Wednesday, January 04, 2012
A year in Egypt....
Saturday,December 31, 2011
Peace be upon you
This is the last day in this year. No doubt, it has been a very special year. I spent most of the year in Egypt. I have finished two semesters in the American University in Cairo. Now I am spending the winter break in Jordan with my family…
I love Cairo and I love the people there too. There are similarities between them and the Iraqis. They are so generous and they love and respect guests. They are not arrogant or snobby. They are more religious than Iraqis and there are many contradictions in the Egyptian society that I haven’t seen in Iraq or any other Arabic countries that I lived in before.
There is poverty in Egypt and there is oppression that is historically accumulated. This is really sad. People were optimistic about the revolution and found it as a gate to change toward better life, freedom, social justice, and democracy. But the transformation process is not easy. It is a hard and difficult task and needs time, patience, and great efforts to be achieved. Many people are rushing change as if it happens just by saying so. This is the reason for many conflicts in the Egyptian street and the reason for the downbeat that harmed economy in particular and Egyptian society in general…
At first, the fever of salary and subsidizing increase has flamed in the country almost by all society ranges: doctors, teachers, public drivers, and public employees. This has caused a burden on the state budget amidst a critical phase. The temporary government has no clear vision or any economic or political statement to convince people to postpone these requests until a later notice. Consequently, the budget deficit has increased.
A series of violent incidents has started. It seemed spontaneous, but by time, it became obvious that someone intends to drown the country in chaos and unjustified violence. Battles were picked with the military counsel that temporarily governs the country. This has continued until election where Islamic parties won with high rates; whereas, parties that are not religious oriented have won with modest rates. The religious parties won with high rates in the two phases (60% to 70% of the votes.) Secular and Liberal parties won with very modest rates which has enraged the secular and liberal parties. It enraged the media channels that support them as well who in return have carried a campaign against Islamic parties and against the military counsel because it supervised the election. The Media has defamed the military image and accused it of conspiring with the Islamic Parties, forging election and setting back the country to Mubarak days.
Of course these were false accusations. The identity of the Egyptian street is clearly Islamic and it is very obvious that Egyptians don’t want any foreign intervention in the Egyptian affairs.
Of course America, Israel and the old regime of President Mubarak wish for this revolution to fail and wish that Egypt returns to square one ruled by a dictator and a friend to the western world just like Mubarak regime was. People accuse the west of intervening to sabotage the revolution and finance groups that stimulate and spread violence and hatred in the country to create chaos or semi civil war that keeps Egypt in a politically unstable state for the long run. In the meantime, Libya falls with the aid of foreign intervention. And now there is an opportunity of foreign intervention in Syria. Yemen is in chaos while Iraq lives in darkness, occupation and violence. And Palestine is in an endless maze… Egypt is too busy to aid any of the unfortunate sister countries around it…
At first, all attempts were focused on creating dispute between Muslims and non Muslims in Egypt. But the Egyptian nation proved that it is very smart and alert. Many disputes and catastrophes were absorbed so that they don’t lead to additional blood or disruption of the Nations’ unity.
After the elections, the conflicts aimed to split the nation between supporter to Islamic parties vs. supporters to secular and liberal parties. The media has played a distinctive role in sabotaging and increasing the violence tune in the political statements. It fueled the street with arguments, conflicts and nonsense.
My heart will always be with Egypt. I pray that this ordeal passes and ends for the best interest of Egypt and Egyptians. I pray that the revolution dreams of freedom, social justice and democracy are achieved. I pray that Egypt becomes a successful model from which all global and regional countries learn positive lessons of change, construction and prosperity. Challenges still exist, but the Egyptian nation has been very patient and has offered many invaluable sacrifices throughout the past decades. May Allah bless their patience and sacrifices and reward them with best rewards in this life and in the day after.
In regard to my studies at the American University in Cairo, two semesters have passed by and in God’s willing, the third semester will start next February. The last semester will start in the Fall of 2012 in God’s willing. I learned excellent things during my studies about politics of public sector and the management of public sector. I also learned about governance, and the nature of application of governance. I learned about the financial policies, management of development projects, and solving problems that we face during work. I learned preparing research papers for each course.
