So proud to be Arab.

I'll be the first to admit that this wasn't always the case, especially growing up in Chicago. However I found that the older I grew, the more appreciative I was of my amazing heritage and culture, and the more at home I felt with all things arabic.

I'm writing this article not to extol the virtues of Arab culture and lifestyle, but of Arab nationalism. We are a people criticized in so many aspects by Western culture that I believe that many arabs have begun to negatively internalize this perspective. The youth rebel against their heritage and declare themselves "modern," renouncing all ties to their homeland. This saddens me so much that I find myself emboldened to change their viewpoints. As a proud Egyptian-American I cannot but be astounded at the rich history that I have been born with, and the legacy that I must now uphold.

All this comes at a time of political and social turmoil, surmounting greatly in my home country of Egypt. With the nation's president ardently refusing to leave - a disgusting choice that leaves you questioning his humanity, indeed if he still has any - chaos ensues in the streets of Cairo and Alexandria. Egyptian people are forced to protect their families from looters, standing outside their buildings at night wielding any weapons they might possess. Building are burning and stores are being robbed, yet Egyptians everywhere still refuse to give up their right to democracy.

I am so proud to be Egyptian. I am so proud to be Arab. If it were not for the Tunisian people standing up for their own rights Egypt might have been silent for decades more. Even Yemen and Jordan have begun to see that they deserve more than dictatorship. They deserve humanity.

Regardless of what western television and film makes out an Arab to be, a true Arab is not defined by religion and social class or beards and funny accents. A true Arab knows where he comes from, and strives to achieve more for his people. A true Arab realizes that differences do not undo centuries worth of history. A true Arab supports the rise of democracy and the proclamation of Freedom, and rejects the rule of tyrants and dictators. A true Arab would support the revolution in Egypt.

Ta7ya Masr.

How Mermaids Reproduce.

Yep, this article is pure science my friends. Pure science.

Many of you have probably been wondering for years how mermaids reproduce. In this short article I shall briefly enlighten you with a whole world of knowledge of what really occurs "Under the Sea."

Firstly, we must classify Mermaids and Mermen (the male counterpart - you didn't think both genders were maids did you?) into their corresponding genus. Although they are half-fish, one can easily notice the existence of mammary glands in the form of breasts, which, along with the presence of hair, by default places them into a mammal category.

By this assumption we can deduce that mermaids give birth to live young, as do all mammals, with exception of the platypus and echinda. Mammary glands allow for mermaids to nurse their young, who are dependent on their caretakers from infancy.

Fertilization occurs much the same way as humans, except that both male and female merfolk reproductive organs are smaller, and thus less noticeable. Male genitals in particular are hidden beneath a sheath of scales, emerging only during the act of mating. Copulation allows for the transmission of genes from the merman to the mermaid, in effect impregnating the latter. Although the gestational period is under some debate, most researchers place the range of pregnancy from 9-11 months, similar to, if not a little longer, than the duration of a typical human pregnancy. Delivery is also the same process as humans, and typically takes place in more shallow waters, allowing for the greatest amount of oxygen to be available to offspring.

And there you have it.

Oh lordy, potatoes.

Sitting in the library, I can't but help crave potatoes. Like real potatoes. Oh my goodness how I love them.

Sadly, I have no cooking ability whatsoever, nor any desire to acquire any. I am too easily tempted by the fast and instant, a quality of mine that I (somewhat) jokingly blame on our generations reliance on high-speediness. But if I could cook, I would make potatoes.

Ah, potatoes. Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew, as told by Samwise Gamgee, a wise hobbit indeed. I shall begin with my love of mashed potatoes, of which there is not a quantifiable number of expression. Creamy and luscious and scrumptious and amazingly smooth and wonderful, my mouth waters just thinking about them. A warm golden color, as soft as butter-filled clouds and as light as one of the Olsen twins, if mashed potatoes were real, I think I would marry them. But I would probably have an extra-marital affair with baked potatoes, topping our love off with a heavenly blanket of sour cream and parsley. Oh God.

