Al Jazeera America Is Making A Home--Get Over It!!!

The new Al-Jazeera America is making a home, but for those people that completely prejudge and misunderstand the purpose of their news outlet, let me enlighten you.

Al Jazeera started in Qatar and over the past 10 years it has built rapport world wide through its coverage of the Arab Spring to up to date and interesting perspective on issues having global consequences.

With Al-Jazeera-phobia everyone has recently, its hard to see what is write and wrong. Even the Washington Post had to mention that regardless of how much success they may be able garner, many Americans feel uneasy about the name and origins of the organization.

Let me set the record straight. Al-Jazeera had nothing to do with the attacks on 9-11, rather they produced content and understand about what happened day just like every other news organization in the world. In fact, the Taliban was sending over tapes to the organization which Al-Jazeera handed over to U.S. news agency for their viewing.

The organization has also made an effort to rebrand--but not re-label themselves--to appeal to an American audience. They have news anchors from networks like CNN and CBS, their shows will be broadcasted from the Newseum in DC and they report national and international from a variety of perspectives. I understand people question their judgment regarding Al-Qaeda dealings in the Middle East, but this is America, a new ball field, a new audience whose ears and eyes need to open up to the larger world of broadcast and online news.

 Personally, several educated Americans already watched Al-Jazeera English on line or in major cities; but this Islamic-angst that many Americans seem to have with the name has tainted their future success. Just the name Al Jazeera--sounding so foreign--seems like a challenge to overcome by some Americans, but let me break down what it actually means. Al-Jazeera  in Arabic means 'island' like the Arabian island of Doha, Qatar--the land of oil rich Arabs. Al Jazeera in Arabic's Chairman  Hamad bin Thamer originally served in the Ministry of Information in Qatar and later began the network. Imagine, a news organization started by Arabs, and later expanded with partnerships with BBC and created Al-Jazeera English. They have broken out of their boundaries to give the best possible news.

So get comfortable because with the money they have they will be around for a while!
 

Egypt On the Brink of Civil War

As Egypt is on the brink of Civil War, I sit twiddling my thumbs in front of my computer pouring over my on Facebook and Al Jazeera English.

My Egyptian host sister Marwa acts as my personal citizen journalist from the comfort of her apartment in Rabat AlAlkhway a small part of Nasr City in Cairo. She takes pictures of smoke billowing up just blocks from her home.

Protesters in the streets below her apartment. A mixture of Morsi supporters and those just trying to live out a 'normal' day.

Smoke just minutes from her home, from car bombs and tear gas.

 

Recently, the VP of Egypt stepped down, but what most wait for is an answer to the emergency alert place on Egypt.

 

What will this alert do for the country? Will this just progress the fighting into a civil war?





 

Obama in Egypt: Then and Now

Just four short years ago if you asked any by-stander on the streets of Cairo, what do you think about the American President? You will probably get an answer like, "Oh, Love Obama" or "Obama Number One".

These were just some of the great things I heard about Obama from my Egyptian host family and friends in 2009 following Obama's visit to American University in Cairo.

Fast forward to today and you get...

*As a side note: In my opinion, Obama doesn't look bad with a beard*

Utter hate for Obama Administration for supplying money to terrorists, Mubarak, Morsi, and the Muslim Brotherhood. The Obama Administration has outraged Egyptians calling him a terrorist supporters and other fowl language names.

Many of the younger Egyptians have no clue what they want done for their country, but what they do know is that they do not want to the Muslim Brother hood in power. Through out the recent protest the Obama administration has remain silent--with good reason. After supplying approximately $85 billion in aid to the military and the government of Mubarak and Morsi, Obama's administration has some explaining to do for Egyptians and the American people.

Unfortunately, the United States has a larger interest in looking of for its economic trade agreements than the well being of Egyptians in other countries. The distribution of this aid came with several conditions which the American and Egyptian government alike refused to carry out and comply with; unfortunately--as many people already know--the Muslim Brotherhood was not able to rule democratically and the U.S. still aided them in order to protect investments in the Suez Canal.

And yet Obama now admits that he did supply money to the Morsi regime and will continue to supply money to the military as long as they continue "democratically"

Where the U.S. spends its money has been watched for a long time, but allowing this continue must stop. There must be more strict conditions to set for countries that we give money to and using the embassies in those countries as liaisons to manage if the money is being spend wisely. Another solution would be is to keep our noses out of the Middle East for fear of another Iran-like hostage crisis.