As a student, I saw strange things. The college system is not comfortable and the college teachers are not always fair or really professional. I found that some of them are serious, dedicated and fair especially the Egyptian teachers. I also found teachers who have little experience, snobby, unfair and not objective in dealing with students. They even are annoyed with students who understand and discuss the material. Such teachers want students to act like slaves who don’t discuss or argue, and just flatter them. Unfortunately, I found these characteristics in foreign teachers especially the Americans. I am disappointed with the quality of foreign teachers. I found the local teachers pay great efforts to provide high quality, professional academic job.
I found that some teachers prepared for the lecture in advance and discuss it in details with students. While others were lazy and didn’t even read the material. If a discussion is stimulated, the teachers and students will be in opposite directions.
The same can be said about preparing papers. Some students follow up with students and provide timely instructions before the end of the semester so that papers can be prepared, reviewed and corrected leaving enough time to be revised before the final submission due date. And there are other teachers who don’t provide any useful information until a couple of days of due date. Some teachers provide feedback after correcting the paper pointing out the mistakes and short comings that are not mentioned during the review of the draft paper. This of course depresses students and affects their grades as if the teacher intends to take revenge and not so patient in teaching students to master this knowledge. I don’t see the same old fashion moral in education as it was in the seventies when I studied Engineering in Baghdad University. I remember how dedicated our teachers were and how much teaching was exhausted for them. We were silly, young and not serious about education. But the dedication of academic staff and the high academic level in the Iraqi universities prompted us to learn a lot and benefit from the education process in a positive way…
To be a student who is focused on learning is a true Jihad (struggle). It isolates the human being from the social life and limits him to education and performing research in ultimate accuracy and dedication. This is an enjoyable experience and at the same time exhausting. But it leads to fruitful results for each dedicated student. Some students in the masters program have a day job and they come in the evening very tired. They wouldn’t have the time for studying, carrying out deep discussions. They prepare their papers in the last moment. I think that the results for these students will be very poor in general and will have limited and little gain from their studies. Some people only care about receiving the master’s certificate to hang it on the wall of the office or in one of the rooms. It is truly sad to spend all of this effort, time and money for just a piece of paper and miss on the golden opportunity to learn and develope…
This is the course of life. Some of us spend it in trivial and silly matters not knowing how time passed and what was learned. And some take slow steps toward learning and reviewing themselves and their surroundings to evaluate the pros and cons while constantly thinking about this life wondering where they came from and where they are heading. Other people live like an animal in a clover pasture. Life passes them by doing nothing but eating and sleeping…you leave them for months and years and when you come back you find them the same. I don’t know whether to feel sad for them or envy them on their happy ignorance.
Peace be upon you
This is the last day in this year. No doubt, it has been a very special year. I spent most of the year in Egypt. I have finished two semesters in the American University in Cairo. Now I am spending the winter break in Jordan with my family…
I love Cairo and I love the people there too. There are similarities between them and the Iraqis. They are so generous and they love and respect guests. They are not arrogant or snobby. They are more religious than Iraqis and there are many contradictions in the Egyptian society that I haven’t seen in Iraq or any other Arabic countries that I lived in before.
There is poverty in Egypt and there is oppression that is historically accumulated. This is really sad. People were optimistic about the revolution and found it as a gate to change toward better life, freedom, social justice, and democracy. But the transformation process is not easy. It is a hard and difficult task and needs time, patience, and great efforts to be achieved. Many people are rushing change as if it happens just by saying so. This is the reason for many conflicts in the Egyptian street and the reason for the downbeat that harmed economy in particular and Egyptian society in general…
At first, the fever of salary and subsidizing increase has flamed in the country almost by all society ranges: doctors, teachers, public drivers, and public employees. This has caused a burden on the state budget amidst a critical phase. The temporary government has no clear vision or any economic or political statement to convince people to postpone these requests until a later notice. Consequently, the budget deficit has increased.
