Kuwait celebrates 50 20 5 in 2011

image hosted in flicker

The Arab world is tiptoeing on the verge of public protests, revolutions, demands, uprising and political turmoil, with a contagious sense spreading across borders.
While Kuwait is celebrating its 50 years independence, 20 years liberation and 5 years of the new Amir's leadership. The party was big. The military parade, a classic parade, had one significant twist: the Amir hosted a large congregation of Arab leaders, leaders from around the world, military delegations, friends and family. It must have been a good time to discuss current political issues. The Arabs have integrated in their language the word : "coulisse" used as "kawaleess" or what goes behind the scene. The kawaleess must have been the "it" place to be.
What could the Syrian president have said to the Lebanese president? What did the Iraqi president chat about with the King of Bahrain? Did anyone give any advice to the Qatari Emir on what to do with Al jazeera tv? Did the King of Spain share with anyone his experience in parliamentary monarchy?
It must have been a good fruitful party.
And for the people of Kuwait, the giant, massive fireworks along the Gulf Road was a display of joy and fun. It was very well prepared with a general artistic presentation of Kuwait's history. In the streets fully packed, people rejoiced.

Rap in Tahrir Square - Cairo by Dia al Deen

A video clip in a rap style: The lyrics are simple but they express needs of the Egyptian street , going well with the Nile revolution.
" We live like cockroaches ...
This is the meaning of Freedom,
and it tastes better with Mouloukhia ...
Do you see the disaster in our lives
Everyone turns his back
and prays God to be spared ..."

Rap makes sense with the demands and discontents of the people. The Tahrir phenomena is a wave spreading. The Arab world is holding its breath waiting for the outcome and wishing for the best to be achieved.

(Thanks Abdullah for posting the clip on your facebook page)

homosexuality

22/02/09 Beirut, Lebanon witnessed another type of public sit in to protest against violations of the rights of social minorities in Lebanon. The defense of the homosexual community clearly dominated the event, organized at the initiative of the association Helem.

The event, the first of its kind in the Arab world according to the organizers, was staged by the Beirut-based Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ) support organization Helem.
"This protest came as a response for an incident which took place at Sassine square: almost a month ago, a few persons attacked two men publicly and beat them savagely, punching, kicking and even using sticks until bloodshed, because they were allegedly caught in a suspicious intimate situation in a building under construction."

Could this protest lead to any changes in the mentalities and Arab culture? Is it just a way for LGBTIQ's to express themselves in the open and thrive to be accepted in an environment that can barely tolerate political or religious differences, let alone sexual ones?
http://www.helem.net/my right to having

walls

A friend was comparing what he planned to do in his house "reclaiming territory just as the Israelis do in Palestine".
Territory, walls, houses, rooms, space, demolition, bricks, destruction, reconstruction, mine, yours, not yours, all mine, here, out of here, part of my life, out of my life....
It is the basis of an interesting scope of vision on how humans can claim ownership of land and earth and who gave them that right.
Rachel Cunningham in her masters diploma produces a series of still life photos of Palestinian houses remains demolished by the Israelis. Fragments of these houses were displayed in a detached quasi-scientific manner. She was helped by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolition. Exhibition of her work will take place in Feb in England.
Fascination can be pulled in the psyche of Israelis with the destruction of Palestinian houses and yet erection of that mighty wall to encage the "terrorists". How far can one go in his own contradictions and absurd behavior?