How Personal is Personal?

Recently had a little chat about blogging with a better-known Blogger who resides in Egypt. I initiated the conversation by asking: how do you know what to post on your blog?

We discussed this for a bit and I complained that I did not want this blog to be a personal blog. He asked me why I didn’t and I responded by saying that there were too many people who might read this blog and read things I just didn’t want them to read.

(CONTINUED)

Do you want me to work for you or not?

My second job interview in Egypt had convinced me beyond all doubt that there is no redemption for this country's "professionals". I just quit that job, teaching at the American High School section of an Egyptian private school, but in retrospect I realized how much the interview was a reflection of the state of affairs at the school as a whole; disorganized, useless, ridiculous and a general waste of a time.

(CONTINUED)

To say that Egyptians are tolerant...

...is the same as saying that arctic temperatures average out to 45 Celcius annually; completely bogus and ridiculous.

An hour or so ago, I was engaged in a conversation with a friend about various topics of interest in Egypt and the world. We were thinking of doing some research, for our own purposes, about minorities in Egypt (ethnic and religious); Armenians, Gypsies, Coptic Christians and Baha'is etc.

(Continued...)

Ahmed EL Droubi Released!

Ahmed El Droubi has been released!

You've been missed man!

Egyptian Police Sexually Abuses Pro-Democracy Detainees

Mohammed Sharqawi demanding the release of his fellow detainees.

Ahmed El-Sharqawi and Karim El Sha'er, two recently released activists with Youth for Change, have been abducted and detained from Abdel Khaleq Tharwat Street in downtown Cairo by plain clothes security agents.

(Story Continued HERE)

Pictures - 25th May.

Here are some pictures from the May 25th Demonstration at the Journalists' Syndicate. All pictures are courtesy of Hussam El-Hamalawy. More pictures here.

My full post at my new blog.

Central Security conscripts (without batons and shields)

Judge Mekki greeted by the demonstrators

Judge Mekki (Light-colored suit - Left) greets George Ishaq (Kifaya)

AUC Campus surrounded by Central Security Cars

Outside the Journalists' Syndicate (from outside)

Central Security conscripts barricading entrance to Journalists' Syndicate (inside)

AUC Students, Alumni and Faculty during their Silent Stand

Celebration and Dismay - This Week's Egypt.

I haven't posted anything for close to a week now, although I have been keepting abreast of matters, and I thought to point out those things that caught my attention or were of special interest during the course of that week.

First of all comes the sentencing and jailing of 10 officials that the courts found guilty of negligence in last year's Bani Suief's theatre fire that took the lives of 46 people, many of whom were prominent and active playwrights, writers, actors and artists. More on the issue from The Daily Star - Egypt.

Secondly, my friend Ahmed El Droubi's detention has been extended by State Security Prosecutors for another 15 days. He was also able to smuggle a letter to his friends through which he infomed them of how he feels about the whole affair. More on the detention here and the full text of the letter here. There have been rumours circulating, since yesterday afternoon, that Ahmed is due to be released today or, if not today, then within the next two days. This news is unconfirmed though.

Free Droubi T-Shirts have also been made available.

More about Ahmed El Droubi and the issue in general, but specifically at AUC, here.

Thirdly, students, faculty, alumini and employees of the American University in Cairo have declared their solidarity with the Egyptian Judges and plan a teach and stand-in tomorrow to this effect. They have also released a statement declaring their solidarity with the Egyptian Judges.

Fourthly, the World Economic Forum has come to Egypt. I have mixed feelings about the issue but, in all honesty, I haven't been following it closely enough to render an educated opinion. What was found interesting by other bloggers though was Mubarak's apparently harsh not-very-friendly-towards-Americans Inaugural Speech. Here is the Egyptian Obersever's view on the matter.

Fifthly, the Egyptian stock market seems to be going haywire. More on that here and *gasp* at the sandmonkey's.

Sixthly, our beloved President's son visited the US of A. I wonder why? Thoughts on the matter on the Arabist's Blog and The Daily Star Reporting and Analysis.


That's about it for my news compilation. There are, of course, many other things that were of importance (some personal, some not): Judges Mekki and Derbala giving a two-hour talk at AUC with an overview of the situation, its history and their opinions of events along with possible future scenarios. Also, the release of some of the detainees that were incarcerated because of the recent boughts of clashes between protestors and the government... and many more.

Due to personal reasons, I will probably be posting with a much lower frequency for the coming two weeks or so.


But! That's the way I see it.

Tags: Egypt News Free Droubi Droubi Mubarak Stock Market Politics AUC 25th May Judiciary Judges