Kiss My Head and Go to Bed

From Al Masry Al Youm: A New “Sectarian” Clash in Al Wasty Ends with Reconciliation [click to read details]

The way of handling such sorrowful incidents indicates absolute helplessness from the Egyptian governemnt and civil society. What does it mean if a person kisses my head after burning my home, beating me, and injuring my children? What have I gained and what has he learned? Where is the law? Where are the rules which guarantee that this won't happen again? What a pathetic solution this is!

The word "Reconciliation" is even misunderstood and misused. I may reconcile by forgiving a person, but this doesn't mean that he can escape justice and evade the law. The attackers in these cases are criminals who are threatening the safety and wellbeing of society as a whole, not just the group they assaulted. We are all citizens living in a country which has a law that punishes all those criminal acts. What does it mean when a Muslim goes to jail for injuring a Muslim but doesn't when he injures a Christian? What does it mean when those incidents take place one after another in just a small period of time and we still insist that it is enough to kiss heads and go to bed? Are we solving anything? Or are we just contributing to those crimes by letting the attckers get away with their crimes?

If there is a law in this country, it must be put to action and obeyed by everybody. If there is no law, why do we bother by having police, courthouses, jails, and lawyers? Let's set a new law, the head-kissing law: If a person steals, he has to kiss the robbed person 10 kisses. If he kills, he must kiss all the victim's family members. If he burned a house, he kisses the owners... and so on. What is this joke?

Where do we go from here?

The Egyptian Mufti: "It was common to seek blessing by drinking the Prophet's urine. And anyone who finds this idea to be repulsive has doubts concerning his faith." Click here to read >>

Where are we heading people? Isn't it enough that Egypt which used to lead the development in the region and rose the torch of culture for others to follow, is now allowing itself to be dragged in the course of countries of less civilization and retarded thought? Are we now seeking to prove we can go way backwards further than them or what? Do we aim to dig our own way down to the bottom? What's that?! I can't get it!

The Mufti is supposed to be the spiritual compass for Muslims in our country. Now he writes a book that says that drinking Prophet Muhammad's urine was a source for blessing and that his sweat, blood, hair (in short anything which dagaleen consider as attar) are blessed and can be used for this purpose!

Of course many sheikhs have attempted to object to this, saying that they can't find anything in Islamic history of sunnah to backup those claims. But what actually makes me pose those previous questions was that the Mufti's fatwa is not an isolated incident or single attempt. When put in context, we'll find out that what we're really facing here is a process of turning the prophet into a deity (dropping off his human quality).

Before you accuse me of any exaggeration, please take a few minutes to review some recent tendencies which are very smoothly sneaking into our modern Islamic thought and which were never mentioned before. Let's take a look at the qualities that modern sheikhs are attributing to the Prophet. The insistence that Muhammad was a "Man of Miracles" is being stressed by many nowadays.

As any other Muslim, the only miracle that I know of Muhammad delivering to his people was the Qur'an. If anybody knows of something else, please enlighten me. But what we've been hearing recently is that the Prophet could read the future (misinterpretations of stories when the Prophet gave advice and then turned out that he was right. Like the woman who came to ask his advice as to which of her suitors to marry. The Prophet then told her that both her suitors were not good for her and he recommended a third man whom she didn't like. He then insisted that she would reconsider, and when she married him she said she found all the good in him. Such stories aren't originally intended to make us think that the Prophet could foretell the future. He was just a wise man giving sincere advice. But the way such stories are being used nowadays imply that he had supernatural powers.), heal the sick (the unjustified persistence to make Muhammad a doctor is so big nowadays. What is known to be Alteb Alnabawy and curing illnesses using cattle urine is bogus. You find hundreds of books talking about how the Prophet prescribed cures for various illnesses. There are swindlers who make use of this, selling what they claim to be Islamic cures. Many people have died out of such practices and we still can't learn that the Prophet wasn't a doctor. Again, he was just giving advice to sick people at a time where there were no scientific solutions. If I tell you to tie up your head when you have a headache and it worked, does this make me a doctor? He only told people about coventional methods used and tried at this time. If we stopped brushing our teeth and used the wooden brush (sewak) does this protect us against cavities?), exorcise evil spirits (Again this is used by swindlers to claim that a person can be possessed and those who heal by Qur'an. The Prophet used to say certain prayers in order to seek the blessing of God during his day. These prayers were also used to pacify people who face a crisis or who want to remember God in order not to be deviated by the devil. It was a way of bringing peace to those in distress or those who suffer psychologically or mentally.), being holy. (This is the part which the Mufti drew upon. By claiming that anything that happened to be in contact with the Prophet is blessed, he and others are bestowing a holy nature on Muhammad, seeking to elevate him from the human condition. The danger of this notion will be witnessed when it becomes common among the illiterate masses, who went as far as seeking blessing from a tree.)

