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February 15th, 2008
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Middle East: Protesting Love
Valentine's Day has come and gone, but in the Middle East, the debate still continues on whether it is an occasion which should be celebrated or shunned. With both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait warning against Valentine's Day celebrations, bloggers had a lot to talk about.
Kuwait:
Shopaholic Q8eya lashes out at the new restriction in this post from Arabic:
حرام
حرام
حرام
كل شي حرام
!!ويقولون دين يسر
أي يسر هذا؟
!!لا يبا إذا هذا دينكم فأنا ما أبيه
مع إني ما أحب الفالنتاين بس حامض على بوزكم راح أحتقل هالسنة
!!حرام، مو حرام راح نحتفل راح نحتفل
حامض على بوزكم بعد مرة و
Happy Valentine’s Day everybody
haram
haram
haram
Everything is haram!!
And they say this is the religion of ease!!
Where is the ease in this?
If this is your religion, I don't want it!!
(Do what you want)
Happy Valentine's Day everybody
The blogger also posts the following picture of a banner places in Kuwait which reads:
No to Valentine's. Muslims, this celebration is Haram.
Saudi Arabia:
Brightlightz posts a CNN report on Saudi Arabia banning all things red ahead of Valentine's.
Egypt:
Egyptian Sandmonkey reacts to the news with a post entitled The Saudis are Cuckoo. He further explains:
Their religious police is banning red roses because they want to discourage people from celebrating Valentine's Day. Those damn sinners. Maybe now they will focus on their Rain Prayer.
Bahrain:
Ammar too isn't impressed with the Saudi crackdown on Valentine's and writes:
Last Valentine they banned all florists from selling red roses, but no goddamit they had to top it this year; so they went around and banned every single flower and gift shop from selling not only red roses, but ANYTHING red. Yup. If you wanted to buy a red box, for example? Well, tough. Want to wrap a gift in red? Nope. Want to just buy a red string? Nu uh, that ain't allowed either.
I have nothing for or against Valentine. I think it's a stupid occassion.. I ain't bothered. But to totally ban everything red ‘just in case' some guy wants to buy his wife a flower? This ain't just about Valentine's day. This is about a bunch of retarded morons trying to impose rules that not only make for a really crappy quality of life, but end up causing half the problems that the youth of Saudi face today (who would otherwise grow up as really intelligent, hardworking people). Thanks for really screwing up Saudi, guys.
Still in Bahrain, Coolred38 cannot maintain her cool when she writes:
I remember a few years back a fatwa was released from Saudi clerics that forbid giving flowers to sick patients in the hospitals…it was a western idea and had nothin to do with Islam or Muslims…geez…hoping someone will forget their health troubles for a moment and enjoy looking at some beautiful flowers is such a haram thing to do…Im surprised they even let flowers grow in Saudi…anybody could just….pick them for Gods sake and take them home to their sick mother….whats the world coming to when you deem it a good deed to present flowers(oh those evil little buggers) to a hear and dear one….I think more prayers are in order….away with flowers i say…they lead to all sorts of “good feelings”…and Muslims are forbidden to feel good…
if your feeling good…your probably doing something haram…you sicko!
Hayat , also from Bahrain, adds her voice to the debate, saying that love is sacred - regardless of religion. She writes:
Elsewhere in the Middle East, the celebrations went uninterrupted.
Tunisia:
Magharebia takes us to Tunisia and reports that love is in the air.
For Tunisians young and old, the Valentine's Day celebration of love and romance is growing increasingly popular. In preparation for the February 14th event, retailers fill display windows with red hearts, teddy bears and woollen cats of different colours to tempt shoppers, while store owners greet enthusiastic customers with phrases such as “love is the dearest thing in life” and “lovers' satisfaction is our mission”.
Bahrain:
Farah Mattar announces to the world that she enjoys the feelings of love. She writes:
On a day when the profoundly intelligent mullas across the causeway are busy mangling red roses and hunting down hormonal, repressed girls in crimson, we have the liberties to enjoy the day known as Valentines Day. Now regardless of all the retarded emails of warning that I’m going to get today on “do you know what you are celebrating?” and the history of St. Valentine and what it really meant and how it is the end of Islamic civilization, if I give my husband a rose; in spite of all this stupidity, the overpriced balloons at Al Osra, and the Styrofoam hearts in restaurants, I think what today makes me think of, whether I like it or not, is love.
Jordan:
From Jordan, Qwaider has advice to his female readers. He says:
Ladies… very simple questions …
1) Define your best Valentine's day event
2) Define your PERFECT gift.Be as frank as you like
Dubai:
Qatar Cat, who lives in Dubai, introduces a Secret Love Calculator, to her amourous readers. She explains:
I am reintroducing my hugely successful Valentine day calculator again this year. All you have to do is click on the link, follow simple steps - and all your Valentine day dilemmas will be solved!
