May it be

What if you don’t see it?
What if you don’t feel it?
What if you don’t find it?
What if you don’t get it?

You go, you run
You escape
You fly, you cry
You scream

You surrender
You leave it all
You go under
You wait to fall

What if you don’t see it?
What if you don’t feel it?
What if you don’t find it?
What if you don’t get it?

You see darkness
You lost hope
You feel sadness
You lose scope

You touch fears
You breathe horror
You drink tears
You break mirror

What if you don’t see it?
What if you don’t feel it?
What if you don’t find it?
What if you don’t get it?

Do they really think differently?

Same Interview with Four Young People from:
Trinidad and Tobago, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey

By Safae Alem

What are their ideas about democracy, terrorism, and freedom of speech?
To what extent can people, from different parts of the world, share the same ideas?
We may find answers to these questions by reading the following interview with four young
people from Trinidad and Tobago, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey. The interviewees answered the same 10 questions without informing them that they would be answered by other persons.


They are:

Amir, 23, is a citizen from the Caribbean country; Trinidad and Tobago. He is from East Indian descent. He is currently pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. He lives in the Central Region of Trinidad.

Nawal Hadduzi, 23. A Moroccan student pursuing her English studies at Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Letters, situated in Martil, Tetuan. She lives in Tetuan.

Mohamed Majid, 26. A Tunisian engineer, graduated from the INSAT, Tunis. He works as a professional buyer, BG TUNISIA Ltd (Subsidiary of BG Group) at Hannibal Gas Treatment Plant, Contract & Procurement Department, Sfax, Tunisia.

Tolga, 22, from Istanbul, Turkey. He is a student of mathematics. He will be a math teacher in a year.

Supposing we know nothing about your country. How would you present it from a perspective of a young citizen?

Amir: My country has gone from an agricultural society to a much industrialised society because it has a great amount of natural resources. Hence it is still in a developing stage. People of Trinidad and Tobago are of a multi ethnic background. In brief, as a young citizen, the country is a fast developing one in all areas trying to break free of a third world system in order to elevate its status with a very high class education system and a fast developing industrial sector.

Nawal: Morocco is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and this is due to its natural landscapes which attract tourists from different places. It economy depends mainly on agriculture, tourism, and foreign investments. It is the only African country that is not currently a member of the African Union. In addition, Morocco is an ethnically diverted country with a rich culture and civilization.

Mohamed: Tunisia is a young country which is growing up steadily. Its economy is growing fast in the last 5 years; there are more investment in the Oil & Gas field and more production of natural gas. The government is doing well, relying on teenagers by providing a good assistance to fulfil their studies. The country is considered one of the safest countries (North Africa / Middle East).
I always feel like I am missing one of my "three parents" when I travel outside Tunisia.

Tolga: Turkey is a Euro-Asian country which is trying hard to join the European Union. Our country has known an important growth in all domains lately. Our industry is becoming more and more developed, and it can compete with the biggest industries. Also, Turkey is a very beautiful country with different natural aspects and important historic monuments. As a young citizen, I would represent it as a very beautiful place in the universe and not only in the world. Every person should visit my country at least once in a lifetime.

What do you like the most in your country? What do you dislike in it?

Amir: What I like the most in my country is relaxed atmosphere and the freedom to practice your rights without any kind of restrictions.
What I dislike the most is the government and how they manage the country.

Nawal: What I like the most in Morocco is nature and music.
I dislike Moroccan politicians.

Mohamed: Actually I like many things in Tunisia; nature, culture, religion, mixture of people, and security.
I dislike: some people’s attitudes.

Tolga: I like nearly everything in my country except traffic jam in Istanbul and some selfish people who believe that everybody should think the way they do.

What is your opinion about democracy? To what extent do you think it is applied in your country?

Amir: Well my opinion about democracy is that citizens in a country should have a great deal of freedom in choosing the elected one to run that country. They also have to have their impact on decisions that may be made to run that country.

