1 RHET 101 Portfolio Section 2 Summer Session 2012 The American University in Cairo Dina Said 900114651
1
RHET 101 Portfolio
Section 2
Summer Session 2012
The American University in Cairo
Dina Said
900114651
2
Table of Contents Cover Letter …………………………………………………………………………………………………03
Free Writing -‐01....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….04
Free Writing -‐02....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….05
Free Writing -‐03....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….06
Free Writing -‐04....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….07
Free Writing -‐05....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….08
Free Writing -‐06....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….09
Collage ……………………………………………………………………………………………………10-‐15
Analysis-‐01 -‐(Draft01)…………………………………………………..……………………........16-‐20
-‐(Draft02)………………………………………….……………………………........21-‐24
-‐(FL Draft)………………………………………..……………………………......... 25-‐29
Analysis-‐02 -‐(Draft01)…………………………………………………………….……….…........30-‐31
-‐(Draft02)…………………………………………………………….…………........32-‐33
-‐(FL Draft)…………………...……………………………………..…………...........34-‐36
Analysis-‐03 -‐(Draft01)…………………………………………………………….……….…........37-‐40
-‐(Draft02)…………………………………………………………….…………........41-‐44
-‐(FL Draft)…………………...……………………………………..…………...........45-‐48
3
20 July 2012
The following portfolio contains the contents of my Rhetoric 101 class
from the Summer Session 2012 at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Having enrolled in this RHET101 SU12 course helped me undergo an amazing
growth in writing. My writing was vague, with no purpose or plan and lacked
formality. However, I learned to write liberally and eloquently throughout my
writing process by choosing the correct words to illustrate my views, in
expressing my ideas, noticing grammar mistakes and in making clear my
objectives. Writing became an inspiration to me.
So, I’ve decided to organize it in a chronological way to show my progression and
achievements from the beginning until the end of this summer course. All the
pages are numbered in a consecutive order.
Hope you like my work.
4
Free Writing -‐ 01 Egypt has been an inspiration for me since the day I was born. I loved it loyally with
all my heart, especially the poor places and districts.
Nowadays, everything is falling apart. What’s happening in this country is neither
healthy nor logical. For the first time, this country is now experiencing a new policy,
which is ‘’ democracy’’.
This word is so big and has so many rules to be understood and followed correctly.
The Egyptian population is not used to have a voice.
5
Free writing-02
Politics!!!!! Politics is a very strong word, a big issue that people talk about it every
single second of everyday, whether over dinner, lunch or even at breakfast. When I
hear everyone around me talks non-stop about it I get really stressed and angry,
fearing the unknown. What’s going to happen? Will we move forward or will we keep
achieving failure? Is there a future to our generation? Or this is the end of happiness?
Or should I say ‘’ satisfaction’’?
All these unanswered questions crosses my mind every second, fills my eyes with
tears. I’m surely happy that this is the first time our country offers her population the
chance to say what they want and to create their own future through their own choices
and beliefs. But I’m not willing to see no future for us just for the sake of chances.
I’m being realistic here; believing that the elections are somehow beneficial for the
country yet it could end up in an unhealthy way.
Are we better yet with democracy or as slaves?
6
Free Writing -03
Hey daddy,
I missed you so much, come back soon we need you here, don’t worry everything’s
fine. I’m taking good responsibility of my little sisters and by the way my grades are
getting higher, so here you go be proud of me.
Daddy I know you still see me as your little daughter who still immature and
everything but I need a favor. You’ll probably say no but id like to ask if I can take
your new car just for one day. I’ve been working a lot these days and I’m trying so
hard to be responsible enough to make you proud of me. Just give me this chance to
prove myself to you. Ill just go to the beach and that’s it. Don’t worry ill drive safely
and take good care of it I promise.
7
Free Writing -‐04 Dina darling,
I’m glad you’re all fine. I missed you too. Let me know if you need anything from
here. I’m pretty sure your not my little daughter anymore, you’ve grownup
perfectly .i never got the chance to tell you this before, but sweetheart I’m
worried about all of you every second. It terrifies me. You think I’m strict and
selfish but that’s not true. I know you drive well and you keep your word but still
you don’t have your license therefore I can’t accept this request just for your own
sake. So why not wait 2 months maximum until you get it and then ill let you
drive it whenever you want. Until now, I can let you rent the car you choose and
ill send you the driver, what do you think about that?
Trust me, this is for your safety.
Big kiss,
Daddy
8
Free Writing -05
They say I’m a very unique flower, one of a kind. Why not all the bees and butterflies
stand on any other member of my family or my neighbors? A flower like me is not
rare; there are so many other clones of me in different gardens.
I’ve grown up in a garden that’s full of different beautiful other flowers that smell
better than me, but somehow the butterflies like me so badly that it pisses me off.
I know I’m a very small, fragile creature but m blessed to be between my family in a
land that some creatures called humans take care of us.
Some say humans enjoy cutting us off the ground, is this true? I have no idea,, I didn’t
experience this yet. Why do humans, these giant creatures enjoy killing us? Did we
harm them? If yes , then why do they take care of us in the first place ?
9
Free writing - 06
Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted. They say life screw us all and
makes us who we are now, is it really the people who surrounds us are the one who
affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face that shape our character and
the way we handle things?
I used to be very optimistic and always looking forward to life with a huge smile on
my face. My mother wondered why was I nice to strangers and friends and opened
my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her .till now I don’t know
why I was like that and how I became that .
It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my life
from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But the truth is I go out with
friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy few minutes of my day
before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind screw me all over again.
