My instructor's rant

[RFQ 110]

back to the OP, post #1.

this is a class? you need a grade. don't p|ss off the instructor - class should be over soon.

get your grade and walk on.

just cause the teacher is an asshat, is no reason to take offense whilst he/she/it controls your grade.

get your grade, and forget about it.

Yeah, more or less thats what I left it at. I am not the kind to get personally offended and stress myself out about it. More just like... roll my eyes, have a sarcastic laugh, and maybe post about it...

[RFQ 110]

DP

Edited November 30, 2012 by RFQ

[Ihavequestions 419]

Dang woman things must have changed a lot since just last month when I was talking with you. Remember I asked you how you were doing because I was worried about your safety and you told me everything was fine and while the economy was bad you were doing alright but you got a good job opportunity out of the country and you might take it. Are you still considering it because from the way you're describing things it sounds like maybe you should for your personal safety unless you like living in the mean streets of Detroit environment. Now I really wonder if the others living in Egypt are being straight with me too. They don't make it out to be as bad as this either. I still talk to people from the online foreign women's group that lives in Egypt. What part of Egypt are you in now?

Livvy, just because I'm doing alright doesn't mean the country isn't bat sh!t nuts, because it is. How could it not be? THERE ARE NO POLICE!

I will send you a facebook message for a non-facebook group that is not a "ana habibi" group, and there you will see the real deal.

Speaking of facebook, have you not looked through my photo albums to see pictures of the murderous rages? They're there!

[Ihavequestions 419]

I am not sure when this went from "my instructor called the entire whole of the middle east bad" to RFQ doesn't understand their are dangers in the area. Apparently I have never spoken to anyone that lives there or done any research and I have my hand buried in the sand is the topic of this post.

This went from your naivety about the situation to a reality check. Again, where exactly is that "environment" you "shall" be in, the one in which you will arrive with your brand new, very first passport and be segregated from the rest of the world?

[RFQ 110]

This went from your naivety about the situation to a reality check. Again, where exactly is that "environment" you "shall" be in, the one in which you will arrive with your brand new, very first passport and be segregated from the rest of the world?

Seeing as how I neither brought up this topic, nor asked for advice on the matter I do not really wish to discuss it. Many people have come in this thread and made presumptuous accusations, then fed off each other into different tangents. I choose to ignore these things because I feel no need to defend or explain certain things irrelevant to the subject I initiated discussion on.

If you or anyone has a real, personal, friendly concern for my well being, you know where my inbox is. We can cultivate our friendship in private.

[Ihavequestions 419]

Seeing as how I neither brought up this topic, nor asked for advice on the matter I do not really wish to discuss it. Many people have come in this thread and made presumptuous accusations, then fed off each other into different tangents. I choose to ignore these things because I feel no need to defend or explain certain things irrelevant to the subject I initiated discussion on.

If you or anyone has a real, personal, friendly concern for my well being, you know where my inbox is. We can cultivate our friendship in private.

I was debating on niqab once I'm there. My husband doesn't think I will stand out unless I attempt to speak, haha. Though he says I get a bit pale this time of year and maybe I should go tan my face a lil. >.< If I do draw attention I will switch to niqab though. I think though, in his part of society I am actually as much or more conservatively dressed than many of the young women. Either way- I'll never be alone there. Everyone has dibs on me. I sincerely doubt they'll let me sleep.

My girlfriend is a very pale skinned American convert and her husband from a smaller village in Pakistan. She said people, particularly kids would just follow her around even while she was wearing niqab. Of course this is totally different than the environment I shall be in. I imagine that is unnerving!

I wish you as safe and blessed trip. And may peace come to the areas in turmoil and uncertainty

I just want to know where that is, that's all.

[RFQ 110]

I fail to see the relevance to the original topic, but I'll be in Cairo.

Edited November 30, 2012 by RFQ

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

This went from your naivety about the situation to a reality check. Again, where exactly is that "environment" you "shall" be in, the one in which you will arrive with your brand new, very first passport and be segregated from the rest of the world?

Ok, lets get real IHQ. You're a sweet gal but I'm surprised you didn't confide in me when I asked you about the the truth of the matter a month ago. I was direct with you several times and we've know each other for years. After spending all day talking with fellow Egyptians and Expats in Egypt they are calling bullshit on the hype. The Egyptian government never sent out police officers to any crime scene even prior to the revolution. The only time they ever did was if a foreigner was involved and that is still the case to this day.

