Al-Ahram Weekly | Readers' corner

		7 - 13 November 2002 Issue No. 611 Readers' corner	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

Wise self-analysis

Sir-- I was so shocked to read Abdel-Moneim Said's article 'Confronting the conundrum' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November) that I had to re-read it twice. It is so uncharacteristically balanced and enlightened that I thought I was reading a Web page on a Western news agency site.
To read a balanced and thoughtful article pushing Arabs, and Muslims in particular, to get realistic and question their propensity to scapegoat the West for all their problems, and take responsibility for the global terrorism that exists today was refreshing.
This is the kind of critical self- analysis that would further the Arab cause years in the West. Until you reach this level of understanding, you will continue to be perceived as backwards. Maybe there is hope for the Arab world after all. I would like to thank Mr Said for his wisdom and hope some of it rubs off on the "Arab Street".
Ash Bassili
Annapolis, MD
USA

Pluralistic delight

Sir-- I would like to commend Abdel-Moneim Said for his courageous, incisive and dispassionately objective piece 'Confronting the conundrum' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November). It is a rare occurrence for your newspaper to publish anything that stands as a direct challenge to Arab societies, without directly or indirectly pointing an accusatory finger at Israel. I hope you continue to pursue the road of pluralistic thought. Endless repetition of the old US- and Israel-bashing rhetoric, supported by hopelessly skewed and self-serving reporting, can only bore a discerning reader and cast a depressing light on the state of intellectual discourse in Egypt.
Horacio Swiatlo
Buenos Aires
Argentina

Precise language

Sir-- I find Azmi Bishara to be wise and thoughtful in his writings; however in his article, 'Hilltops of illegality' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November) he states: "so-called illegal settlements". Azmi Bishara acknowledges that the settlements are illegal under international law and ridicules the arguments of the settlers, but a statement such as "so-called illegal settlements" is as objectionable as the reference by Donald Rumsfeld's and Israel's supporters to the "so- called occupied territories".
Yago Zayed
Hitchin
USA

Expanded horizon

Sir-- I'm a middle-aged white male born and raised in the Mid-West in the USA, and I thank you for making your paper available on the Net. I find it refreshing to get another view of the world as seen from your perspective. I sincerely hope that such facilities will foster understanding between the East and West, and make this a better world for our children.
Michael Dorl
Madison, Wisconsin
USA

Fan down under

Sir-- I've been reading your newspaper online for a couple of years and I consider it to be the world's best. That mighty writer and thinker Edward Said writes what I consider the best writing on things of world importance, especially the Middle East. I also want to say that many Aussies reject the behaviour of our government, because the way they are dealing with terrorism is hurting our Muslim population; but we hope to kick these idiots from office soon.
Adrian Caoimh
Tabulam
Australia

Revealing coverage

Sir-- I usually read The Jerusalem Post and Haaretz online, but your article 'Olives and lives' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November) presented some painful details that are not readily available from these sources.
Philip Himmelweit
New York
USA

Elegant story

Sir-- This pertains to Fatemah Farag's article 'Egypt's Eton recalled' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November). Except for a minor flaw (VC Cairo opened at Shubra in 1940, not in 1948), Ms Farag's article is well done and with excellent taste, particularly her selection of the 1st Eleven Cricket team photograph. A great article, a great school and a wonderful experience. With best wishes to you, your staff and to Ms Farag.
Andre Bolaffi
San Francisco, CA
USA

AAADC attack

Sir-- I am an Arab-American born in Michigan, and I feel there is a need to education Arabs about the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (AAADC). The AAADC mentioned in the letter 'Falwell's hate mongering' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November) is nothing but a group of Arabs who failed in their career, and are unable to get a job in mainstream America. The AAADC and other groups such as the Arab Institute etc, are collecting money as a source for their own living and income; they are interested in appearing on television with their poor English skills and reasoning; they voted/ supported Bush Snr in 1988, and his son in the 2000 election. It is a shame since the Republicans are pro-military and anti-social reform.
My advise to them, is go get a real job.
Daniel Hatout
Detriot
USA