Nowadays, I’m beginning to feel numb not because I’m unhappy or because of my
problems but I just got used to it from all the mountains I failed to climb. Feeling
numb became the ‘’normal’’ now. Therefore happiness terrifies me nowadays. I need
to change I need it, I need some inspiration in my life that puts me on track again.
How can I get it ? I have no idea, how can I escape my weird normality now? Still, no
idea. However I keep trying to change and hoping not for the worse.
11
Collage
My name is Dina Said; I’m a freshmen student at the AUC. This collage is a mixture
of all the free writings I wrote in RHET 101 SU’12. I chose to put only the phrases
and words that meant something to me and hopefully to the audience too. My
personality, my culture and the way I’m thinking will be exposed through this collage.
******************
Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
They say life screw us all and makes us who we are now, is it really the people who
surrounds us are the one who affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face
that shapes our character and the way we handle things?
…………………………………………………………………………………………
I used to be very optimistic
opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
It’s amazing what a smile can hide
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
12
trying escape my problems
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind screw me all over again.
………………………………………………………………………………………......
Numb
………………………………………………………………………………………......
The mountains I failed to climb
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Happiness terrifies me now
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Need some inspiration in my life that puts me on track again.
………………………………………………………………………………………......
***
Responsibility
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>>><><><><><><<><<>
Proud ><><<><<<>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Immature
><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><<><><><><
I’m trying so hard to be responsible enough to make you proud of me. Just give me
this chance to prove myself to you.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
I promise
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
13
I’m pretty sure your not my little daughter anymore, you’ve grownup perfectly .I never got the chance to tell you this before, but sweetheart I’m worried about all of you every second. It terrifies me. You think I’m strict and selfish but that’s not
true. ><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Trust me, this is for your safety.
<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
***
Why do humans, these giant creatures enjoy killing us? Did we harm them? If yes,
then why do they take care of us in the first place?
:::::::::::::::::::
I just don’t wanna live my life fearing I can die in any second.
::::::::::::::::::::
Some say humans enjoy cutting us off the ground, is this true? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fragile creature
:::::::::::::::::::::::::
They say I’m a very unique flower, one of a kind. :::::::::::::::::::::::::;
clones
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A flower like me is not rare
***
I’m not willing to see no future for us just for the sake of chances.
I’m being realistic here; believing that the elections are somehow
beneficial for the country yet it could end up in an unhealthy way.
14
Are we better yet with democracy or as slaves?
***
Country offers her population the chance to say what they want and to create their own future through their own choices and beliefs
……………………….
unanswered questions crosses my mind every second, fills my eyes with tears.
………………………….
fearing the unknown.
…………………………. What’s going to happen? Will we move forward or will we keep achieving failure? Is
there a future to our generation? Or this is the end of happiness? Or should I say ‘’ satisfaction’’?
…………………………..
I get really stressed and angry
…………………………….. Politics!!!!! Politics is a very strong word, a big issue that people talk about it every
single second of everyday
…………………………………..
Egypt has been an inspiration for me since the day I was born. I loved it loyally with
all my heart, especially the poor places and districts.
…………………………………
Nowadays, everything is falling apart. What’s happening in this country is neither
healthy nor logical.
………………………………….
For the first time, this country is now experiencing a new policy, which is
‘’ democracy’’.
………………………………….
15
This word is so big and has so many rules to be understood and followed correctly.
…………………………………..
The Egyptian population is not used to have a voice.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…
16
Magazine Article Analysis The New York Times magazine’s ‘’After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to
Challenge Military’’ delivers the latest situation in Cairo after the presidential
elections. In this essay, I will explain this article, which is written by David D
Kirkpatrick, and then I will analyze it in a neutral political perspective.
This article was published June 18 2012, it emphasis how the situation is
very tense and full of challenge between both parts, it’s even written in the
headline ‘’seek to challenge’’. Since the revolution forced Hosni Mubarak off
the power from a year and a half ago, the elections occurred with some
intensity regardless from the development of the chaos and the stress between
the people. The voters had to choose between Ahmed Shafiq (former regime)
and Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi for the final round. 24 hours later
after the second round of the elections, the votes were still unrevealed,
however Morsi assured at a pre-dawn news discussion to ‘’ be a president for
all Egyptians’’.
Later on Monday right after the victory of Morsi, the Muslim brotherhood
determined against the military monarchs. The Islamists groups had another
goal to achieve using the democratic success of Mohamed Morsi, as the key
player to seize all lawmaking power after they’d had been disbanded from the
parliament by the ruling military council. “They neither have legislative
power or presidential power,” said Jihad el-Haddad, a Brotherhood
spokesman. “We don’t need to hear any excuses from them. If they want to
hand over power, they can give back the Parliament and undo what they
17
have done.” So the brotherhoods swore that they would battle the generals in
political compromises and challenge them in courtyards.
This is not a monopoly, it’s not about who will gain more power. The Islamists
challenge everyone around them especially the military council, putting in
mind what they’ve lost many years ago and how they’ll get back on track and
take over the country so they can be on top for the first time. People observe
well and can see clearly that they change their words depending on the events
and their own good. “They made a move and we made a move,” said the
brotherhoods.
This article doesn’t explain the whole situation of democracy and what will
happen after Morsi’s victory, it focuses on how the Islamists take this as a
challenge with the Egyptian military. Although the final results will not be
published until the end this week, still the brotherhoods act as if they’ve
already won for sure. Trying to avoid backstabbing, both the brotherhoods
and the military council exposed the number of votes as quickly as possible.
