homeless. Yet because of his ideology, the FBI had to put him away. That's what happens when the civil society disappears and the law enforcement takes on roles they were not supposed to play.

Opinion: Selling stolen goods and all other offenses the FBI managed to provoke the group to do are not sanctioned by Islam. Luqman Abdallah was not following Islam, rather his wrong understanding of it, when he got himself involved in such activities.

Fact: At the time of the arrest the FBI dog attacked Luqman Abdallah who defended himself by shooting once at the dog. The agents in return shot Luqman Abdallah 18 times. After that they handcuffed him and sent him by car to the hospital. The dog, however, was airlifted to the hospital.

Opinion: This is straight up racism. Is a black man less than a dog? Is a criminal human being less than a dog? Since when do you handcuff a criminal who needs emergency medical attention? Was it because he was black? Or was it because he was Muslim? Or was it because he was both? Maybe because he was preaching an extreme ideology? Luqman Abdallah had rights that were violated both when he was alive as well as when he was dead.

I believe that the law enforcement should be held accountable. I believe that the policies that lead to the cascade of events should be revised. I also believe that all concerned people should get together to fight extreme ideologies. At the same time all concerned people should get together to ensure that everyone has a dignified life, proper housing, good education and affordable health care.

Letter to Senator Debbie Stabenow

Dear Senator Stabenow,

I know that the senate finance committee is planning to vote today on amending the public option (or a form of it) to Senator Baucus' bill.

I understand that to insure people with preexisting conditions we need to have an individual mandate. I however feel that it's unfair to be forced to buy insurance from the current private insurance companies. Therefore, the public option is very important to me.

In my opinion, the public option and the individual mandate go hand-in-hand. I understand that the public option may only cover 3% of the population. However, I don't want to feel that my government is giving me away to an industry whose primary incentive is to profit off my health care.

Moreover, I would like to see the senate finance committee increasing the subsidies for the poor and starting the exchange earlier with all businesses included.

This bill defines who we are as people. Keeping the insurance industry in check, maintaining choice, protecting consumers and taking care of the poor is the outcome I look forward to.

Sincerely,

Health care voices: Tell your story, Control your life

To register for the event or for more info please click here.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey to pick a name for the event. We finally have a name :)

Please visit our event website, give us suggestions and if you are in Michigan please come help or attend.

On a side note, I found this interesting article about the power of social networking.

Vote for a name for the health care service day

Organizing for America in Southfield, MI is planning a health service day. Blood pressure and Diabetes screening will be offered and attendees will be asked to share their stories with the health care system. They will also be offered information about healthy living and a guide to Michigan products to boost the Michigan economy. Please help us choose a name for the event by voting at the link below.

Click Here to take survey

Obama at “my” Cairo University……and no he’s not Bonaparte

Goose bumps… yes, and tears as well. I read President Obama's speech before I listened to it and each line touched my heart. When he said "I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum." I had goose bumps. He represents me, he knows it and he's proud of it. He is my president. Nothing he said in his introduction, recounting achievements of the civilization of Islam and Muslim Americans, was new to me but it is redeeming to hear it from him as the entire world is listening.

Egyptian as I am, Napoleon Bonaparte popped in my mind. Bonaparte led the French to occupy my country, Egypt, in 1798. As soon as he landed on our shore, he sent a message to the Muslims of Egypt declaring allegiance to the Ottoman Khalifat and he started praying in Azhar while his soldiers were killing Egyptians and his commanders planning the invasion of Palestine. Bonaparte and his soldiers killed many Egyptians and killed many Arabs and Muslims. His emotional trick didn't work and his little escapade in Egypt failed disastrously. Yet Obama is not Napoleon Bonaparte. He was solid in his positions, consistent with his beliefs and blunt with Muslims. My superficial cynicism was definitely an unfortunate moment of injustice to my president. I don't believe that history repeats itself and I don't believe that we can make any change if we remain hostage to our colonial history. We need to be more self-confident; learn from our history but examine the present with an open mind.

As I listened to him addressing the Middle East conflict, I realized that many Muslims would perceive his position as, yet, imbalanced. I am not going to say if I think it was balanced or not. I will, however, remind everyone that Obama's position is consistent with his pragmatic policies. Obama believes in gradual sustained change. He's willing to compromise so that he can make one substantial step forward. He compromised a lot to pass the stimulus bill but as he promised a stimulus bill passed within his first hundred days. This theme of compromise to achieve what's possible is a consistent characteristic of the Obama philosophy since he was in the Illinois legislature. I don't see his Middle East policy any different from his other policies but I could see the steps forward. For the first time, the Palestinian statehood is a right the American president is pledging to support not just a suggestion on the negotiation table. For the first time, the unbreakable ties with Israel are not justifying ignoring the agony of the Palestinian people. And for the first time this is said in public not just behind closed doors.