Undaunted by unsupportive friends who make snide remarks like "It doesn't take a genius to make potatoes" (ehm-ehm DANIA), I persevere in my imaginary creation, settling for my dream potatoes than actually taking the time to make potatoes.

So I sit here, unsatisfied in a cold and potato-less library, thinking about potatoes. Where my skills may fail at cooking, my mind astounds even me with its colorful palate of potato dishes, ranging from one potato dish, to possibly even three whole dishes. A genius for serious Dania, I know.

The Best Thing in the World

Sleep.

Away from you, I dream of you.
My heart pounds just to think of you.
Pillows and beds and nice comfy nests
All speak of you, and reek of you.

Sleep, why do you evade me so?
I just want you now, so please bestow
Time and comfort and lovely long rests
Such things that I have yet to know.

My clock it rings, so noisily,
Oh God, it hurts my eyes to see
You said that you would heal all wounds,
Sleep you lie, away from me...

The sun shines bright and so clear,
So far away, you were once near,
Sleep come back to bed!
Please, just hold me dear.

I hate you sleep, you make me cry,
You tease me so, you're just too sly,
For me to grasp you in my head
My tears fall softly, I'm so deprived..

Sleep, why are you so unkind??
Just two hours please, to refresh my mind!
My heart is breaking, burning fire,
My head is screaming, time unwind!

Come back now! Can't you see?
I just want to have you for me.
Night is coming, and I am tired
Sleep can't you move more slowly?

I feel you here, right in my arms,
And in my head, you work your charms,
I love you now, forever more
Sleep, you are so... so...so.....ZZzZzzzzzzzz

Disease of the Heart

Love is an infectious disease that insists on growing and festering in random areas of your body. Your heart for example, an essential organ for the transport of oxygen through your bloodstream, is poisoned with love. It's primary function becomes secondary. Your brain, which once relied on cognitive processes and evaluations, now believes in love - and consequently obsesses itself with romantic trivialities, instead of practical applications. Your hands even, your stupid, selfish hands, begin to crave the hands of another, rather than using themselves for grip and so forth.

Once you are poisoned - that is once you are helpless to the whims of this disease - your scientific observation skills deteriorate. Your main area of focus shifts to one being in particular, with all the rest either resembling or differing from said individual to some degree. You become inadequate, feeling the incessant urge to wear silly clothing and act in culturally-deemed-appropriate norms that fit within your category of mate selection and maintenance.


Addiction, perhaps the worst aspect of your condition, is inevitable. You will want to experiences the highs of love to such an extent that it will begin to consume your thoughts, and regulate your corresponding actions. A regular day will be planned around ridiculousl love activities, in which you and your object of desire attract each other with vibrant exteriors and excessive mating calls.

You will forget all external parties outside of your relationship. Yes, you may have loved friends in the way E.Coli had loved the small intestine, but it cannot compare to the love affair of leukemia and erythrocytes. Your love festers and invades every single component of your life, so that no organ remains uninfected.

The end of love is the beginning of realization of just how sick you were to begin with, meriting a diagnosis of terminal proportions. You will experience severe withdrawal symptoms, ending with significant intangible pressure on your most diseased organ, the heart. Of course, your above symptoms will continue to be prevalent, but now that the disease has been cut off from its main provider you will be on your way to a very slow recovery. Your cognitive functioning will slowly be restored, unless of course the very realization of your stupidity requires you to save whatever minute amount of dignity you have left, and commit suicide.

A disease, my friends. I bloodthirsty, unforgiving disease.

The Art of Listening

"Analyze me." Haha, right. 

No doubt most psychology majors, myself included, have been hearing this statement since the very moment we declared ourselves into the major. Having been a psych student for two years now, I have some sense of personalities and disorders, but I am certainly not qualified to "analyze" anyone. 

I am, however, good at listening, a trait which I believe is the very foundation of being a good psychologist, family member and friend. People who listen are required to naturally exercise a certain level of tolerance, for often times the things you hear may challenge or even directly counter your own viewpoints. 

