Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

"The Museum of Islamic Art is more influenced by the mosque of Ibn Tulun than any other building. This mosque is very austere and beautiful, and it has the most refined geometry. What inspired me most was the small ablution fountain in the middle of a large courtyard. The little building is a poem."

-I.M. Pei, The Architect

I learnt something invaluable during my visit to Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art, and that is: even brilliant minds find their inspiration in the works of others.

As I approached the entrance of cubically-shaped museum, I knew that I had seen it somewhere... in fact it felt as if I had been to it before. I had read a bit about how the architect had travelled the Islamic world to gather ideas on traditional Islamic architecture to manifest them in the Qatari museum... but I had never thought that he would use one small feature from Ibn Tulun's mosque to create a whole museum...

See if you can spot the similarities for yourself:



A word about the exhibition on display: the treasures this tiny building contains are preeminent jewels of the Islamic civilization. I could not tell whether the artwork on display originated from Egypt, Turkey, Iran, India, Spain, or China...a testament that Muslims shared one cultural identity throughout the ages.

The Way of the Romantic

"I must create a system or be enslaved by another man's; I will not reason or compare: my business is to create."-William Blake

Reality has made me forget what it means to be a Romantic. The mundane routine of life can take its toll, making one forget his purpose in thie world. Recently, I stumbled upon an exhibition at the Tate Britain that reminded me of why I write, blog, and create. It reminded me that the Romantic is a dreamer, an idealist, a believer. The exhibition, titled the Romantic Movement, made me quite nostalgic of my Virginian days, when I was loner searching for the truth. I recall going to a used bookshop one day and buying 100 books of ecletic genres. Goethe's, Decartes', and Wordsworth's works became my new companions. Without knowing it, I was in a quest to become a Romantic.

According to a caption hung on the exhibition's entrance, Romanticism is a movement that "describes preoccupations of thinkers, writers, and artists expressed with special intensity at a particular point in history: liberty and individual rights, the creative power of the human mind and our relationship to the natural world." In a sense, I see it is a form of worship. By using one's intellect to ponder upon creation and to create and innovate, one is fulfilling his/her purpose. The poets who explored love and the beauty of nature were in essence paying tribute to the factors that make life "special."

I was in awe to see how the oil and water color paintings hung on the museum's walls were a reflection of emotions, moods, feelings experienced by their creators. For instance, Turner actively made use of Color Theory to project certain emotions. Yellow was meant to epitomize hope and divinity, whereas grey and black reflected darkness and emptiness. The Romantics coupled these techniques with images of the sublime. Natural landscapes of mountains, seas, and lakes were meant to show the grandeur of God's creation.

The fact of the matter remains that this was a purely Western movement which thrived in the 17th century. Nevertheless, as a aspiring Romantic, I imagine this movement to be more all-encompassing. Any human being who seeks to use his/her mind to wonder, dream, and create his/her own world qualifies.

As my time in London comes to a conclusion, I am grateful that my time in this city has rekindled my romanticist soul.

The Realization of Al-Nahda

Yesterday I picked up the latest edition of The Economist magazine, proud to see that the spotlight is on Egypt once again. But something was different about this edition. Upon looking at its cover, something resonated within me. There was something alluring about its title, "The Awakening." At first, I didn't quite realize what attracted me so much to these two words, but I toyed around with the phrase in my mind until it struck me later that night as I flipped the glossy pages of Egypt's contemporary history. The Awakening was finally the realization of Al-Nahda the Arabs have always dreamed about!

I had lived my whole life wondering what the solution to the "Egyptian Problem" would ever be. I was sure there had to be a solution. I was trained as an engineer, a profession all about problem-solving, but for some reason I always felt like the "Egyptian Problem" was unsolvable. What could ever reverse our course of history and return us to our magnificent past, the Golden Age of Islamic Empire and the splendors of Ancient Egyptian civilization? It seemed like we Egyptians, in particular, and Arabs, as a whole, were destined to rot under political repression, ignorance, and poverty. Whenever I travelled abroad, I felt that the world was running. Having lived in China, India, the U.S., and Turkey, I felt like there was so much momentum in these nations. People across the world were racing to gain a competitive edge over one another. Yet, when I returned to Egypt, I didn't feel the same energy and dynamism. Unfortunately, people always thought I was naive because of my optimistic thoughts. They were always pessimistic, looking at the empty half of the glass. I swore to make it my life mission to prove them wrong. Hitherto, I dedicated as much effort and resources as I could to make a positive impact on Egypt and its people.

I have always been inquisitive about Al-Nahda, the period in Arab history deemed to be its Renaissance. The reason this period had such an allure in my mind was because it was quite recent, beginning in the 19th century and lasting through the 20th century. It was the period when we gained our independence from Western colonialism and when Arab political and social thought literature. It was a bold attempt at modernizing the Arab World that manifested itself in the works of Mohamed Abdou, Refeh el-Tahtawi, al-Jabarti, and Ahmed Shawqi. These great men looked at the West and sought to emulate its civilization's great achievements in the Arab World. For the first time in the modern era, the Arabs embarked on an intellectual discourse that sought to define their modern identity while preserving the jewels of their Islamic and cultural heritage. I had the honor of being a student of Professor Sawaie, an expert of Al-Nahda at the University of Virginia, where we read primary sources of what was going on in the minds of Al-Nahda's pioneers. I've always believed that it was Al-Nahda's ethos that would awaken the Arabs and make them realize that they have a pivotal role to play on the world stage.

My confusion about the Egyptian Problem and my dreams of Al-Nahda coming into fruition finally confronted on another on January 25, 2011 when young Egyptians took to the streets to declare to the world that their time has come to take matters into their own hands and emerge. For the past 200 years, no philosopher or public thinker had been able to make a breakthrough significant enough to spark Al-Nahda into reality. Al-Nahda, up to that historic date, had always been a figment of the Arabs' imagination, remaining unrealized in many dusty books and studied only in theory. Finally, its time had come to take birth. The Egyptian youth showed the world that the Arabs and Muslims vie for the same things that the rest of the world needs to live harmoniously, namely prosperity, democracy, and modernization.

The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 had finally answered the Egyptian Problem and sparked the long-awaited beacon of Al-Nahda. The Arabs have finally regained control of their destiny and their consciousness that they are worth something and that they have a crucial role to play in the world as their ancestors did. The Egyptian Revolution has had reverberating effects across the region, with revolutions flaring up from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf. Soon, the dictators that have imprisoned the Arabs will fall and their repressive regimes will crumble. It is only then, when we have achieved true free freedom will the Arabs have their say, domestically through democratic systems, and internationally through a true representation of the Arab people's ambitions and aspirations in shaping the new world order.

My Egyptian generation, I salute your bold accomplishments. You have achieved what many men have dreamed of their whole lives but have passed away without seeing come into existence. You have written history with your tears, sweat, and blood. But even more importantly, you have lit the kindle that will ignite the flame of realizing Al-Nahda.

The Ironies of Consumerism

I think that many people have the meaning of life reversed. To live a meaningful life, one must find out what their purpose is and strive to succeed in fulfilling it. What better means of doing so than to create? Think about it, whatever you want in life… wouldn’t it be more fruitful to envision what it is and go about fulfilling it according to your specifications. And if whatever you create happens to be a success, that what greater pleasure can you derive than that that comes from sharing it with others?

Nowadays, people live under the illusion that by consuming they are in essence producing. For instance, take the example of fashion or art. Many who believe they are “artistic” reach that conclusion on the basis of how many galleries they visit, the kind of clothes they wear, etc… All of which is aimed at constructing a self-conscious illusion that they are “artistic” to themselves and to others, but at the end of the day, what art are they producing? It is similar to those striving to accumulate status symbols in an effort to convince themselves that they are something they’re really not. At the end of the day, consumerism doesn’t lead to much other than shallowness and emptiness.

