This morning I take an early morning flight back to America, arriving just in time for the Fourth of July. Despite having a boyfriend in the military, I have not been particularly patriotic these last few years. Two brutal wars, a young adult’s cynicism and the study of post-modern theology can do that to a soul. Dare I admit that Uncle Sam has proudly found his way back into my identity, in Egypt of all places?
I have traveled Egypt at a brutal pace for three weeks. The last two of those weeks I was with Intrepid Travel, exploring with the help of with our spunky tour leader Huda, a Cairo native and perfect host. In all, I visited most of the country’s major cities, including Sharm al-Sheik, Dahab, Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Alexandria, Siwa, Bahariyya, the Western Desert and many small towns in between. This country has taken a toll on more than just my digestive system: I have been scared, thrilled, enthralled and exhausted. I am glad I came.
As an American, I have a new appreciation for what my nationality means to the world. Unexpectedly, I have found myself in awe of the accomplishments of our citizens, and by the sacred responsibility of America to remain true to her precious, benevolent values. At her worst, our country has the capability to frustrate the aspirations of the world’s people when we act viscerally, ignorantly and greedily. At her best, America’s ideals can infuse civic virtue, tolerance and hope into a laboring, relentlessly brutal world. I have seen both sides here.
Who could have guessed that this blonde, pink-faced American in the Middle East would find herself garnering more attention in one hour on the streets of Cairo than in all her life combined? I truly did not anticipate how much I would stand out in this land of mostly veiled, bronzed brunette women. “Welcome!” men shouted from across the street in every city. Siwa's men, forbidden to look their own women in the eyes in public, had no problem visually monitoring my every sway. Others simply stared at me, this foreign creature, for hours, on our shared train or bus rides. Thank you for making me feel so appreciated. And violated. Sometimes, I longed to be invisible.
Yesterday, a boy ran up to me, “Where are you from?” he demanded more than asked. His eyes lit up when he heard me utter the word “America.” “I love the wrestling!” he shouted, fake-punching himself in the face. “The Undertaker is my favorite!” Not a wrestling aficionado myself, I told him that I liked Hulk Hogan. “Hulk Hogan!” he squealed with delight. The boy turned to leave, but kept his head turned towards me as he walked away. I watched him smile all the way down the block.
Yes even here in Egypt, America has not left me. Even more than Cairo’s McDonald's, the men in New York Yankees caps and the ubiquitous Coca Cola ads are the subtle ways our country has weaved itself into the world’s fabric. On Mount Sinai, I met a young man, a Bedouin guide in his mid-twenties. He wore a faded t-shirt that simply read “Wisconsin.” “Do you know what your shirt says?,” I asked him. His eyes shifted downwards as he admitted that he did not. “It’s a state in the U.S.,” I told him. “Lots of cheese there. Lots of cows.” He nodded appreciatively.
“Want to see a picture of my girlfriend?” he asked, his face suddenly animated and eager to offer his own cultural insight to me. He pressed a few buttons on his camera phone to display her picture and grinned as he handed me the device. His girlfriend peered seductively from under her black niqab; her two dark, heavily lined eyes were all I could see, although no more skin was necessary. If this look could portray a thousand words, each would be explicit. Lucky man.
But this Fourth of July, I’ll take my jeans and an Old Navy flag t-shirt, my hair proudly waving in the humid July breeze. And now I know that as a citizen of America, I must continue to ask myself one nagging, significant question: What have I done with my freedom lately?
Comments (28)
Dear J,
Why dont you,yourself,write 'worthy and meaningful' article ?
For example,about 'Penguin women'(women in black wrap)...
Posted July 6, 2007 11:57 PM
Posted on July 6, 2007 23:57
Your blog is so worthless. I've yet to see anything meaningful written here.
Thanks for giving such a great impression of college students.
Posted July 6, 2007 8:24 PM
Posted on July 6, 2007 20:24
Beware of the Islamic-Zionists (not ex Jewish zion, whom jealous Islamist Copy catted as usual) Mafiaoso's International, are payed by their under ground & Black Markets networks to committ gangland style intimidation, kidnappings & more Dhimmitude actions.