Finally, attacking the faith of those who find the idea of drinking the urine of the Prophet to be disgusting is a method of terrorism, which aims to stop people from even questioning the ideas that those "respectful" sheikhs are delivering. I honestly don't think this can bring about any good to our nation which is already suffering enough. Terrorizing people in such a way, deforming a religion which is based on logic to make it supernatural, and seeking to remove the human quality off our Prophet, will cause us to enter deeper into our dark ages. But unlike the European dark ages, this will be even fiercer and will witness more victims. My prayer to God is to spare us all that.

Puppets and Puppeteers

Once again I find myself compelled to have a look on the ugly social scene we're witnessing nowadays. This time I'll be talking about art and artists. Call it "Modern Islamic Business Productions" if you want.

I wanna start off with the bizarre actresses who have suddenly chosen to resume their acting careers after they had denounced the job altogether and believed that quitting it was the only right thing to do. Some of them even went as far as announcing that the money they had earned from acting was dirty money, and they engaged into a sort of "money laundry", if I may call it so, by having businesses in Islamic clothing or merely restaurants. Now, they come back one after one to act again on TV series but with their hijab on!

I remember when the CD of Sohair AlBably (the famous Egyptian comedian) launched at the Cairo International Book Fair several years ago. Thousands were gathered in front of computer screens displaying the former actress as she talks about how devilish acting was, and how she was misled throughout her life. She claimed that nothing was better than the humble life away from fame and away from displeasing God (meaning through art). As if 7ad sharabha 7aga asfara 3alashan tmasel! Why can't these people have the courage to own what they did?

Out of nowhere, what was considered haram (blasphemous) yesterday is considered halal today. Just because their sheikhs had a change of heart (or so we're made to believe) they came back as if nothing was said or done. However, they made it clear that they're back with their own conditions. Those conditions had to do with the money of course, which should be good enough for a returning star, and then with the scenes they will act. They will keep wearing the hijab in all their scenes, even if they are domestic ones with members of the family. Ya3ni she will wake up with hijab, prepare breakfast for her family with hijab and talk to her husband with hijab. Ok, no problem as long as the drama producers don't care about the quality of art they're delivering. But what's really amazing, is that away from those scenes, you'll find a very normal T.V. series.

I remember the ridiculous series of Sohair Ramzy (an actress who was known for her seductive roles and lack of talent) with her clownish attire, which is supposed to be sharia outfit, talking to a semi-naked girl in one of her scenes. Is that the kind of art that her sheikh approved? As long as she is covered up, it is ok that people will look at the bodies of the actresses sharing the same scenes with her? I seriously can't figure it out! Please help me here.
I'm not against her hijab. I'm not against her coming back to act. I'm not against her sharing scenes with the flirty chick. But what has religion got to do with that? After all she is supposed to be a leader among this group of "purged actresses". Tayeb why do this?!

It is not a coincidence that all of those actresses had no talent whatsoever. They got their fame either from their hot movie scenes or from announcing that they will quit acting for religious reasons. (I don't understand why the media makes this huge propaganda whenever an actress decides to wear the hijab! It's a head scarf for God's sake! Everybody's free to dress the way they like.) Those actresses can not name even a single important role they had played during their whole careers. Their roles with hijab likewise have never added, nor will ever add, anything to art. They are just there for promoting the new look.

