And speaking of jealousy....

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

I am not outraged in the least. I am simply saying that Jordanians and Palestinians are not experts on all MENA countries nor should they pass themselves off as such. The mid east is another universe compared to North Africa and even though they sympathise with the plight of the palestinians they do not share the same history. Algeria cared so much about Palestine that they gave over 35 million in the last couple of years to the Palestinian authority. But Algeria and Morocco have both suffered from outside influences importing terror into their countries. Outside countries funding extremism,building dissent etc. Palestinians the most cosmopolitan? Who says? I have met lots of them. Some of them couldnt show you Europe on a map. I must be missing somethingBut som here. Iwill say that many of the arab worlds great minds are palestinian. That does not mean that all palestinians have always contributed to other arab countries in a postitive manner. Far from that, but thats a different thread and a different topic more related to the development of radical terrorist groups in countries by outcast intellectuals who were thrown out of other mena countries ( different topic altogether)

Algerians and Moroccans who live in France in my opinion are much more cosmopolitan, connected to French culture both in language and cuisine.If you go to a moroccan restaurant or Algerian restaurant you can taste a blend of several cultures. I find that very cosmopolitan. I will say it again. Not all mena countries have an arab history and arab culture is not pervasive through out all of North Africa. The entire east side of Algeria is chaawi and kabilye and they are constantly at odds with arabization and do not want arabic as their language. They are not veiled there and their music culture and history reveals a constant fight and resistance against arabization.

I like coming to the boards to learn and grow but after 7 years of constant study ( 4 additional years of history at the college level) I would say that my knowledge is adequate enough to tell you not to tell people on the boards that they do not know arabic culture. Jordanian, palestinian perhaps. I do not think you should take the roll of lecturing to people about what they know and dont know. You are pan arabist and pan arabism suits palestinians fine but not people who are not even ethnically or poltically tied to an arab background. I think you are very well versesd in pan arabism and could teach everyone a great deal about it. I frankly find the entire thing sad because you can talk over the heads of the average reader and unless they had a background to understand what you are alluding to , they just might buy all of it. I am not. I respect your understanding of palestinian culture. I do not think for one minute you can speak for all mena countries. Many inside some of the mena countries resent pan arabism and fight against it ( google amazigh and resistance, tizi ouzou, lounes matoub)

[UmmSqueakster 54]

For all the italian americans out there, I present the best of both worlds - a chocolate chip cannoli

[doodlebug 3]

For all the italian americans out there, I present the best of both worlds - a chocolate chip cannoli

You are and have always been my hero.

[Jenn! 918]

For all the italian americans out there, I present the best of both worlds - a chocolate chip cannoli

Have it with an afternoon cappuccino to be really rebellious!

[ya falaha! 0]

#######! Now I want a cannoli. I think the Italian bakery near my apt. is open until 7pm.

Have any of you tried those little fried donut style pastries or "peach" shaped pastries with cannoli filling?

[mybackpages 0]

For all the italian americans out there, I present the best of both worlds - a chocolate chip cannoli

Have it with an afternoon cappuccino to be really rebellious!

Cappucino in the afternoon!!! How shocking! If you drink this after 12pm then I will look at you with such a stare you might think I am jealous of you!

[allousa 1]

I am not outraged in the least. I am simply saying that Jordanians and Palestinians are not experts on all MENA countries nor should they pass themselves off as such. The mid east is another universe compared to North Africa and even though they sympathise with the plight of the palestinians they do not share the same history. Algeria cared so much about Palestine that they gave over 35 million in the last couple of years to the Palestinian authority. But Algeria and Morocco have both suffered from outside influences importing terror into their countries. Outside countries funding extremism,building dissent etc. Palestinians the most cosmopolitan? Who says? I have met lots of them. Some of them couldnt show you Europe on a map. I must be missing somethingBut som here. Iwill say that many of the arab worlds great minds are palestinian. That does not mean that all palestinians have always contributed to other arab countries in a postitive manner. Far from that, but thats a different thread and a different topic more related to the development of radical terrorist groups in countries by outcast intellectuals who were thrown out of other mena countries ( different topic altogether)

Algerians and Moroccans who live in France in my opinion are much more cosmopolitan, connected to French culture both in language and cuisine.If you go to a moroccan restaurant or Algerian restaurant you can taste a blend of several cultures. I find that very cosmopolitan. I will say it again. Not all mena countries have an arab history and arab culture is not pervasive through out all of North Africa. The entire east side of Algeria is chaawi and kabilye and they are constantly at odds with arabization and do not want arabic as their language. They are not veiled there and their music culture and history reveals a constant fight and resistance against arabization.

I like coming to the boards to learn and grow but after 7 years of constant study ( 4 additional years of history at the college level) I would say that my knowledge is adequate enough to tell you not to tell people on the boards that they do not know arabic culture. Jordanian, palestinian perhaps. I do not think you should take the roll of lecturing to people about what they know and dont know. You are pan arabist and pan arabism suits palestinians fine but not people who are not even ethnically or poltically tied to an arab background. I think you are very well versesd in pan arabism and could teach everyone a great deal about it. I frankly find the entire thing sad because you can talk over the heads of the average reader and unless they had a background to understand what you are alluding to , they just might buy all of it. I am not. I respect your understanding of palestinian culture. I do not think for one minute you can speak for all mena countries. Many inside some of the mena countries resent pan arabism and fight against it ( google amazigh and resistance, tizi ouzou, lounes matoub)

Not once have I ever represented myself to be an authority or expert in Arab, Moroccan or Palestinian culture. I am very interested in the history of Palestine and have read many books about that, but I could spend the rest of my life learning about their history and culture and still probably not learn everything.