Most acts are encouraged and most acts against humanity is not Voluntary , it is promoted.
Posted July 4, 2007 9:59 AM
Posted on July 4, 2007 09:59
NICHOLE,
Do not be bothered by the daily difficulties of life because you have chosen the path of righteousness and piety(TAQWA) which is the real essence of Islam.
The so-called muslims and non-muslims who had or continue to use Islam for their economic, political or territorial goals have not and will not prevent spread the growth of Islam due to its spiritual bonding with GOD-ALMIGHTY.
The so-called supporters of women rights and freedom to dress do not protest the expliotation of women in product advertisements, restaurants,bars and offices when they are expected to dress for economic gains which Islam discourages.
There can be "no compusion in religion" is a direct qoute from Quran and forceful enforcement of beliefs and morality is never everlasting and the practice of dress code enforcement in Saudi Arabia or Iran is due to the Shia/Wahabi-sect extreme/non Islamic practices in the last few decades.
Lastly,anti-Islam elements and the aetheists in their repulsive comments have always looked for reasons to try to dignify their beliefs but lack in standing up for fairness to their fellow oppressed human beings(regardless of the their beliefs) in many parts of the world.
Posted July 4, 2007 9:40 AM
Posted on July 4, 2007 09:40
Eliza,
Are you aware the egyptian republic has laws to subjugate its non muslim population ? It still practices the evil concept of dhimmitude.
------------------------------------------------
Over the past fourteen Hundred years Coptic Christian in Egypt endured all forms of discrimination exerted by Muslim extremists. Since the Arab envision to Egypt in 650 AD, Copts have been always terrorized by Islamists fundamentals. Copts have compelled by Muslim leaders to relinquish their native Coptic language and adopt the Arabic one. They have been called by Al Azhar (the most prominent Islamic institution In Egypt) as infidels and rouges elements because of religion. They also have been subjected to all kind of hate crimes including, the abduction of young Coptic girls, the killing of Coptic Women and children and the destruction of their places of worship.
Over the past forty years, the government of Egypt has endorsed and fostered an environment of Islamic radicalism to recruit more Muslim fundamentals. This phenomenon played a key role to force Islam on Coptic girls and enhance the isolation of the Coptic community in Egypt. As a result of citing in the constitution that Islam is the main source of legislation in Egypt, Coptic Christians has lost the freedom of religion including the right to build churches and the right to worship free respect.
During the 80s and under the Mubark administration, Islamic militants instigated several violent episodes against the Copts and western tourists, attacked, sacked and burned churches and Coptic businesses.
During the recent package of constitutional reform that took place in 2006, Mubark did not insert any constitutional provisions that enhance the rights of Christians in Egypt. On the contrary, he kept the provision that emphasizing the role of Islam as the main source of legislation.
Enclosed are some of the incidents that demonstrate the violence endured by Copts over the past 25 years:
July 1980: St. Mary church in Cairo has been burned by Islamic Militant
June, 1981: 80 Coptic Christian were slaughtered in there houses, in the vicinity of El zauia El hamra, Cairo, Egypt
July, 1981: St. Mary Church was bombed by Muslim radicals, in the vicinity of Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt. Seven people were killed in the attack.
March 1990: Rumors that Copts are using Muslim girls in a white slave trade prompts two weeks of violence in Abu Quraqa (250 kms s. of Cairo). Churches, shops, houses and cars are firebombed and two Christians are kidnapped but there are no deaths or injuries. (Note: There are constant complaints of harassment by Islamic militants during this period. This harassment includes, as noted earlier, the spreading of false rumors, extortion and violence up to and including murder, often with the tacit approval or even participation of local officials. Such incidents, short of murder, will not be noted here unless they deserve special attention.)
May 1990: Father Bishoy Hanna was killed by Muslim extremists along with his wife and five more people at his church in the province of Alexandria, Egypt.
June 1990: A Christian liquor store owner is attacked by Islamic militants with swords and chains.
1990: In Minshiat at Nassar (310 km s. of Cairo) workers repairing a Church are attacked by Islamic Militants.