I must mention here that opposed to this group, there are wonderful actresses who chose to wear hijab without condemning their jobs or expressing shame of the roles they had acted. There are two excellent examples here: Shadya and Huda Sultan. After a lifelong brilliant acting and singing career, Egyptian star Shadya, had decided to quit and since then she had never spoken to the media or denounced her past career. Whereas, the late star Huda Sultan chose to resume her acting career with her hijab. In all her interviews she refused to be pushed into regretting her past roles. As a matter of fact, she didn't have any ridiculous conditions, and she actually acted some of best roles with the hijab. Her excellent performances in Al Wattad and Arabesque are a clear example. Until her death, Sultan resumed her career with dignity and dedication.

These women of real talent had nothing to be ashamed of cause what they offered was true art. I remember Shadya's song "Take my Hand" (7'od b2eedy) which was a religious song. The sincerity by which she sang it makes you feel she was out of this world, with her beautiful golden hair swaying by her face. Nobody saw anything wrong in it. On the contrary, it was considered one of the most beautiful and touching songs. Now, with fanaticism on the rise, and with the Islamic songs turning into a kind of fashion in modern Arabic music, I can't find a single song as touching as hers. I believe it isn't a coincidence. Using religion as a kind of marketing can never result in anything sincere, no matter how dazzling the outer appearance is. Religion needs a genuine spirit to shine through. But this wave of actresses and singers who are mere puppets in the hands of their puppeteers, whether they be sheikhs or business people, can never accomplish any lasting glory. They will have their time on the screen but time will sweep them as easily as they change their minds.

An Islam against Islam

Everybody can notice the change which is taking place in Egyptian society and how its moderate nature is being threatened by a tendency towards extremism. It all started in the 80s with the large numbers of Egyptians, who were forced by the increasing unemployment rate and the meager wages, to search for jobs in the lands of oil. Well, they surely worked hard, came back with the money and other things. They were affected by the Wahhabi thought, which has managed through them to revisit Egypt long after it had been overcome by the great Muhammad Ali.

Unfortunately this was great news for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, who made use of all possible means to increase their political ground in the Egyptian street. Having no political agenda whatsoever, the Brotherhood's only hope lay in having a tangible influence in Egyptian society through feeding its religious nature and winning its affection. They played on the motto "Islam is the Solution" implying that they are the only movement that follows religious teachings, and also implying that religion (in their case Islam only) can solve all problems.

The third factor came from the business sector, which used these growing emotions in the Egyptian society and translated them into money, thus re-exporting the product but in a more intensive manner through the media. This sector made use of the popularity of some religious talkers and produced for them TV programs, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, websites… etc. Sometimes they made their own stars while watching their popularity increase and their sales too. The star doesn't have to be an expert or have any true wisdom, he simply has to have the qualifications which are needed in any star: that is an acceptable appearance and charisma.

One of those shooting stars is Sheikh Khaled El Gindy. He was made popular through a weekly segment in the daily program Al Qahira Al Youm, where every Monday he will answer viewers' religious questions in what is called Rokn Elfatwa (zy rokn elsheesha kedda at coffee shops). I've talked about El Gindy before when he came second on my list of 5 Most Hated People. I therefore won't repeat my opinion of him. But what's new is his most recent fatwa, in which he displayed his usual genius and declared that slave trade is halal and can take place nowadays if the President (walyi el2amr) approves it. Away wallahi kedda!

Shofto elgamal welraw3a? El Gindy comes to say so in the year 2007, after the abolition of slavery and the human rights law and the international agreements concerning POWs, all of this doesn't concern him at all. Elmohem it is Halal and there's nothing wrong in it. All we need now is the approval of the president. Begad 7aga tsharaf ya3ni. Wallahi if I were the president I can use this to raise my popularity and become a Pharaoh, or pass over the presidency to my son even. I would simply say to my citizens, "I will not use my divine right to sell you as slaves."

My friend Egy Anatomist has an excellent post about this issue on his blog. He really said it all, so I need not dwell more upon it here. I just want to say that if this ever happened I would like El Gindy's children to be the first on the market. If this is Islam what is Jahiliyya? I bet that if those people were alive today they wouldn't have said anything like that. Such crazy people like el Gindy are coming up with a different version of Islam, an Islam against Islam. They are deforming our religion and giving it the worst face ever.