I guess the only safe posts to comment on anymore are the "It's Thursday!" threads.

[~Jackie~ 30]

Ya know, I have seen some really ugly daily threads in my day....

Jackie

[peezey 0]

I am not outraged in the least. I am simply saying that Jordanians and Palestinians are not experts on all MENA countries nor should they pass themselves off as such. The mid east is another universe compared to North Africa and even though they sympathise with the plight of the palestinians they do not share the same history. Algeria cared so much about Palestine that they gave over 35 million in the last couple of years to the Palestinian authority. But Algeria and Morocco have both suffered from outside influences importing terror into their countries. Outside countries funding extremism,building dissent etc. Palestinians the most cosmopolitan? Who says? I have met lots of them. Some of them couldnt show you Europe on a map. I must be missing somethingBut som here. Iwill say that many of the arab worlds great minds are palestinian. That does not mean that all palestinians have always contributed to other arab countries in a postitive manner. Far from that, but thats a different thread and a different topic more related to the development of radical terrorist groups in countries by outcast intellectuals who were thrown out of other mena countries ( different topic altogether)

Algerians and Moroccans who live in France in my opinion are much more cosmopolitan, connected to French culture both in language and cuisine.If you go to a moroccan restaurant or Algerian restaurant you can taste a blend of several cultures. I find that very cosmopolitan. I will say it again. Not all mena countries have an arab history and arab culture is not pervasive through out all of North Africa. The entire east side of Algeria is chaawi and kabilye and they are constantly at odds with arabization and do not want arabic as their language. They are not veiled there and their music culture and history reveals a constant fight and resistance against arabization.

I like coming to the boards to learn and grow but after 7 years of constant study ( 4 additional years of history at the college level) I would say that my knowledge is adequate enough to tell you not to tell people on the boards that they do not know arabic culture. Jordanian, palestinian perhaps. I do not think you should take the roll of lecturing to people about what they know and dont know. You are pan arabist and pan arabism suits palestinians fine but not people who are not even ethnically or poltically tied to an arab background. I think you are very well versesd in pan arabism and could teach everyone a great deal about it. I frankly find the entire thing sad because you can talk over the heads of the average reader and unless they had a background to understand what you are alluding to , they just might buy all of it. I am not. I respect your understanding of palestinian culture. I do not think for one minute you can speak for all mena countries. Many inside some of the mena countries resent pan arabism and fight against it ( google amazigh and resistance, tizi ouzou, lounes matoub)

I won't even address your implication of Palestinians in the increase of radicalization in Morocco & Algeria. I'll leave that to WOM and allousa to school you on.

The VERY IDEA that you think Moroccan & Algerian culture is more "cosmopolitan" once it is in France is repulsive and clearly shows the vast intellectual graveyard that is your brain.

Edited August 9, 2007 by peezey

[ya falaha! 0]

Didn't last Wed's thread get locked?

Ya know, I have seen some really ugly daily threads in my day....

Jackie

[peezey 0]

Did anyone else see the part that Wahrania said WOM's posts are "talking above the average reader's head?" So everyone is stupid and should be spoken to at a lower level?

Nice stuff. Who's the bully again?

[mybackpages 0]

I guess the only safe posts to comment on anymore are the "It's Thursday!" threads.

nope...the real trick is to accept the absurdity and have fun with it. You can always change the subject....

For example:

Everything I learned about Morocco and MENA came from Secret Agent Squirrel and his sidekick Morocco Mole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVmX-2ijN6k

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I guess the only safe posts to comment on anymore are the "It's Thursday!" threads.

nope...the real trick is to accept the absurdity and have fun with it. You can always change the subject....

For example:

Everything I learned about Morocco and MENA came from Secret Agent Squirrel and his sidekick Morocco Mole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVmX-2ijN6k

Which of course will now lead me down the tangent of the US army recruiting squirrels to spy on iran.

And then further on a tangent to ramble about how my husband would love to get a flying squirrel as a pet.

But then I wonder how the squirrel will get along with our future cat mish mish.

Mish mish is apparently means apricot and is a common name for cats in Egypt

And now I'm hungry and want lunch.

As you can see, tangents are lots of fun with pictures.

[mybackpages 0]

I guess the only safe posts to comment on anymore are the "It's Thursday!" threads.

nope...the real trick is to accept the absurdity and have fun with it. You can always change the subject....

For example:

Everything I learned about Morocco and MENA came from Secret Agent Squirrel and his sidekick Morocco Mole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVmX-2ijN6k

Which of course will now lead me down the tangent of the US army recruiting squirrels to spy on iran.

And then further on a tangent to ramble about how my husband would love to get a flying squirrel as a pet.

But then I wonder how the squirrel will get along with our future cat mish mish.

Mish mish is apparently means apricot and is a common name for cats in Egypt

And now I'm hungry and want lunch.

As you can see, tangents are lots of fun with pictures.

ooh a MENA awarding winning post. Brava Rahma!

[allousa 1]

Palestine's history is far more reaching than any other Arab/MENA country, IMO. I mean the "Cradle of Civilization" is in their backyard for heaven sakes!

And to suggest that Palestinians are adding the "radical" element to MENA! Are you sure about that??? Last time I read about the spreading of radical Islamists (admittedly, I haven't check all of their passports), but I do believe they are from just about every other country in the MENA area. Not once have I ever agreed with the radical tactics of terrorists, because I believe there are better ways to voice opposition, yet Hamas and Hezbollah have done more for the basic needs of the people than any other country...including their own neighboring Arab countries! And as stated before this is really not the topic to get into this, but I will say, if you are going to bring up the spread of radicalization, don't forget to add how the U.S. Foreign Policy has been involved in sparking a good bit of the turmoil that is there today.