September 20-22 1991: Militant Muslims commit a wave of violence against Christian churches and shops in Imbabah, a suburb of Cairo. Police refuse to take reports of many incidents and discourage future reports. Some Copts who attempt to make reports are arrested. Also, after being harassed by a Muslim customer, a Christian butcher shoots and wounds him.
March 11 1992: 3 people are killed and more injured in a gun battle between Christians and Muslims in the village of Sanbau (350 kms. of Cairo).
April 29 1992: A church is stoned in Imbabah.
May 4 1992: 11 Copts and two Muslims attempting to defend them are killed by gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, in Sanabu. The authorities dismiss this as being part of a local "blood feud."
October 27 1992: Four gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, kill a Christian jeweler and his assistant.
November 1 1992: Gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, wound 10 Copts in an attack on a bus returning to Dayrut (310 kms of Cairo) from Cairo.
December 20 1992: A Coptic weekly, Al-Watan, urges the government to stop what is called a new invasion of the schools by Islamic extremists. Headmasters are discriminating against Copts and forcing female students to wear veils. "Fanatic teachers" are also discriminating against their Coptic students. The Article notes that the government is opposed to this but is not doing enough to stop it.
January 4 1993: In two separate assaults, gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, kill one Copt and wound another.
A Coptic church in Dayrut is firebombed.
February 23 1993: In a Reuters article, Copts complain of discrimination including: job discrimination; discrimination by government both in the awarding of scholarships and upper government jobs; an informal Muslim boycott of Copt stores; discrimination and segregation by teachers and school officials; and the removal of all reference to Copts and Christianity from many school curriculums. This has resulted in the emigration of as much as a half million in the past ten years. Although the government protects the Copts from physical threats, the Copts complain that most government action is due to the threats to the state and foreign tourists rather than any concern for the Copts.
March 1993: A report issued by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights accuses the government of abdicating its responsibility to protect Christians from Islamic extremists. It notes that attacks occur in the sight and sometimes with the help of security and local government authorities. It further accuses the government of doing little about such incidents until it became clear that they were also a threat to "the political system and the lives of those in power."
March 1 1993: Egypt bans from mosques "scholars preach militant thoughts" due to attacks upon tourists and Christians. (Note: the government has been engaging in increasing levels of repression against Islamic militants throughout this period. This ranges from arrests to gun battles involving hundreds of police, government troops and Islamic militants. For the most part, the details of these actions are not documented here. Also, as noted earlier, many believe that this government action is due to the threat the militants pose to the state and foreign tourists rather than any wish to protect the Copts.)
April 20 1993: A Copt school teacher is shot and wounded in Dayrut by gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants. Five Islamic militants are arrested in Aswan for planning to violently disrupt a non-Muslim festival which coincides with the Coptic Easter.
April 24 1993: Assailants, believed to be Islamic militants, attack with knives and wound two Coptic high school students.
May 19 1993: In a roundup of Islamic militants, the government seizes numerous books, cassettes and videotapes calling for violence and discrimination against the Copts.
July 22 1993: A Copt physician is shot by gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, in Manfalout (350 km south of Cairo).
August 8 1993: Gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, in Dayrut wound a Copt in his brother's pharmacy.
August 24 1993: Gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, kill a Christian student in Anboub (300 kms of Cairo).
September 21 1993: Gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, kill a Copt schoolteacher in Dayrut.
October 20 1993: Gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, open fire in a Christian owned pharmacy killing one and injuring two.
January 27 1994: A senior Copt police official is wounded in an attack by gunmen believed to be Islamic militants. His driver and bodyguard are killed.
April 25 1994: Egyptians are upset at an upcoming convention on minorities in the Middle East. They say that the Copts are not a minority and are an integral part of Egyptian society. They attribute the conference to foreign interference.
March 4 1994: An Islamic militant, believed to be guilty of two shooting attacks on Coptic churches in Mir (300 kms of Cairo) in the previous week, is arrested.
March 11 1994: Gunmen, believed to be Islamic militants, kill 5 including two monks outside a church in Qussiyah (300 kms of Cairo).
June 26 1994: A Coptic weekly accuses the government of working to increase the wave of bigotry, antipathy and hatred against Copts.