‘’In a nearly two-hour news conference that was edited before it was
televised, two members of the military council insisted that they regretted
dissolving Parliament, but that they had been forced by a court ruling from
judges appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak.’’ That statement is not
accurate because no one was forced to dissolve the parliament. It was
dissolved because the brotherhoods made some unlegislated decisions, not
because some members were forced to do so by generals or judges of the
former regime. The Islamtists says so to manipulate the people minds by
keeping them believing that the former regime is still present and that the
military council and the SCAF are on its side. That way, the people will
support Morsi and the Brotherhood believing they’re the good ones.
18
They have now distributed a temporary Constitution keeping governmental
power to them. They also declared that they would employ a new general to
run the new president’s staff as the generals promised to hold a “grand
celebration” when they turned over power as assured at the end of the month.
This article shows how much struggle Egypt’s going through not because of
the chaos that its population been living with for nearly a year now but
because its for the first time to experience democracy. Unfortunately, neither
Shafiq nor Morsi satisfies anyone, but they’ll have no choice except to vote for
the one who’s better than the other. This is a new battle for Egypt and it’s for
the first time an Islamist is at a peak of the state.
The generals seemed to want to “upgrade Mubarak’s authoritarianism by
adding free and fair elections,” said Mona el Ghobashy, an Egyptian political
scientist at Barnard, while maintaining strong powers for themselves
containing national security, economic matters and resistance. “But the
brothers want to be part of the power structure,” she said. Its clear now that
the Islamists will not going to easily accept their democratic organizations
that are well constrained and get all the blame easily for matters.
The Generals approved of how they would have a control of the entire national
budget and on all legislative powers without naming Mohamed Morsi as the
new president. They also declare that this new president will by all power
rename the prime minister he chooses and can also refuse any new laws he
doesn’t agree on. So the military refused to back away from the essential of
this temporary agreement. Giving themselves the power to hold citizens for
judgment in military courts, they also fortified their burden of military law.
19
Every time the military council says something the Islamists must have an
argument on it and declare a whole different answer with a whole other
different perspective just to make sure they still have the power under their
hands not only of the country and the population but also putting their hands
on the military council particularly craving to change it members and put new
ones of their brotherhood groups and vice versa. The article itself shows how t
both parts believes that they’d won, and how there is still uncertainty that fills
all the chaos and the celebrations made in Egypt but still the real challenge is
on between the Islamists and the military council and its getting worse.
20
References:
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/islamist-candidate-is-apparent-victor-in-
egypt-as-military-cements-its-powers.html?ref=middleeast
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/world/middleeast/egyptian-judge-speaks-against-islamist-
victory-before-presidential-runoff.html?src=recg
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/uncertainty-underlies-celebrations-in-
cairo.html?ref=world
-http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/19/world/meast/egypt-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
21
Dina Said
Rhet 101-02
Instructor Gibson
Assignment 2
24 June 2012
Oppressed for 50 years, now in power
The New York Times magazine’s “After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to
Challenge Military” delivers the latest situation in Cairo after the presidential
elections 2012. This article was published June 18 2012, it emphasis how the situation
is very tense and full of challenge between both parts, it’s even written in the headline
‘’seek to challenge’’. Since the revolution forced Hosni Mubarak off the power from
a year and a half ago, the elections date occurred with some intensity regardless of the
development of the chaos and the stress between the people. The voters had to choose
between Ahmed Shafiq (former regime) and Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi for
the final round. 24 hours later after the second round of the elections, the votes were
still unrevealed, however Morsi assured at a pre-dawn news discussion to ‘’ be a
president for all Egyptians’’. plus shafiq
Later on Monday, right after the unofficial Self -proclaimed Victory of Morsi,
the Muslim brotherhood determined to stand against the military generals. The
Islamists groups had another goal to achieve using the democratic predicted success
of Mohamed Morsi, as the key player to seize all lawmaking power after they’d had
been disbanded from the parliament by the ruling military council. “They neither have
legislative power or presidential power,” said Jihad el-Haddad, a Brotherhood
22
spokesman. “We don’t need to hear any excuses from them. If they want to hand over
power, they can give back the Parliament and undo what they have done.” So the
brotherhoods swore that they would battle the generals in political compromises and
challenge them in courtyards.
This is not a monopoly, it’s not about who will gain more power. The
Islamists challenge everyone around them especially the military council, putting in
mind what they’ve lost many years ago and how they’ll get back on track and take
over the country so they can be on top for the first time. People observe well and can
see clearly that they change their words depending on the events and their own good.
“They made a move and we made a move,” said the brotherhood. Put facts … women
rights / Christians
The Muslim Brotherhood vowed not to field a candidate, ended up running 2 & now
declares it has won the presidency (95%votes counted
This article doesn’t explain the whole situation of democracy and what will
happen after Morsi’s victory, it focuses on how the Islamists take this as a challenge
with the Egyptian military. Although the final results will not be published until the
end this week, still the brotherhood act as if they’ve already won for sure. Trying to
avoid backstabbing, both the brotherhood and the military council exposed the
number of votes as quickly as possible.
This article shows how much struggle Egypt’s going through not because of the chaos
that its population been living with for nearly a year now but because its for the first
time to experience democracy. Unfortunately, neither Shafiq nor Morsi satisfies
anyone, but they’ll have no choice except to vote for the one who’s better than the
other. This is a new battle for Egypt and it’s for the first time an Islamist is at a peak
23
of the state.