So, I practice listening. I sit at home and listen to family issues, or at AUB, where I listen to friends' issues.  I bite my tongue and control my facial emotions, because I know only the slightest unwanted reaction might hurt someone's feelings. I listen and listen, sometimes for hours in a day, until said persons are done talking. 

And then? I give. Except giving requires listening, a fact that is too often forgotten. When you give your advice or your opinions to a person, regardless of whether you believe you are right or not, you must always listen, but not just to their voice. Pay attention to body language, facial expression, even the structure of the wording. For often what is unsaid is louder than that which is said. 

How many times have you come up with a snide or ignorant remark simply because you wanted to speak? Spoken out of turn only to leave the quiet ones in your path forever quiet? Too often it is the silent ones who should be speaking. You might be surprised at what they have to say.

I find this the case in daily interactions between friends and family. We are intolerant if we cannot bend, but too liberal with our flexibility. Is there a medium? Perhaps, perhaps not. Everything is subjective. Nevertheless, there is such a thing as giving too much, or taking too much. The passive listener versus the over-active speaker. You can’t be both, but you can be an in-betweener. 

It takes effort to speak up for what you believe in, but it takes even more to listen to something you don’t.  But to truly be a good friend you must sometimes brace yourself for the things you dislike, while trying your best to do what you think is right. This thought rings true in a passage by Winston Churchill, who once said “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

Pick it up.

Now AUB isn’t exactly a dirty campus, but then again we have a maintenance staff for that. What would happen if for just one day Sukleen didn’t exist? Beirut, and AUB for that matter, would turn into a pigsty. All because of litterers and lazy people who just can’t take five minutes out of their extraordinarily busy lives to walk all the way over to a garbage can. 

Lebanon is well known for its beautiful scenery - in fact most of its income comes from tourism. So why are so many Lebanese people ruining the best national treasure that they posses? Why is it so impossibly difficult to reuse, reduce and recycle? I’ll tell you why. It’s because people just don’t care. Global warming is merely a whisper to be inflicted on future generations, pollution, an inevitable concept that’s everyone else’s problem. Second-hand smoke is a myth, and those who complain are being just plain inconsiderate to the social aura of AUB. And recycling? Well, that’s for environmental freaks. One or two plastic bottles aren’t going to harm anything! 

That’s what you think. Did you know that it takes nearly 500 years for plastic to decompose? That it takes 24 trees to make only 1 ton of newspaper? That just one recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes? Read people. Learn. This is our earth we’re polluting. OUR earth. So when you throw away that glass bottle you just finished, try and remember that glass that ends up in landfills NEVER decomposes. You are only ruining our greenery and polluting our land. 

Then what happens? Well firstly, our landfills would overflow. Our water sources would eventually become contaminated. Natural resources would be wasted creating new plastic and aluminum that could have easily been generated from recycled materials. Litter would diffuse everywhere, making streets and highways trash dumps. And then? Water would become scarce, which would in turn cause massive food shortages, which would then create huge amounts of starvation and even possible wars. 

But wait! Just because YOU don’t recycle doesn’t mean the world will end. Right? WRONG! You are one person in a chain of people thinking along the same line – that what they do won’t matter in the long run- a fact which is completely and utterly untrue. Millions of people choose not to recycle when they are perfectly capable of doing so. Imagine what would happen if just half of those people began to. And they encouraged their friends to, who encouraged their friends, who encouraged their friends. A chain reaction, all to promote global welfare. All for our environment.

So I ask you, students of AUB, to really, seriously, listen. Don’t just throw things on the ground because you can’t find a garbage can, because in the long run, you will only be hurting yourself. Let’s treasure the beauty of Beirut and maintain it for future generations. Let’s not be those people who think recycling is a waste of time. Let’s just listen. Please.

Homosexuality and Religion

The century old feud between homosexuality and religion has propelled countless wars and debates in a world teeming with ethical diversity. Yet Tuesday night’s lecture, entitled ‘Homosexuality and Religion,’ aimed for the contrary; a harmonious link between the two entities - a position which to many seemed a paradox in and of itself. 