With the hate for American aid to the U.S. and the idea that the U.S. helped put Morsi in power, Egyptian have the right to be upset with the U.S., and because of this with tensions high and several university students and American embassy employees it is a matter of safety. If our administration does care about the Egyptian people at least care about the safety of your own people and learn from history.







 

Who's in the Race?--For the Egyptian Elections

If you haven't read anything about Egypt with in the past month--aka; you've been living under a rock--the one thing you might want to know is that they are finally going to have reelections after President Morsi was kicked out--which some people are calling a coup.


To understand why it is not a coup I suggest you read this article by a friend of mine who knows what she's talking about.

To understand why the US cares so much about Egypt in the financial sense please read this article.

But, what of these new elections?
 To begin interim President Abdli Mansour wants to hold elections as soon as possible. With all the violence going on due to opposition from the Muslim Brotherhood this process needs to be done efficiently and quickly. But as seen from mistakes of the last elections efficiently is not exactly what Egyptians are known for; however, with the quickness and efficiency of their four day protests it was significant and possibly foreshadowing of the time it will take to reelect a new leader.

With a timetable of 210 days Egypt seems close to a new constitution and leader; unfortunately, today Al Jazeera posted that the Muslim Brotherhood is pushing back on interim administration's timetable. Monday, Egypt closed down the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Cairo and found guns and ammunition inside; clearly a sign that not only are the protests to blame for violence, but the Muslim Brotherhood themselves for demonstrating against protesters with violence. Even more ironic when the Brotherhood asked the country to stop the internal massacres.

So, whose going to be in the running?
 With the Brotherhood headquarters shut down and thousands of Egyptian infuriated with Morsi and the former constitution designed with articles from the Muslim Brotherhood, if Egyptian are caution they can avoid the corruption of this next election by creating their Constitution first.

In this new Constitution they should clearly lay out guidelines for rulers and their rights. Make sure the people are given unalienable rights and freedoms and create a state that has freedom of religion. Then proceed to see if candidates can follow these new articles created in the constitution, and see who may fit the bill.

1. Mohamed ElBaradei


A more radical liberal in Egypt who also studied in the United States and assisted the UN as a nuclear watchdog, according to several liberal Egyptian Muslims does not care for Islam as a religion and would not tolerate it in the state.

My vote for President?
No, Egypt needs a ruler like Mandela was for South Africa, that will pull the nation out of a time of crisis and conflict and settle disputes among groups.

2. Hazem El-Beblawi

 

A professor of economics at the University of Alexandria, also the founder of the Social Democratic Party and previously served as finance and economic prime minister, but had strong opposition to the Mubarak regime.

My vote for him?
Yes, the number one problem for all Egyptians is finances and the economic downturn. With his help they can turn their economy around and restore Egypt to a powerhouse of the tourism industry.


 

Egypt: The Modern Day French Revolution

Between 2011 and now, Egypt's attempts at a "democratic" government have been similar to the attempts made by France around 1848.

Granted there is no guillotine--but plenty of riots, gun fire, and harassment of by-standers. With less the 48 hours to either resign or pull out his own ultimatum, President Morsi has a few options, but what is not being accounted for is the fact that the method by which they want him to be taken from power. So here is what I foresee as possible options:

1. Morsi resigns--hooray for some Egyptian and disappointment with others--no one was ever 100% with the decisions made in the French Revolution. Then the military will take over delaying any plans for citizens to elect a new leader or create a constitution within a reasonable amount of time.

2.  Morsi stays in office and protests continue until either
      a. Islamic Brotherhood begins to arrest people for treason.
      b. Protesters hunt down and hope for Morsi's death

3. Nothing happens and Morsi stays in office and the protesters find a different plan of attack to get Morsi to resign or reelect a new leader. The problem with this is that radicals on the opposite side of the Muslim Brotherhood may come to power such as Dr. Mohammed el Bardai who is hateful of Islam.

In order for there to be concrete decision, a firm foundation of a constitution must be put in place first, much like how the United States had the Constitution. We also had difficulties coming up with proper wording and success, but after the Articles of Confederation we were able to breach a compromise. An assembly of the people must come together in an open forum to do the same for Egypt.






 

My Constantly Questioned Passport

      Two visas from Egypt, stamps from Morocco, and various exits and entrances to Spain Spain--my passport is constantly questioned.  Here are some of the most-asked-questions at passport control between Spain and The United States:

Q: Why were you in Morocco?

A: I'm was studying at a university to learn Arabic.

Q: What are you doing in Spain?

A: Visiting a friend for a few days before I go back home.