Nawal: Some people think that democracy in Morocco is a shameless window dressing. They say quite correctly that the nature of the political system has not changed. Personally, I believe that all this talk of taking steps in the direction of modernity and democracy is essentially for foreign consumption, especially for Europe. Yet, without a responsive and transparent government and an engaged civil society, the promise of a stronger democracy is difficult to obtain.

Mohamed: Good question. I think democracy is applied in Tunisia to a certain level. But we have to rethink about the way we apply it in order to avoid some problems.

Tolga: Democracy is one of the most important needs of human beings. In my country, everybody loves democracy. However, some people think that they love it more than others so it causes some problems. I think democracy is applied in my country since people can choose freely their Prime Minister.

Terrorism has become one of the most important issues in the world. How do you define it? Do you think your country is also a target to terrorism?


Amir: Terrorism in today’s world has been made to seem that anyone belonging to the Islamic faith is categorized as a terrorist. That is the picture that the media has given to the world today. In contrast, when people from other religious faiths commit a "terrorist" act, the media rarely call them terrorists.
No, I don’t think my country is a target to terrorism.

Nawal: Terrorism is to harm innocent people, but I think the definition is relative, right? Unfortunately, Morocco has become threatened by many attempts to destroy its political and social systems. In my opinion, what happened in Casablanca lately was the beginning of terrorism in Morocco. They want to disfigure the image of Morocco in the eyes of other countries.

Mohamed: Terrorism may mean extremism; it can be avoided by negotiation. Definitely, Terrorism is targeting all North Africa. Particularly, Tunisia suffered from this hurricane two months ago, but (Thanks God) it was under control.

Tolga: I think terrorism is not a concept as many people think. It is the new way of war between countries or ideas. Many events have been called terrorist attacks or acts, but I don' think this is right.
Yes, I think Turkey is a target to this evil and I hope this will end soon.

Freedom of speech may have advantages and disadvantages. What do you think about it? Should people become FREE to say and write anything they like? Do people have freedom of speech in your country?

Amir: Freedom of speech I think is a good thing. However, sometimes, to talk about whatever in the wrong crowd may cause more harm than good. Anyway, there should be an extent to freedom of what one can write and say but not totally.
Yes I would like to think so but again there are boundaries that citizens have to go by with respect to this freedom of speech, I wonder how free this thing that is called freedom of speech is!

Nawal: One of the gravest issues that any society in this world can deal with is the lack of freedom of speech. Personally, I don't think it exists in Morocco and I believe that this freedom would give an opportunity to Moroccans to develop their ideas and culture. However some boundaries have to be respected.

Mohamed: Yes, this is recognised all around the world. The problem is some people try to say whatever they like when you give them a certain degree of freedom, but they only become parrots!
Honestly, I've heard about this issue, but I don't know if they have it or not.

Tolga: "One's freedom ends where other's freedom starts"; this is what I believe, and it includes freedom of speech. Well, I think people in Turkey have this kind of freedom to some extent.

If you are asked the grand question posed to 199 great scientists: “what is your most dangerous idea?” What would be your answer?

Amir: Ha-ha, My most dangerous idea? Well I haven’t really thought about anything to that extent since it is not in me, so I am indeed sorry that I can’t answer this question.

Nawal: My dangerous idea… I don’t know really. It may be a coming Tsunami!

Mohamed: developed Sub-Saharan countries. I think this may change the world.

Tolga: I haven't thought about something like that, but if I do I'll let you know.


In the following sentences, which word you would pick up to fill the blank?

I wish if there is no … in the world.
I wish if I could live in…
I dream of visiting …
I want my country to be the first in/to…
if I were president, my first movement would be against …

Amir:
a. I wish if there is no discrimination [all types] in the world.
b. I wish if I could live in Saudi Arabia [medina].
c. I dream of visiting New Zealand.
d. I want my country to be the first to have a society where there is no crime.
e. If I were president, my first movement would be against war.