It's one of the points that is currently infuriating Egyptians living there because why don't they get the preferential treatment. So please stop scaring RFQ because the general consensus is that this whole situation will blow over like a bad storm if that in one to two weeks. They believe that the constitution will pass and things will begin to settle down from there. That the Egyptian people like it or not will accept it. Morsi is banking on it because he was elected by the majority so he believes he has the power to back him.

I also call bullshit on this CBS pkg ( Link ) that is being presented to the people in the US because Morsi never had control of the constitutional court. The constitutional court was established entirely by Mubarak 15 years ago and calling them all Islamist implying that they were somehow controlled by Morsi or the MB is a total crock and entirely misleading. Not everyone agrees on the same definition of Islam and that is a major point in the current protests. The constitutional court didn't exist before any of this upheaval. And they believe that all of this is blown way out of proportion and those locally that are in Egypt and educated know better and some are taking advantage of the situation.

They said that you can't believe that a country that is 90% Islamic and 10% Christian to not pass a constitution that represents 90% of the country. The liberal minded can't honestly believe that they can come out and say that the constitution doesn't represent them in Egypt and in the same week say they support gay right. That just won't pass in Egypt. I'm sorry. The vast majority does not and will not support the sentiment even if 200,000 - 300,000 supporters come out in Tahrir square in Egypt. It's still not a vast majority of the population. That's not to say their battle is entirely lost in the Egyptian Parliament. There can always be referendums and possibly one day their own bill of rights.

Personally for me it's a sad loss for women's rights and I hope that they keep fighting and get some amendments recognized for themselves.

Edited December 1, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

I fail to see the relevance to the original topic, but I'll be in Cairo.

Have a FUN trip.

[Ihavequestions 419]

Ok, lets get real IHQ. You're a sweet gal but I'm surprised you didn't confide in me when I asked you about the the truth of the matter a month ago. I was direct with you several times and we've know each other for years. After spending all day talking with fellow Egyptians and Expats in Egypt they are calling bullshit on the hype. The Egyptian government never sent out police officers to any crime scene even prior to the revolution. The only time they ever did was if a foreigner was involved and that is still the case to this day.

Why would I? Because we're so close? Olivia, I'm not going to defend myself to you or anyone else. I don't have to. I live here and live in it, every single day. I know what's going on.

Oh, and as for if a foreigner's involved? Not. There aren't "tourism police" anymore. Tourists, just like anyone else, are on their own.

It's one of the points that is currently infuriating Egyptians living there because why don't they get the preferential treatment. So please stop scaring RFQ because the general consensus is that this whole situation will blow over like a bad storm if that in one to two weeks. They believe that the constitution will pass and things will begin to settle down from there. That the Egyptian people like it or not will accept it. Morsi is banking on it because he was elected by the majority so he believes he has the power to back him.

Alrighty, Olivia. Two weeks and the chaos that's been going on for almost two years will be done and over with. Right on. Whatever you say.

BTW, Morsi was elected by 25% of Egyptians, which isn't a majority by any stretch of the word. His election results were a whopping 2% higher than the next guy, who happened to be Mubarak's last Prime Minister. They were choosing between the lesser of two evils, knowing the result was going to be evil. For those who weren't convinced, kilos of meat, refrigerators, and air conditioners helped sway their opinion.

I also call bullshit on this CBS pkg ( Link ) that is being presented to the people in the US because Morsi never had control of the constitutional court. The constitutional court was established entirely by Mubarak 15 years ago and calling them all Islamist implying that they were somehow controlled by Morsi or the MB is a total crock and entirely misleading. Not everyone agrees on the same definition of Islam and that is a major point in the current protests. The constitutional court didn't exist before any of this upheaval. And they believe that all of this is blown way out of proportion and those locally that are in Egypt and educated know better and some are taking advantage of the situation.