And even if you are not planning on giving a card this year, this might help you guess whether you will be getting one!
Turkey:
And last but not least, mersenne_twister shares two Turkish songs celebrating love to mark the day.
Related Global Voices Online articles:
Palestine: Celebrating Valentine's Day
From Morocco, With Love
Palestine: Celebrating Valentine's Day
While the holiday of Valentine's Day sources from Christian origins, people around the world have come to regard it as a celebration of love, friendship, and family. One of the most interesting aspects of Valentine's Day has become how we choose to express our feelings to our loved ones and objects of desire.
The Writing on the Wall–
This year's most innovative way of saying “I love you” comes from an organization called Send a Message. Send a Message enables you to have a note or picture spray painted on the wall dividing the Palestinian territories and the West Bank of Israel. For $45 USD or 30 Euro, a message and three digital photographs of your image will be sent to a person of your choosing.
In their Frequently Asked Questions section, the group explains their purpose and methodology:
“What's it good for, writing on the Wall?
The Wall won't fall just because your text is written on it. True.
But your message reminds Palestinians trapped inside the Wall they have not been forgotten. You help to keep hope alive. ‘Our' Palestinians want to send you one single, simple message: “we are human beings, just like you, with sense of humour and lust for life.” That's why they do this, and enjoy it.”“Can I write anything I want?
You can write almost anything. Nonsense and humour are okay. But hurting people ( in Palestine, Israel, or anywhere else) isn't. Obscene, offensive and extremist texts won't make it to the Wall.”
“Will the message be there forever?
Hopefully not. Just like millions of Palestinians we hope that the Wall will fall. But even before that time your text could disappear behind other people's slogans, tags or artworks. We have no control over that.
Never mind, you'll still have the pictures.”
Aside from the basic operational costs that will go to the ICCO, the Dutch firm that began this initiative, all other income will go to the Palestinian Peace and Freedom Youth Forum, who will use the money toward local community projects. (Their website is under construction, but will be available here in the future.)
Of the group's Valentine's Day efforts, Dion Nissenbaum of Checkpoint Jerusalem reports:
“In its first two months, send.a.message has already spray painted one marriage proposal and one marriage acceptance. (Not the same people, apparently.)
And the imminent arrival of Valentine's Day has generated a surge in requests for the group to spray paint romantic messages on the wall.
Along with professions of love, the group has spray painted quotes from Gandhi and Che Guevara. They have written sayings by Nelson Mandela and Menachem Begin. They were even asked by one person to paint a falafel recipe on the wall.”
A falafel recipe? Well, that's one way to pay homage to your favorite dish.
Anti-Valentine's Day Rally Advocates Love All Year Round–
Mona of the Rebellious Arab Girl blog had one of my favorite Valentine's Day postings. She writes:
“Today I decided to gather some people and march down the streets boycotting Valentine’s day. It’s incredible the amount of people that will show up and support such a cause. Our mission was to say that love should be all year round. If you decide to tell a person today and only today that you love them, then you are an inconsiderate wimp! You got to say it all the time and all year long!”
She was even kind enough to provide us with photographic evidence of the protest.
But don't forget to read the small print where Mona adds:
“By the way.. this is a photoshopped image and you are gullible! :P Don’t you love me?”
Valentine's Day Gifts–
One of the best parts about Valentine's Day is the gifts, which range from the traditional to unique.
In an entry entitled, “Thank You, Secret Admirer,” Qwaider of the Memories Documented blog tells of a special present he received from an anonymous friend.
” I opened my door this morning to find the best gift anyone can ever imagine at my door step! A HUGE BOX with the YUMMIEST chocolate in the known Universe, Guylian … But that's not all. The huge box had an amazing one other gift, a $300 gift card at my favorite gadget shop, Fry's.
Could this valentine's day get any better?! It did. A beautiful card from a secret admirer!
Thank you secret admirer…. Whoever you are.”
What could be better?
I'm not sure that Ola Eliwat is the best one to ask. You see, in the colorful spirit of the holiday, she received several packets of ketchup. But don't judge, Ola was happy. In an entry on the Cinnamon Zone entitled, “My First Valentine's Gift,” she relates:
“And so, who knew my first Valentine's gift would be something I am personally fond of, sometimes have short supply of in the office, and since [my friend] knows how much I… go crazy when we run out of it, and how we stock it in our desks in bulk, she found it a pity to let all those small packets go to waste…
Seriously, who needs roses when there's KETCHUP?”
To each her own.