July 17 1994: Pope Shenouda III of the Egyptian Coptic Church in an outspoken interview complains of discrimination against Copts in Egypt. He says that Copts play little part in public life and face problems building and repairing churches. He complains that Copts have trouble obtaining voting cards from police, thus preventing many of them from voting. He also refers to Copts being killed by Islamic militants in southern Egypt and Copt houses being destroyed without compensation from the state.
September 1 1994: Islamic militants shoot dead 2 policemen guarding a Coptic church in southern Egypt. Note: In general the government actively opposes attacks by Islamic militants on Copts and prosecutes the perpetrators of these attacks to the full extent of the law. This is probably more a result the fact that the Islamic militants oppose the government than a desire to protect the Copts.
November 11 1994: Islamic militants kill 2 men in southern Egypt including a Christian government official.
November 22 1994: Suspected Islamic militants kill a Christian security guard in the southern Egyptian province of Minya.
February 25 1995: Suspected Islamic militants shoot dead a Christian civilian and wound another in a southern Egyptian village.
March 11 1995: Suspected Islamic militants shoot dead a Copt village elder in southern Egypt.
June 4 1995: Islamic militants seeking to avenge a dead relative kill 9 people, including 3 Copts, in 4 separate attacks in southern Egypt.
June 8 1995: Suspected Islamic militants shoot dead a wealthy Copt pharmacist for making a donation of property to his local parish.
August 13 1995: 6 are killed after a fight breaks out over a Copt girl who converted to Islam in a northern Egyptian province.
August 29-30 1995: In 2 separate incidents, suspected Islamic militants shoot dead 4 Copts in southern Egypt.
September 2 1995: Suspected Islamic militants shoot dead a Copt who works for a local council in southern Egypt.
Update 26 March 1997
7 November 1995: According to the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, within the past 10 months, Islamic extremists have assassinated 74 police and 24 Copts in southern Egypt.
4 December 1995: Gunmen in a car shot dead three Coptic Christian men and wounded two others in a hit and run attack near the town of Abu Qurqas, In a separate attack in the same area and at the same time, gunmen shot and killed policeman Mustafa Khalil Mohamed.
9 December 1995: Forty people were killed and between 400 -700 injured during Egypt=s general elections. Thousands of Christians could not find their names on the lists and constituencies where Copts ran as candidates, their rivals distributed leaflets saying Moslems should not vote for non-Moslems.
12 December 1995: President Mubarak appointed 10 MPs and the Speaker using his constitutional privilege to enlarge the assembly with women and members of the Coptic community.
12 January 1996: A Christian farmer was killed by unidentified gunmen in the village of Abu Obeid in Minya Province.
26 February 1996: Eight Copts and three others were killed in Assuit Province in Southern Egypt. At least 47 people have died in the past two moths in Assuit and Menia Provinces. Most of these were policemen and suspected police informers (non-Copts). In a separate incident mobs set fire to 41 houses in a predominantly-Christian village in the governorate of Sharqiya after a row over a reported Church expansion. Four were injured and 50 arrested in the incident.
7 August 1996: The body of a Coptic student was found in the vicinity of Abu Qurqas.
26 August 1996: Four, including three Copts, were killed in the southern village of Nazlet Roman near the town of Abu Qurqas in Minya province. One Copt was also wounded in the attack. The five were members of the newly-formed patrols encouraged by the government to help police hunt militants using nearby fields and mountains as hideouts. A total of 23 people, not all of them Copts, have been killed in attacks during August.
4 September 1996: The American Coptic Union urged the U.S. Congress to investigate the killings of Christians in Egypt and to postpone aid to Egypt until basic rights and security were secured for all citizens.
24 January 1997: A new political party, al Wasat, was launched. Its members are Copts and former members of the Muslim Brotherhood and its goal is to heal the breaches between the two religions. It is not viewed as strong or very likely to have much influence over Egyptian politics.
February 1997: The State Department=s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996 reported that during 1996 at least 22 Copts were killed in upper Egypt where 30-40% of the population are Christians. There were also reports of acts of violence against Coptic Churches and Copt-owned businesses.
Government discriminatory practices against the Coptic community included: suspected statistical under representation of the size of the Christian population; anti-Christian discrimination in education; production of some Islamic television programs with anti-Christian themes; job discrimination in the police, armed forces and other agencies.