Who are those people?

Watching this video brought the tears to my eyes. I first saw it here and then thought what a shame! Who are the people working in this infamous channel? Are they human beings? Do they know the ABC of child psychology? What do they expect after exposing kids to such a scary experience? Isn't there a tiny bit of conscience in their hearts?

I, an adult, had goosebumps by merely watching this horrible thing on a computer screen. Now, what about those poor kids who are left with this crazy man? This is a crime of the highest degree.

This is dirty business that has nothing to do with religion. To prove my point. Excuse me in asking you to watch it again, but this time try to read the text messages at the bottom. You will think it is a dating service not a religious channel. And those texts are displayed during what is supposed to be a lesson for the kids! Disgusting!!

Isn't there anything that can be done about it? I've learned that El Nas channel is Egyptian. If this is true, really it will be such a disgrace.

International Women's Day!

Happy Women's Day! Yes, it is today. March, 8th. Have you guys congratualted any female you know? Have you girls remembered this date, or even know about it? I bet not.

I don't think the Egyptian women nowadays are too marginalized to this extent. Why don't they seize this opportunity to take pride in their achievements and the bravey by which they are facing their challenges? Why don't we celebrate our women and make them feel how appreciated they are by members of their family, community, soceity and country?

This day also marks the pain I feel whenever I remember the fierce campaign that female judges are facing in Egypt, and how they are denied their rights by fellow male judges. Instead of pushing this experiment forward, the guradians of justice could not forget that they are males. They could not tolerate the idea that their chairs will soon be filled with their female colleagues, who were long deprived of their right in acquiring this position, although they have been serving justice as long and as sincerely as they have. I can't believe that those judges whom we all stood behind, men and women, in front of the injustice of authorities, are now standing against the rights of their own colleagues, only for being women. What a shame!

This world would not have been able to accomplish anything without its women. Let's at least not prevent them from having their basic rights as humans.

Have You Ever Read a Book by Nawal ElSaadawi?

I've been reading a lot of articles and posts about Nawal ElSaadawi nowadays. Aside from news about her fleeing Egypt, which she herself denied in El Hayah, Elmasry Elyoum, BBC Arabic and Al-Arabiya, many found this as an opportunity to attack the woman and all that she stands for. Many make fun of her statements, implying that she is lying. Well, even if, I believe in her old age she has the right to save herself from the humiliation she's subjected to by fanatics and those fame-seekers. This is not the first time for her to face law suits concerning her writings. As a matter of fact, she was imprisoned in September 1981 and she wrote about her experience in prison in several of her books and articles. This woman is in fact proud of being put into jail because she spoke her mind freely.

It is needless to say that El Saadawi has been the object of severe criticism and controversy all her life. But she insists to complete writing and to publish her works in Egypt whenever possible. Of course, in doing so she doesn't seek money or fame, for translations of her works are sold worldwide and even taught at American universities. She is a true feminist who didn't betray her cause for any reason: whether it be fear, pleasing the public, being rich, or having a high position.
It is sad when I see that many of those who attack her have never bothered to read a single word she wrote. They simply read what is written about her and are ready to pass judgement, in complete absence of integrity. Hence I pose the question: "Have you ever read a book by Nawal ElSaadawi?" It is easy now to find her books. I remember 10 years ago when I had to search for her works in English in order to be able to read them. I then read them all again in Arabic and I admired them even more.

El Saadawi, a novelist and feminist critic, has written her autobiography "A Daughter of Isis," in which she frankly tells all about her early years and upbringing. This woman dared to say it all, she would tread where no other Egyptian woman would dare to go. She exposed her personal life, with all the painful experiences and her deepest inner thoughts. She exposed our double-faced society and its cruelty towards young girls and women. She even wrote about her own infibulation at a young age.