Debuted by the Free Thought Society, the lecture featured SBS student Rita El-Haddad, Professor Joshua Anderson, Professor Michael Khoury, and Human Rights Activist Sam, who preferred her to leave her surname a mystery in order to keep her religious affiliation a surprise. The lecture started off by a brief introduction by philosophy student Kareem Zreik, who emphasized that the atmosphere was to be academic and professional, a reminder repeated more than once during the conference.

Rita El-Haddad then continued by stressing the very key point of the lecture, that religion and homosexuality were not necessarily contradicting, and that regardless of your religious viewpoint and affiliation, you should not discriminate toward others just because they differ from you. “What I’m asking of you is to be open-minded.” she said, “It is fine to think that homosexuality is acceptable. It is fine to think that it is unacceptable. You need to have a point of view of understanding and tolerance.”

Philosophy professor Joshua Anderson followed with his take on the subject, which was that sexuality as a whole was not the predominant aspect of religion, and therefore should not be the only thing focused on. “Who has the authority of judgement?” he asked, “especially the condemnation of others.” Professor Anderson then explained the concept of pluralism  - a condition in which there are multiple aspects of a whole, such as different religions, cultures, ethnicities, etc. Pluralism, he argued, is in every society, and in order to flourish we need to set aside our differences and tolerate other forms of beliefs and values. After all, he stated “The fundamental principles of religion are tolerance and love of others.”

Professor Michael Khoury was third to speak, and did so from a psychological viewpoint. Having worked for three years in therapy with homosexuals and bisexuals, Khoury described his experience with individuals struggling to answer one question “How can I be gay and religious?” According to Khoury many homosexual people strive for both family acceptance and religious acceptance, but often don’t end up with a so-called ‘happy ending.’

Human right’s activist Sam, exemplified Khoury’s point of view, and spoke of her struggle to admit her homosexuality both on a personal and religious level: “I went through a hard time just trying to fill my life with anything – but there was always emptiness” she said.  As a devout Christian Sam was conflicted for years till she finally reconciled her religion and sexuality, after researching Christianity and its position on homosexuality. Sam discovered that there were in fact several sects of Christianity that accepted homosexuality, and according to her, no references in the bible that clearly condemned it. “The God I knew could not hate,” she said,”He was a God of mercy and kindness.” 

The panel’s comments fueled nearly and hour’s worth of questions, composed of an audience that was apparently divided. Many of the listeners agreed with their position, and spoke of their individual struggles or their willingness to promote gay rights. Others were not as appeased. The lecture did not truly explore the boundaries of other religions, including Islam, of which many of the audience members felt was equally important. In fact there were several comments from Muslims in the audience who voiced that Islam made clear that homosexuality was forbidden, although one audience member spoke of a sect in Sufism that accepted it. In the end the lecture seemed to promote tolerance more than anything else, an important notion too often forgotten amongst religious prejudices. Rita El-Haddad particularly emphasized this, rounding off the lecture with a point that finally had the whole audience concurring: “Let’s just agree to disagree.”

The Issue with Sex

Tough topic, I know. But it’s also one that shouln’t be ignored, or excessively focused on  for that matter. I’m writing this article not to condone or judge, but to explain my point of view. 

Nowadays sex is everywhere you look – on T.V, in music,literature and possibly in almost every movie that has come out in the last 20 years. Sex has become a trivial affair, where only half a century ago it was something personal and private. 

I personally feel that today’s generation has become so overexposed to sexuality that it has lost all meaning. We have been subject to sex since elementry school, when certain words or phrases that were once taboo have now become everyday jargin.  College students, especially, are in their ‘experimental’ phase, one that often leads to unprotected sex and dissapointed one-night stands. I find abstinence to be the best course, a position often met with ‘You’re going to wait till marriage?! Didn’t you live in america for 18 years? How is that possible?!’ among other outraged exclamations.  But hey, if I’m not here to judge, why should they? It makes no difference to me whether or not people choose to have pre-marital sex – it’s their decision, not mine. Whereas my decision doesn’t affect anyone but myself, yet I am still viewed as ‘old-fashioned’ and ‘closed-minded.’ 