A series of violent incidents has started. It seemed spontaneous, but by time, it became obvious that someone intends to drown the country in chaos and unjustified violence. Battles were picked with the military counsel that temporarily governs the country. This has continued until election where Islamic parties won with high rates; whereas, parties that are not religious oriented have won with modest rates. The religious parties won with high rates in the two phases (60% to 70% of the votes.) Secular and Liberal parties won with very modest rates which has enraged the secular and liberal parties. It enraged the media channels that support them as well who in return have carried a campaign against Islamic parties and against the military counsel because it supervised the election. The Media has defamed the military image and accused it of conspiring with the Islamic Parties, forging election and setting back the country to Mubarak days.
Of course these were false accusations. The identity of the Egyptian street is clearly Islamic and it is very obvious that Egyptians don’t want any foreign intervention in the Egyptian affairs.
Of course America, Israel and the old regime of President Mubarak wish for this revolution to fail and wish that Egypt returns to square one ruled by a dictator and a friend to the western world just like Mubarak regime was. People accuse the west of intervening to sabotage the revolution and finance groups that stimulate and spread violence and hatred in the country to create chaos or semi civil war that keeps Egypt in a politically unstable state for the long run. In the meantime, Libya falls with the aid of foreign intervention. And now there is an opportunity of foreign intervention in Syria. Yemen is in chaos while Iraq lives in darkness, occupation and violence. And Palestine is in an endless maze… Egypt is too busy to aid any of the unfortunate sister countries around it…
At first, all attempts were focused on creating dispute between Muslims and non Muslims in Egypt. But the Egyptian nation proved that it is very smart and alert. Many disputes and catastrophes were absorbed so that they don’t lead to additional blood or disruption of the Nations’ unity.
After the elections, the conflicts aimed to split the nation between supporter to Islamic parties vs. supporters to secular and liberal parties. The media has played a distinctive role in sabotaging and increasing the violence tune in the political statements. It fueled the street with arguments, conflicts and nonsense.
My heart will always be with Egypt. I pray that this ordeal passes and ends for the best interest of Egypt and Egyptians. I pray that the revolution dreams of freedom, social justice and democracy are achieved. I pray that Egypt becomes a successful model from which all global and regional countries learn positive lessons of change, construction and prosperity. Challenges still exist, but the Egyptian nation has been very patient and has offered many invaluable sacrifices throughout the past decades. May Allah bless their patience and sacrifices and reward them with best rewards in this life and in the day after.
In regard to my studies at the American University in Cairo, two semesters have passed by and in God’s willing, the third semester will start next February. The last semester will start in the Fall of 2012 in God’s willing. I learned excellent things during my studies about politics of public sector and the management of public sector. I also learned about governance, and the nature of application of governance. I learned about the financial policies, management of development projects, and solving problems that we face during work. I learned preparing research papers for each course.
As a student, I saw strange things. The college system is not comfortable and the college teachers are not always fair or really professional. I found that some of them are serious, dedicated and fair especially the Egyptian teachers. I also found teachers who have little experience, snobby, unfair and not objective in dealing with students. They even are annoyed with students who understand and discuss the material. Such teachers want students to act like slaves who don’t discuss or argue, and just flatter them. Unfortunately, I found these characteristics in foreign teachers especially the Americans. I am disappointed with the quality of foreign teachers. I found the local teachers pay great efforts to provide high quality, professional academic job.
I found that some teachers prepared for the lecture in advance and discuss it in details with students. While others were lazy and didn’t even read the material. If a discussion is stimulated, the teachers and students will be in opposite directions.