This speech advanced the Muslim American identity crisis resolution decades forward. Thanks Mr. President. Peace be upon you.

Back to posting, more heresies for everyone :)

Alright, I haven't been posting for bajillion years and I know that's not right. I apologize. Indeed, I haven't been posting but I was definitely thinking and I have a load of heresies to go around. I will try to pace myself and, God willing, post two heresies every week.

As I toned down my work with organizations I was active with and reflected upon my life and my life goals, I realized that what I really think I need is a community with no organizational strings attached. I don't need an organization for my own personal development but I need a healthy environment to live in. I don't fear for my identity or spirituality if I am not part of a bigger organization, to the contrary, being alone helped me great deal but I need a social life that reflects my values. What I need to create is a community for activists to network, exchange ideas and socialize. A community for peer-to-peer support, a healthy one though. I need an all welcoming environment without any "pre-existing conditions". I feel we all need a community, drama-free, that helps fulfill the very basic needs, from prayers, emotional support to marriage and counseling. Such a community can only be created at a local level and these local communities can network with each other nationally. This community of activists energizes them to invest all their activism energy in all different fields.

I believe we should serve our country through existing mainstream organization and if we find that there is a need not served by an existing organization, we should form one but it should be mainstream as well. By mainstream, I mean open for all citizens equally.

That's my dream and my heresy.

I can do bloody well without you

And this is my apology to all those whom I offended with my previous post :)

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/myfairlady/withoutyou.htm

Eliza (singing):
What a fool I was, what dominated fool,
to think that you were the earth and the sky,
What a fool I was, What an elevated fool,
What a mutton-headed dote was I!
No, my reverberated friend,
you are not the beginning and the end.

Professor Higgins (speaking):
You impetant hussy there's not an idea in your head or a word in your mouth that I haven't put there.

Eliza (singing):
There'll be spring every year without you. England still will be here without you.
There'll be fruit on the tree.
And a shore by the sea.
There'll be crumpets and tea without you.

Art and music will thrive without you. Somehow Keats will survive without you.
And there still will be rain on that plain down in Spain,
even that will remain without you.
I can do without you.

You, dear friend, who taught so well,
You can go to Hartford, Hereford and Hampshire.

They can still rule with land without you.
Windsor Castle will stand without you.
And without much ado we can all muddle through without you.

Professor Higgins:
You brazen hussy,

Eliza (singing):
Wihtout pulling it the tide comes in,
without your twirling it the Earth can spin,
Without your pulling it, the tide comes in
Without your twirling it, the earth can spin
Without your pushing them, the clouds roll by,
If they can do without you, ducky, so can I
I shall not feel alone without you
I can stand on my own without you
So go back in your shell
I can do bloody well
Without...

Professor Higging (singing) interupts:
By George, I really did it,
I did it, I did it,
I said I'd make a woman and indeed I did,
I knew that I could do it,
I knew it, I knew it,
I said I'd make a woman and succeed I did!

(speaking)
Eliza you are wonderful

Why can't a woman be more like a man?

To all men who had to live a drama they never understood and will never get to understand.
http://www.stlyrics.com/m/myfairlady.htm

"HIGGINS
What in all of heaven could've promted her to go,
After such a triumph as the ball?
What could've depressed her;
What could've possessed her?
I cannot understand the wretch at all.

Women are irrational, that's all there is to that!
There heads are full of cotton, hay, and rags!
They're nothing but exasperating, irritating,
vacillating, calculating, agitating,
Maddening and infuriating hags!
[To Pickering]
Pickering, why can't a woman be more like a man?
PICKERING
Hmm?
HIGGINS
Yes...

“Why Can’t a Woman Be More Like a Man?”
music by Frederick Loewe; lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
Why can’t a woman be more like a man?
Men are so honest, so thoroughly square;
Eternally noble, historically fair.
Who, when you win, will always give your back a pat.
Why can’t a woman be like that?

Why does every one do what the others do?
Can’t a woman learn to use her head?
Why do they do everything their mothers do?
Why don’t they grow up, well, like their father instead?

Why can’t a woman take after a man?
Men are so pleasant, so easy to please.
Whenever you’re with them, you’re always at ease.

Would you be slighted if I didn’t speak for hours?

COLONEL PICKERING:
Of course not.

PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
Would you be livid if I had a drink or two?

COLONEL PICKERING:
Nonsense.

PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
Would you be wounded if I never sent you flowers?

COLONEL PICKERING:
Never.

PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
Well, why can’t a woman be like you?

One man in a million may shout a bit.
Now and then, there’s one with slight defects.
One perhaps whose truthfulness you doubt a bit,
But by and large we are a marvelous sex!