12 February 1997: Ten Coptic youth were killed in an attack on a Church in southern Egypt. The youth were attending a prayer service at the Church. Police believed the killings were orchestrated by the group Gama'a al-Islamiya, the largest of the militant Islamic organizations in the country. The Gama'a has attacked the Coptic community only sporadically, concentrating attacks on police and police informers regardless of religion, and they denied involvement in this attack. Moslem and Christian community leaders have unanimously condemned the attacks. It was the worst attack on the Coptic community in almost a year. Police also suspect the same gunmen in an attack which killed three Coptic Christians. They were found dead near Abu Qurqas in Minya Province.
15 March 1997: Gunmen killed 13, including nine Copts, in a predominantly Christian hamlet 300 miles south of Cairo. Though attacks on the Coptic community have increased in recent months, the overall level of violence has sharply decreased from a peak of 415 deaths in 1995 to 187 during 1996, and Islamic militants are clearly on the defensive.
Update June 1999
March 22 1997: A total of 21 Copts were killed by Islamic extremists in February and there was a growing fear that there could be a migration of Copts from Southern Egypt because of the growing fear of attack. (AP)
April 10 1997: Copts were killed in two attacks. A total of 13 Copts were killed by Islamic militants who released a statement clarifying that the Copts had not been targeted specifically. (Facts on File)
May 3 1997: The Interior Minister said that one of the faults of the Moslem brotherhood was that they want to segregate the Copts. (BBC)
October 14 1997: Two Copts and nine police were killed by militants in the South. (New York Times).
November 1998: four Policemen tortured seventy Copts because of their religious affiliation, El Kosheh, Shouag Egypt.
December 2000: 20 Copts burned to death by Muslims in El Kosheh, Shouag Egypt
January 2006: Muslim Youth Attack Copts in a Village near Luxor, Egypt
April 2006: Muslims stormed four churches in Alexandria and kill one person.
Posted July 4, 2007 9:13 AM
Posted on July 4, 2007 09:13
Do any of you wonder why people don't offer more about what they think or believe? So, many of the comments are from people waiting to pounce, waiting to prove that what they have to say is right, waiting to criticize.
I am glad she went to Egypt and did some things to be kind and friendly. I am glad she is not already deciding that women who wear head coverings are "benighted" or coerced. I am glad to hear that men shouted "Welcome" to her in the streets.
Finally, her last comment IS a religious question, "What have I done with my freedom lately?" It is, in essence, the question of the rich young ruler to Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" To her CREDIT, she is asking the question. I assume she is also looking for some answers.
Posted July 4, 2007 8:01 AM
Posted on July 4, 2007 08:01
Dear Elizabeth Tenety!
I think you have a good time in Egypt and the others Cuntreis of Egypt , You must remmber that
Egypt is the Land ,which the beginning of believe and thinking of God , It was there, Independace , What's the recentlliy Sitution in
Egypt or in Cairo , Egypt is still the direction of all People ,who are looking for the Truth!
thanke you from Germany from Unkown
Posted July 4, 2007 8:00 AM
Posted on July 4, 2007 08:00
Dear Elizabeth Tenety!
I think you have a good time in Egypt and the others Cuntreis of Egypt , You must remmber that
Egypt is the Land ,which the beginning of believe and thinking of God , It was there, Independace , What's the recentlliy Sitution in
Egypt or in Cairo , Egypt is still the direction of all People ,who are looking for the Truth!
thanke you from Germany from Unkown
Posted July 4, 2007 7:59 AM
Posted on July 4, 2007 07:59
What a poor commentary on Georgetown University. This woman is supposedly a senior with a speciality in Religion and Culture? She didn't notice either on her trip. How about glorious history, the foundations of modern education and amazing people who are not focused on McDonalds and wrestling? How about all those things that make Egypt, Egypt? How about leaving American corporate domination out of the equation and focusing on all that is native, and unique, and fascinating?
Yes, I know about the hijab. But that's not all Egypt is. Look past it, just for a moment... and see what wonders abound.
Posted July 3, 2007 10:36 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 22:36
Even Germans appreciate their country once they live abroad.
