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Post by mich64 on Feb 16, 2011 22:17:30 GMT
In September of 2009, my husband and I were in Paris, sitting outside for dinner and at the table next to ours were 2 gentlemen from Iran. I think because of my speech, the one man was trying to determine where we were from and started a conversation with us. He was in Paris on a Visa lecturing at the University, he was a journalist.
We had a conversation for about 2 hours and at one point we talked about the state of affairs in his country. He said he did not want to go back because there was no future due to the regime controlling the people. It was then I told him that we had been watching the demonstrations that had been going on there on the news in Canada. He was surprised it was being seen there. I then told him, never underestimate the power of the young people, they are very motivated and resourceful and to keep hope for his family still there. We then wished him well upon parting and told him to never give up hope, the young will bring change. I wonder what happened to him, where he is now? Mich
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Post by onlymark on Feb 17, 2011 7:32:44 GMT
gertie - technically the military has been in control all along, and still is
Exactly, that's what I've been saying in a way. And as I've said, they will hang on to this through thick and thin in whatever way possible.
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Post by gertie on Feb 17, 2011 14:17:57 GMT
As to the power of the people, fine ideals. The reality, hm, remains to be seen. I fully support the people of Egypt, and think they should be allowed to make their country over into what they wish. I just hope they can see they must keep up the push now and every moment until they have as much of what they want as is humanly possible. I did see they are still protesting, so that is good. I suppose I am a bit jaded, but we are dealing with people here.
The military is used to a certain standard of living and will want to keep as much of that as possible. I feel confident the military had tired of Mubarak and wanted rid of him for their own reasons, or things would never have been allowed to get to this point. That said...how good have things been recently for the military in Egypt? Especially the lowly soldiers. Some of the reports I've read lend a clear impression a lot of money was funneling into Mubarak's personal control that was meant to aid the people, but how much was filtering down? Perhaps he had simply become too greedy.
I've found it interesting for all his fine words on freedom, Obama was pretty slow to support the poor, deprived people of Egypt throwing off the reins of their oppressor. Of course, as K2 mentioned, France was no more hurried to lend a hand to the oppressed in Tunisia. I don't like the idea of control by religious fundamentalism in these countries any more than the next guy, but I guess I hope people have more sense.
As to your Iranian acquaintance, Mich, I hope he has managed to stay out of Iran. I, too, had a friend from Iran. In the late 70s, we had a family from Iran who moved to our small town, and the daughters attended school with us. They were very sweet girls. Shortly after the first demonstrations against the Shah, her father was called back to Iran. We received letters from her for a short while, then nothing. Due to her father's relative closeness with the Shah's government - he was the Shah's representative here to a large defense contractor which had a large facility just outside our community - it is probable they were jailed under Khomeini, and it is questionable if they have managed to survive until today.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 17, 2011 15:08:52 GMT
I hear Gertie that the protests have all but died down. I think there is still trouble with the banks but most other things are trying to get back to near normal (whatever 'normal' is). This Friday after midday prayers will be interesting to see how many people turn up again.
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Post by gertie on Feb 17, 2011 15:36:01 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 17, 2011 20:06:33 GMT
'Warships' may give the impression they are something on a par with a western navy vessel. As disturbing as it might be, and symbolic, their navy isn't exactly up to much. The biggest thing they have are three frigates made in the late 60's. They had four but one was sunk by the US.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 17, 2011 20:19:15 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 17, 2011 21:09:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2011 21:25:17 GMT
I presume, however, that there are major international treaties to allow any official nation not at war to use the canal. Whether they dare to do so or not is another matter.