I hereby provide a list of her works for those who care to check them out:

FICTION:
NOVELS
Memoirs of a Woman Doctor (Cairo, 1958)

The Absent One (Cairo, 1969)

Two Women in One (Cairo, 1971)

Woman at Point Zero (Beirut, 1973)

The Death of the Only Man on Earth (Beirut, 1975)

The Children's Circling Song (Beirut, 1976)

The Fall of the Imam (Cairo, 1987)

Ganat and the Devil (Beirut, 1991)

Love in the Kingdom of Oil (Cairo, 1993)

THE NOVEL (Cairo, 2004 )

SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS

I Learnt Love (Cairo, 1957)

A Moment of Truth (Cairo, 1959)

Little Tenderness (Cairo, 1960)

The Thread and the Wall (Cairo, 1972)

Ain El Hayat (Beirut, 1976)

She was the Weaker (Beirut, 1977)

Death of an Ex-minister (Beirut, 1978)

Adab Am Kellat Adab collection (Cairo, 2000)
PLAYS (in Arabic)
Twelve Women in a Cell (Cairo, 1984)

Isis (Cairo, 1985)

God Resigns in The Summit Meeting (1996)
NON-FICTION
MEMOIRS

Memoirs in a Women's Prison (Cairo, 1983)

My Travels Around the World (Cairo, 1986)

Memoirs of a Child Called Soad (Cairo, 1990)

My Life, Part I, Autobiography (Cairo, 1996)

My Life, Part II, Autobiography (Cairo, 1998)
My Life, Part III (2001)
BOOKS

Women and Sex (Cairo, 1969)

Woman is the Origin (Cairo, 1971)

Men and Sex (Cairo, 1973)

The Naked Face of Arab Women (Cairo, 1974)

Women and Neurosis (Cairo, 1975)

On Women (Cairo, 1986)

A New Battle in Arab Women Liberation (Cairo, 1992)

Essays: El Ma`ara Wa lguorba (Cairo, 1997)

Essays: Taw`am el Sulta Wa l guins (Cairo, 2001)

Essays: Kadaya el Ma`ara wa l Fikr (Cairo, 2002)

Essays: Kasr El Hedoud (Cairo, 2004)

Fiction and Non-Fiction (Cairo, 2004)

It is because of her fearless honesty, that many people can not tolerate her. Even now, when she is 76, she is still fighting her battle, and they won't leave her alone.

Miracle Tree

My heart was torn apart when I learned about the "tree" on Ismalia Road, which had turned into a site for pilgrimage. I couldn't believe that people have become that desperate that they seek the blessing of a tree: T.R.E.E! How is it possible that people have become that delusional? What kind of pressure can possibly cause them to lose their minds and degrade themselves till that extent? Have people become that gullible? Have their brains been switched to believe in superstitions instead of logic and common sense? Have they become that helpless that they are only waiting for miracles? Have they decided to quit working on changing their lives and solving their problems?
Is it because the sick can not afford to buy medicine or receive health care at a public hospital? Is it because the poor has found it so hopeless to realise their humanity? Is it because they can not afford the basic essentials of life? Is it because they can't get private teachers for their children? Is it because they are not allowed the leisure of dreaming?
Is it because of injustice? Is it because of corruption? Is it because of cruelty? Is it because of ignorance? Is it because of indifference? Is it because of oppression?
Or, is it because of the insanity we're living in?

Anyway, I found myself writing those lines, imagining one of the tree visitors:

Oh, Holy Tree!
Shower your blessings upon me.
For I have traveled a long way,
And I have a prayer to say.

Oh, Holy Tree!
Give me the strength to see
That there is still tomorrow,
Without any more sorrow.

Oh, Holy Tree!
Let me find the secret key
To open closed doors,
And break down walls.

Oh, Holy Tree!
I need a miracle, immediately,
To cure my only son,
Make him able again to run

Oh, Holy Tree!
He's all that matters to me.
We only need a strike of fate
To find a bed before it's late.

Oh, Holy Tree!
I became so weary.
Fear grows as fast as the pain,
And with them hope does wane.

Oh, Holy Tree!
Listen to my helpless plea.
Work your wonder quick
To save the poor and sick.

Oh, Holy Tree!
Have some mercy.
We believe in your powers,
Please, don't let us down like others.

Three Articles and One Message

Today's issue of Modern Discussion is so rich. It took me hours to read this fully nutritious meal of thought. Yet, I've chosen only 3 of these articles to discuss here, as they are more or less tackling the same issue that is one of my major concerns, that is the relation between our cultural, political, scientific, economical and intellectual deterioration, on one hand, and the current "religious" fanaticism, on the other.