Why can’t a woman take after a man?
‘Cause men are so friendly, good-natured and kind.
A better companion you never will find.

If I were hours late for dinner would you bellow?

COLONEL PICKERING:
Of course not.

PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
If I forgot your silly birthday, would you fuss?

COLONEL PICKERING:
Nonsense.

PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
Would you complain if I took out another fellow?

Pickering
Never.

PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
Why can’t a woman be like us?

[dialog]

PROFESSOR HIGGINS:
Why can’t a woman be more like a man?
Men are so decent, such regular chaps;
Ready to help you through any mishaps;
Ready to buck you up whenever you’re glum.
Why can’t a woman be a chum?

Why is thinking something women never do?
And why is logic never even tried?
Straightening up their hair is all they ever do.
Why don’t they straighten up the mess that’s inside?

Why can’t a woman behave like a man?
If I was a woman who’d been to a ball,
Been hailed as a princess by one and by all;
Would I start weeping like a bathtub overflowing,
Or carry on as if my home were in a tree?
Would I run off and never tell me where I’m going?
Why can’t a woman be like me?

I just realized that Ammerah had a blog, you have to check it out

A driving fantasy

This Saturday MAS Youth assigned me to check the different hotels around Metro Detroit airport for the suitability for a meeting. It was so hard to find the last one so I had to stop at another hotel and ask for directions. This hotel was five stars and coincidently they had a wedding party with everyone dressed in nice suits and dresses. I wondered if MAS youth would ever hold its meetings in such a fancy facility and as I realized that this will never happen because as we grow in resources we will grow in number and we will never afford such luxury, I can't deny that I felt a little disappointed.
I carried my disappointment to the other low end hotel and then I started heading back home. It is about 25 minutes drive and I was going to spend them wallowing in my disappointment when it occurred to me that I was so wrong. We are doing all that work aiming at the eternal life in paradise. That's when I started to fantasize about our meetings in paradise.
I imagined all the MAS Youth workers, and all MAS members and activists for that matter, gathering around a beautiful lake and surrounded by rivers of water, milk, honey and wine. I imagined having the prophets and companions over (no need to have reminders :)) and we telling them all about our work and showing off about it (then we can show off, right?). I imagined we would have live presentations to see the fruit of our work years and decades after we were long gone. I imagined replaying all our good memories together and having the best entertainment events ever. We will have the best suits and dresses and we won't have to worry about baby sitting :). I understand that the thought of having to spend time with me in paradise is not that appealing for many readers but I am definitely sure that I will not be annoying at all and I will be nicer than the nicest person you have ever met so don't worry about that inshallah :). I enjoyed my drive back home.
I ask Allah to guide us and reunite all of us in Paradise with the prophets and companions, our families, neighbors and all the righteous people in Paradise.

My beloved SAPers are on track

Please go check the MAS Youth Study Abroad Program Blog. This is a wonderful program that MAS Youth organized. It is very fun to tune in and learn about their experience.

So confused :(

I am confused, very much so actually. No confusion can ever match this one except the confusion of 1990 when Saddam invaded Kuwait. There is a huge difference between Saddam and Hamas. However, I can't see where this is heading and how could this lead to any good. I am more confused than that summer of 1990. Back then I was sure that Saddam was wrong and I was sure that inviting the US to free Kuwait was wrong too and I felt helpless because I didn't have an alternative. This time, I don't even know what is wrong and what is right, who is wrong and who is right. I am confused, perplexed, disappointed, frustrated, sad and depressed all at the same time. I have declined to comment on this particular issue for a long time because I felt that no matter how much I knew about it, I was probably ignorant. Today, I feel I am more ignorant than ever before. All I can do is just pray for justice and peace. Because for all I know, it is injustice in its ugliest forms for the Palestinians and that this land deserves peace.

My niece is feeling much better

I was overwhelmed over the past few weeks with emails and messages asking about my niece. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. She is psychologically much better and physically doing perfect. The scars on her face will take very long time to heal and she will probably need a plastic surgery in few months to avoid having permanent scars. Thanks again for you support and prayers :) Please keep praying for her.

Put on your seat belt for God's sake

My sister had a little plan for a nice relaxing weekend. Her husband had just finished his PhD exams and they planned to spend a couple of nights in Port Said in a condo on the beach. They left yesterday in their little Hyndai; Ammar, 6 months, in his car seat, Sumaya, 4 years, right next to him with her seat belt on but she doesn't have a car seat. Forget about safety studies; we are Egyptians and we know what we are doing. If we think that 4 years is old enough not to have a car seat then we are right. Don't talk to me about statistics, it irritates us. We have a saying: don't count lest you lose the baraka (God's blessing). It is a saying that has no foundation or roots in Islam but for some reason, it is kind of a conviction. Anyway, half way through, Eman, my sister, decides to switch seats with Sumaya to feed Ammar. Eman forgets to ask Sumaya to put on the seat belt. Yes what you pictured is right; the four years old girl is in the front passenger's seat without a car seat or a seat belt. Her dad would not remember either because he was busy keeping himself awake but to no avail. In Egypt people don't usually drink and drive but they are fine with driving while sleepy. However, it is worthy noting that my brother in law has a chronic sleep-driving problem. He can't prevent himself from falling asleep on the wheels no matter how much sleep he gets before driving.

