Somah's Blog

Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East by Robin Wright

Objective Look at The Future of The Middle East
My review on Amazon

Robin Wright has always been my favorite reporter on Middle East affairs. The stories and accounts she has written in The Los Angeles Times and The New Yorker have consistently been impressive in quality and effortlessly impartial. Robin has a unique ability to leverage her vast network of resources to tap into the most intimate thoughts and feelings of that region and relay them uncensored to her audience. So needless to say, I was pretty excited to read this book to learn from her what future my people have and how they might get a shot at it.

I was very impressed, and now like the author, hopeful.

Robin takes on the most volatile players in the Middle East (Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Morocco and Iraq to be exact) and paints with words the most descriptive portrait for each. Having grown up in the region, I know how revealing those portraits are for those who dare peruse them. Her intimate knowledge of Egyptian politics, culture, modern history and collective psyche is astounding. It's evident that her superb soft skills have allowed her to penetrate these cultures and gain the trust of the people who told their story and to whom she listened. 

The book is written for a Western audience, who might find the information provided in it completely conflicting with what they thought they knew about the Middle East. The accounts and stories presented in the book aren't clouded with opinions, agendas or spins. The facts are stated and the quotes are relayed. It's pure and simple journalism.

I also believe that another audience might benefit greatly from reading this book--the very people this book is about. Middle Easterners will find in this book a candid reflection of their current affairs. It's imperative for people to know how they are perceived in order to complete their perception of who they really are. We give this feedback to friends and family daily, but nations and cultures don't do that with each other frequently. Here is a chance that I hope doesn't get wasted.

The book in general voices optimism in the future of the Middle East, despite the war in Iraq and despite the rise in Islamic fundamentalism. Painful stories from across the region about fledgling dreams trying to make it and desperate youth fighting to dream are recounted so vividly by the author, who uses her magic to point out the silver lining in each of these stories and in turn keeping our hopes alive for a better tomorrow in the region.

It was definitely an entertaining, informative and thought-provoking read. I highly recommend it.

Annals of Football (soccer) Hooliganism: Egypt vs. Algeria

The history of football hooliganism is well-documented and dates back to 12th century England, where football (or soccer) was banned because it was strongly believed that it led to social unrest and even treason. The recent hooliganism demonstrated by both Egyptian and Algerian soccer fans prove that time (eight centuries of it to be exact) has done little to assuage the primal, borderline barbaric sentiments triggered by the sport making its impact on social unrest and diplomatic tensions ever so evident.

Algeria beat Egypt 1-0 at their much-anticipated and much-publicized game in Sudan yesterday after an impressive Egyptian win on Saturday. Hoards of Egyptians fans made it down to the neighboring country to support their national team but found themselves dealing with something far worse than fervent Algerian fans--they dealt with mobs of violent, vicious Algerians even after the game ended with Algeria's win.

The recent violence has muffled the hollow and hackneyed cries of Arab unity and brotherhood echoed by both nations for over half a century. It has also exposed a deep-seeded resentment that both nations have harbored for each other for twenty years now. In 1989, an eerily similar situation took place when Egypt beat Algeria in the World Cup qualifier, triggering widespread fights and an incident where an Algerian player gouged out an eye of an Egyptian fan with a broken glass bottle.

This violence is a symptom of deeply depressed societies, in my very humble opinion. Both countries are emasculated by their political regimes and imprisoned by their own cultures and traditions. Nationalism carries a heavy emotional weight but rarely any substance in the Arab world. Add to that the highly emotional and histrionic nature of both peoples and you have a recipe for disaster. Historically, soccer has been the best platform to which this explosive recipe is applied, and its always heightened when the opponent is another Arab country.

Both Egyptians and Algerians have stooped to a new level with these recent actions and have done irreparable damage to their already marred public and international image. When I hear the term "football hooligan" in the future, I'll longer envision a young English drunkard yelling "bloody murder" but rather I'll be thinking of a mob of histrionic North Africans who lost all hopes in country and God and took refuge in yelling at and terrorizing others.