The generals seemed to want to “upgrade Mubarak’s authoritarianism by
adding free and fair elections,” said Mona el Ghobashy, an Egyptian political scientist
at Barnard, while maintaining strong powers for themselves containing national
security, economic matters and resistance. “But the brothers want to be part of the
power structure,” she said. Its clear now that the Islamists will not going to easily
accept their democratic organizations that are well constrained and get all the blame
easily for matters.
The Generals approved of how they would have a control of the entire national budget
and on all legislative powers without naming Mohamed Morsi as the new president.
They also declare that this new president will by all power rename the prime minister
he chooses and can also refuse any new laws he doesn’t agree on. So the military
refused to back away from the essential of this temporary agreement. Giving
themselves the power to hold citizens for judgment in military courts, they also
fortified their burden of military law. Every time the military council says something
the Islamists must have an argument on it and declare a whole different answer with a
whole other different perspective just to make sure they still have the power under
their hands not only of the country and the population but also putting their hands on
the military council particularly craving to change it members and put new ones of
their brotherhood groups and vice versa.
The article itself shows how both parts believes that they’d won, and how
there is still uncertainty that fills all the chaos and the celebrations made in Egypt but
still the real challenge is on between the Islamists and the military council and its
getting worse.
24
Work Cited
Last name, first. “The name of the article.”
Enter + tab+ the name of the magazine in italics +period+ the date
The date of the access.
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/islamist-candidate-is-
apparent-victor-in-egypt-as-military-cements-its-powers.html?ref=middleeast
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/world/middleeast/egyptian-judge-speaks-
against-islamist-victory-before-presidential-runoff.html?src=recg
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/uncertainty-underlies-
celebrations-in-cairo.html?ref=world
-http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/19/world/meast/egypt-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
25
Dina Said
Rhet101-02
Instructor Gibson
Assignment 2
24 June 2012
Egypt on an edge
The New York Times magazine’s “After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to
Challenge Military” delivers the latest situation in Cairo after the presidential
elections 2012. This article emphasis how the situation is very tense and full of
challenge between both parts, it’s even written in the headline ‘‘seeks to challenge’’.
Since the ex-president Hosni Mubarak resigned after the revolution a year and a half
ago, the elections occurred with some intensity regardless of the development of the
chaos and the stress between the people. The voters had to choose between Ahmed
Shafiq (former regime) and Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi for the final round. 24
hours later after the second round of the elections, the votes were still unrevealed, yet
Morsi assured at a pre-dawn news discussion to “be a president for all Egyptians”,
then his opponent, Ahmed Shafiq also proclaimed his unofficial victory, however
none of both announcements is accurate yet.
Later on Monday, right after the unofficial self -proclaimed victory of Morsi,
the Muslim brotherhood decided to stand against the military generals. The Islamists
groups had another goal to achieve using the democratic predicted success of
Mohamed Morsi, as the key player to seize all lawmaking power after they’d had
been disbanded from the parliament by the ruling military council. “We don’t need to
hear any excuses from them. If they want to hand over power, they can give back the
Parliament and undo what they have done.” said Jihad el-Haddad, a Brotherhood
26
spokesman. So the brotherhoods swore that they would battle the generals in political
compromises and challenge them in courtyards. The Islamists who joined the
parliament were cheating; therefore they were banned from it just two days before the
elections. By believing that their candidate has won the presidential elections they
now want to gain more power and are willing to do whatever to gain their parts in the
parliament again.
This is not a monopoly, it’s not about who will gain more power. The
Islamists challenge the military council, putting in mind what they’ve lost many years
ago and how they’ll get back on track and take over the country so they can be on top
for the first time. All they want now is the parliament again and to have a say in the
government policies. People observe well and can see clearly that they change their
words depending on the events and their own good. For example when they vowed
that they wont place a candidate and the people believed them with all their hearts and
minds saying they are religious and claim for honesty, but they ended up fielding two
candidates and now proclaiming the presidency of one of them. Also, when
Mohamed Morsi announced that the Egyptian Christians must pay an amount of
money to stay in the country believing that this is an Islamic country but later on he
stated that both Muslims and Christians are equal. “Our Christian brothers, they are
partners in the nation. They will have full rights that are equal to those enjoyed by
Muslims,” (Morsi). So how do they expect the people to trust them if they’ve already
lost their trust before the elections? Morsi doesn’t change his words he just denies
them and act as if they were rumors, however our population is craving for a change
and are still willing to take the risk just to avoid the old regime.
This article doesn’t explain the whole situation of democracy and what will
happen after Morsi’s predicted victory, it focuses on how the Islamists take this as a
27
challenge with the Egyptian military. Although the final results will not be published
until the end this week, still the brotherhood act as if they’ve already won for sure.
Trying to avoid backstabbing, both the brotherhood and the military council exposed
the number of inaccurate votes as quickly as possible. “In a nearly two-hour news
conference that was edited before it was televised, two members of the military
council insisted that they regretted dissolving Parliament, but that they had been
forced by a court ruling from judges appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak”.
That statement does not seem accurate because no one was forced to dissolve the
parliament. It was dissolved because the brotherhood made some unlegislated
decisions, not because some members were forced to do so by generals or judges of
the former regime. The Islamtists says so to manipulate the people minds by keeping
them believing that the former regime is still present and that the military council and
the SCAF are on its side. That way, the people will support Morsi and the
Brotherhood believing they’re the good ones.
This article shows how much struggle Egypt’s going through not because of the chaos
that its population been living with for nearly a year now but because its for the first
time to experience democracy. Unfortunately, neither Shafiq nor Morsi satisfies
anyone, but they’ll have no choice except to vote for the one who’s better than the
other. This is a new battle for Egypt and it’s for the first time an Islamist is at a peak
of the state.