Posted July 3, 2007 10:28 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 22:28
Guparent, as a Muslim I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your amazing comments about this Muslim society.
I honestly spend every day so broken by the assumption that every one in my own country hates me because of the faith I have chosen. I feel it in every store I walk into, in every person at my work and evertime I get singled out for additional screening at airports.
I honestly wondered if anyone here knew of Islamic society or history.
Thank you for renewing me.
Nichole
Posted July 3, 2007 8:44 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 20:44
As the parent of a recent Georgetown graduate, a daughter who also spent time in Egypt and in other Muslim countires, I am both surprised and disappointed by the superficiality of Tenety's comments, the lack of any sense of nuance in her observations, and the poorly-coifed child's failure to connect to any aspect of issues of faith, empathy, justice or humanity.
It reads more like an episode of Paris Hilton's Simple Life experiences than it reflects any passion of a scholar of religion. Have the Jesuits failed in their mission with this child?
Tomorrow, while we honor the generations of Americans, past and present, who have offered both inspiration and sacrifice to make this country a place of great promise and inspiration, many of us wonder what has brought us to our current state of conflict, fear and insecurity.
Perhaps, in Tenety's failure to be touched by the centuries of tradition at Al Azhar, the centuries of co-existence in Sinai between Chistians and Muslims at St Catherine's (under a firman granted by the prophet Muhammed), by the stubborn refusal of Egypt's Copts to submit to intimidation, and by the young democrats and bloggers who are desperately trying to keep Egypt open and who are resisting the Mubarak regime, we see a small aspect of the myopic cultural intolerance that imbues the world-view of so many Americans and makes our presence in so many parts of the world unwelcome.
Posted July 3, 2007 8:18 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 20:18
Here is a clip of a white Christian male practicing the Christian doctrine of hate. So much for Christianity being the religion of love and peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWinndSkL3M
Posted July 3, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 16:41
I thought this was on faith???
Why all the negative comment towards other faiths that from your comments you seem not to have the slightest clue about.
There is a difference between cultural practices and religious practices. Women coverinig is not required by Islam. Find one place in the Qur'an where this is mentioned.
Posted July 3, 2007 4:36 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 16:36
Dear Elizabeth Tenety.
Pardon my French, but if you don't like Egypt then GO BACK WHEREVER THE HELL YOU CAME FROM!! Egyptian society has survived for 5,000 years before you came along, and I'm sure it will last another 5,000 years after you're gone!
Posted July 3, 2007 3:27 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 15:27
Interesting Witness here. Wow J O H N!
And Woman in Saudi Arabia, especially in Mecca Kabba City, they must be escorted or shaparoned by a male, and they are not allowed to drive and more Human Rights & Civil Rights restrictions according to "Moderm-Morality" Law(s) & contrary to "Biblical-Morality" Laws(Sharia).? Wow!
Posted July 3, 2007 2:52 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 14:52
Tes: You sound like a muslime apologist. Women aren't forced to wear the hijab? Have you ever been to Saudi Arabia and witnessed the mutawa beating women for not wearing the hijab correctly. I have.
Oh yeah, it's completely voluntary. And if one doesn't volunteer to wear it they can be beaten, imprisoned, or stoned to death by their family. How backwards is that?
Posted July 3, 2007 2:41 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 14:41
Tes: You sound like a muslime apologist. Women aren't forced to wear the hijab? Have you ever been to Saudi Arabia and witnessed the mutawa beating women for not wearing the hijab correctly. I have.
Posted July 3, 2007 2:39 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 14:39
Americans are just plain blind. They want to believe that all muslim women are forced wear hijab. I am from India and have seen so many muslim families where one woman is in hijab and niqab and her own sister in jeans. Muslim women, like catholic nuns, do hijab because they believe in it. They never take it off even when they are free to take it off when they are in your country. You see them, you know this to be true, yet you still want to believe they are oppresed.
As for religious bigotry and hatred, remember in the eyes of the non-muslim/non-christian world, Muslims killed many but christians wiped out entire nations. Isn't that how America was created? Or do you also like the zionist believe that God promised this land to christians.