I am convinced that only through creation and production do we really fulfill our predestined purpose. Production may come from the most trivial to the most significant aspects in life. Whether it’s a photograph that you take, a poem you write, a song you sing, lecture you deliver… any such production means that you’re living out your purpose. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-capitalist or anything of the sort. I believe in the mutual exchange of ideas and goods, but at the end of the day, I believe that one shouldn’t be at a trade deficit. Of course we need to consume in order to generate new ideas, but what really defines us is our creations.

There’s a quote by Gandhi that is something along the lines of: “Only through the service of others do you truly find yourself.” I wholeheartedly believe in that and I strive to fulfill it in whatever I do, even though I may fail short of complete success. I praise the industrious and entrepreneurial spirit in every individual. I commend those who unleash it, and I aspire to emulate them.

The Final Lap

It's quite unbelievable that this is actually the final lap of my undergraduate career at UVa. I'm no longer anxious about what the future holds. What will come will come...All I have to do is throw my heart over the fence and the rest will follow.

I realize that I haven't written in a long time. Come to think of it, I haven't penned my thoughts since Guatemala. This semester has taken me by surprise. I thought this last semester would be one filled with leisure and bidding goodbye to my beloved Charlottesville. Surprisingly it has been quite the opposite. I have lofty goals for the outcome of my academics. I want to make sure I wrap things up on the best possible note. Not only has work taken the best of me, but it has totally engrossed me.

Considering that the courses I'm taking this semester are mainly those to satisfy my Middle Eastern studies major, I have been confronted with a plethora of ideas that have my entire existence in question. My identity, beliefs, thoughts, ideologies, pragmatism, etc... have all been put on the line. But I believe when you are pushed to the limit, to question what you hold truest to, only then can you firmly solidify your convictions. The more I learn and know, the more firmly rooted I find myself in what is true, universal, and timeless.

In any case, I don't wish to ramble on and on. I've just taken a break because I just finished my graduate school applications. Its been a long journey applying to different masters programs, but I've reached the point where I can no longer determine my fate. All I had to do was click the "submit" button on my application pages and the rest I leave to God.

Anyways, I've got plenty to work on today... but I'm glad I've had the chance to warm up my fingers for future entries that await to be written.

Writing to you gives me company

Lately, I haven't been as enthusiastic about blogging simply because I've had several storms of doubts about my writing. I started to ask myself, "Why am I writing?" Is this writing getting me anywhere, or is it simply an luxurious pastime. I guess it must have been another gust of melancholy that had overcame me. As a result, I withdrew into my shell and began to write for myself again, i.e. only my moleskin was allowed to access my inner most thoughts.

After exams, I would pack Naguib Mahfouz's Palace Walk, bike to Para Coffee (a cafe on The Corner) and sit by the window to read and write. The window shed sun rays that consoled me with warmth. In the midst of the cafe's commotion, I would sit at peace with myself. That is when introspection would take over me. I would leave this world to visit the world of my mind. What an intriguing world that is!

My imagination would span everything from films, books, music, photographs, conversations, emotions, and dreams. This was a time for my pen to roam freely across the page. No rules, no stress, no expectation...nothing but the freewill.

But I needed inspiration to write so freely. The cafe's environment would profoundly affect my mood. Without the cafe, the free writer in me ceased to exist.

So here I set on my desk, finding no inspiration in my apartment. In the cafe, I wasn't lonely. I shared my environment with others; the espresso machine, the cute waitress, the whistle of the kettle, the ironic photograph of a smiling Guatemalan coffee-grower, my good-cupa-tea, and of course my moleskin and pen. They proved to be good company. But here I sit at home with nothing but emptiness everywhere.

This is why I reach out to you, dear reader. Whoever you may be and wherever you are in this planet. Writing to you gives me company.

نعم للبرادعي

اليوم قرأت مقالة ثورية على موقع جريدة الصري اليوم عن إقتراحات الدكتور محمد البرادعي لإصلاح و تتوير النظام الديمقراطي في مصر خلال الإنتخبات الرئاسة في ٢٠١١. كل مصري يتمنى أن هذه الإنتخبات ستجعل بداية جديده في تريخ مصر. عندما قرأت عن ترشيح البرادعي، فوجئت أن شخص على مستواه سيشارك في السياسة المصرية. أعتقد أنه يريد إصلاح بلده مثل كل مواطن آخر خاصة بأنه مثقف معروف دوليا.

اقتراحات البرادعي مهمه جدا لآى انخابات ديمقراطي، و هي:

١. تشكيل لجنة مستقلة لتنظيم الانتخبات

٢. إشراف قضائي كامل

٣. رقابة دولية

٤. وضع دستور جديد

اول تلاث نقات مهمة لضمان شفافية الانتخابات. النقطة الرابعة ثورية من وجهة نظري لأن تغير الدستور سيغير الجو السياسي في مصر تماما. اتمنى أن أول تغير في الدستور سيكون حدود على مدة بقاء الرئس فى السلطة و تنفيذ تغيره بعد هذه المدة. هذه من أهم قرارات جورج واشنطن عندما استقال من الرياسة الأمريكية. اظن أن البرادعي ينسخ الدستور الأمريكي و الغربي عندما يقترح: "توازن دقيق ورقابة متبادلة بين السلطات التشريعية والقضائية والتنفيذية، بحيث لا تطغى إحداها على الأخرى.."

و من جانب دور الدين في الدستور، فكرة "الدين للة و الوطن للشعب" قرار مهم. مشكلة الحكومات الدينية و العلمانية مثل إران و تركية إنهم متطرفان و هذا تطرف يخنق الديمقراطية.

الناس في بلادي: عالمية الأدب و التجربة الإنسانية

في صف الشعر العربي، قرأت قصيدة مثيرة عن الشعب المصري، وأردت أن أنشرها كتدوين في هذه "البلوج." عبارات القصيدة قوية و تجعل الإنسان أن يفكر عن غاية الحياة. في نهاية الحية، سنرجع إلى الطين الذي خلقنا اللة منه. إذن, يعطينا الشاعر صلاح عبد الصبور صورة من الوقع عندما يكتب "الناس في بلادي." هنا، سوف أطهر لكم قصيدة عبد الصبور ثم تعليقي عن القصيدة

الناس فى بلادى ـــ صلاح عبد الصبور

الناس فى بلادى جارحون كالصقور

غناؤهم كرجفة الشتاء فى ذؤابة الشجر

وضخكهم يئز كاللهيب فى الحطب

خطاهمو تريد أن تسوخ فى التراب

ويقتلون، يسرقون، يشربون، يجشأون

لكنهم بشر

وطيبون حين يملكون قبضتى نقود

ومؤمنون بالقدر

وعند باب قريتى يجلس عمى "مصطفى"

وهو يحب المصطفى

وهو يقضّى ساعة بين الأصيل والمساء

وحوله الرجال واجمون

يحكى لهم حكاية.. تجربة الحياة

حكاية تثير فى النفوس لوعة العدم

وتجعل الرجال ينشجون

ويطرقون

يحدقون فى السكون

فى لجة الرعب العميق، والفراغ، والسكون

" ما غاية الإنسان من أتعابه، ما غاية الحياة؟

يا أيها الإله!!

الشمس مجتلاك ، والهلاك مفرق الجبين

وهذه الجبال الراسيات عرشك المكين

وأنت نافذ القضاء أيها الإله

بنى فلان ، واعتلى ، وشيد القلاع

وأربعون غرفة قد ملئت بالذهب اللماع

وفى مساء واهن الأصداء جاءه عزرئيل

يحمل بين إصبعيه دفترا صعير

ومد عزرئيل عصاه

بسر حرفى "كن" ، بسر لفظ "كان"

وفى الجحيم دُحرجت روح فلان

(أيها الإله ...

كم أنت قاس ٍِ موحش أيها الإله).