First, there is the beautiful, brief, research-like article by Amal Fouad Ebeid entitled The Entaglement of the Political, the Ideological and the Religious. Ebeid chose to investigate into the origins of this entaglement in our Arab world and why we failed in getting out of this dilemma which the west had suffered from during the Middle Ages. She found out that instead of learning the lesson of establishing a harmonious existence, where those three forces can have their seperate spheres without clashing with one another, we tend to insist on this distructive entaglement. Certain groups of each sphere find this chaos very beneficial that they would do everything possible to maintain the status quo and push the mobs into rejecting any form of enlightenment. She traces the historical sequence of such groups and how they used this as a tool for hindering the advancement of their nations, while blocking the road to knowledge and healthy cultural interaction. [click to read article]

The same approach was utilised by Said Elqemany in his article The Brotherhood and Its Islamic Solution. He explains how the Islamic Jihad which was originally a way of gathering the scattered pieces of a tribal Arab Peninsula, for the aim of creating a stong unified nation was later on used as a method for occupation. He then moves on to clarify how this has served to cover up many crimes in the dress of Islam, up to the present terrorist groups and their ideological stance. He also discusses the fact that some Sheikhs are against the idea of national loyalty, giving periority to religious and sectarian groups. (An idea I had earlier discussed in my post Whatever Happened to National Loyalty.) Elqemany concludes by showing how the Brotherhood operates in Egypt using the same methods in spreading a deformed version of Islam, one that is extreme and aims at political hegemony. [click to read article]

The third article is what we can call a "black comedy;" a highly sarcastic piece by George Faik, entitled O Secularits! Learn from Us How to Build a Civilization. He adopts the persona of a religious fanatic who only sees the ugly face of the West and fails to see the ugliness of his own society. He makes fun of how we keep cursing the corrupted ethical basis of foreign societies while we don't seek to learn from what their modern civilization has to offer. Very hilarious article that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time. [click to read article]

So what is the message?.. I leave that to my intelligent readers.

Blowing Up Valentine

What a greeting to receive on this beautiful day! As you can see, these are the latest fashion for Valentine greeting cards. I won't discuss here the genius person who did the impressive artistic work and wrote these tender messages. I only wonder about those who forward such a sick email! Why do they want to spoil people's happiness on a day dedicated to celebrating the reason behind life itself: LOVE. In its rare existence, love isn't even allowed a room for celebration. It is getting stabbed by haters of life, who want to destroy any beautiful meanings in our world.

The utter ignorance and fanaticism expressed in those messages show the extent of the tragedy we are living nowadays. Extremists search for new ways to ruin the minds of youngesters who don't bother to question such messages signed by "Islam CG". (CG stands for Computer Graphics. Tab3an el2ebhar bta3 elgraphics wade7.) Reading the word "Islam" gives the message a religious nature, which will make its receiver unable to criticise its content. But I care enough to expose such people before they poison our lives.

First, here is a wonderful simplified introduction I found about Saint Valentine on http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/

St. Valentine's Story
Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.
Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!
Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favourite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.
One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.
I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.
One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."
I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!

Yes, love can't be beaten. It is clear now that the Valentine we celebrate today is no longer a religious event. The origins of the story only gave us the name and date for the celebration, while we use it as an opportunity to express feelings.

I would like to draw the attention to the conflicting messages in those above displayed "cards". In the first two, the event is said to be Christian and named after a Christian Priest. But in the third one it is said to be pagan, while having a picture of a candle with a cross on it. (Mesh 2oltelko graphics mobhera!) Ya3ni this Islam CG doesn't know the difference between Christianity and Paganism. Not only that, but they also don't know the difference between Christians and Israelis (See the 1st pic to the left)! Or maybe they know the differences very well, but they want those stupid people who forward this around to get mixed up and confused (even more than they already are mixed up and confused).

I certainly hope that we can see the dirty hands behind such things, which aim to break up the unity of our country and destroy the natural love we have among us.

To all of you, I say: HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. May we always remember the love that unites us as Egyptians.