Seeing the light

Sir-- I want to thank you and all your enlightened staff who are determined to reveal the facts for what they really are. I am proud of you and praise your stance toward the global causes, which shows a great concern for the world.
I am also proud to be an Alexandrian at this time when the long-awaited project of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina has become a reality. It is a great institution and represents a glimpse of light amid all this chaos. I am writing this letter from the cyber lounge in the Bibliotheca, while enjoying the revival of enlightenment.
Mahmoud Sharara
Alexandria
Egypt

Too strict for comfort

Sir-- I read with interest the articles about the Alexandria Library, and myself visited the library on the second day of its opening to the public. The building is a beautiful place and everything is well organised, however, this is a place for the public which means that the public should not be harassed. I understand that the library's administration is worried about maintaining everything in top shape, but I have this to say: loosen up a bit, stop controlling so much. While I found it excellent that the use of mobile phones is forbidden in the library, I think it is taking matters a bit too far to be forbidden to stand outside the toilets while waiting for my friend. Was I violating library security there?
As usual in public institutions, the way to say these kinds of things is "scream at and scream back", which apparently for us in Egypt is the only way to have a discussion. If this is to be a place which really wants to serve the public and that people will want to visit, then I believe that being strict in implementing the rules regarding mobile phones and maintaining low noise is fine. But avoid too much harassment and control, or else our famous politics of control will drive away the very people we want to see going to the library.
Sherifa Shafie
Cairo
Egypt

Moral ground

Sir-- In light of the obviously increasing confusion regarding the intentions of the United States toward Iraq and the inevitable consequences for all of us, should the "invasion" occur, it seems to me that what is needed is a concerted effort by all leaders to choose between the political and the moral implications of their decisions. Although decisions are claimed to be political, economic or military in nature, the consequences are always judged on moral grounds.
Why do leaders ignore their moral responsibilities to the people of the world in favour of short-term, limited gain? Surely statements such as "We have the right" and "Our cause is just" require that our actions are above reproach. Until leaders start to act justly on our behalf then peace and stability may never become a reality. If we do in fact lead by example, then many of our leaders need to take a long, hard look at their policies and make the necessary changes -- now.
David Hyland
Clara
Ireland

Voice to the people

Sir-- I found Mr Salama A Salama's article 'A deafening silence' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November) very interesting and I agree with every point he made. I would like to add that before blaming the public for their silence, we have to consider the reasons behind it; I place the blame squarely on the media. On the same day I read this article, the front page of your sister newspaper Al-Ahram was boasting the "international reaction" to our president's trip to Morocco. Believe me, the first I heard of it was from the Egyptian newspapers, it did not feature in any news programme or newspaper in Britain. When newspapers keep glorifying Arab leaders all the time like they are doing, the public are bound to feel that all is well and that their leaders are doing a great job; so why talk?
I am sure the public, at least in Egypt, are not stupid or silly. The public needs a debate and leadership to express their views.
Azim Osman
London
UK

The masses speak

Sir-- I thought Salama A Salama's article 'A deafening silence' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 31 October - 6 November) was a great article. It is true that the only dissenting voices we hear from the Arab world are from extremists, which doesn't bode well on the Western world.
It would be good to hear more from ordinary people about how they feel regarding the current crisis, instead of only hearing what the politicians have to say. Tony Blair's point of view certainly doesn't represent most of the British public's point of view, and I'm sure this is the same in the Arab world. For different cultures to ever learn to understand each other, they must listen to what the other has to say. One man cannot speak for the whole country. We need to hear all the dissenting voices from all over the world on this matter.
Julie Sale
London
UK

