This is a poem I wrote recently called “Be a Hero” that I thought I should share. Since, my poems are usually based on the way I speak/say them to myself, not actually properly structured poems, I also thought I should record it. Try to not concentrate on how weird my voice sounds when it’s recorded.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151312219452558&set=vb.500157557&type=2&theater

BBC HAS WRITTEN ABOUT ME! So, I usually like to quickly scan the major online news sites every morning. and ummm.. BBC has written something about me. I did not share this information except with very few of my friends…. But during the revolution I was very active on twitter. I was away from Egypt and panicked when the internet went down. I felt it was my responsibility to tell the world what was happening to Egyptians when Mubarak had cut the lights out on them and was killing them relentlessly. I would call on land lines and ask what was happening, and report everything. I started gaining thousands of followers in just a couple of days. Jazeera International was quoting me LIVE on its stream, and twice on its daily summary reports. My brother’s life was also in danger and I was talking about that too. Anyways, my dad and husband found out and totally freaked out because, “what if Mubarak doesn’t leave??” My dad said. You will be black-listed forever. You will never be able to enter Egypt, and if you do, they might imprison you. You are a mother now, and can’t risk such a thing. Delete this twitter profile immediately! And I did. I re-activated it later (just so no one steals my twitter name, but had lost all the followers). Of course everyone was scared that something had happened to me. I found lots of people asking about me, and even trying to inform authorities. Anyways, I thought no one remembered this, until today when I was reading the news…. its all out now. They are wondering why my tweets disappeared?? lol.

thepathofabeliever:

If only people were more kind to employees at Department stores, and everywhere else. I’m sure people would really appreciate it if you picked up clothes or items you’ve dropped, and placed them back in their designated spots. There’s no need to act like royalty when you go shopping. Respect others, so that you may receive respect in return. 

I condemn the violence yesterday at the American embassies in Cairo and Libya, and offer my and all educated Egyptians and Muslims condolences to the families of the deceased American ambassador in Libya and all those injured in the sad events. I also apologize for any damage caused to property by under-educated and under-civilized protestors who do not in any way represent me, Islam, or the rest of us peaceful and civilized Arabs & Muslims who have inspired the world with our peaceful struggle for freedom and justice in the Arab Spring.

The timing of such violence is very suspicious: 24 hours after prominent US investors have declared Egypt open for international business; days ahead of Egypt’s first opening address in 26 years at the UN General Assembly; and weeks ahead of the US elections seeing extreme right wing politics on the rise and quickly using these events for campaigning to gain more votes.

We should all practice wisdom and restraint in assessing and reacting to such questionable events, and in contributing to generating more negativity on both sides.

Such sad and shocking events demonstrate beyond any doubt the extreme damage that the vicious circle of HATE could cause to all of us no matter where we are. The international community is required to collaborate urgently on restoring rights and freedoms to all people of the world, and stopping mindless wars and occupations that serve only one purpose: damaging the peaceful, loving human relations of our one global family.

It always makes me uneasy whenever someone compliments me (which I’m not saying is a frequent occurance), or anyone else, on physical appearance. Not so much because of the awkwardness it entails, but more so because of the fact that one’s appearance has nothing to do with the way he or she lives life. Many are born good-looking, but very few work on their character and soul. It takes no effort to be innately beautiful or handsome, but it is very difficult to break your ego, and to be kind, humble, honest, hard-working, disciplined, patient, and modest.

I’ve been going through quite a bit lately and it got me thinking; how do you determine good circumstances from bad circumstances? We are brought up to believe that good circumstances are things like getting a promotion, getting a good house, having good health and a nice car. Bad circumstances are getting ill, having failed relationships or losing your job. But, that can not be farther from the truth.

A good circumatance is anything that brings you closer to Allah. A bad circumstance is anything that takes you away from Him. You may get a promotion and buy a brand new car but if these things drag you away from God and your life purpose, then these were bad circumstances even if superficially it seemed good. You fell ill but that illness reminded you how weak you are and made you promise to never again compromise your relationship with Allah…. then that was a good circumstance even if superficially it doesn’t seem so.

You get a letter in the mail with your name on it. Its from someone very dear to your heart. Someone who you love and who loves you. The letter has the the letters URGENT printed on the outside of the envelope. You open it up in a hurry to read it. Isn’t that what you do? Because I’m kind of confused.

You see, Allah has sent us a letter. The message of the letter is urgent and really its a matter of life and death. “You must read this letter and understand it” Allah says. But we take the letter and put it in the bookshelf alongside the other books we never pick up. It begins to gather dust and we hardly ever pick it up to read it. Even when we do, we put no effort to understand it. And I do not know how I will face Allah and what I will tell him about his letter which I have abondoned. A letter whose sole purpose was to save me but I could not be bothered…