The same can be said about preparing papers. Some students follow up with students and provide timely instructions before the end of the semester so that papers can be prepared, reviewed and corrected leaving enough time to be revised before the final submission due date. And there are other teachers who don’t provide any useful information until a couple of days of due date. Some teachers provide feedback after correcting the paper pointing out the mistakes and short comings that are not mentioned during the review of the draft paper. This of course depresses students and affects their grades as if the teacher intends to take revenge and not so patient in teaching students to master this knowledge. I don’t see the same old fashion moral in education as it was in the seventies when I studied Engineering in Baghdad University. I remember how dedicated our teachers were and how much teaching was exhausted for them. We were silly, young and not serious about education. But the dedication of academic staff and the high academic level in the Iraqi universities prompted us to learn a lot and benefit from the education process in a positive way…
To be a student who is focused on learning is a true Jihad (struggle). It isolates the human being from the social life and limits him to education and performing research in ultimate accuracy and dedication. This is an enjoyable experience and at the same time exhausting. But it leads to fruitful results for each dedicated student. Some students in the masters program have a day job and they come in the evening very tired. They wouldn’t have the time for studying, carrying out deep discussions. They prepare their papers in the last moment. I think that the results for these students will be very poor in general and will have limited and little gain from their studies. Some people only care about receiving the master’s certificate to hang it on the wall of the office or in one of the rooms. It is truly sad to spend all of this effort, time and money for just a piece of paper and miss on the golden opportunity to learn and develope…
This is the course of life. Some of us spend it in trivial and silly matters not knowing how time passed and what was learned. And some take slow steps toward learning and reviewing themselves and their surroundings to evaluate the pros and cons while constantly thinking about this life wondering where they came from and where they are heading. Other people live like an animal in a clover pasture. Life passes them by doing nothing but eating and sleeping…you leave them for months and years and when you come back you find them the same. I don’t know whether to feel sad for them or envy them on their happy ignorance.
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 5:08 pm 
Sunday, January 01, 2012
سنه في مصر ...
السبت 31 ديسمبر 2011
السلام عليكم ,
هذا هو اليوم الاخير في هذه السنه, وكانت سنة مميزه بدون شك , حيث قضيت معظمها في مصر , وانهيت فصلين دراسيين في الجامعه الامريكيه في القاهره , والان عندي استراحة عطلة الشتاء اقضيها في الاردن مع العائله ...
احببت القاهره كثيرا والناس ايضا احببتهم , رأيت فيهم أشياء كثيرة تشبه العراقيين , نفسهم طيبه وكريمه ويحبون الضيف ويحترمونه وماعندهم تكبر وعجرفه , وعندهم تدين أكثر من العراقيين , وعندهم تناقضات كبيرة في المجتمع لم أراها في العراق او غيره من البلدان العربيه التي عشت بها سابقا ,
يوجد في مصر فقر وظلم متراكم تاريخيا وهذا شيء محزن , والناس تفاءلت بالثورة ورأتها بوابة للتغيير نحو الافضل , للحريه والعداله الاجتماعيه والديمقراطيه , لكن عملية التحول ليست سهله , هي مهمة شاقة وعسيرة وتحتاج الى وقت طويل وصبر وجهود كبيره حتى تتحقق , وكثير من الناس يستعجلون ,ويريدون التغيير ان يحدث كأنه كن فيكون , وهذا سبب الكثير من الصراعات في الشارع المصري وسبب حدوث سلبيات كثيرة سببت الاذى للاقتصاد خاصة والمجتمع المصري عامة ...