بالأمس زرت قريتى ، قد مات عمى مصطفى

ووسدوه فى التراب

لم يبتن القلاع (كان كوخه من اللبن)

وسار خلف نعشه القديم

من يملكون مثله جلباب كتان قديم

لم يذكروا الإله أو عزريل أو حروف (كان)

فالعام عام جوع

وعند باب القبرقام صاحبى خليل

حفيد عمى مصطفى

وحين مد للسماء زنده المفتول

ماجت على عينيه نظرة احتقار

فالعام عام جوع

تعليقي عن القصيدة

من أهم أسباب نجاح أي كاتب، إستخدام مواضيع و رموز الإنسانية تجعل إسلوب الكاتب عالمي. على سبيل المثال، نجيب محفوظ من أشهر الكتاب العرب حول العالم، وخصوصا في الأوساط الأدبية الغربية، لأن تطبق مواضيع قصصه على "التجربه الإنسانية." يكتب محفوظ عن مشاعر إنسانية عامة يستطيع كل إنسان من كل جنسية أن يشعر بها. يكتب صلاح عبد الصبور قصيدة "الناس في بلادي" بنفس الأسلوب. التشابه بين محفوظ وعبد الصبور والكتاب العظماء هو أنهم يستخدمون العالمية كتقنية أدبية في كتابتهم. في هذا التحليل، سأكتب عن نجاح عبد الصبور أن ينقل لنا قصة القروي مصطفى ليعبر عن مشاعر إنسانية عالمية.

باختصار، التجربة الإنسانية تبدأ بولادة الإنسان في هذه الدنيا. في وسط رحلة الحياة، يصبح الإنسان متحير عن وجوده. في هذه المرحلة في الحياة، يبحث الإنسان عن أجوبة أسرار العالم من خلال الدين والفلسفة. في نهاية الرحلة، يموت كل إنسان. يكتب عبد الصبور عن دورية الحياة بترتيب زمني عندما يكتب القصيدة.

في أول جزء من القصيدة، يكتب الشاعر عن الشعب المصري بشكل عام. يصف الشعب بصفات مثل "جارحون وطيبون." علاوة على ذلك، سلوكهم تجعلهم أن "يقتلون، يسرقون، يشربون، يجشأون" مثل البشر في أي ركن من أركان العالم. يستخدم الكاتب تقنية التشبيه عندما يصف "غناؤهم كرجفة الشتاء في ذؤابة الشجر" وكيف "ضحكهم يئز كاللهيب في الحطب." هذه الأوصاف لم تشير للشعب المصري فقط بل للبشر حول العالم كذلك. إذن الكاتب يكتب ببراعة عن الحالة الإنسانية.

بقية القصيدة تتحدث عن شخص خيالي اسمه مصطفي. يعطي عبد الصبور هذا الاسم لبطل القصيدة من أجل إيقاع القصيدة لأن "عند باب قريتي يجلس عمي مصطفى وهو يحب المصطفى." علاوة على ذلك، الاسم مصطفى له دلالة دينية. مثل النبي، يقود مصطفى مجموعة من القرويين عندما يناقشون مواضيع مختلفه عن تجربة الحياة. تأثير المناقشة يجعل بكاء الرجال. يصف الشاعر فكرة الموت بمشاعر مثل: "رعب عميق، والفراغ، والسكون." هذه مشاعر تدل على رد فعل كل إنسان عندما يفكر بالموت. إذن، تصل الشخصيات إلى أهم سؤال في تاريخ الفلسفه وهو "ما غاية الحياة؟"

يستخدم عبد الصبور آيات دينية مختلفة في القصيدة. عندما يستخدم رموز الشمس والهلال والجبال، يشير عبد الصبور إلى رموز إسلامية تدل على وجود وعظمة الله. لذلك، القدرية موضوع مهم للبشر. يعطي مصطفى نموذج عن كيف ثروة الإنسان لا تفيدة في الأخرة. يقول مصطفى، "فلان، واعتلى، وشيد القلاع وأربعون غرفة قد ملئت بالذهب اللماع...ومد عزريل عصاه بسر حرفى <<كن>> بسر لفظ <<كان>>." هذه إشارة إلى كيف الأخرة مرحلة مختلفة تماما عن هذة الدنيا. يعبر مصطفى عن رعبه عندما يقول، "يا أيها الإله كم أنت قاس موحش يا أيها الإله!"

تنتهي القصيدة بموت مصطفى. عندما يضع موت البطل في نهاية القصيدة، يعمم الشاعر كيف كل رحلة حياة تنتهي بنفس الصيغة. عندما يموت محبوب في أي مكان، تشعر عائلته "بالإحتقار." الموت يجعل الناس يشكون في رحمة إلههم. يعطي الكاتب مثالا من ذلك عندما يصف مشاعر خليل حفيد مصطفى "حين مد للسماء زنده المفتول ماجت على عينيه نظرة أحتقار." إذن، تظهر لنا القصيدة مشاعر البشر في المراحل المختلفة في حياة الإنسان. أتفق مع معظم وجهات نظر عبد الصبور، ولكن أعتقد أن الإيمان والتسليم للقدر يجعل الإنسان يقبل كل شيء من الله، حتى الموت.

بإخلاص،

مصطفى

Reflecting upon my Systems Engineering experience at UVa

I write this entry as I approach the brink of concluding my academic career at the University of Virginia. This is indeed an opportunity for introspection and reflection with regards to the past four years and the future that awaits me after graduation. I believe this sort of reflection is beneficial so as to recalibrate my current strategy and plan ahead for the future. In retrospect, I must admit that my journey at UVa has been rewarding and self-fulfilling. I recall visiting Princeton University’s campus during my early formative high school years. The idea of living a college town with a historical legacy behind it appealed to me since. I worked ardently during my two years in the International Baccalaureate program make this dream crystallize.

Ironically, during my university application process, UVa had never crossed my mind. I applied to over twenty universities in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United States, and Canada. Not one of my applications had been addressed to the UVa. Oddly enough, I sent my last college application to UVa on its official application deadline. Even stranger was the fact that my first acceptance letter arrived from UVa. When it came to making the final decision, I chose UVa over Hong Kong University at the last minute. What really motivated my decision were the American education system’s flexibility, interdisciplinary nature, and superiority in science and engineering.

Looking back, UVa has equipped me with a strong technical background coupled with linguistic, leadership, and interpersonal skills. My immersion into UVa’ rigorous engineering program taught me to think in a systematic and analytical way and the discipline and work ethic required to succeed in school, work, and life. Specifically, the Systems Engineering curriculum transformed the way I go about solving problems in any and every situation. I have learned to think holistically about any situation and to determine the different political, economic, and cultural forces involved. In every aspect of my life, I have learned to untangle complex situations, work with time and cost efficiency, and evaluate different alternatives to select the ideal scenario. The curriculum’s collaborative environment has allowed me to learn from my colleagues’ skill sets.

I would have to say that the most valuable experience with Systems Engineering hitherto has been my fourth year capstone project. This experience has allowed me to apply Systems Engineering’s concepts and methodologies in a real world setting that truly interests me. I have always been interested in improving the lives of communities in developing countries. The opportunity has allowed me to lead a group of students from diverse backgrounds and work with real stakeholders to address the water sanitation needs of an indigenous community on Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan.

Working on an engineering service project in the developing world has taught me how to provide technical solutions that are culturally sensitive to the host environment. This experience has taught me everything from the design of point-of-use water filters to how to actively engage our clients in a participatory approach. Most importantly, I learned the importance of sustainability of any engineering project to ensure its long-term success.

Where do I intend to take my Systems Engineering background? Ultimately, I aspire to succeed. This is a very vague aspiration, but it is the concept of embarking on any task and accomplishing it with distinction. I pray that my academic background has equipped me with the determination, courage, and discipline to excel in life and serve others.

Another Mystical Night With Z

In my moleskin planner, the 30^th of November stands out from all the other dates in its bright highlighter-fluorescent. I’ve been anxiously anticipating this day. Fortunately, I have had a lot to think about since to get it off my mind. Whenever a milestone appears in my life, my imagination tends to get the best of me, and I begin base my every move on how I am to face what I believe to be a turning point of my life. Tonight is a case in point.