Nawal:
a. I wish if there is no terrorism in the world.
b. I wish if I could live in peace.
c. I dream of visiting Mecca.
d. I want my country to be the first in developing.
e. If I were president, my first movement would be against illiteracy.

Mohamed:
a. I wish if there is no death in the world.
b. I wish if I could live in heaven.
c. I dream of visiting my mom (she died).
d. I want my country to be the first in technology.
e. If I were president, my first movement would be against poverty.

Tolga:
a. I wish if there is no money in the world.
b. I wish if I could live in my dreams.
c. I dream of visiting the entire world.
d. I want my country to be the first in everything good.
e. If I were president, my first movement would be against racism.

What and who do you love the most?

Amir: I love God the most.

Nawal: I love our prophet Mohamed the most.

Mohamed: I love my mom and my sweetheart Sara.

Tolga: I love Allah the most.

What and who do you hate the most?

Amir: I hate the Satan the most.

Nawal: I hate George Bush the most.

Mohamed: I hate goodbyes.

Tolga: I hate nothing.

what is your :
a. dream
b. fear

Amir: My dream is to achieve a successful life in this world and firm grasp of my faith; as a result to be more successful in the life hereafter.
My fear is to become a non Muslim

Nawal: My dream is to achieve a good degree in society. My fear is about the future of Morocco.

Mohamed: Success, but I think this is my goal. So, my dream is to assist the Formula one race, Monaco Grand Prix. My fear is failure.

Tolga: I'm sorry I don't like to share my dreams. My fear is to lose a dear person.


From the west to the east, Amir, Nawal, Mohamed, and Tolga answered my questions. They agreed upon many ideas and they also have different personal thoughts. Young people may have some original ideas that can help in developing and improving their societies. I think that decision makers should take them into consideration.

The Fall of Taliban…
Was it a Rose for Afghan Woman?

By Safae Alem

2001 was the end of Taliban and the beginning of Afghan women’s hope of a new life. Many promises were made by the powerful men and women of the world. They were Promises of a better future with equal rights between both genders and of social and economic development. Cherie Blair said in November 2001: “We need to help Afghan women free their spirit and give them their voice back, so they can create the better Afghanistan we all want to see.” George Bush boasted in December 2001: “Women now come out of their homes from house arrest.” Colin Powell made a promise in 2001: “The rights of the women of Afghanistan will not be negotiable.” In January 2002, George W. Bush said in his State of the Union address, “The last time we met in this chamber, the mothers and daughters of Afghanistan were captives in their own homes, forbidden from working or going to school. Today women are free...” Today we are in 2007, which means 5 years after Taliban, the question is were those promises fulfilled?

Afghan women have known various kinds of oppressions through the country’s history. The most pernicious were during Taliban’s period when women had been controlled by men. They were oppressed and tortured through the rigid interpretation of Islam by Mullahs. Thus, women had been banned from many activities, varied between crucial and ordinary. Ban on woman studying. Ban on woman’s work outside home. Only a few female doctors and nurses were allowed to work in some hospitals only in Kabul since all Afghan women - not only in Kabul - were prohibited to see male doctors. Ban on woman’s activity outside home unless accompanied by a mahram. Ban on woman’s playing sports or entering a sport center or club. Ban on women wearing high heel shoes. Ban on the use of cosmetics (Many women with painted nails had fingers cut off), and even ban on women laughing loudly!

In fact, the removal of Taliban served women to persevere in order to change their situation in Afghan society. They have been struggling for years and finally succeeded in gaining equal rights in the new Afghan constitution. They participated in two national elections and two Loya jirahs (a large meeting held in Afghanistan, attended by regional, political, military and religious leaders). They won seats n the national parliament. They have become able to attend school and to work. Also, Afghan woman continued their political activities and reached some important positions nationally and internationally. We can mention Sima Samar, the first woman minister of Ministry of Woman’s Affairs in the transitional government if Hamid Karazai, Zahida Ansari, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Bulgaria, and Mas’uda Jalal who was Afghanistan’s first female presidential candidate.