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Post by gertie on Feb 17, 2011 23:43:17 GMT
Several of the reports on the Iranian ship implied the true threat was not the ship, rather that it might be carrying weapons that might be used by fundamentalists in Egypt or Israel because Egypt has been in the business of preventing such shipments via the Suez under Mubarak in return for some of that moolah Mr Mubarak has just made off with.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 18, 2011 7:40:37 GMT
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Post by bjd on Feb 18, 2011 8:11:38 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 18, 2011 15:36:06 GMT
Bjd, thanks so much for that article. It should be required reading for anyone interested in following the Egyptian saga.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 18, 2011 22:32:33 GMT
Just saw this, published one hour ago by the Voice of America -- Egypt Military to Halt Strikes, ProtestsFriday, February 18th, 2011 at 9:20 pm UTC Posted 1 hour ago
Egypt's ruling military said Friday that it will not allow strikes and protests to continue. Strikes have spread across Egypt, hitting state offices and factories since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak a week ago. The Armed Forces Supreme Council has repeatedly urged strikes to end, warning of further economic damage on top of that caused by 18 days of protests leading up to the former president's departure. The statement came as tens of thousands of supporters of Egypt's democracy movement packed Cairo's Tahrir Square for a day of celebration marking one week since Mr. Mubarak stepped down. Supporters have been chanting and waving Egyptian flags during festivities which have included music from a military marching band. Meanwhile, a leading Muslim cleric, Yusuf al-Qaradawi called on the Egyptian army to listen to the will of the people and bring fresh faces into Mr. Mubarak's former cabinet, which still includes many of the former president's allies. The cleric also called on the Egyptian people to be patient with their new leadership. The Egyptian army, which has popular support, has assumed control of the government until elections can be held. Egypt's political future is still uncertain. The interim government has said a presidential election will be held within the next six months. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he welcomes the military's commitment to holding free and transparent elections, adding there is “no turning back” on promised political reforms in the country. Also Friday, the U.S. State Department called on Egyptian authorities to investigate the alleged sexual assault on American journalist Lara Logan. Logan, a foreign correspondent for U.S. TV network CBS, was in Tahrir Square on Feb. 11 when CBS claims she “suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating.” More of similar news: latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/02/egypt-protests-1.html
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Post by onlymark on Feb 19, 2011 8:48:22 GMT
So, off to the airport soon. I'm not sure if my internet will still be working so I'll see you when I can. Have fun.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 19, 2011 14:51:49 GMT
I hope you get to see this message in a timely manner because you're ensconced in your house at your own computer after an uneventful trip.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2011 15:05:20 GMT
It is sure to be a strange feeling to arrive back, with everything familiar yet different (missing police stations, some boarded up and damaged business, and quite likely more graffitti than you have ever seen in Cairo).
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Post by onlymark on Feb 19, 2011 21:01:07 GMT
It's good to be back and sleep in my own bed tonight. All went easily enough, normal routine through the airport and drive home. Apart from some military vehicles at certain major junctions there was little sign of anything out of the norm. The groups and checkpoints of men in my estate are now gone, the shopping mall and the supermarket are open, my car, house and cat are fine and the kids are at school in the morning. Life goes on.
I've not really seen anything different as yet to before the 'troubles'. I wont need to be going in to the city any more to take my wife to work, so it'll not be often I bother now. I'll see over the next few days how things are.
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Post by mich64 on Feb 19, 2011 21:50:51 GMT
Mark, very pleased to read that you, your children, your belongings are all home and all right. An experience I am sure you and your family will never ever forget.
Hoping everything remains peaceful and normal in your neighbourhood.
Cheers, Mich
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2011 0:56:25 GMT
Excellent news, Mark.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 20, 2011 5:07:22 GMT
I've found out my local Carrefour is still closed which is a bit of a blow. Never mind, there are alternatives.
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Post by bjd on Feb 20, 2011 7:29:28 GMT
Glad to hear all is calm and "normal" Mark.
Since you live in a fancy neighbourhood, would most of your neighbours be pro-Mubarak? Have you talked to any of them since you have been back?
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Post by onlymark on Feb 20, 2011 9:37:19 GMT
Not since I've been back, no. One side of me is a French guy who is married to a Jordanian woman and has kids, but the wife and kids have left him (back to Jordan) and he is extremely anti-social. I never say a word to him from one week to the next. The other side is an Egyptian family who are fine. At the beginning we talked to him about the situation and he was all for Mubarak going as soon as possible as he is a realist and understood his time was up.
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Post by bjd on Feb 20, 2011 15:36:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2011 15:59:54 GMT
The Carrefour Egypt website has some information about its stores: www.carrefour.com.eg/And also some unbearably horrible music.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 20, 2011 18:02:32 GMT
That'd where I got the info from. The hypermarket at Maadi, not the Express, is the normal one I go to. Fortunately just a bit further in the other direction is the one at Obour Golf Mall where I went this morning.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 20, 2011 18:02:54 GMT
And I don't normally have my speakers on.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 20, 2011 19:35:25 GMT
Great to hear all is well in the onlyMark household.
Do you supposed the revolution will be brought up in your children's classrooms?
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Post by onlymark on Feb 20, 2011 20:09:24 GMT
Possibly, but if it is at all it'd just be a discussion topic introduced on a different theme. What I mean is that it wouldn't be raised from the political angle, more as a subsidiary to something else in history or geography.
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Post by lola on Feb 21, 2011 16:17:14 GMT
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