Posted July 3, 2007 2:24 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 14:24
I wonder what kind of tour of Egypt she went on... most women there are not veiled. I lived there for a little over a year and wouldn't say that most women are veiled or where a burqa as another posted mentioned. More and more are wearing headscarves, but there is something of a debate amongst women there about that.
This isn't to say that everything is hunky dory with the women or people in general there, but it is a bit more complex than the "women are enslaved there" rhetoric.
Posted July 3, 2007 2:22 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 14:22
This girl contributes nothing but a stream of her own superficial thoughts. This is On Faith afterall.
Posted July 3, 2007 12:42 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 12:42
You are being rude to this girl guys;
She went to a different world; and enjoyed the difference. and there she rediscovered her own country. Why was she supposed to see only the bad things?
Egyptians live the life they want to live, if they want to force their women into weird dresses, so be it. it's their sisters,mothers, daughters,etc. we can't be more compassionate to them than them.
About missionaries being kicked out; unfortunately this is getting common; not just in egypt. one full plane was diverted to avoid cat stevens entering america.
China is much worse now; even Venezuela kicked not just one; but the whole group of missionaries doing humanitarian work in a forgotten patch that even venezuela's president didn't know it existed.
Posted July 3, 2007 12:33 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 12:33
(((((((((((((( Peace-Love-Rock-n-Roll-n-Rap, Mitt-ROMNEY for Prez, Ya. 2008 ))))))))))))))
Posted July 3, 2007 12:33 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 12:33
McDonald's, Coca Cola and professional wrestling...these are America's gifts to the world that make your heart swell with pride?!
Posted July 3, 2007 12:17 PM
Posted on July 3, 2007 12:17
New Title for this blog:
Another Privileged White Chick from Georgetown Travels Abroad and learns nothing.
Posted July 3, 2007 11:48 AM
Posted on July 3, 2007 11:48
Dear Elizabeth Tenety,
Could you learn? Could you learn the cause and reason 'Why present egyptian is more backward then the egyptian who had lived 5000 years ago'?
You are a woman(girl) as well,
Did your conscience pain when you see the enslaved and tortured women who are enforced to put on hijab under the desert heat?
Happy Fourth of July.
Posted July 3, 2007 11:36 AM
Posted on July 3, 2007 11:36
At the top of this page it says the following:
Faithbook
College Students Talk about Religion
Well, this was certainly a nice little diary of Elizabeth's trip to Egypt. It's a nice break from it all but not exactly the purpose espoused by the blog, which is: "College Students Talk about Religion."
I am glad you enjoyed a safe trip to Egypt, Elizabeth. Can you tell us about your own faith? Can you say anything at all about how Islam is practiced in Egypt? Maybe something about the Muslim Brotherhood, or Qtub. Any news about the struggles and persecution faced by the Coptic Christians in Egypt? How did being in a Muslim country affect your own faith? Did it strengthen your faith, give you a greater perspective on things, or did you come home saying, "thank God I live in a Christian nation."
My friend recently got kicked out of Egypt and told never to come back because he is a Christian missionary who was working with the Coptics. Did you ever share your faith and if so what was the reaction or consequences of doing so?
Posted July 3, 2007 11:14 AM
Posted on July 3, 2007 11:14
Att: Sistar(s) T E N E T Y, brethren(s) et al;
"WE The People", SALUTE;
ALL the Boy's & Girl's of our REPUBLIC and their Coalition Friends via "The Forces" who are "Together" fighting (not in vain) a just War for making them {anti-Western lovers and "Elders of Islamic Mafiaso Zionism", not Jewish Zionist} see & taste what "Secular-Goverment" is really all about, for their own good [Koranoholics], especially for the good and future of humanity via the Kids.
I wonder if that innocent kid who likes "Hulk Holgan" also saw that recent "Mickey-Mouse" terrorist teaching character that was created in Gaza and Syria? I guess they seeing "Blondes" makes them think your not "bronze" Jewish, but Christian white like?
you are lucky that a secular President is in Control there. Otherwise you would have been turned into a sex slave. a/k/a Concubine by some beduon tribal Shiek or Mullah. Welcome Back!
Posted July 3, 2007 10:26 AM
Posted on July 3, 2007 10:26