Reality check

Sir-- I would like to inform Stephen Shelton 'Communication failure' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 24- 30 October) that the "Arab/Muslim" and "Western/Judeo-Christian" divide he speaks of is factually incorrect. It seems that for the umpteenth time, someone has to inform the ignorami of the world that not all Arabs are Muslim. Millions are Christian, and I am curious as to whether he would place them in the Western/Judeo- Christian or Arab/Muslim category. If he had bothered to pick up any history book, he would discover that Judaism and Christianity are not Western, but rather, Eastern religions. That is precisely why Israelis and the Christian Right have such an obsession about the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights.
It's laughably ironic that while the intent of his letter was to lecture Arabs on communication, he could not be bothered to check the facts about his assertions. Why not reverse the argument and ask him why his kind has been so dismal in communicating with the Arab world? My guess is that he'd rather use racist insults and outright lies than dialogue.
Anna Dawud
Nevada
USA

Click on delete

Sir-- Stephen Shelton in 'Communication failure' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 24-30 October) tells us that Arabs are backwards and must "click on OK" to proceed. I can assure him that anyone reading his letter had to click on a mouse in the first place. If he truly believes Arabs are that backwards, why did he send his racist letter addressed to them on the Internet? Besides, if he and other Americans truly want to sever all contact with the Arab world (whose people would fully support that notion at the moment), then why not switch to alternative energy resources? The Europeans are already finding new ways to make their cars run with hydrocarbons, while we Americans are still stuck in the energy stone age.
Mariam Mahfez
Arizona
USA

Exodus revelations

Sir-- Concerning the article 'Letting the people go' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 24-30 October), I think this is one of the best articles I have ever read on the subject of the Exodus. There are many books on the subject, but this explains details that have not been mentioned before. Thank you.
Carol Baker
Laughlin, Nevada
USA

The true origins

Sir-- I enjoyed your article regarding the potential historical evidence of Moses and the Biblical Exodus 'Letting the people go' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 24-30 October). I live in the United States, a 21st century "melting pot" of cultures, races, and religions. The USA follows Britain, Istanbul, Rome, Athens and Egypt as one of history's great nations embracing many peoples, trading a main government operating culture to a wide variety of new cultures from immigrants in return for their citizenship and tax dollars.
It is not unlikely that Egypt, being the 12th century BC "melting pot" of cultures and economic powerhouse, would embrace citizens and residents from all over the civilised world. We learn that two centuries before Moses, Akhnaten was a monotheistic ruler, thus the Canaanites believing in one God were not improbable and very likely were well-tolerated in Ancient Egypt.
Moses is not an unusual name in Ancient Egypt, the Tutmoses kings being prime examples. In fact, many names handed down in the Hebrew Torah may well have been "localised" (after much time) into the Hebrew dialect of the day, losing their true historical origins in the process (Joshua, Aaron). Archeologically, the Ark of Moses is reflected in style by the ark of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, and the design of Solomon's Temple a mirror of several Egyptian temple structures. Egypt influenced all the known world at that time, and so she most probably heavily influenced those settling the River Jordan area as well. Perhaps Moses and his tribal leadership were more Egyptian than many today would like to give him credit for. In time, history may have become somewhat clouded by the oral retelling of the Exodus story by a relocated Egyptian/Canaanite people now seeking their own individual cultural identity.
Jeff Thieret
Pittsburgh, PA
USA

Missing link

Sir-- I really enjoyed the Protestantism editorial 'Apocalyptic visions' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 24- 30 October), but wish you'd have also shown the Irish/English connection. The loyalists are called Protestant 'extremist' while the Native Irish, the oppressed, are called terrorist. The anti-Catholic sentiment is rampant in the Protestant community, taught from birth, and the thought of being 'equal' to a Catholic, a Taig, is why the Unionist don't want peace. Because it would mean equality for all, and when you've lorded yourself over a people for 900 years, it's hard to give that up.
Funniest part from a distance: the native Irish are Catholic only because Catholicism was shoved down their throat by the British who at that time were Catholic. Enter King Henry VIII, his appetite for womanising, and being the 'Christian' he was, he had his wives killed, and started the Church of England, as his part of 'covering his tracks', and again the Irish pay.
Sandy Gonzales
Texas
USA