في البدايه هبت على البلاد حمى طلبات زيادة الرواتب والمخصصات , من كل فئات المجتمع تقريبا , اطباء ومدرسين وسواقين قطاع عام وموظفي الدولة عامة وهذا سبب عبء على ميزانية البلاد وهي تمر بمرحلة حرجه, ولم يكن عند الحكومه المؤقته أي رؤيا واضحه او خطاب سياسي اقتصادي اجتماعي لاقناع الناس بتأجيل هذه الطلبات حتى إشعار آخر , وتراكم العجز على الميزانيه ,
ثم بدأت سلسلة احداث عنف بدت وكأنها عفويه , لكن بمرور الوقت بات واضحا ان ثمة من يريد اغراق البلاد في فوضى وعنف لا مبرر له , واختلاق معركة مع المجلس العسكري الحاكم المؤقت للبلاد , حتى جاء موعد انتخابات مجلس الشعب , وفازت الاحزاب الاسلاميه بنسب عاليه بينما نالت الاحزاب الغير دينيه نسبا متواضعه , يعني الاحزاب الدينيه فازت بنسب عاليه في المرحلتين الاولى والثانيه ( بين 60 الى 70 بالمئه من الاصوات ) بينما الاحزاب العلمانيه والليبراليه فازت بنسب متواضعه جدا وهذا سبب حالة هياج وغضب من الاحزاب العلمانيه والليبراليه ووسائل الاعلام التي تساندها , وشنت حملة تشهير وتبغيض وتشويه ضد الاحزاب الاسلاميه وضد المجلس العسكري لانه المشرف على الانتخابات وشوهت صورته واتهمته بالتواطؤ مع الاحزاب الاسلاميه وتزوير الانتخابات والعوده بالبلاد الى ايام نظام مبارك ,
طبعا هذه تهم باطله , فالشارع المصري واضحة جدا هويته الاسلاميه , وواضح غضبه وعدم رغبته بأي تدخل اجنبي في شؤون مصر
وطبعا اميركا واسرائيل والنظام القديم للرئيس السابق مبارك هم أول من يريد لهذه الثورة ان تفشل وترجع مصر للمربع الاول تحت حكم دكتاتوري وصديق للغرب , كما كان حكم مبارك , والناس هناك كلها تتهم الغرب بتدخله لتخريب الثورة , وتمويل جماعات تحرض وتنشر العنف والكراهيه في البلاد لاثارة الفوضى او ما يشابه الحرب الاهليه لابقاء مصر في حالة لا استقرار سياسي بعيد المدى , في الوقت الذي سقطت في ليبيا بتدخل اجنبي , والان الدائرة تدور على سوريا لخلق الفرصه لتدخل اجنبي , واليمن في فوضى والعراق في ظلام واحتلال وعنف وفلسطين في متاهة لا نهاية لها ... ومصر مشغوله لا تقدر أن تمد يد المساعده لأي واحده من اخواتها المنكوبات حولها ...
في البدايه كانت المحاولات تتركز على اثارة الفتنه بين مسلمين وغير مسلمين في مصر, لكن الشعب المصري اثبت انه ذكي وحذر ولملم الكثير من الفتن والمصائب حتى لا تتوسع وتسبب المزيد من النزيف وتمزيق الشعب الواحد , بعد الانتخابات توجهت الصراعات والفتن لتفتيت الشعب بين مؤيد للاسلاميين ومؤيد للعلمانيين والليبراليين , ووسائل الاعلام المحليه لعبت دورا مميزا في التخريب ورفع وتيرة العنف في الخطاب السياسي وتأجيج الشارع حتى يشتعل بالجدل والنزاع والكلام الفارغ ,
قلبي مع مصر دائما, وادعو الله ان تمر هذه المحنه وتنتهي لخير مصر وشعبها, وان تتحقق احلام الثورة في الحريه والعداله الاجتماعيه والديمقراطيه , وان تكون نموذجا ناجحا تتعلم منه شعوب العالم والمنطقه , دروسا ايجابيه في التغيير والبناء والازدهار , التحديات مازالت موجوده لكن الشعب المصري قد صبر كثيرا وقدم التضحيات الثمينه طوال عقود من الزمان , عسى الله ان يبارك بصبرهم وتضحيتهم ويجزيهم خير الجزاء في الدنيا والآخره ,
أما عن دراستي في الجامعه الامريكيه في القاهره , فقد مضى منها فصلان دراسيان وفي شهر شباط القادم ان شالله يبدأ الفصل الدراسي الثالث بالنسبة لي , ثم يبقى لي الفصل الاخير في خريف 2012 ان شالله ,
تعلمت اشياء ممتازه من خلال دراستي عن سياسات القطاع الحكومي او ادارة القطاع الحكومي ,عن الحوكمه وماهي طبيعتها وتطبيقاتها , عن السياسات الماليه , عن ادارة المشاريع التنمويه وحل المشاكل التي تواجهنا خلال العمل , ثم كتابة الابحاث لكل كورس دراسي ,
ورأيت اشياء غريبه ايضا خلال كوني طالبه , فالنظام الدراسي ليس دائما مريحا ولا الاستاذه الجامعيين دائما منصفين او مهنيين فعلا , فوجدت منهم الجاد والمخلص والمنصف, وخصوصا من المصريين , ووجدت قليل الخبرة المتكبر اللامنصف واللا موضوعي في تعامله مع الطلاب , حتى انهم يضجرون من الطالب الذي يفهم ويناقش, ويريدون ان يكون الطلاب مثل العبيد لا يناقشون ولا يجادلون وانما فقط يتملقون لهم , وللاسف هذا وجدته في اساتذه اجانب وخصوصا من الامريكان , يعني يوجد في الجامعه شيء من الخيبه حول نوعية الاساتذه الوافدين من الخارج , بينما الذين من داخل البلاد معظمهم يبذلون جهودا عاليه حتى يكونوا بمستوى عالي ولائق مهنيا واكاديميا ...