The generals seemed to want to “upgrade Mubarak’s authoritarianism by
adding free and fair elections,” said Mona el Ghobashy, an Egyptian political scientist
at Barnard, while maintaining strong powers for themselves containing national
security, economic matters and resistance. “But the brothers want to be part of the
power structure,” she said. Its clear now that the Islamists will not going to easily
28
accept their democratic organizations that are well constrained and get all the blame
easily for matters. The Generals approved of how they would have a control of the
entire national budget and on all legislative powers without naming Mohamed Morsi
as the new president. They also declare that this new president will by all power
rename the prime minister he chooses and can also refuse any new laws he doesn’t
agree on. So the military refused to back away from the essential of this temporary
agreement. Giving themselves the power to hold citizens for judgment in military
courts, they also fortified their burden of military law. Every time the military council
says something the Islamists must have an argument against it and declare a whole
different answer with a whole other different perspective just to make sure they still
have the power under their hands not only of the country and the population but also
putting their hands on the military council particularly craving to change it members
and put new ones of their brotherhood groups and vice versa.
The article itself shows how both parts believes that they’d won, and how
there is still uncertainty that fills all the chaos and the celebrations made in Egypt but
still the real challenge is on between the Islamists and the military council and its
getting worse.
29
Work Cited
Kirkpatrick, David. “After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to Challenge Military”
The New York Times. 18 June 2012
22 June 2012.
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/islamist-candidate-is-
apparent-victor-in-egypt-as-military-cements-its-powers.html?ref=middleeast
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/world/middleeast/egyptian-judge-speaks-
against-islamist-victory-before-presidential-runoff.html?src=recg
-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/uncertainty-underlies-
celebrations-in-cairo.html?ref=world
-http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/19/world/meast/egypt-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
30
Dina Said
RHET101
Instructor Gibson
28/06/2012
Free writing/ Draft 1
Analysis
Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted. They say life screw us all
and makes us who we are now, is it really the people who surrounds us are the one
who affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face that shape our character
and the way we handle things?
I used to be very optimistic and always looking forward to life with a huge
smile on my face. My mother wondered why was I nice to strangers and friends and
opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her .till now I
don’t know why I was like that and how I became that .
It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my life
from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But the truth is I go out with
friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy few minutes of my day
before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind screw me all over again.
Nowadays, I’m beginning to feel numb not because I’m unhappy or because of my
problems but I just got used to it from all the mountains I failed to climb. Feeling
numb became the ‘’normal’’ now. Therefore happiness terrifies me nowadays. I need
to change I need it, I need some inspiration in my life that puts me on track again.
31
How can I get it ? I have no idea, how can I escape my weird normality now? Still, no
idea. However I keep trying to change and hoping not for the worse.
32
Dina Said
RHET101
Instructor Gibson
28/06/2012
Cup of Sorrow
Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted. They say life screw us all
and makes us who we are now, is it really the people who surrounds us are the one
who affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face that shape our character
and the way we handle things?
I used to be very optimistic and always looking forward to life with a huge
smile on my face. My mother wondered why was I nice to strangers and friends and
opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her. Till now I
don’t know why I was like that and how I became that. I used to believe that the best
thing to do is to walk away from my problems until they fade away, and that really
helped me to move forward in life with hope growing inside of me, believing
tomorrow will be better, believing dreams will come true and actually gave me
motivation and strength to make them come true until they did. But somehow I lost it
all suddenly, don’t quite know how and when did I became so weak and gave up so
easily.
It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my
life and had it all together from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But
the truth is I go out with my friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy
few minutes of my day before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind
screw me all over again. I’m beginning to feel numb not because I’m unhappy or
33
because of my problems but I just got used to it from all the mountains I failed to
climb. Feeling tiredly numb became the ‘’normal’’. When the truth is we’re all
walking around with these shiny eyes pretending we’re fine but just tired and it’s not
true. Yes, we are tired. I’m tired. Tired of going to bed exhausted after doing nothing
all day long and waking up with nothing to look forward to, although most of my days
are full but I just find no enjoyment in them.
Empty but not depressed, mad but not angry, stressed but not nervous and yet
I stick to the moment of joy like its my last, trying to seize the opportunity, to feel
happy again, to feel alive. But somehow happiness terrifies me. I need to change. I
need some inspiration in my life that puts me back on track. How can I get it? I have
no idea, how can I escape my abnormal normality now? Still, no idea. However I
keep trying to change, hoping not for the worse.
34
Dina Said
RHET101
Instructor Gibson
28/06/2012
Cup of Sorrow
Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted. They say life screw us all
and makes us who we are now, is it really the people who surrounds us are the one
who affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face that shape our character
and the way we handle things?
I used to be very optimistic and always looking forward to life with a huge
smile on my face. My mother wondered why was I nice to strangers and friends and
opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her, fearing I get
hurt. Till now I don’t know why I was like that and how I became that, maybe cause I
used to believe that I should make everyone around me happy to feel satisfied? That
my happiness belongs on other people’s satisfaction? I’ve been making such an effort
to shut my thoughts and goals away just to let my family open up to me easily and
don’t feel the pressure I’m under to get their contentment. Their feelings, their goals
were a priority to me. Believing in that helped me to feel content most of the time, but
their ignorance of my effort killed me, until I became silent and anger grew inside of
me and ate me day by day up until I couldn’t take it anymore and turned out to be
cold, careless.