Palestinian Farmers Lose Income from Wasted Crops–
On a note in a different key, several Palestinian bloggers reported stories of farmers losing valuable income this week. Robin of Under the Holly Tree, Annie of Annie's Letters, and Tony of Palestinian Pundit all included posts referencing this loss.
Robin laments:
“Life is ironic, Palestinians in Gaza are starving due to the total blockade and collective punishment by Israel, yet their livestock is eating the flowers that could not be exported to Europe for lovers on Valentines Day.
Roses are fed, violets are chewed: Heifers munch flowers that Palestinian growers had to dump by the truckload in the southern Gaza strip. Israeli export restrictions prevented them from shipping the blooms to Europe for Valentine's Day.”
She concludes with a reminder that on February 14th, 1966, Aretha Franklin recorded her well-loved anthem, “Respect,” asking:
“Have people really gained the respect and dignity that human beings should have? The answer is no. So with that in mind, the song is just as fresh And how do WE as human beings respond? That is the question.”
Conclusion–
The meanings of Valentine's Day, like love, are multi-faceted. This year had the Palestinian blogosphere thinking about making creative connections, communicating across borders and boundaries, meaningful expressions of love and giving, hard losses, and questions of respect.
So, how do your friends and family celebrate Valentine's Day? Do you have any special rituals or traditions that you make sure to do come the 14th of February? Do you send cards, post messages, or stage rallies, like Mona did? I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
Wishing you and your family blessings of love and life in the coming year.
Costa Rica: Political Games
Ever since October 7th, Costa Rica has been falling into a political game, where the government has been facing off with the 2nd political force in the country in the Legislative Assembly. It has become the government vs. Citizen's Action Party (PAC, for its initals in Spanish). Some say that this could be what is in store for the next elections in 2010 and that the PAC would be the big loser because it has caused disillusion in many of their followers, and that it could cost them in the near future.
The Congressional deputy Andrea Morales (the “Rebel Girl of the Assembly“) elected with the PAC spoke about the promises made by Otton Solís, founder of PAC and some might say, owner) about what her party would be. The blog Fusil de Chispas provides the quote:
Como si fuera ayer, recuerdo a Ottón Solís hablando antes de las elecciones de 2002, sobre el filibusterismo legislativo, sobre el obstruccionismo irracional, sobre su convicción en otras formas de hacer oposición; la necesaria, la sensata. Hoy los diputados de su partido, el del modelo alternativo, el de la nueva forma de hacer política, se gastan en una semana el papel de un mes, para inundar el congreso con mociones, para tener más tiempo para hablar más viento.
It was like it was yesterday, I remember Ottón Solís talking before the 2002 elections about legislative filibustering, about irrational obstructionism, about his conviction regarding other ways to be the opposition, only the necessary, the sensible. Today the deputies of this party of the alternative model, of the new way of politics, wastes in one week the paper for the entire month, to inundate Congress with motions, so that they have more time to talk more empty air.
The blog Manda Güevo [es] reminds us las of the words from Elizabeth Fonseca, leader of the PAC fraction group:
“Presentaremos las mociones que consideremos necesarias, así sean miles y no haremos el quorum…”
We will present the motions that we consider necessary, even if they are thousands and we won't make quorum…
The government of Costa Rica led by Oscar Arias, with much more political esxperience, has been able to move its pieces even with the opposition from various social sectors (PAC, Unions, Intellectuals) that are primarily opposed to the laws associated with the Free Trade agreement with the United States (FTA or CAFTA). Many are still wondering if the free-trade agreement will be good for the country. However, the country voted in favor of its passage at the October 7th Referendum, and others are trying to focus on other laws that are currently being discussed such as the new Transit Law, the new Law of Public Works, among others.
The blog Mop [es] says:
“Señores del PAC, por que no buscan vida o se ponen a trabajar?? Respeten nuestra democracia y a nuestro pueblo!!!”
Gentlemen of the PAC, why don't you get a life and get to work?? Respect our democracy and the Costa Rican people!!!
Many share the same sentiment in that the PAC would be a new, renewed and important option. Blogs like h3dicho.com [es] had strongly supported this socio-political movement, but are now showing their discontent:
“Tengo que confesar que en el 2002 fui uno de los que voto por el PAC y realmente me desilusionó por completo que Ottón perdiera…Mi apoyo a Ottón tenía varias razones entre las cuales estaba la necesidad que tenía Costa Rica de romper los fraudes provocados por el bipartidismo… Pero poco tiempo despues me di cuenta que realmente fue una salvada que Otón no hubiese llegado a presidente…Me decepcioné del PAC por el curso que estaba llevando en la Asamblea Legistlativa…”
I must confess that in 2002, I voted for the PAC and I was really disappointed that Ottón lost…There were many reasons for my support for Ottón, including the need to see Costa Rica break the frauds caused by bipartisanship…But a short time later, I realized that we were saved that Ottón did not arrive to the presidency…I was disappointed by the PAC for the course that it is taking in the Legislative Assembly.