But even though, many of the fundamental problems remain unchanged. Starting with the burqa, which was and is still an issue in woman’s life in Afghanistan. Under Taliban’s control, women were forced to wear burqa and had been beaten if they refused. But the paradox is that the majority of Afghan women are still wearing it. “…I was walking with an Afghan colleague to a meeting on women's rights; I spotted an ice-cream vendor in the hot, dusty street. I rushed ahead and returned with two cones of lemony ice. I held one out to my friend. ‘Forgive me,’ she said. ‘I can't.’ She was wearing a burqa.” Ann Jones said. She continued: “I'd watched women trip on their burqas and fall. I'd watched women collide with cars they couldn't see. I knew a woman badly burned when her burqa caught fire. I knew another who suffered a near-fatal skull fracture when her burqa snagged in a taxi door and slammed her to the pavement as the vehicle sped away.” An Afghan woman nodded towards her burqas and said “I want to pour oil on top and set them on fire. I hate them.”

However, when we come close to crucial problems, burqa seems to be the less significant. Afghanistan is about the poorest country in the world. About 85% of Afghan women are illiterate. About 95% are routinely exposed to domestic violence. Half of pregnant women die in childbirth, putting Afghanistan in the first ranges of the highest maternal death in the world. One third of the country is without girls’ schools because of the attacks made by Taliban and anti-government groups against female students and teachers. “If the families do not allow their daughters to study, we cannot have women teachers, doctors and engineers,” Masooma, 19, pointed out. “ ‘If there are no women doctors, there is no treatment for women patients’, since women in this ultra-traditional area are not allowed to be attended by male doctors.” Lashkar Gah reported. Also, the academy which consists of kitchens, vast halls, and a theatre and which can accommodate 200 students received only 4 female students. Forced marriages represent about 60% to 80% of all Afghan marriages. 57% of girls are married before the legal marriage age of 16. In addition, female politicians and activists face intimidation and violence. “Women who are standing up to defend women's rights are not being protected,” says Brita Fernandes Schmidt of Womankind Worldwide. “Women's rights activists are getting killed, women's NGO workers are getting killed, and that is not going to change unless some drastic action is taken,” she continues.

Women’s problems related with men are the most horrible. Afghan women are the property of men. They can be sold and traded; they can be exchanged for animals in disputes between warlords; and they are given as amends in “conflict resolution” or as a payment for debts. Violence against women is an ordinary activity for the majority of Afghan men. “Widow Bibi Gul, 60, gathered her two daughters in a quiet room to tell their story. After her husband died, said Gul, she refused to surrender the deeds to their house, so her two youngest sons drove her into the desert and threatened to kill her. 'They pulled me out of the car and beat me,' she said. 'They said they would throw me into a well.' ” Declan Walsh reported. “Although Afghan law sets the minimum marriageable age for girls at 16, girls as young as eight or nine are commonly sold into marriage. Female doctors in Kabul maternity hospitals describe terrible life-threatening ‘wedding night’ injuries that husbands inflict on child brides. In the countryside, far from medical help, such girls die.” Ann Jones said.

For that, a big number of Afghan women try to escape. But escaping is a crime in the eye of Afghan society; the woman alone outside home is accused to be guilty of the crime of zina (engaging in sexual activity) whose sentence is putting in jail for an indefinite term or being murdered by the woman’s male family members “to restore the family honour.” The raped victim is treated the same, since there is no excuse for any sexual contact. Dishonour for Afghan family is always related to girls and women. They can bring dishonour if they are raped or escaped; if they are kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery; and even if they commit suicide. The latter is spreading widely among Afghan women. They kill themselves to flight from the cruel life; from beating, sexual abuse, forced marriage, imprisonment, and honour killing.

