Friday, October 31, 2003
If you are wondering who is behind the attacks on US troops in Iraq, US officials know for sure the identity of those responsible:
Here, US officials blame Bin Laden
But here, "senior" US officials blame Saddam
(BUT POWELL doubts that very much)
..and here yet, Defense officials blame Saddam's deputy, Izzat Ad-Duri
(but "sources" think that he is too ill to do that)
But here, Donald Rumsfeld thinks the culprit may be Ramadan (yes, the month)
...so please don't go around saying that the US government does not have a clue.
Here, US officials blame Bin Laden
But here, "senior" US officials blame Saddam
(BUT POWELL doubts that very much)
..and here yet, Defense officials blame Saddam's deputy, Izzat Ad-Duri
(but "sources" think that he is too ill to do that)
But here, Donald Rumsfeld thinks the culprit may be Ramadan (yes, the month)
...so please don't go around saying that the US government does not have a clue.
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Let me give you the background: San`allah Ibrahim is one of the most accomplished contemporary Arab novelists. Some of his books are available in English translation, see He has also suffered for his leftist views, and spent years in jail under different Egyptian presidents. A few weeks ago, he was awarded the top Egyptian government prize (which carries a monetary value of some $80,000.00 or so) for literature: he decided to attend the ceremony, but surprised everybody when he delivered the speech in which he rejected the prize, as you shall see in this translation of his words. (thanks Bassam for forwarding the text):
FYI -- The English translation of Sonallah's speech when he refused the state prize in literature --
EC
Sonallah?s Speech in the Cairo Forum for Arab Literary Creativity
I shall not be able to compete with Dr. Gaber Asfour?s ability to improvise. It is therefore that I have hurriedly written a short speech to express my feelings.
Believe me when I say that I never expected this honor and that I never sought to get it. There are many who are more entitled to it than I am. Some of them are no longer with us...Creative pioneers who represent this nation whose present and future have gone astray with the wind have chosen me (for this award). I would like to especially acknowledge my teacher Mahmoud Amin El Alem. I was imprisoned with him and he and his comrades taught me the true values of justice, progress and loving one?s country.
Their choice proves that serious and persistent work is eventually met with the appropriate appreciation, with no need for public relations, compromises or flattery of the official institution, from which I was always keen to keep a distance.
And yet this choice has another important value. For it is an evaluation of an approach in creativity that is down to earth addressing real and existing concerns of the individual, the homeland and the nation.
This is the fate of the Arab writer. He (she) cannot ignore what is happening around him (her), or pretend not to see the humiliation of the nation from the ocean to the gulf, the oppression and corruption, the Israeli flagrancy and the American Occupation, and the shameful collusion of Arab regimes and governments in all that is happening.
At this very moment as we are gathering here, Israeli forces are raiding what is left of Palestinian land, killing pregnant women and children and rendering thousands homeless, thereby implementing, with an obviously accurate methodology, a plan of genocide against the Palestinian people and forcing it out of its country. Arab capitals, however, open their arms to receive Israeli leaders. A few steps away from here lives the Israeli ambassador in full security, and another few steps away the American Ambassador is occupying a whole district while his soldiers are in each and every corner of a homeland that was once Arab.
I have no doubt that every Egyptian here realizes the extent of the disaster that has befallen our nation. The matter is not only restricted to actual Israeli military threat to our eastern borders, nor to the American dictates and the apparent helplessness in our government?s external policy, but extends to all aspects of our lives. We no longer have any theater or cinema or scientific research or education. We only have festivals, conferences and a parcel full of lies. We no longer have any industry, or agriculture or health or justice. Corruption and plundering are widespread, and any protester is faced with humiliation, beating and torture. The exploiting minority has deprived us of our souls. The reality is frightening. And within that reality a writer cannot pretend not to see or keep silent or give up on his (her) responsibility.
I shall not ask you to issue a statement of protest or condemnation. This is no longer useful. I shall not ask you to do anything, for you know better than me what should be done.
All I can do is to once again thank my honorable teachers who have honored me by choosing me for this award. I declare my apologies for not accepting it, since its is given by a government, who ? to my mind ? does not have the credibility to award it. Thank you.
Sonallah Ibrahim
25th October 2003
FYI -- The English translation of Sonallah's speech when he refused the state prize in literature --
EC
Sonallah?s Speech in the Cairo Forum for Arab Literary Creativity
I shall not be able to compete with Dr. Gaber Asfour?s ability to improvise. It is therefore that I have hurriedly written a short speech to express my feelings.
Believe me when I say that I never expected this honor and that I never sought to get it. There are many who are more entitled to it than I am. Some of them are no longer with us...Creative pioneers who represent this nation whose present and future have gone astray with the wind have chosen me (for this award). I would like to especially acknowledge my teacher Mahmoud Amin El Alem. I was imprisoned with him and he and his comrades taught me the true values of justice, progress and loving one?s country.