Why should I bend to the whims of our ‘let it all hang loose’ society? Just because sex  has become the norm doesn’t make it acceptable to those who choose to wait. Nor does it make it okay to judge those who don’t have sex, or lie about doing it just to seem ‘in.’  The opposite is true for pre-marital sex, if that is indeed your position. Individual values are different for everyone, and it is no one’s right to judge or look down upon another person’s wishes. 

On one hand, having that kind of freedom in many societies today may be a good sign of overcoming our shyness about such private matters. Nonetheless, this particular topic is a sensitive one, and people, especially with the help of the media today, are taking it too far when it comes to viewing inappropriate sexual scenes. Imagine how traumatizing this  could be for a six year old child who happens to stumble on such a scene on tv.

Although there is no hope of a modesty resurrection in the media(have you watched a Lady Gaga video lately?) it doesn’t mean that we should accept all their ideals as true. Don’t forget your morals and submit to the sex craze just because its become commonplace. 

For those of you who are undecided about whether to wait or not, don’t let peer pressure influence you. Easier said than done, I know, but this is an important issue. Choose for yourself, not to impress your friends, appease your significant other or even to fit in.

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

Perhaps one of the most entertaining movies of the year, Sherlock Holmes strikes audiences as a captivating tale complete with plot twists, plenty of chemistry, and tons of bone-crushing action. Playing Sherlock is Robert Downey Jr., famous for his previous role as Iron Man. With movies like Charlie Chaplin, Tropic Thunder, The Soloist, and now Sherlock Holmes, Robert Downey Jr., once again delivers as a thoroughly remarkable character, except this time with an eccentric new spin. Sherlock’s cynical sidekick Watson is played by British actor Jude Law, while Sherlock’s female interest, Irene Adler, is played by the beautiful Rachel McAdams. Holding his own as the cunning antagonist is Mark Strong, known for his work in Body of Lies and Tristan and Isolde.

True to the original literary inspiration, Sherlock Holmes is a wildly peculiar detective, famed for his brilliance and deductive reasoning. Towards the beginning of the film Holmes becomes a hermit, stripped of interesting cases and his close friend Watson, who is soon to be married. Meanwhile Irene Adler, notable thief, seductress, and long-time love of Holmes, reappears with a new case, finding the missing ‘Ginger midget’. Holmes is tempted out of recluse only to re-recruit Watson for another all out mystery. The plot unfolds as Lord Blackwood (Strong), reeks havoc throughout all of London, only to be repeatedly fazed by Watson and Holmes.

For the science lovers, Sherlock Holmes is a flash-back into pre-modern times, with scientific and industrial advancements being prominent recurring themes.  Magic mixes with science in a clever ruse that leaves audiences wondering which one is which. With the help of Watson and Adler, Sherlock uncovers several innovative scientific tools and methods, each of which helps him to further unveil Lord Blackwood’s evil plans. 

Both McAdams and Downey Jr., play their parts with convincing chemistry, only to be bested by the unbreakable bond of friendship between Sherlock and Watson.  Law and Downey Jr. seem to have both an onscreen and off-screen friendship, cleverly portrayed through a humorous and well-written script.

Perhaps the most critiqued aspects of the film are the slow-motion action montages, of which there are plenty. Holmes plays out several scenes in his head before they actually happen, and then proceeds to repeat them in excruciatingly slow movements, drawing from both the suspense and thrill of the actual fight. Other critics have dubbed the film’s plot as ‘overcomplicated’ and ‘difficult to follow,’ even though the story stems from the original book series.

Sherlock Holmes succeeds in mesmerizing audiences so that they feel straight out of 19^th century London. Amidst detective work, romantic pursuits and plenty of action sequences, this film revives the age-old legacy that is Sherlock Holmes. Don’t miss this action-packed adventure romance while it’s still in theatres, or you will lose out on an excellent movie experience that will leave you with the urgent need to hunt down notorious criminals. After all detective work is quite elementary, my dear [Watson].