Ah, you're confusing the Constitution Assembly (which Morsi appointed) with the top Judges (which Mubarak appointed). The Judges have been around for a long time. The Assembly rushed a vote on the Constitution (after everyone that wasn't pro-sharia walked out) because the Judges will vote TOMORROW to decide whether the Constitutional Assembly is illegal. Before the now famous "decree," the Judges intended to vote whether some decision made a few months ago was illegal, and if they chose it to be illegal, the presidential election would have been illegal and power would have returned to the military. The reality is the decree prevented a military coup. Whether that stays or not remains to be seen. Morsi is to either approve or deny all or part of the draft Constitution today, then it goes to a popular referendum. The problem is, the Judges must preside over the referendum, and they haven't worked for a week and it doesn't look like they plan to any time soon. These are the same Judges, by the way, that have somehow managed to find every single person charged with crimes against protesters not guilty; they're Mubarak's people.

They said that you can't believe that a country that is 90% Islamic and 10% Christian to not pass a constitution that represents 90% of the country. The liberal minded can't honestly believe that they can come out and say that the constitution doesn't represent them in Egypt and in the same week say they support gay right. That just won't pass in Egypt. I'm sorry. The vast majority does not and will not support the sentiment even if 200,000 - 300,000 supporters come out in Tahrir square in Egypt. It's still not a vast majority of the population. That's not to say their battle is entirely lost in the Egyptian Parliament. There can always be referendums and possibly one day their own bill of rights.

This speaks to how utterly clueless you are about what you're talking about. There is no Egyptian Parliament. The Judges got rid of that democratically elected representative body months ago.

Personally for me it's a sad loss for women's rights and I hope that they keep fighting and get some amendments recognized for themselves.

Women's rights? Most folks are genuinely bent because the Constitutional Assembly flat our refused to prohibit sex trafficking because it would "make Egypt look bad." The reality is sex tourism, both men (the Gulf Arabs) and women (think tourist resorts) bring money into the country on the backs of the poor and Egypt isn't willing to let that go. They also refused to set a minimum age for marriage of girls to 18, as it is now, because nine is "sharia." Oh, and FGM? They had a fit several years ago when that became illegal, so the law was changed to "medically necessary" (read: pay a doctor to say your daughter has to have her bits cut off). With this constitution it will be a-okay.

Have you even read the draft Constitution?

[Ihavequestions 419]

After spending all day talking with fellow Egyptians and Expats in Egypt they are calling bullshit on the hype.

Tell your "fellow" Egyptians and Expat buddies they might want to take a peek at the news once in a while. If they did, they would notice the depravity of crime.

Here's an example:

WARNING - EXTREMELY GRAPHIC

http://www1.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=863792&SecID=12

Since there's no police protection, the village of Sharqia has taken to punishing crimes locally. So far, they've killed 10 and hung them on lamp posts. Perhaps the video will convince your local experts. Or you.

[rade2rising 205]

Its very dangerous so best be careful. heed warnings or pay the price. you decide. have a safe trip.

[rade2rising 205]

Tell your "fellow" Egyptians and Expat buddies they might want to take a peek at the news once in a while. If they did, they would notice the depravity of crime.

Here's an example:

WARNING - EXTREMELY GRAPHIC

http://www1.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=863792&SecID=12

Since there's no police protection, the village of Sharqia has taken to punishing crimes locally. So far, they've killed 10 and hung them on lamp posts. Perhaps the video will convince your local experts. Or you.

that is SICK

[kristen_maroc 126]

Wow. This got intense.

To OP: I feel like I see both perspectives. I get frustrated when people think they know more than I do and they don't about what life is or must be like in Morocco. I am glad when I can describe my experiences and hopefully open people's minds to what is real, and am always quick to describe that everyone has a different experience, and that I speak for myself and my experiences only, not generalizations.

That conversation would annoy the ####### out of me because I would feel disrespected that someone thinks that I am stepping into a situation blindly and wouldnt trust my own judgement.

That being said, I am talking Morocco, not Egypt. I dont know what is happening in Egypt right now. If it is a war-like zone? I would be a bit less quick to be offended.

I hate condescension though, and it sounds as if that was the case in this situation. And, yeah, that would be offensive in and of itself, regardless of topic.

[Mithra 1,185]

idk I don't think i'd get bent over someone telling me to be careful while traveling to a highly volatile country.

I also would be more trusting of ihq's assessment of the area than my husband's considering she would have no reason to lie. Whereas my husband would be more apt to sugarcoat the situation in order to get me over to egypt. But then I'm no longer newly in love and I'm more aware of my husband being full of sh!t most of the time lol.