Earlier this month, the University of Virginia’s secret Z Society clandestinely invited me to a recognition dinner. I did not know what to make of invitation. Was it an induction ceremony, would the guardians of UVa’s most revered society finally unveil their society to those invited, what had I done to earn their recognition? These were but a few of the issues running through my mind. I began to consider every single feat I may have possible accomplished in my life. Sure, I give everything I do my best shot, but I am not an overachiever. Could the Z Society read my intentions? Do they really understand my altruistic motives behind every miniscule task I pursue in my life?

Speculations aside, I decided to attend this recognition dinner with a clear mind and sincere heart. After classes today, I hastily biked home through Jefferson Park Avenue’s damp streets. I had less than half an hour to prepare for what my mind kept telling me was a defining moment in my life. Feeling a bit drowsy, I brewed myself some yerbe mate to arouse my senses a bit. I quickly shaved, splashed on some tantalizing after-shave, and oiled my hair with Mediterranean olive oil. The only other occasion when I’d be putting this much meticulous effort in my appearance would be my wedding night! I then put on some slacks, an oxford shirt, and the beige corduroy blazer I hadn’t sported in some time. A second later, I was out the door with Mozart playing on my iPod.

The venue was Michael’s Bistro so I decided to take the route that would take me through the Lawn. As I passed by the fences of the Lawn’s hidden gardens, I reminisced at how rewarding me experience at UVa has been so far. I’m going to miss dear old Uva.

Not surprisingly, when I reached Michael’s Bistro’s entrance, there was a salient sign with the words: Michael’s Bistro will be closed tonight from 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock. This was a sign that tonight was the night. As I walked up the staircase, I could already sense the mystic aura that surrounded this night. When I reached the top, I could see two tables lined parallel to one another with candle light flickering on each of them. I was one of the last guests to arrive and I had to peer over my fellow UVa students’ shoulders to find my assigned seat. At my seat, an envelop with the name “Mr. Allam” in elegant cursive awaited me. After taking my corner seat, I introduced myself and exchanged my greetings with Laura and Rachel, the two who sat by my side; they were truly endearing! We had a lively conversation the whole dinner; more about that later.

Without any signal, we all instinctively ripped open our respective envelopes. As I read the words on the paper before my eyes, I was moved like never before. Never have I been so appreciated and recognized for my efforts in my life. The words were almost divine. It had been as if God had written them. How could someone know exactly what had been behind every one of my intentions all along? Before attending this dinner, I wondered to myself, what could I possibly be recognized for? This letter recognized me for everything I had sweat over during my years at UVa, and there is nothing more rewarding than recognition by the secret guardians of UVa. The words of wisdom that the letter leaves behind for me will inspire me for the rest of my life. As much as I would love to disclose the words of this letter, I shall abstain this time around. Rather these are words worth treasuring in one’s heart…

Laura snapped me out of my dignifying trance by mentioning, “This is a letter worth framing.” I think down the road, this will be a letter that I shall treasure even more than my UVa diploma, since this letter speaks to my personal achievements, which I value more than titles, statuses, or awards.

In this lifetime, I don’t want to do good to be famous. I’d rather be anonymous.

After savoring our letters for a couple of minutes, an English professor sitting among us stood up to make an announcement. He was speaking on behalf of the “mystical” Z Society. The eloquence of his speech was flared the night with even more charm. He mentioned that service come in various shades, but its ultimate impact is one and the same: good in the name of honor and serving one’s fellow human. At this point, it all clicked! All of the words inscribed on UVa’s various buildings finally made sense to me. Every time I had passed the various epigraphs in Jefferson’s Academic Village, I had absorbed his words and implemented them. The virtues I had learned from Mr. Jefferson are honor, integrity, freedom, devotion, i.e. to name but a few. One of the sayings of Jefferson that have stuck with me to understand my purpose at UVa have been:

This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”

This and many other Jefferson sayings have come to give me purpose in life. After clinching the speech with “…Mystically, Z” the English professor congratulated us earning a seat among him at this spectacular dinner.

I believe this recognition is just a taste of “what goes around comes around.” I believe in the end of time, call it the “hereafter” if you wish, everyone will earn the reward or punishment they deserve. This dinner was just a sample of it. It reminds me of the Quran’s words:

“On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the Deeds they had done. Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.”-Sura 99

I love it when I get epiphanies like this and everything in life intertwines together so naturally. For everyone else sitting on the table, we all seemed truly endeared by this moment in our UVa career. Most of us were third or fourth years. I could seem to relate to everyone of them on some level. Laura had a global experience like me. Rachel was a writer, reader, and had gone through the International Baccalaureate program like I did. There was another girl who had lived in the International Residential College like I did. With each one of these comrades, I believe I shared something. If it weren’t our past experiences, then I am certain it will be our future success and goodwill.

I ordered duck glazed dipped in pomegranate sauce over basmati rice and asparagus. It was truly delicious to say the least. Over our meal, we discussed a plethora of issues, but the one worth noting is the one I shared with Laura. She revealed that she is a Religious Studies major, so I decided to test my knowledge of religion on her. I thought I understood Christianity and Judaism before talking to her, but I found out that what I knew was very elementary. My perception was that both religions were mere diversions from Islam, but essentially all three religions belong to the same family. Laura revealed to me that despite the fact that we recognize the same prophets, our approaches to following their messages are very different. After exchanging our sides of the story, I realized that despite their same root, the three monotheistic religions branched out very differently. To my regret, the discussion was cut short. Dinner was over at this point, but I promised Laura to continue this discussion over a cup of coffee.

Overall, this deserves the speculation I previously had for it: a life-changing event. If there is one memory I am to cherish from my experiences from UVa, it is to be this night. And if there are words that will inspire me along the way, it will be those of the Z Society.

MBA Discussion Panel: Follow Your Passion!

I just returned from an MBA discussion panel featuring the admissions officers from the top business schools in America. You name it: Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, MIT, UPenn... they were all there. This session was sort of a sneak peek into how the leaders of this world are selected.

There is no doubt that the MBA is the benchmark for grooming those who achieve success, think big, and impact the world in a significant way. I was curious to understand the inner workings of these programs. I was curious to find out the secrets of success. Apparently the success equation is simple: follow your passion!

I will make this entry sweet and short as I don't have much time for writing tonight. So what I will recount will be the words of wisdom from some of the most accomplished people I have met in a very long time. When I meet people of such stature, I believe that it is God that speaks from their mouths to convey his words or reassurance that I am on the right path and that I should continue endeavoring to succeed.

In the process of paving your path for the future, don't lose confidence and don't succumb to anxiety. Live your life as you love it and don't live in the shadow of the expectations of others. The representative from Stanford gave an example. Imagine working the standard 9 to 5 job and not loving it to the fullest and working with someone who does love it to the fullest, who do you think will achieve greater results. Its a given.

Make decisions that make you happy, that make you a better citizen, and not because you believe that it will look good on your resume or CV. If you do follow the resume-seeker role, you'll end up being like every other candidate. Seriously just do what you're passionate about and the pieces of success will fall into their right pieces.

Also, since we are young, take as many risks as you can. If you don't fail, it means that you're not trying hard enough.

At this phase in our life, all we need to do is lay down all the cards of our many aspects of life and do some introspection. Sit down and figure who you are, what you want to achieve, why you want to achieve it. What legacy do you want to leave behind. Know thyself and erase any doubts under faith. Faith in God, in yourself, and in the fact that everything will work out at the end.

Some quotes left behind were:
"Education is the great equalizer of humankind." This is very true since it is intellectual capital that equalizes one's opportunities in the workplace.

Also, Roosevelt once said: "You must do that thing that you think you cannot do!" Hence always strive above and beyond the mere requirements and squeeze your potential to the last drop of sweat!

During the Q&A session, I asked to question:
"How can we ensure that we don't fall into the trap of being a jack of all traits but master of none with an MBA?"
and
"Sure, an MBA allows us to manage people and resources, but how can we go about doing that without a purely technocratic approach."

These two questions really cornered the panelists, and it was interesting seeing how they addressed the answers to the questions directly to me and not to anyone of the hundred or so other people attending the discussion. I was very humbled when the Stanford representative, in a private discussion, told me: "You know, you have a really great aura around you, which attracts people to you." I don't like flattery, but I was truly amazed how my simple comments backed with confidence and courage led everyone to remember my name and take me seriously.