وجدت بعض الاساتذه يحضرون الماده العلميه قبل الحصه الدراسيه ويناقشونها بكل تفاصيل واخلاص مع الطلاب, بينما البعض الاخر كسول ولا يكلف خاطره قراءة الماده واذا حصل نقاش فالطلاب في واد والاستاذ في واد آخر..
كذلك كتابة البحوث , بعض الاستاذه يتابعون ويعطون تعليمات بتوقيت مناسب قبل نهاية الفصل , حتى تتم كتابة البحث أو تصحيحه قبل تسليمه بفترة كافيه , والبعض الاخر لا يعطي اي معلومه مفيده الا قبل يومين من تسليم الورقه , او بعد تصحيحها ينطق حضرة جنابه ويقول اين الاخطاء والتقصيرات وهذا ما لم يذكره ابدا عند تعليقه على مسودة الورقه , وطبعا هذا يكسر نفسية الطالب, ويكسر جهوده وينقص علاماته , وكأن العملية انتقام من الاستاذ وليس الصبر والتعليم حتى يتقن الطالب الموضوع , يعني ماعدت أرى الاخلاق السائده في التعليم هي نفسها التي كانت سائده ايام زمان في السبعينات , حين درست الهندسه في جامعة بغداد , وتذكرت كم كان اساتذتنا مخلصون معنا وكم كانت عملية التعليم مرهقه لهم , وكم كنا حمقى وصغار ولا نأخذ التعليم بجديه , لكن اخلاص طاقم التدريس وارتفاع المستوى الاكاديمي في الجامعات العراقيه , اجبرنا ان نتعلم الكثير ونستفيد من عملية التعليم بطريقة ايجابيه ..
مسألة ان تكون طالبا ومنشغلا بطلب العلم , هي مسألة جهاد فعلا, فهي تعزل الانسان عن الحياة الاجتماعيه وتحصره في مجال الدرس والبحث بدقة واخلاص , وهذه عمليه ممتعه جدا ومرهقه ايضا , لكن نتائجها هي حصاد مثمر لكل طالب جاد في دراسته , بينما بعض الطلاب الذين يدرسون الماستر يعملون في النهار , ويأتون للدرس مساء وهم متعبون , ولا وقت للدراسه والنقاش العميق , ولا وقت لكتابة ورقة البحث الا في اللحظات الاخيره , اعتقد ان الحصاد سيكون فقيرا على المستوى العام لهذا الشخص , مقدار الاستفاده الحقيقيه من العلم والدراسه ستكون نتيجته محدوده , وبعض الناس لا يهمهم سوى الحصول على شهادة الماستر لتعليقها على جدار المكتب او احدى غرف البيت , وهذا شيء محزن فعلا , ان يكون استثمار الجهد والوقت والمال من أجل الحصول على ورقة فقط , واضاعة الفرصه الذهبيه في التعلم والتطور ...
وهكذا هي ايضا الحياة الدنيا , البعض منا يقضيها في التفاهات والسخافات ولا يدري كيف مضت وماالذي تعلمه منها, والبعض يمضي بخطوات بطيئه يتعلم ويراجع نفسه , ويراجع ما حوله , ليرى ان الايجابيات واين السلبيات ؟ ويفكر دائما بدوره في هذه الحياة , من أين جاء والى اين يمضي ؟ والبعض الاخر يعيش مثل الدابة في مرعى البرسيم , الدنيا تمضي حوله مضطربه متناقضه وهو مشغول بالعلف والنوم .... تغيب عنه شهور وسنوات , وترجع لتراه على حاله.... لا ادري أتحزن عليه ام تحسده على الجهل السعيد الذي هو غارق فيه ؟
# posted by Faiza Al-Araji @ 7:19 pm