UPDATE (Nov 20, 2009): It looks like FIFA started an investigation over the Algerian bus attack in Cairo, Egypt. Meanwhile, the tension is rising rapidly between the two countries. I've never seen such hatred in my life! Sick. 

The Locust and The Bird by Hanan Al-Shaykh

Epic Tale of a Muslim Woman's Desire to Love
My review on Amazon

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book--so much so that I read it in one sitting, that's how good it was.

Kamila, the protagonist, grows up poor in a Southern Lebanese village. Her mother, desperate to make ends meet, picks up and moves to Beirut to stay with her kin--a move that proves pivotal in Kamila's story. Ricocheting from one heartbreaking tragedy to another, Kamila finds solace in a forbidden love and Egyptian films starring Mohammed Abdel Wahab. She is, in effect, Juliet who is separated from her Romeo by traditions and duty, learning how to behave and think from the deceptive realities of movies. She has a keen sense of survival that renders her at times unsympathetic, but most importantly, a self-preservationist. Defying religion, society and expectations, Kamila lived out her choices only to find regret tormenting her in her autumn years.

What breaks my heart and what makes this story relevant and universal is that Kamila's story is the reality of so many women and some men living today in patriarchal, religious societies. In some respect, Lebanon of 1934 is eerily similar to Saudi Arabia of 2009. Kamila's story, told beautifully by her daughter, is a window into the world of those tormented souls who carry on happily yet their hearts are heavy with despair and their spirits are acquiescent to defeat.

It's a fascinating and a depressing world, all in the same measure. Peak in, it's guaranteed to move you one way or another.

A Christian on the run in Egypt -- latimes.com

More disturbing news out of Egypt. Another great example of what a crock religion is. Ladies and gentlemen, Religion is the biggest Don of them all and his minions and sycophants work tirelessly to preserve that status.

Religion: "What the fuck you mean you want out?! There ain't no out here baby. You're mine till you ain't breathing no more."

Poor Bastard: "Yeah, but I kinda wanna follow the other guy. I know you don't get along, but he and I just jive better. He's totally more laid back and just nicer. No offense, but--"

Religion: "Listen to me motherfucker and listen good. You get out, I'll take you out. I don't give a fuck about what you want. Life ain't a fucking democracy. You're here to follow me, no questions asked."

Poor Bastard: "Whatever. You ain't the boss of me. I'll do what I want."

Religion: "Listen, Sally. If you don't cut it out I'll personally snap your neck like a biscotti with my fingers. Better yet, I'll send thousands of my followers after your sorry ass until you can't live 'round here no more. Your family, your friends, that skank wife of yours. All dead. Don't mess with me son. You're mine forever. Capice?"

A Christian on the run in Egypt

Maher El Gohary is something his Muslim compatriots can't fathom: a convert to Christianity. He and his daughter live like fugitives, moving frequently to avoid those who'd like to see him dead.

Christians and Muslims clashed in 2005 at St. George's Church in Alexandria, Egypt, where Muslims demanded an apology for a play they said was offensive to Islam. (Alexandria Tomas / EPA / October 22, 2005)

via www.latimes.com

Outfest 2008 is on July 9-21

It's this time of year again when Los Angeles sparkles with LGBT stars and fans celebrating the LGBT achievement in film. Outfest, The Los Angeles Gay and LEsbian Film Festival, is a definite highlight of the summer and I can hardly wait for the opening night!

I certainly hope to see some Middle Eastern LGBT films represented this year. Israel does a good job in producing several of these a year, but I'm hoping to see some films from Egypt, Lebanon or Morocco this year. I do understand the difficulties, which oftentimes have mortal consequences, to produce such films in those countries, but I have high hopes for the incredible talents that are yearning to have their voices heard and visions seen to overcome those obstacles and blow us away with one masterpiece after another.