I enjoyed the personal dialogue I exchanged with the other candidates. At first I was hesitant to approach them as I didn't have a clear-cut set of questions, but at the end I realized that they're only human, made of flesh and bone like I am and that I have nothing to fear from them. It was rewarding and fruitful talking to them one on one. If there's anything I learned its to have confidence in one's self and take bold risks.

Also, go out and take initiatives by leading people without seeking to have it on your resume. You don't have to be a leader to lead.

I know that this isn't a structured entry; its merely my stream of consciousness from tonight, but I wanted to record it before it fades away. I hope it will give me confidence in the future and might give my dear reader some motivation in a time of need.

Pavilion VIII: The Prayer Room

I have recently discovered this jewel on the Lawn. There's not much too it. Three simple candle holder-shaped lamps, a creaky wooden floor, a beige colonial style fireplace mantle that contrasts sharply with the burgundy lining at the bottom of the walls. At first glance, its very difficult to attribute any functionality to this room. Its very minimalist with absolutely no decor, no indicator of a purpose.

Yet, there is so much spirit and serenity just by being here. The first time I passed by this room, I found a 1st year sitting in one of its corners reading a novel. I wasn't quite sure if I'd come to the right place at first, but after inquiring, she answered, "Yes, this is the Prayer room. I just come here in between classes because its quite."

The rustling shadows of the trees outside were slowly caressing the whole room. There was something so peaceful about being here that made me come back more and more. Between classes, I would look forward to escaping into this new world, where I could simply sit and meditate. I try to make the trip at least twice here. Its 9:28 and I feel like I've accomplished a feat getting through my daily prayers, so I decided to dedicate an entry to this room. This room that brings me so much comfort despite its simplicity.

I once wrote an entry titled Where Does God Live? and this room reminded me of it. In this case, I believe that God's presence is everywhere. Yes, even in a 19th Century colonial room at the University of Virginia. I think they keep the room undecorated because of UVa's secular tradition, but I actually like it that way. It expresses the true essence of Islam, i.e. its not by superficial appearances and rituals that one sincerely believes in God, but rather in the subliminal and profound intentions behind his thoughts and actions.

I have come to admire this room. At first, it deceived me for being another Lawn room, but now I understand that it is so much more. Never be judgmental. As a matter of fact, I would like to keep this room unadorned and minimalist. With no visual indicators, it enlightens one about religion and how it should really work...

I look forward to coming back to this room more often. Hopefully, merely sitting and meditating here can teach me more secrets of life.

The Revival

It suddenly hit me one day; “Actions speak louder than words!” Ever since then, I’d stopped writing. That was the death of a writer. That was when I ceased to exist.

This is the revival.

I’ve realized that the time has come to begin exposing myself to the world. What actually happened to me in the past couple of months when I stopped writing was that I became enslaved to the rush of life. I gave up reading, writing, poetry, music, religion, etc…I gave up my passions; I gave up the things that define me. I had come to believe that these aspects of my life were no longer practical and would never factor into my future success.

Then, I came to realize that my soul was being depleted. I literally felt empty, worthless, colorless… What had happened to the glorious days of art and literature that had filled my life with so much ecstasy? I then came to realize that we only live this life once. There are essentials that must be entertained to make this a fruitful life.

One of them is writing.

Expressing myself contributes and enriches the many other dimensions of my life. Just as I realize that life is only lived once, I also realize that there are moments and phases of life that escape one’s life. It is therefore imperative to catch them, freeze them, and ingrain them in the eternal walls of life. This is a craft practiced since the dawn of civilization. Go to the temples of Egypt and you’ll see how divine writing was for the pioneers of civilization. Even the Prophet himself declared, “The ink of the scholar is more sacred than the blood of the martyr.” The subject in question is writing.

I needed this therapy to live a meaningful life. Writing is a very personal and private experience. Sometimes it torments me to imagine what the readers of my diaries will think when they open them. But I realize that when you write to an audience, it’s a different experience. You are not only enriching your life, but also theirs. You paint a picture for them, one that is rich with experiences from distant lands and times. This is why I return to blogging.

The diary is my true friend.

But I always felt that I could be more candid when writing to my diary. Every Friday, I’d bike alone to the Downtown, walk down the main avenue, absorb the ambiance of this haven, grab a slice of pizza from Vita Nova, go gallery hopping, and I’d always return like a dog to the Mudhouse, the café that defines my writing. I’d think of myself as Jean Paul Sartre in his Parisian cafes. At the end of the day, I’d sit and recap the week. I wouldn’t write of events, but rather emotions and ideas.

Writing in my diary was like talking to a friend. It would always listen to you when you needed an ear. And when you closed it shut, it would go away. Sometimes I would enjoy what I was writing. Sometimes I would hate it. But I always needed it. I’d hide from people that I kept a diary because I thought it was a sign of weakness. Writing in my diary meant solitude and melancholy. But I realized that this diary was selfish. It would keep all my expressions to itself. It would never share them. I then visited my abandoned blog… I realized that it was rich with photos and words that made others happy. It was opened to the world.

Back to blogging.

Snapping back to reality, I realize that this is my final year at the University of Virginia. I have lived here for the past four years and have yet to share my experiences with others. I have been as selfish as my diary, keeping everything to myself. It is now time that I share this precious experience with the world. As of this day, I promise to pack my camera, laptop, and blog with me wherever I go. I am on a mission to record this experience and share it with you. Yes, you patient reader who is courteous enough to acknowledge my presence. I shall visit the Art museum, the pond, the Downtwon, the Corner, and all the holes in the walls that I have discovered here in Charlottesville. I only ask one favor of you; that you become loyal to me and I will be loyal to you. From this day on, you can expect to hear a lot more from me. I look forward to reviving this relationship, dear reader.

Sincerely Yours,

Mostafa

Globalizing the Arab World

I couldn't get any sleep, so I thought I'd write for a change. Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the future and I'm optimistic. I'm actually looking forward to going back to Egypt sometime after graduation, at least if not immediately because I realize that it is once more becoming the land of opportunity, at least if its a blessing in disguise. What's interesting is that I see the complaints of every Egyptian to be an opportunity. I feel like the war, corruption, and inequality in the Arab World to be an opportunity. If you think about it mathematically, its as if there's a problem waiting for a solution and the one who finds the solution wins the prize, be it money, the Noble Peace Prize, or what have you....

I feel like there's a void of goods and services in the Middle East just waiting to be filled. The only problem is that our people are just so disconnected from the rest of the world. I can honestly attest that I feel absolutely no cultural shock when traveling from America to Turkey to China, economically speaking. This is a globalized worlds and the markets in each country should be identical. Unfortunately, I don't feel the same in Egypt. Egypt, when it comes to media, industry, markets, etc... is behind. For example, I was watching MTV Turkey today and couldn't distinguish between the Turkish and American music videos... at times the Turkish ones blew my mind by how well they were choreographed. In comparison, Egypt's media is simply lacking, except for Orascom's channel, which I love! The point is, there is such a dichotomy that's needs some mending.

This is when we step in. When I say we, I refer to the youth of the Arab World. The lucky few opportunists that have made it big in the Arab World were the ones that saw this void and filled it in by connecting the world to their countries. In Egypt, the Smart Village is just an example of kids who did a really good job of connecting Egypt with the rest of the IT world. I believe that the fastest way to bring about this connection with the rest of the world will be through technology!

I might be biased when saying this because of my engineering background, but I believe that technology, throughout history, has been what made empires ascend or collapse. But more than ever, with the advent of the Internet, people can connect to the world and shape their lives. The internet is not only the best means of expression, it allows interactivity between people at the furthest corners of the world in a matter of seconds. This has made competition so intense, but this is where the opportunity comes in. There is barely any opportunity in the Arab World. When Western markets are almost completely saturated, it is the emerging markets of the Arab World that are still in needs of goods and services. It is for this reason that through Internet and technology that we can bring the globe to those who might not otherwise have anyway of engaging with the world.