I used to believe that the best thing to do is to walk away from my problems
until they fade away, and that really helped me to move forward in life with hope
growing inside of me, believing tomorrow will be better, believing dreams will come
true and actually gave me motivation and strength to make them come true until they
35
did. But somehow I lost it all suddenly, don’t quite know how and when did I became
so weak and gave up so easily.
It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my
life and had it all together from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But
the truth is I go out with my friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy
few minutes of my day before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind
screw me all over again. Maybe its been hard on me cause I never let it all out? Never
got it off my chest and felt revealed a bit? Perhaps cause I believe I don’t have to
annoy the people around me with my struggles. So, I’m beginning to feel numb not
because I’m unhappy or because of my problems but I just got used to it from all the
mountains I failed to climb. Feeling tiredly numb became the “normal”. When the
truth is we’re all walking around with these shiny eyes pretending we’re fine but just
tired, and it’s not true. Yes, we are tired. I’m tired. Tired of going to bed exhausted
after doing nothing all day long and waking up with nothing to look forward to,
although most of my days are full but I just find no enjoyment in them. I’ve become
nothing, I do nothing and I want nothing. Maybe that’s the reason I’m struggling, its
like a war inside of me, seeing myself change but cannot control it. Did I lose faith or
strength? Maybe none of them, perhaps struggling with nothing is the hardest war,
cause you don’t know what you’re challenging.
Empty but not depressed, mad but not angry, stressed but not nervous and yet
I stick to the moment of joy like its my last, trying to seize the opportunity, to feel
happy again, to feel alive. But somehow happiness terrifies me. Why is that? I don’t
know. It could be cause I believe that if you’re happy, something’s bad is going to
happen, it’s like a snap back to reality. Will I ever overcome my fears? Questions like
this with no answers crosses my mind every second of everyday and I just can’t force
36
myself not to think about them, although I feel that I don’t even have the right to be
sad cause some people have it worse, it’s becoming exhausting.
With everything happening with me these days, I think I’m moving but I go
nowhere, my life became still, my eyes observes other people’s track of life and
blames my broken mind fearing of losing my train ticket. I know I should be grateful
for what I have now and cherish all the things I do but can I just forget about my
needs? Is it possible to focus on what you have and not on what you want? Will there
be any progress, any future? I need to change. I need some inspiration in my life that
puts me back on track. How can I get it? I have no idea, how can I escape my
abnormal normality now? Still, no idea. However I keep trying to change, hoping not
for the worse.
37
Dina Said
Rhet101
Instructor Gibson
08/07/2012
Religion is the obstacle
Egypt is a country divided into basically two general religions. These two are
Islam and Christianity. We live with the concept of equality and unison between
people no matter which religion they follow. But As much as it might seem like we
are all united, and that we consider ourselves one family, problems start occurring
even at our age; where religion influences our interactions in life and can even make
friendships and relationships split apart.
In my essay, I am going to compare and contrast both the Islamic and Christian
religion, and get into further details about the rules of marriages in these two, and how
they affect society and social life of all ages, especially today’s generation. I want to
draw attention to the fact that all the information I am going to share with you is from
the internet and therefore a totally objective point of view, on the other hand, all the
opinions I will state are my own from personal experience. I personally chose this
topic because it is close to my heart. I have been put in the middle of it, when all my
intentions were good ones. It’s funny how you could just want to get the best out of a
moment, without causing any harm to anyone, and just try to enjoy the best years in
your life; when people interpret it in hideous ways, expect the worst out of you. And
why? Because of a title you are given at birth.
Religions have been the guidelines that millions have followed since the day of
dawn, and in a lot of religions, it is mentioned that our fate is already determined by
38
god. Believers, all around the world, describe god as the ultimate power, the one and
only who is in total control of our existences. To God, human beings are creations that
have for main mission to worship him and pursue their respective paths through
everyday life. He has each person's road ahead set; with no possibility of us
interfering and deviating the direction he has chosen for us. It is his judgment that is
going to happen. God gives us options in our daily lives. He makes us choose
different paths and make different choices according to the situations we are put
through; and these situations lead us to end up doing what was initially planed for us.
We think our actions and steps in life are made by our freewill, when in reality, the
decisions were already taken. The only thing that varies, is the process by which, we,
human beings, get to these final actions. Islam is a religion that Muslims
follow, based on the system founded by the prophet Muhammad and
taught by the holy book called Koran. The basic principle of it is absolute
submission to a unique and personal god, Allah. Christianity is also religion that
follows the worship of a unique god, based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
and his disciples. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and they follow the
teachings of their holy book, the Bible. In my opinion, we aren’t so different, since we
both believe in an ultimate power. So why do we create differences?
I’ve been in love with the same person for over a year and a half. Religion is the
only obstacle in our relationship. Religion is the reason why some people are being
discriminated. It is the reason why people treat each other differently. It creates
barriers in the community. Religion, simply, is the reason why a Muslim girl is not
allowed to marry a Christian boy, even if their love is unbreakable. You come to a
point where you wonder if there is a right or wrong, if religion is the answer. You ask
yourself questions, you wonder if there is any way out of it, and then you regret
39
thinking that way; because this is not what you have been raised. You are put in a
position where you don’t know if the reasonable thing to do is to follow your mind, or
follow your heart.