For the record

Sir-- Regarding 'Defending the faith' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 24-30 October), I would like to state for the record that the vast majority of the American people, and the vast majority of American Christians, strongly condemn the racist comments of the so-called Moral Majority leader, the Rev Jerry Falwell.
As a Christian myself, I find it abhorrent that Mr Falwell claims to speak for Christians. It amazes me to no end that the American media gives any airtime to such an extremist bigot.
Peace to all my Muslim sisters and brothers.
Julie Lukier
Texas
USA

Louder voices

Sir-- Regarding 'Defending the faith' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 24-30 October), I hope you will take this as the encouragement intended. Jerry Falwell and his ilk are not representative of all US Christians. In fact, there are many who find him, and his undue influence on our government, as abhorrent as Arab Christians do. And there are many like me who intend to see that his sympathisers are not returned to office. Their voices may be loudest now, but they aren't the only voices.
Meg Keish
Virginia
USA

Best of faiths

Sir-- I read with interest as Azmi Bishara in 'Apocalyptic visions' (Al- Ahram Weekly, 24-30 October), painted Jerry Falwell and Billy Graham with the same brush. It is true that both are fervent apologetics for Christianity, but here I think the similarities cease. While I disagree with much of what Mr Falwell has to say, I must defend his right to say it. Part of a democratic approach to civilisation is the combat of ideas, not of swords or the weapons of terrorism.
Mr Bishara's article attempts to use the same tactics of which he accuses Mr Falwell, and in his solution, he calls for actions by "mainline" Protestants that are not practised in much of the Muslim world, namely, accommodation and openness to other faiths. Let us do battle using the tenets of our faith.
Better still, let us call on Christians to practice the very best they have learned from the teachings of Jesus and let us call on Muslims to practice the very best they have learned from the teachings of Mohamed.
William Saxman
Pennsylvania
USA

Looking ahead

Sir-- Near the end of the article 'Doing as the Romans did' (Al-Ahram Weekly, 12-18 September), the author Tariq Ali ponders why the United States is so determined to wage war on Iraq. I agree with his first answer, which states that Iraq, as a rich oil-producer, remains outside the control of the US. The US seems to be doing what it can to secure future oil supplies, as it becomes increasingly dependent on imports from the Middle East. The US will soon be competing openly with China and India for Middle East oil, and the competition will only intensify in the future as world production of crude oil goes into irreversible decline.
Lynn Dohner
New Mexico
USA

Misleading terms

Sir-- I am sick and tired of people describing Israel as being democratic or being the only democracy in the Middle East. Put aside the discrimination between Israeli Arabs and Jews, democracy cannot be used to describe any system that brutally oppresses a whole people or a whole nation. If a whole nation, as non-Arab Israelis, decides by its majority (through election) to imprison a whole other nation for the sake of land, which it unrightfully "landjacked" by brutal force/violence, their system does not deserve to be called democratic in any way, shape or form.
I am also sick and tired of reading or hearing people calling the government of Israel a "Right Wing" government. What is "Right" about it? I do not know what people are thinking. This term does not describe the Israeli government. It should be better termed a militant, radical, extremist or terror government. It is indeed the first of two governments that exist in the world, that use terror and destruction by a whole army to oppress other people in what essentially are the largest prison camps in the world; the second being the Russian government in Chechnya.
Palestinians deserve better from the world, either let the so-called "Security Council" have enough guts to enforce a withdrawal of the Israeli Terror Forces (ITF) from the West Bank and Gaza, or have the guts to enforce the Palestinians' complete annihilation by the ITF. Of course the ITF in the latter case may need the direct help of you know who. Anything short of either is inhumane.
Walid Mohsen
Leicester
UK

Foul play

Sir-- In my opinion the CIA operation of killing some people in their car in Yemen is against international law. First, the USA trespassed the sovereignty of an independent state, Yemen. Second, there is no evidence that all the people in the car are wanted, so the CIA may have assassinated innocent people. Third, if the CIA was certain that the people in the car were wanted, why didn't the CIA report it to the Yemeni authorities in order for an arrest to be made, instead of killing them without fair trial?
Mohamed Mesbah
Cairo
Egypt

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