Its almost as if I've just had an epiphany, but I believe the Internet is the most powerful tool out there. It is for this reason that I shall strive to upgrade my skill set to accommodate the future demands of this new market I call home...

The Philosophy of Emulation

Days and days of delving into literature and art have led me to conclude that everything is a mere emulation of something else, i.e. its double. From people to paintings, nothing seems original to me anymore.

The string of words you read before your eyes and they stylistic means by which I intermingle them are an adoption of the convoluted web of the archives of my literary intelligence. As I extrapolate this theorem, I hereby claim that everything under the sun is a mere replica of...yes, you've figured it out, something else under the sun.

This thought occurred to me not out of a spark of ingenuity, but rather from experience. To claim that two "creations" are identical may be a bit too far fetched, but to claim that all knowledge is built upon a precedent reservoir of other, twin-like knowledge would not be outlandish. So you ask yourself, what about the issues of plagiarism and intellectual property that seem to be the buzz words of today? Well I hate to break it to you, but they're meaningless in the literary and art world. Let me prove my point...

Ever since my youth, I have always taken pride in claiming that so-and-so invention belonged to my civilization, be it Egyptian, Islamic, or Arab...

Just when we were learning about the "atom" in middle school, I recall, during a cab ride up 2nd Avenue on the East Side of Manhattan, the Pakistani driver was insistent on proving to me that the West had ripped off everything from the East. It were the likes of Ibn Sina, Ibn Firnas, etc... that were behind such great movements like the Scientific Revolution and not their Western counterparts. I was convinced.

I was young, biased, and uninformed at the time... for I was later taught that "All knowledge is one!" It doesn't matter who invented what or who stole what from what...as long as it was a contribution to the breadth of mankind's understanding of this dream we call life, the it was valid...

To begin with, all knowledge is traced back to the Source. Whether you believe in God or Allah, all knowledge is divinely inspired, or so I believe. Whether it's Ibn Arabi's account of Mohamed's travels to the seven heavens or Dante's Divine Comedy, they are both one and the same, inspired by the Source. The fact that both discources discuss Heaven and Hell at about the same time to such exact twin-like precision indicates that there must be an inspring Source.

After reading Robinson Crusoe, I was proud of accomplishing a feat worthy of laudation, i.e. reading the first novel ever written in English. I was shocked to then find out that this was a mere copy of the Moorish Ibn Tufeyl's novel with the same plot, except applied to an Arab setting. This time the outcast was marooned on a desert island instead of a nautical one.

The point is to claim that so and so is a rip-off of so and so is to simplistic when delving into the matter of twin-like knowledge.

I recently toured an exhibition at the Sabanci Museum titled "Travel to the West". It was the story of the Turkish artists of the 19th century that ventured to Paris to acquire a taste for design, perspective, anatomy, and artistic concepts that would leand them to emulate the classical, romantic, and realistic movement works of their French counterparts. What these Turks came back with is the skill set of painting Istanbul with the same exact techniques that the French painted Paris. Hence, emulation of knowledge under different circumstances is another attribute of imitation.

This brings me to the point that I've been craving to make. Does it ever occur to you that you try to become somebody else? Well, think about it, don't we live in a society that expects to act a certain way, look a certain way, achieve in a certain way... Say, in religion, isn't it a matter of reaching perfection so as to emulate the virtues of Mohamed or Jesus, in work and business, isn't it a matter of achieving the success of some tycoon, say Bill Gates, in sports its a David Beckham, et cetera, et cetera. The point is, in every realm of knowledge or every activity in life, there is always an extreme that one has to imitate.

To be frank, I really have no clue where I'm going with this entry, but I'm enjoying penning down my stream of consciousness...

But what if one becomes too enveloped in this craving to become someone else? Does it lead to instanity or ingenuity? Can one become one's self? Should one be embarressed that he's not satisfied with his own being and is always eyeing others to emulate or is that what we should aspire to be doing (either because of personal or societal reasons)? I pose these questions to some curious reader who has ventured this far...

But if what if there truly is a soul-mate out there that is meant for us to emulate? Is it loneliness and lack of self-worth that drives one to want to be someone else, or is it truly our destiny to morph into some other being? Whether its through our actions, writings, or reasoning, is there anything that we acquire and produce that is truly original? Does the mere rearrangement of acquired knowledge to innovate considered original?

Now that I do not believe in originality, I believe that the true art of emulation stems from the adaption of the phenomena created, or rather emulated, over the centuries by our forefathers who roamed this world who were inspired by divinity. By drawing upon the creations of these renaissance men, and tweeking these creations a bit here and a bit there, aren't we creating something that can be called our own?

This is the reason why I am inspired to write. Reading something truly magnificent, be it a poem of Rumi's, a prose from some Nobel laureate's speech, or some other great work, I aspire to also become a creator of such a marvel. Hence, to draw upon other sources as I write is a way of continuing the philosophy of emulation.. I implore you to think, dear reader, whether this philosophy could truly be the "secret" that has led many on the paths of success, fame, and glory...

Impressionism, Cubism, Urban Realism, etc...

I just got back from the UVa Art Museum studio, where I spent another three-hour art session enlightening myself on this fascinating world of art. This is a continuation of the art class I've enrolled in to explore my hidden creativity. Today, Fanella, the art instructor wanted to take us down another lane of the schools of art. Subsequent to really focusing on realism in the previous class, she wanted to introduce us to the development of art and its gradual progression to abstraction. As she put it, she wanted to walk us, hand in hand, through a dark tunnel with flashlights. What truly intrigued me was that we were not only surveying the different realms of art, but the development of human perception.

Initially, Fanella, took us to a realism gallery dating from the 1800s. She explained that since the time of the renaissance until the late 1800s, realism was emphasized by the artist. It was encouraged to depict subjects as they appeared in everyday life without any unique signature touches of the artist. This objective reality condemned any deviations that may have expressed the artist's own impressions or emotions. She pointed out some techniques involved in realism, which was particularly objects closer to us, the viewer, entailed a much higher level of detail and that the colors for these objects were much saturated. As one looks into the distance of a landscape, for instance, the colors tend to blemish, become diluted, and the details are not so precise. This would allow the effect of proportionality to take place since the greater the distance, the less clear objects become. Fanella gave the example of road signs; the further they are, they less we can make out what they say. Notice this painting by Millet, titled the Gleaners, where is is very classical realism, but one can make out the details of the women, the colors of their clothing and hats, whereas the distance looks blemished and the colors are fading in contrast to the deep rich colors of the women's clothing.


We were next taken to a gallery of Modern American Impressionism and Urban Realism. This was a much richer type of art in my eyes. The impressionist works we viewed endeavored to capture the experience, or rather the impressions, or the artist. There tends to be much more fluidity, dynamism, and activity in life. It is for this reason, artists attempted to capture this reality by from how we perceive, not merely by how it appears. Impressionism gives us a different sensational feeling than realism and it is for this reason that it deviates drastically from how an object might appear from reality, on the path to abstraction. These paintings were marked with a collage of brushstrokes of different colors, almost appearing like pixels of a digital photograph. The more brushstrokes, the more intense the detail. Moreover, impressionist art overemphasized certain aspects of a painting, such as the emphasis on light. Also, aspects of life that we may perceive to be something ordinary take on a whole new dimension because the artist is attuned on a different frequency level than we are. He captures the reflections, sparkles, current, waves of water with a plethora of colors that defies our expectations of water being simply blue and green. For example, this painting of Monet:

reveals the water to have strands of green, blue, white, brown, black, and even orange to represent the reflection of the setting sun. The human experience is what is emphasized in this genre of art, especially in terms of the angles and perceptions through which the artist visualizes this art. This was a revolution in the art world and it evolved much more outdoors painting simply so that the artist could live the experience and transmit it on canvas.