In the holy Koran, it is mentioned that when it comes to religion, the rules for
marriages between people are very precise. A Muslim man would be allowed to
marry a Christian woman because the prophet Mohamed had done the same. It is also
allowed because the children from this marriage would turn out following their
father's religion. However, the Koran also states that the other way around is
forbidden, as the children would follow their father’s religion and therefore grow up
to be Christians. The whole idea is to expand the Muslim population. In Christianity
too, the mentality remains similar, but what differs is that any Christian who marries a
Muslim, whether it s a Christian woman marrying a man or the opposite, is out of
their circle and is considered to be a traitor. And even though it is somehow more
accepted for Muslim men to marry Christian women nowadays, it is still considered
as going against your community.
In fact, when we go back into history, such marriages were seen as a complete
betrayal to one’s family and life’s customs. Very few people would have the courage
and audacity to make such a decision and marry someone from a different religion. At
the present time, a new way of getting out of it has recently become popular.
Conversion. Christian men have been converting into Islam in order to be legally able
to marry Muslim women. Of course, in Christianity, taking an action like this one is
perceived in even more insolence then Christian women who marry Muslim men.
I wish I could live long enough to see a young Muslim girl stand up in the
crowd and speak out her mind, saying “I love a Christian boy and I don’t want to hide
it”. I also wish I could live long enough to see a young boy say “I will marry a
40
Muslim girl, because she is the right person for me, and I will do it without
conversion, without any complications and without caring what would happen next.
”We make these changes; we choose what occurs in the future, so if you want to see
change, maybe you should start making your decision now.
41
Dina Said
Rhet101
Instructor Gibson
08/07/2012
Religion is the obstacle
Egypt is a country divided into basically two general religions. These two are
Islam and Christianity. We live with the concept of equality and unison between
people no matter which religion they follow. But As much as it might seem like we
are all united, and that we consider ourselves one family, problems start occurring
even at our age; where religion influences our interactions in life and can even make
friendships and relationships split apart. I have been put in the middle of it, when all
my intentions were good ones. It’s funny how you could just want to get the best out
of a moment, without causing any harm to anyone, and just try to enjoy the best years
in your life; when people interpret it in hideous ways, expect the worst out of you.
And why? Because of a title you are given at birth.
Religions have been the guidelines that millions have followed since the day of
dawn, and in a lot of religions, it is mentioned that our fate is already determined by
god. Believers, all around the world, describe god as the ultimate power, the one and
only who is in total control of our existences. To God, human beings are creations that
have for main mission to worship him and pursue their respective paths through
everyday life. He has each person's road ahead set; with no possibility of us
interfering and deviating the direction he has chosen for us. It is his judgment that is
going to happen. God gives us options in our daily lives. He makes us choose
42
different paths and make different choices according to the situations we are put
through; and these situations lead us to end up doing what was initially planned for
us. We think our actions and steps in life are made by our freewill, when in reality,
the decisions were already taken. The only thing that varies, is the process by which,
we, human beings, get to these final actions. Islam is a religion that Muslims
follow, based on the system founded by the prophet Muhammad and
taught by the holy book called Koran. The basic principle of it is absolute
submission to a unique and personal god, Allah. Christianity is also religion that
follows the worship of a unique god, based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
and his disciples. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and they follow the
teachings of their holy book, the Bible. In my opinion, we aren’t so different, since we
both believe in an ultimate power. So why do we create differences?
I’ve been in love with the same person for over a year and a half. Religion is the
only obstacle in our relationship. Religion is the reason why some people are being
discriminated. It is the reason why people treat each other differently. It creates
barriers in the community. Religion, simply, is the reason why a Muslim girl is not
allowed to marry a Christian boy, even if their love is unbreakable. You come to a
point where you wonder if there is a right or wrong, if religion is the answer. You ask
yourself questions, you wonder if there is any way out of it, and then you regret
thinking that way; because this is not what you have been raised. You are put in a
position where you don’t know if the reasonable thing to do is to follow your mind, or
follow your heart.
In the holy Koran, it is mentioned that when it comes to religion, the rules for
marriages between people are very precise. A Muslim man would be allowed to
marry a Christian woman because the prophet Mohamed had done the same. It is also
43
allowed because the children from this marriage would turn out following their
father's religion. However, the Koran also states that the other way around is
forbidden, as the children would follow their father’s religion and therefore grow up
to be Christians. The whole idea is to expand the Muslim population. In Christianity
too, the mentality remains similar, but what differs is that any Christian who marries a
Muslim, whether it s a Christian woman marrying a man or the opposite, is out of
their circle and is considered to be a traitor. And even though it is somehow more
accepted for Muslim men to marry Christian women nowadays, it is still considered
as going against your community.
Are these reasons logical to me? Ethical? Is it worth it? Is love worth all these
struggles? Am I willing to lose my family for love? Or do I prefer to gain their
happiness and lose mine?
Love is something unexplainable, a feeling that can turn your life upside down. Our
brains always do the thinking however it will never comprehend love as our hearts do.
We don’t choose the people we love, we don’t plan how to love them, it’s just two
persons who were firstly attracted to each other and then got used to seeing and
talking to each other a lot, began to let go of their boundaries and began to trust,
support and cherish each other day by day for as long as they’re together. Love takes
us by surprise and that’s the best part about it, when you least expect it, it hits you
and it hits you good. I can go on forever trying to explain love from my own point of
view/experience although it will never be enough.
In fact, when we go back into history, such marriages were seen as a complete
betrayal to one’s family and life’s customs. Very few people would have the courage
and audacity to make such a decision and marry someone from a different religion. At
the present time, a new way of getting out of it has recently become popular.
44
Conversion. Christian men have been converting into Islam in order to be legally able
to marry Muslim women. Of course, in Christianity, taking an action like this one is
perceived in even more insolence then Christian women who marry Muslim men.