It is true that the fall of Taliban gave an opportunity to Afghan woman to experience a kind of freedom. She can now go to school, she can work, and she can go out alone. But the reality is that the end of Taliban did not make an end to the country traditions. In contrary, they remain unchanged. Violence against women exists not only outside but inside the house; husbands beating their wives only because they feel like to do it. Young girls are forced to get married with old men. Although Afghan activist women are fighting to catch some rights, they are far from changing people’s minds and convictions. What is happing inside Afghan society reflects retarded mind of people, especially men. There is no doubt that Afghan woman feels regretful and maybe ashamed of being female even if it was not her choice. Who can deny it? If she is treated like animals and exchanged for them; if she is seen as a sex doll, as a machine to produce children, and sometimes as a non-human being which deserves torture and abuse.

Miracles of hearts

They may wait or hide

They follow sand and rain

Waves of the ocean’s tide

Water drops, pearls chain

The long wing-horse’s ride

Miracles of hearts reamain

They just come at length

In all despairing lives

To give a tender strength

Love’s heartbeat arrives

After agony.. lonly days

Long meditations each night

After obscure dark ways

Unmapped roads of unlight

To open the joyful gate

To let sorrow declines

To melt hope with fate

The essence of life shines

Drawing from heaven’gate

Dreams with golden lines

أحيانا يحس الواحد من الناس إحساسا هو ليس للمرة الأولى وإنما هو جديد كل مرة... إحساس ليس مما يخط حروفا... ولا مما يرسم

ألوانا ... ولا مما يعزف لحنا ... إحساس يخطه القلب ويرسمه الفؤاد وتعزفه الروح المنتشية بالسعادة الخفية

إنه ليس مما يحرك القلب فقط... بل إنه يهزه هزا... ويرجه رجا
لو اجتمعت الألسن على أن تبدع شيئا من ذاك الشعور لما أبدعت... ولو اتفقت اللغات على أن تصف ذاك الإحساس لما وصفت

إنه نسيم رقيق يأتي ليلف القلب ويشرح الصدر
إنها لمسة سماوية تأتي بنقاء للروح وصفاء للنفس... شيء من الجنون الجميل.. يأتي ليذكر العقل أن القلب يتمرد أحيانا وأن الفؤاد يستبد أيضا

معنى لم يستكمل معناه من اللغة ولم يستوعب فحواه الفكر... هو ربما يكون نفسه لغة، وربما يكون فكرا... لغة كلامها هو نجوى الأفئدة... وفكرا تتواصل به الأرواح

...إحساس يتجدد كلما تذكر القلب أنه موجود... فهو منه و له وإليه

فإن حدث و أحس قلبك بوجوده... خل له السبيل ليرقص رقة الفرح ويغني مقطوعة السعادة فإنه قد أحياه الاحساس النبيل... الحب

...

Crying till tears dry

Losting hope and joy

Scaling in an unknown sea

Loosing directions and cry

Wondering about later and now

Asking when?where?and why?

Trying to flee and leave it all

Wanting to go and to fly

Thinking deeply with agony

Seking for a saver or an ally

Then...

Then you see a soft light

Shining from a beautiful star

Bringing a gleam to the dark night

Reviving your dying heart

Calling you for a long flight

Holding firmly your soul

Drawing for you in pink and white

Playing for you piano and guitar

Gazing at you with a tender sight

Offering you a yearning hand

Making you feel simlpy alright

Then..

Then you open your eyes...

Coming back again to the real life

Waking up after the sweet dream

Living again on the ground

Looking to stars in their sky

Wishing to go to the dream

Feeling happiness at least there

There...

Neveah doesn’t want to sleep
She doesn’t want to still awake
She wants her soul to go there
To leave it all
To escape…
Towards there

Where there’s no pain
No crys
No limits
No boundries
No logic
No rules

Where there ‘s the real dream
Where whishes are true
Where life is beautifully lived

There…
The only somewhere
Which can be a relief
To her pain
To her fears
To her tears

She knows that…
“There” is far…
Too far
To be reached
But…
Still wishing
To leave and live There… in Heaven !