Our last tour for the day was that of the cubist gallary, which encompassed various modernist paintings of Picasso and Braque, the artists who spearheaded cubism. Inspired by recently imported art from Africa, especially African masks, cubism was a new way for artists to express their perception of the human body into various dimensions. Breaking up the body included realizing that it was a creation of different components with different shades, volumes, and overall specifications. Notice the rigidity and segmentation of the human face in this African mask:

Cubism attempted to breakdown and capture the simplicity and segmentation of the human figure, essentially into cubes. This was a radical and influential deviation from all precedent forms of art. Moreover, human figures tend to be abiguous because the visual images of the human body tend to split up, drawn from different angles, and reassembled to create one object from multiple angles. This allows breadth of insight into the understanding of the artist's perception of the object. One object, drawn on the same canvas from different angles becomes multiple objects morphed into one. Cubism is the as abstract as we'd gotten so far as it times time, pondering, and contemplation to interpret the movement, animation, and story behind each cubist artwork. The following is a cubist portrait of the master of cubism, Picasso:


Our attempt for today's drawing session was to capture still life from a multitude of dimensions, while giving it a cubist and abstract touch. Since we couldn't afford hiring a model to pose for us, we had to settle with stuffed animals for the time being. I picked a stuffed teddy rabbit as my object. Our mission was to capture the three-dimensional, active, movement of this still object. The action would not necessarily be a result of the rabbit moving, but rather, our perception of the rabbit from different angles and with different drawing techniques. Firstly, we drew the objects from one fixed position with a single stroke of a pencil, without ever removing it from the paper; we then drew the object from a different position, with a different colored pencil, this time without looking. Lastly, we drew the same object from a diametrically opposite angle. We then shaded the three rabbits in with the respective colors. At this point, we attempted to morph the three rabbits into one. We did this by mixing and matching the rabbits so as to give them life and animation. Below is my attempt:



I understand that my drawing may come across as a bunch of kindergarten scribbles, but it was my attempt at emulating the perceptions of art I had absorbed for the day. It is through these endeavors, which may seem silly, that I feel like I am stretching my imagination and gaining more confidence in my creations.

The Modern Nahda

Sometimes I wish that I could write down the dialogues that Omar and I exchange on our road trips back and forth to and from DC. But one expression that Omar mentioned to me kept whirling in my head this whole week and it ran something along the lines of "Sometimes I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders when I remember the responsibility bestowed upon us." What exactly did he mean by this? At least the way I interpreted it suggested that this "weight" is what defines our purpose here. Why have I left Egypt to come half way across the world to study in Charlottesville? I sometimes ponder. Then I remember that I am part of a greater movement. It is people like Omar and me that fuel the engine for the awakening, the renaissance, call it what you will..., but heed my words, there is a subtle movement bubbling from the grassroots that will revolutionize the world.

There is no denying that the Arab and Muslim world is going through its dark ages. Although I do not wish to convert this blog entry into another "clash of civilizations" story of how we are the underdogs in comparison to the West, why deny that we have yet to have a revolution on the scale of the European Renaissance, Enlightenment, and Scientific Revolution? I believe that our forefathers had sowed the seeds for such a revolution, but it had never really materialized. Our revolution was called Al-Nahda.

I have familiarized myself with this movement through my readings of memories, autobiographies, and documentaries that I have read in my Arabic studies here at the University of Virginia. It is truly an eye-opener to see the plethora of great works that came out of the Arab World since its decline since the so-called Golden Age that spanned from the 8th century to the 13th century. The Nahda was an intellectual moevement that took place during the early 20th century in Egypt and Lebanon to define an Arab identity through literature. This was an intellectual movement aimed at reform, modernization, and the revival of the Arab fortitude in a modern world where ideologies were competing for supremacy.

The Nahda encouraged an open eye to learn from the world, which was essentially what brought Islam to the forefronts of the world when it embraced everything from Greek to Hindu philosophies.

Why do I embrace the Nahda? Partly because I feel like I am bestowed with an opportunity that the 19th century proponents of the movement were given. I was bestowed with the opportunity to study in the civilizational beacon of knowledge. I am given the unique opportunity to study the Western intellect through science and education. Before my eyes, I have seen one of the most epic shifts in power in the world, the transition of the U.S. government from regime to another. Some in my part of the world couldn't even fathom seeing such a shift in their governments in their lifetime. It is my submergence in Western life and its instutions that motivates me to bring back to Egypt with me a toolkit of methods to modernize, reform, and advance the state of our nation. My tone is ambitious, but my heart is determined.

Upon his return from Paris, Rifa El Tahtawi, an emissary by Mohamed Ali Pasha suggested that we have a lot to learn from the West, but that we should always keep an open-minded approach to modernism that is tailored to the values of Islam.

My particular interest in the Nahda stems from my readings. I have taken several Arabic literature and prose classes at the university and they have exposed me to a period where Arabic literature had seemed to reach its prime. Since Arabic is the lingua franca of most of the Middle East, the exchange of ideas and information quickly led to the ascendence of the Nahda in major cities like Cairo and Beirut and there was an ardent interaction between the two sides through the circulation of literary publications, as I shall outline in my later entries. Magazines such as Al Resalla (The Message), Loghatna al-Gameela (Our Beautiful Language) and al Fagr (The Dawn) exposed Arab readers to the talents around their world. Today, these magazines have sadly disappeared. Moreover, due to the partitioning of the Arab world by the West, many sought opportunities abroad.

My particular interest stems from the Lebanese diaspora, and especially those who traveled to the West. Some of the greatest writers the Arab World has ever seen has been those in exile. This is where the likes of Khalil Gibran Khalil sprung from. To some extent, I feel the same distance from my home like them. I wouldn't be surprised if this same nostalgia that I feel is what inspires me to read and wrte so much about my home land.

Homegrown talents such as Naguib Mahfouz, Taha Husseuin, and other Egyptians pushed this movement forward. But it is worth noting that Taha Husseuin also experience the same Western exposure that I am undergoing myself. The West offers a distinct atmosphere for the exchange of ideas, where you have access to every piece of information known to humankind at your finger tips. This is an advantage that no other civilization can offer nowadays. Despite my reservations about living in the West, I know that this is the suitable environment to develop one's intellect.

The essence of the Nahda was an exposure of the Arab World to the free thought and health competition of ideas that propelled the West to forefronts of the world. Unfortunately, the paranoia of modern day fundamentalist ideologies, both religious and secular have chocked any breathing space for new ideas to be brought to the table that could potentially change the current system. My experience here in the States has been an one that has taught me to be open, rational, progressive, and a distinct love for knowledge. I hope to bring back this spirit of intellectual inquiry to have some impact back home. But my quest from knowledge is far from complete. As I learn more and more about this movement of the Nahda, I will strive to emulate it more and more in my endeavors.

Egypt Needs Systems Engineering

As I stood in the queue to purchase a metro ticket at exactly 7:30 am in Heliopolis's Kobba El Saray station, I could not believe that Cairo could be so serene. This was of course before the hustle and bustle of the rush hour. I awaited in a short line to purchase my 1 L.E. ticket to board the punctual metro that would take to Midan el Tahrir, where I would attend another day of classes at the American University in Cairo. Just as I was about to conclude that that Cairo could have its tranquil moments, a Cairene bumbs into me, actually pushes me, cuts the short queue and starts shouting at me for "standing in the way." I began to question his logic, before the strangest thing happened. Another Cairene cuts the two of us and the two men begin quarreling about who should be first in line. As I stood back watching them in bewilderment, I could not understand how they could get so worked up at such an early hour and how were both at fault. The one thing that stuck me in their aggressive dialogue was that the word "system" was thrown around nonchalantly by the two of them. One would remark, "The system is broken!" And the other would reply, "The is no system, brother!" Anyways, by the time they settled who'd be first to purchase the one pound ticket, the 7:30 metro passed all three of us.

Ever since my youth, there have always been criticisms of this abstract notion called "the system"? No one ever really pinpointed what this idea was. It was one of those up-in-the-air notions that everyone criticized when they were frustrated. Whether it was the cab drivers, the politicians, the economists, or my uncles after dinner, the same debate would circulate around how the system is broken. Ever since my youth, I had wished to know exactly what the problem was so I understand its nature to find the solution. The fact that we in Egypt have never defined what the problem is in essence our problem! Apparently, the system and its subsystems (be it the educational or political system) are in peril in Egypt.