“Is Religion Outdated?” A lecture on the adaptive ability of Islam

A modern society is one that promotes peaceful coexistence and progress in scientific and technological fields, among others. Many of our generation today believe religion to be exactly the opposite of modern, instead finding it backwards, old-fashioned, and often – unfortunately – corrupt. Wednesday night’s lecture in West Hall, entitled ‘Is Religion Outdated?’ discussed these issues from an Islamic viewpoint, beginning with its vast history and accomplishments and ending with the modern- day perspective.

The first half of the lecture was given by Adnan Rashid, notable Islamic historian and philosopher. He began by addressing the four aspects of modernity – political stability, economic prosperity, moral grounds, and the pursuit of science and arts. Rashid went on to say that none of these features would be possible without the presence of security and tranquility, without which civilization would be utterly nonexistent.

Rashid then delved into the various histories of the three Abrahamic religions, with the prime focus of his discussion being Islam. Beginning with Jewish history, Rashid discussed how they were once a great civilization that was oppressed and attacked by tyrants for centuries. He then went on to explain their ties with modernity and progress, for at the time Jews were valued as some of the most brilliant scientific and literary minds of the day. Under Muslim rule Jews found protection and religious tolerance, providing the means for scientific advancements.

Rashid discussed Christianity’s views on modernism in ancient times. With the reformation of the Church, Christianity was at odds with science, leading to the repression and even murders of prominent scientists and philosophers, such as Galileo and Copernicus. 

When Islam came to power in the Middle East and Spain, it promoted progress for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Rashid explained that Islam had flourished in less than one century under just rule and provided a safe and stable environment for those who wanted to advance. In fact, Oxford University and the University of Naples were both based on manuscripts taken from Islamic Spain, a tribute to the marked growth of religion and progress.

So why the history lesson you ask? Why not? Islamic Spain and Muslim rule are excellent examples of modernity and religion combined, in that science and faith can push each other to greatness. Unfortunately, lamented Rashid, this is not always the case today. Many people misinterpret religion for their own uses, pushing followers farther and farther away from true religious ideology.

The second main speaker, Sary Farah, continued Rashid’s message, except from a modern standpoint. Farah began by reviewing the ‘need for Deen’ – fulfilling spiritual needs, allowing for moral guidelines, and answering philosophical questions about existence. He argued that without these aspects, humans would be left without a sense of meaning, much less a drive for development.

Farah then likened religion to a Ferrari, saying that the Ferrari, a perfectly dependable (and awesome) car was just like religion; it needs a driver to go anywhere. However, if the Ferrari crashes it is the driver to blame, not the car itself.

Audience members responded enthusiastically in the Q & A sessions, asking philosophical and religious questions to Rashid, Farah, and guest speaker Adam Deen, well past the lecture’s end. One question in particular set straight many female stereotypes in Islam and their relation in today’s world, to the pleasure of the female audience, and a bit surprisingly, much of the male audience as well. Business sophomore Hadi Inja, was one of many who debated women’s rights, but by the end of the discussion felt differently about religion: “I think these lectures really change the way I viewed Islam for the better” he said.

Others were not as appeased, such as ECE sophomore Ayman Jaber, who stated: “Historically, this lecture was very informative, especially for non-Muslims, even though there weren’t many. Nevertheless I believe that many of the notions were flawed and I disagreed with them.”

To those concepts that didn’t apply in Prophet Mohammed’s time, Farah explained Ijtihaad, which is the founding of new Islamic ruling based on principles of Sharai’a. Both Farah and Rashid touched on this concept, discussing its uses in the modern society.  Farah emphasized the fact that Ijtihaad is cannot be applied by just everyone, only those with a thorough understanding of the principles of Islam.

Modernity need not be the antithesis of Religion, rather the counterpart. Both Rashid and Farah emphasized that to really return to the golden age of Islam, we need to embrace the true principles of Islam, that of justice, faith, and equality, without misconstruing parts or phrases of religious texts to fit our own views. Guest speaker Adam Deen particularly emphasized this position, pointing out to one of the audience members “Islam is more than just one verse dude!”