Their choice proves that serious and persistent work is eventually met with the appropriate appreciation, with no need for public relations, compromises or flattery of the official institution, from which I was always keen to keep a distance.
And yet this choice has another important value. For it is an evaluation of an approach in creativity that is down to earth addressing real and existing concerns of the individual, the homeland and the nation.
This is the fate of the Arab writer. He (she) cannot ignore what is happening around him (her), or pretend not to see the humiliation of the nation from the ocean to the gulf, the oppression and corruption, the Israeli flagrancy and the American Occupation, and the shameful collusion of Arab regimes and governments in all that is happening.
At this very moment as we are gathering here, Israeli forces are raiding what is left of Palestinian land, killing pregnant women and children and rendering thousands homeless, thereby implementing, with an obviously accurate methodology, a plan of genocide against the Palestinian people and forcing it out of its country. Arab capitals, however, open their arms to receive Israeli leaders. A few steps away from here lives the Israeli ambassador in full security, and another few steps away the American Ambassador is occupying a whole district while his soldiers are in each and every corner of a homeland that was once Arab.
I have no doubt that every Egyptian here realizes the extent of the disaster that has befallen our nation. The matter is not only restricted to actual Israeli military threat to our eastern borders, nor to the American dictates and the apparent helplessness in our government?s external policy, but extends to all aspects of our lives. We no longer have any theater or cinema or scientific research or education. We only have festivals, conferences and a parcel full of lies. We no longer have any industry, or agriculture or health or justice. Corruption and plundering are widespread, and any protester is faced with humiliation, beating and torture. The exploiting minority has deprived us of our souls. The reality is frightening. And within that reality a writer cannot pretend not to see or keep silent or give up on his (her) responsibility.
I shall not ask you to issue a statement of protest or condemnation. This is no longer useful. I shall not ask you to do anything, for you know better than me what should be done.
All I can do is to once again thank my honorable teachers who have honored me by choosing me for this award. I declare my apologies for not accepting it, since its is given by a government, who ? to my mind ? does not have the credibility to award it. Thank you.
Sonallah Ibrahim
25th October 2003
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Bush pledges to chase and find suicide bombers; when told they were already dead, he asked for an immediate investigation:
Bush really actually said that he will find the suicide bombers and bring them to justice. His advisors must have told him later that they are dead. Bush was confused: he never knew that suicide bombers die. He had always assumed that suicide bombers live and continue to engage in more than one suicide attack. : and he asked his staff if suicide bombers can be brought back to life to be prosecuted. This is the "leader of the free world." By the way, who decides that American presidents are automatically "leaders of the free world"? Are they elected to that position? What is "the free world"? A club? An association? I am sure that "Unfree World" is more interesting. Did you know that Nixon until his last days would refer to himself (in the third person singular) as "Nixon, the leader of the free world." In a memoirs by a former NY editor who attended parties in his house, he tells stories of having dinner at his NJ house with Chinese diplomats: so Nixon takes them on a tour of the house: and he says: "This is where the leader of the free world wrote his second book". Or "this is where the leader of the free world baked a potato." Or "this is where Nixon, the leader of the free world threw up."etc. Bush reacted to the bloody mayhem in Iraq yesterday: he said that it IS A SIGN OF AMERICAN Success and progress in Iraq (I am not kidding: see ) . He also added that his enemies hate freedom. He loves saying that, perhaps because he is the elected leader of, you guessed right, "the free world."
Bush really actually said that he will find the suicide bombers and bring them to justice. His advisors must have told him later that they are dead. Bush was confused: he never knew that suicide bombers die. He had always assumed that suicide bombers live and continue to engage in more than one suicide attack. : and he asked his staff if suicide bombers can be brought back to life to be prosecuted. This is the "leader of the free world." By the way, who decides that American presidents are automatically "leaders of the free world"? Are they elected to that position? What is "the free world"? A club? An association? I am sure that "Unfree World" is more interesting. Did you know that Nixon until his last days would refer to himself (in the third person singular) as "Nixon, the leader of the free world." In a memoirs by a former NY editor who attended parties in his house, he tells stories of having dinner at his NJ house with Chinese diplomats: so Nixon takes them on a tour of the house: and he says: "This is where the leader of the free world wrote his second book". Or "this is where the leader of the free world baked a potato." Or "this is where Nixon, the leader of the free world threw up."etc. Bush reacted to the bloody mayhem in Iraq yesterday: he said that it IS A SIGN OF AMERICAN Success and progress in Iraq (I am not kidding: see ) . He also added that his enemies hate freedom. He loves saying that, perhaps because he is the elected leader of, you guessed right, "the free world."
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