Always, there are complaints about the system's incompetence, intricacy, bureaucracy, lack of vision, . All of these factors undermine Egypt's potential to mobilize its people into a productive, efficient, and powerful force. This is detrimental to the state's allocation of resources to efficient use. This is the reason why Egypt is always struggling to stay afloat when it comes to providing for its citizens and making leaps in economic development. Now I can go on and on listing the problems, but that doesn't contribute to finding a solution for them. In a word, the problem is that we need an organized and efficient system that can allocatively and productively bring Egypt to its full capacity.

I commend Prime Minister Nazif's efforts for achieving Egypt's ranking as the number 1 reformer in the world in 2008, but all that Egypt has been focusing on thus far is structural reform. Structural reform of the economy is like shuffling around a deck of cards. You create new industries, they emerge, they grow, and they die. Its a life cycle. The trends of growth are known by economists to be that of moving people out of agriculture into industry, creating new smart villages, stimulating the economy via fiscal policy, shedding workers out of corporations, etc... These economic tools are effective for short-term improvements in the socio-political status of the country, yet these structural changes are merely an effort to beat around the bush and not address the source of the problem, which is the need for systematic change. Systematic change has a much broader perspective and is comprised of economic, social, political, and cultural institutions.

The System is comprised of the rules and practices that constitute the economic behavior. The system is what needs to undergo change. The aim of our system is to change is so that it can become more integrated to the world economy so that the best practices are implemented. Egypt is a welfare state that relies on government that isn't always capable of always providing for its citizens. This is when the government needs to play less of a role by retain the role of establishing the ground rules for markets to determine the rules of the business game and punish those who endorse undesirable behavior. The government must only play the role of the "watchful eye" that Obama mentioned in his inaugurations speech and not favor some over the others when it comes to providing opportunities.

I understand that I have taken a purely economic perspective in this analysis, but my aim is to convey the message that Egypt's System is comprised of a set of powerful interconnected factors that if only one of the subsystems is addressed with without regard to the "whole", then fixing the system will be a futile effort. Therefore, tinkering with a few subsets of the system will not yield sufficient change to the whole system. Everything from the way children are raised to how industries needs to be taken into consideration so as to revamp the whole program.

No excuses can be made to avoid blame of our incompetence. We cannot escape from our past. When our Mubarak uses the argument that Egypt is so underdeveloped because it had endured many wars in the past, I say look to the Japanese who had suffered the atomic bomb. Look where they are now. Look at the Chinese who had endured the wrath of Mao's terror during the Cultural Revolution. Look where they are now. These nations have revamped their system and decided to join the ranks of the civilized industrialized nations. In order to accomplish this marco-level revamping, we need what I call systems or social engineers.

My keen interest in the field of Systems Engineering was essentially to fix the problem that the "system" entails. I remember that I was once laughed by the mayor of Fairfax when I responded to his inquiry of what I wanted to do after graduation by telling him that I was interested in policy making. In America, engineers are taken to be introverted technical personnel that are referred to by policy makers. Whereas in the developing world it is the engineers that have come to lead. Technocratic governments are the new trend when it comes to countries like China and Egypt. It is through the technical tools that we acquire in our rigorous engineering disciplines that enable us to solve societal problems within a technology-scoped framework. I think it is our responsibility to solve this "system problem" through problem solution mindsets in this Information Age.

It is Systems Engineering that bridges the gap between the human and the machine in the effort to revamp the institutions of a nation from its attitude, psychology, social behavior, within the framework of modern institutions, such as the rule of law to discourage undesirable behavior. What is most important in the case of Egypt is respect for the law. People must understand that working within the framework of the system is in their advantage and that cheating the system is detrimental. Moreover, the great compromise will be for the government to serve the nation instead of opposite.

I truly pray that my studies in Systems Engineering are not in vain and that I may someday be able to pursue my dream of participating in the movement that will put Egypt back among the ranks of the world's key players both economically and politically. Obviously the aforementioned are the ramblings of a 3rd year Systems Engineering student, but hopefully they may sow the seeds for the changes that I dream to see in Egypt one day.

"Word Painting"

Word seem to trickle from my mind onto the screen like a god sparkling stars in the heavy velvet sky. It is in this essence that I have recently learned of a new writing technique that goes by the name of word painting. In my quest to excel as a writer, I have been seeking alternative forms of the art of writing, similar to an artist experimenting with realism, modernism, impressionism, in an endeavor to best suite his style.

Word painting is a technique similar to oil painting on a canvas but in an analogy a means to ferment our ideas and impressions on the beauty of a certain concept on paper. This is the backbone of all great works that allows the writer to divulge, in deep description about his deepest feelings. Novelists tend to manifest these innermost emotions through the personalities and personas of their fictional characters just as a painter might bring out the beauty of a scenery before his eyes.

At times, we find that our descriptions of certain impressions don't do justice to explain how we really feel. Its not the same as providing your reader the body language and gestures that you might try to convince to a reader of a certain feeling. Simply said, its not the same as a "face to face" conversation with the reader. It is thus imperative to word paint to bring across to your reader the true essence behind what your aim to convey.

Every human is innately an artist. Every human is capable of word painting. It is merely required of every human to search in the deepest of his abysses for the true meaning of his emotions to dig out the right words as if they are unpolished gems and make them shine with the forces of adjectives, adverbs, transition phrases, and descriptors that will make the read as free flowing and colorful as water painting.

When writing of a certain idea or emotion, be specific, inquire as to what it is you really feel. Ask yourself what, where, why, when, and how your may be feeling the way you do. Be concise, avoid redundancy, analyze your emotions, visualize and feel what your are saying. Your words are a representative of yourself. Wouldn't your want to put yourself in the spotlight among other writers and have others appreciate your work as a form of art? Otherwise our writing becomes a chain of phrases, idioms, and expressions that are cliche and borrowed from popular culture outlets, such as films, songs, and other un-intellectual outlets of the entertainment industry. Hence, be original!

Not only does word painting explore our psychological subconscious of how we perceive the world, it opens the reader's eyes to new dimensions of impressions and emotions. We can experience new moods of elation through mere descriptions, such as visualizing vast, lush, green meadows with dew forming droplets of cool, refreshing water on the meadow lining the hill's body like the scales of a slumbering dragon. Visualize the imagery and feel the mood of awe that such a silly statement that can give you. Through such descriptions, we don't only inform the reader of the insight behind the subject matter, but enlighten ourselves as to what moved us and why it did the way it did.

I recently attended an art exhibition celebrating the 30 years of reform in China, where I say several artists with a pen and paper in hand sketching figures and details that inspired from the paintings of the galleries. This reminded me of the time I'd gone to Ataturk's museum in Turkey when I would carry my diary and pen around and "water paint" how I felt towards certain articles of possession, achievements, and inspiring traits of the modern founder of a Turkey. In a sense, I was water painting in an effort to attempt to emulate such a great leader's achievements, with hopes of instilling such impressions upon myself so that I may, one day, when given the opportunity, seek to bring about similar reform in myself, my community, my nation, and my world. Since then, I have carried out this tradition in museums so that I could benefit of the impressions that were drawn, carved, welded, written by the generations of the past. It is through word painting that we can record our impressions in certain circumstances and carry them with us through time to the future. Also through the process of word painting, we are drawn back to past times with the stimuli of smells, sounds, and feelings that allow us to drawn upon our past experiences to record our present condition to influence our future moods. Writing ties together past, present, and future phases of our lives through the mere phrases that define our word painting. It is in this spirit that I am able to visit the Mostafa of the past and talk to the Mostafa of the future.

I dedicate this entry to someone who taught me, but I never had the opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for bestowing me with this fruitful passion that keeps me awake in the late hours of every night. Thank you Dr. Henderickson, my IB English professor. Although you were strict and critical, you opened the world of writing to me, a world that I could spend a thousand lifetimes wandering in. I am forever grateful. Let this be a follow up manifesto towards my journey to develop and hone the skills of a writer.