I don't need to tell you what happened next. It was just a matter of time before he hit a truck. The baby was safe, thank God. The driver's seat belt saved him and the mother was not hurt because the front seat protected her. But poor little Sumaya had a head trauma and broken glass pieces all over her face. She had a CAT scan which was fine and a 3 hours long plastic surgery for her face. We will only know how bad the scars will be after they take out the stitches.

Pray for little Sumaya and remember to put your seat belts on. Look at her pretty face and ask Allah to give her a speedy and complete recovery.

It is our prophet's (peace be upon him) teachings to take necessary precautions as part of trust in Allah.

A tribute to my teachers behind bars

Dr. Mahmoud, I know you may not read this but I felt that the least I could do is to write those lines. Dr. Mahmoud Abozeid, a professor of surgery in Cairo University medical school. I learnt a lot from him just by example. For me he was an example of dedication, sacrifice and most importantly decency. When I think of the word decent, he is the first I think of. He was a mentor of the student movement when I was a student at Cairo University. I used to bother him with my visits to his office late by night after he is done with his patients (doctors' private practice opens in the evenings in Egypt). He was so welcoming all the time and would stay for hours even if that meant missing his kids' bedtime. In my last year of school when the emphasis was on Surgery, I had to miss many days at school because of the political turmoil at the time and the conflict the government had with the student movement. He offered to help me with school. I used to visit him in his office around 10:30 PM at "my" convenience to discuss a chapter or more with him. His knowledge in Surgery was vast and his character just stood out. One time I asked him to give a talk and he said that he was busy all Fridays and every three months when the month has a fifth Friday, he has a meeting scheduled. With such a busy schedule he was still willing to give a talk during weekdays in the time slot between his morning work and his private practice in the evening. For an organized person like him and with such a busy schedule, tutoring me must have been way high on his priority list to squeeze it in like that. What was he thinking? I don't know. All I know is that I am so grateful and I am so full of guilt. I am grateful for him and for the movement that allowed me to know such a person. I feel guilty because what he gave me was a trust to carry over. I may not know why he gave me this kind of attention and time but I am sure he was thinking he was investing for the future. I am not sure I gave as much as I took, let alone give more. May Allah forgive us all. During my last visit to Egypt I couldn't find time to visit him and surely, I regret this so much. I pray that his time behind bars won't last for long and that in my next visit to Egypt, inshallah, I will be able to visit him in his office. Let me hope that by then, I would be able to make him feel that his investment was worth it.


Dr. Abdelrahman Saudi is another person behind bars who influenced me so much. Although I haven't had a deep direct relationship with him, I was deeply influenced by his character. He was an icon of generosity. He used to be very rich before the government froze all his assets. His house was hugely humongous and we used to hold meetings there all the time whether he was at home or not. Countless brothers and sisters had keys to his house and at one point they were welcome anytime of the day. He had more than a dozen cars but one day he asked for a ride because all his cars were in use for movement related errands. That was not an exception, that was his daily routine; giving and giving more.
One day I visited him at work and my sister came along. She had never met him before. As we left the office, I noticed tears in her eyes and an extremely delighted look on her face. I was surprised and when I inquired, she said: I have goose bumps, this is the "Ikhwan" I read about not "you". I asked her what did you notice that made you extremely taken by his character. She said: "I don't know, but he is just so kindhearted and extremely decent"

If people like this lose their freedom and their money, what kind of message is the government sending to the youth: "Good is bad and bad is good"
I ask Allah to free all of them, to give them patience and to return their money to them and multiply it for them. I ask Allah to give their families patience and to shower them with peace and tranquility.

Not thoughts they are heresies!! Not immigrant but alien

Yup, I am not an immigrant. According to the homeland security we are called Aliens so let me keep it that way for now. I think that my musings qualify more for heresies than thoughts. When I listened to Freeman Dyson's winter 2005 commencement speech at the University of Michigan, I could relate to him calling his thoughts heresies. Today, I think I will use that for my blog title :) I don't agree with his heresies; they are heresies after all but I like the idea. Once I call my thoughts heresies, I am free to scribble whatever I want :) Read my heresies but be careful, you may become a heretic yourself :)