Q: Why do you have two visas from Egypt?

A: I was there for six weeks and it expired halfway through my trip.

Q: Why do you want to learn Arabic?

A: I'm studying Journalism and Arabic, and would like to be able to speak in three languages.

....and the questions continue sometimes.  At one point in Barrajas airport just visiting Spain for Spring Break in high school by myself, I was stopped in the airport twice by the same woman and given a pat-down!

     Although my passport makes going through airports a hassel, the contents of my passport are more meaningful.  Turning the pages over as a wait in a long airport line, I open up to the information page; the girl looking back at me is my 15-year-old self.  Typically, people will look at this picture right away and wonder who is that girl and what am I doing with her passport.  The next thing I notice on my cover page is that my passport expires this year in November and all these stamps and memories remain in the pages of a book with a picture of my mid-teenage self.  My fingers make their way to edges of the book, feeling the back where stickers from my trip to Egypt still live and then opening it up to a page with the historic city of Philadelphia on it.  Stamps from Spain cover Philadelphia and flipping further through the Rocky Moutains, Fields of Wheat, Shining Seas, and Rapid Rivers, my stamps and visas from Egypt remind me of my adventures.  They will help me remember the details of my trip and a sign of hope to make it back there some day.  Then my stamps in Morocco, smaller than Egypt, but just as important; Morocco was  the trip to the Middle East that I finally began to feel more comfortable speaking Arabic, the trip that I made staying in Spain for a few days, and then two planes to Fez, the trip that I travelled more on my own then ever before.  My passport has shown how much I've grown and changed, and in the next few months as the tiny navy blue book expires, I will begin anew with another book to make new memories and new changes to my life.

Language is Neccessary

      To read a newspaper, to speak with a friend, or to buy fruit at a souk [market], language is neccessary.  It has become eminent to me that--yes--learning languages can be fun, but at the sametime language is essential for everyday tasks and pursuits.  As a to be journalist, language is also a factor is interviewing and understanding other parts of the world and their stories. 
      For my first time today in Arabic class, I felt the necessity of language as our teacher handed us each a newspaper and told us to find the title of the paper, the edition, the date, and summarize an article.  Up to this point in my Arabic studies I would not have been comfortable performing this task, but as I am quickly learning, the brain works best to speak languages when under pressure.  I like to think of this as the fight or flight idea used for athletes.  With proper training and confidence one can fight or use their language knowledge quickly and efficiently; however, with improper training, nor enough confidence, or lack of study, one will simply give up and begin speaking the language they fell most comfortable in. With the training I am receiving in Arabic through this program I feel that my brain has been complying with the first idea. 
     In addition to reading the newspaper in class, I also began thinking about how an American journalist with knowledge of Arabic and English could give a non-bias and good interpretation of stories in the Middle East, unlike some of the newspapers in the Middle East that avoid controversial information.  At the Newseum in Washington, DC there is a map of the world with rankings of Freedom of Press in country.  Within the Middle East it is very hard to find a newspaper that reports things without fear of government oversight.  Having knowledge of langauge could help a journalist
understand the real stories from the Middle East.
     Another observation of the necessity of language that I observed this week was practicing Darija [Moroccan Colloquial] in the souk [outdoor farmers market]. This opportunity was definitely hands-on-learning which allowed me to  use Darija to buy fruit at the local market through conversation with the workers.  The souk is for locals who want to buy everything from farming tools to a goat; everything at the souk is low to the ground and people, cars, and animals squeaking through narrow passages between the stands.  I felt very proud of myself for being able to buy apricots, plums, figs, and popcorn--all of which became my lunch that day.  I found myself in the moment trying to use knowledge of Darija [Moroccan Colloquial] and Fosha [Modern Standard Arabic]. 
       This same in the moment feeling came this weekend in Fez as we visited my mother's friend mother.  Speaking with her on the phone a few days earlier and learning that she only spoke Arabic and French seemed like it was going to be difficult, but with some patiences and a dual effort from my friend Bokum and I, we were able to communicate naturally and with no problem.  Today in Fez they invited us to their home for lunch and then they showed us around the old Medina [city] of Fez.  They treated us like family and by the end of the day we were laughing and drinking tea and coffee at a cafe in the new Medina.  They were so hospitable and I wished we could have stayed longer, but ofcourse this being my final week in Morocco with Arabic classes, I have to concentrate and prepare a paper, a presentation, and for my final written and oral exam.  I definitely feel more confident then ever in being able to speak and read the language.  I feel the program I am in has met and passed my expectations for myself.