45
Dina Said
Rhet101
Instructor Gibson
08/07/2012
Religion is the obstacle
Egypt is a country divided into basically two general religions. These two are
Islam and Christianity. We live with the concept of equality and unison between
people no matter which religion they follow. But As much as it might seem like we
are all united, and that we consider ourselves one family, problems start occurring
even at our age; where religion influences our interactions in life and can even make
friendships and relationships split apart. I have been put in the middle of it, when all
my intentions were good ones. It’s funny how you could just want to get the best out
of a moment, without causing any harm to anyone, and just try to enjoy the best years
in your life; when people interpret it in hideous ways, expect the worst out of you.
And why? Because of a title you are given at birth.
Religions have been the guidelines that millions have followed since the day of
dawn, and in a lot of religions, it is mentioned that our fate is already determined by
god. Believers, all around the world, describe god as the ultimate power, the one and
only who is in total control of our existences. To God, human beings are creations that
have for main mission to worship him and pursue their respective paths through
everyday life. He has each person's road ahead set; with no possibility of us
interfering and deviating the direction he has chosen for us. It is his judgment that is
going to happen. God gives us options in our daily lives. He makes us choose
different paths and make different choices according to the situations we are put
46
through; and these situations lead us to end up doing what was initially planned for
us. We think our actions and steps in life are made by our freewill, when in reality,
the decisions were already taken. The only thing that varies, is the process by which,
we, human beings, get to these final actions. Islam is a religion that Muslims
follow, based on the system founded by the prophet Muhammad and
taught by the holy book called Koran. The basic principle of it is absolute
submission to a unique and personal god, Allah. Christianity is also religion that
follows the worship of a unique god, based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
and his disciples. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and they follow the
teachings of their holy book, the Bible. In my opinion, we aren’t so different, since we
both believe in an ultimate power. So why do we create differences?
I’ve been in love with the same person for over a year and a half. Religion is the
only obstacle in our relationship. Religion is the reason why some people are being
discriminated. It is the reason why people treat each other differently. It creates
barriers in the community. Religion, simply, is the reason why a Muslim girl is not
allowed to marry a Christian boy, even if their love is unbreakable. You come to a
point where you wonder if there is a right or wrong, if religion is the answer. You ask
yourself questions, you wonder if there is any way out of it, and then you regret
thinking that way; because this is not what you have been raised. You are put in a
position where you don’t know if the reasonable thing to do is to follow your mind, or
follow your heart.
In the holy Koran, it is mentioned that when it comes to religion, the rules for
marriages between people are very precise. A Muslim man would be allowed to
marry a Christian woman because the prophet Mohamed had done the same. It is also
allowed because the children from this marriage would turn out following their
47
father's religion. However, the Koran also states that the other way around is
forbidden, as the children would follow their father’s religion and therefore grow up
to be Christians. The whole idea is to expand the Muslim population. In Christianity
too, the mentality remains similar, but what differs is that any Christian who marries a
Muslim, whether it s a Christian woman marrying a man or the opposite, is out of
their circle and is considered to be a traitor. And even though it is somehow more
accepted for Muslim men to marry Christian women nowadays, it is still considered
as going against your community.
Are these reasons logical to me? Ethical? Is it worth it? Is love worth all these
struggles? Am I willing to lose my family for love? Or do I prefer to gain their
happiness and lose mine?
Love is something unexplainable, a feeling that can turn your life upside down. Our
brains always do the thinking however it will never comprehend love as our hearts do.
We don’t choose the people we love, we don’t plan how to love them, it’s just two
persons who were firstly attracted to each other and then got used to seeing and
talking to each other a lot, began to let go of their boundaries and began to trust,
support and cherish each other day by day for as long as they’re together. Love takes
us by surprise and that’s the best part about it, when you least expect it, it hits you
and it hits you good. I can go on forever trying to explain love from my own point of
view/experience although it will never be enough, but in the end is it worth all the
struggles I have between my family and me? I don’t know, all I know is my family is
a priority to me, I know they’ll never think the same way as I do because of age
difference and its unbearable. The thing is that they care too much, that’s why they
don’t agree with this relationship fearing I get used to him, it will get complicated and
then I’m the one who’ll get hurt at the end. I don’t like to think about the future, I
48
like to enjoy my present not worrying about anything that didn’t happen yet. That’s
why I don’t expect that ill marry him or at least I’m planning to, I like to be realistic,
only this can happen with a miracle. I know I don’t have a future with him even if I
want so, therefore I prefer not to ruin our present by talking and fighting over
something won’t happen. So why bother thinking about it now? Do I really believe
what my religion says? Or do I just follow it fearing to lose my family?
In fact, when we go back into history, such marriages were seen as a complete
betrayal to one’s family and life’s customs. Very few people would have the courage
and audacity to make such a decision and marry someone from a different religion. At
the present time, a new way of getting out of it has recently become popular.
Conversion. Christian men have been converting into Islam in order to be legally able
to marry Muslim women. Of course, in Christianity, taking an action like this one is
perceived in even more insolence then Christian women who marry Muslim men.
I wish I could live long enough to see a young Muslim girl stand up in the
crowd and speak out her mind, saying, “I love a Christian boy and I don’t want to
hide it”. I also wish I could live long enough to see a young boy say “I will marry a
Muslim girl, because she is the right person for me, and I will do it without
conversion, without any complications and without caring what would happen
next.”We make these changes; we choose what occurs in the future, so if you want to
see change, maybe you should start making your decision now.