What will happen from this point forward is anybody's guess, but it is obvious that there needs to be more political will from both the government and the opposition.
From Morocco, With Love
On this, St. Valentine's Day, the day for lovers, poems, flowers and romance, Moroccan bloggers are sharing their hearts. Few holidays have the ability to inspire both love and blog posts, but today's is certainly one of them.
Some bloggers are in love and not afraid to share. Sassy Gal, of The Adventures of One Sassy Gal and Her Topsy Turvy Luggage, has written a poem:
I admit it. I’m scared
I’m scared because no one explained to me that your frequency to vibe as often as I do would permeate right down to every follicle that sways each time you get near.
This is me admitting it.
I’m scared because when you told of where you’ve been, I related with fierce commitment to a past that didn’t adhere to conventional standards and grandeurs of youth.
Here I am admitting it
Scared because when you look at me and time becomes fluid and manipulated by the beats my index finger makes when wrapped around yours, I know harmony exits.
I sit
Yes
Admitting it
It beats
I’m scared
It beats
I’m here
And so are you
And so is LOVE….Holla!
Others aren't afraid to admit confusion! Kaoutar of Big World Learner shares a couple of scenes she scripted about the holiday:
Scene 2:
He: Has the woman on the radio said that they’ve been talking about love for an entire week? Weird choice! What’s going on?
She: Yes! Well it’s Velentine’s day!
She2: Don’t you know about it?!
He: (A bit surprised, laughs) Lucky you!
She: What do you mean “lucky you”? Valentine’s day is everybody's business!
He: No… We celebrated our Valentine's Day a long time ago. Now it’s your turn.
She: Love has no age! (Playfully) Come on! Why do you men keep coming up with pretexts to ignore this kind of occasions? Just to avoid buying presents? :p Why don’t buy a present to your wife after work. She’d be happy about it.
He: (Laughs, addressing He 2): We have women’s movements here.
Question 2: Why are men too proud to admit that they do care about such things as love!?
Still others choose to share stories…La Gatita Gringa, who technically is no longer a member of the blogoma but lived in Morocco for long enough that I'll include her just this once, shares the story of a lovelorn pachyderm:
Draw near gentle reader - gentle lovelorn reader - on this, the day of Saint Valentine, the most lugubrious day of your year, and listen to the edifying tale of Petita the Pining Pachyderm. Heed my words and hearken unto them that you may find succour and draw strength from them on this most cruel of days.
Matthew Helmke, a resident of Fez, shares tips on Valentine's Day fun for married couples:
I have been married for more than 15 years to an amazing woman that I love and respect greatly. When you are in a relationship for a long time, it can be easy to get into a rut. Here are some (often silly) ideas to spice things up. Really, this is just for laughs, unless you are with a significant other with a great sense of humor like mine. However, if you use one and it works, please comment and say so! If you have any other good or goofy ideas, I would love to hear those as well.
1. Pretend you've never met, then loudly try out lame pickup lines in a upscale cafe. Act like they worked.
2. Go on a walking journey and every fifteen feet draw a chalk arrow in the direction you're going. At the end of the trip, leave a big pile of chalk.
3. Create photo evidence suggesting that you went on an adventure that didn't really happen.
4. Go for a drive. You can only make right-hand turns. When you finally get stuck, turn around and then you can only make left-hand turns. Repeat until you find something interesting. Take pictures along the way!
5. Build forts out of furniture and blankets, and wage war with paper airplanes.
6. Go to a major chain bookstore, and leave notes to future readers in copies of your favorite books.
7. Write a piece of fiction together. Outside at a cafe. Ask strangers when you get stuck.
8. Try and visit as many people as you can in one night, and turn as many things inside their apartment upside down as you can, without them noticing.
9. Do the lamest tourist thing in your area that you have both secretly wanted to do forever. Have an unabashed good time!
10. Hide and seek in the park.
11. Go around the city with sidewalk chalk and draw hearts with equations inside on random things.
12. Drive somewhere unknown and have dinner in a city you've never been to. With fake names.
13. Go for a drive with the passenger blindfolded, choosing directions at random. see where you end up.
14. Dress up as pirates, commandeer shopping carts, and have a war upon the high seas.. er, parking lot.
15. Go on a search for as many good climbing trees as possible, climb as high as you both can in all of them, compile photo evidence.
16. Rent a movie you've never seen before. Set on mute and improvise dialogue.
17. Dress up as pirates and go parrot shopping at local pet stores.
18. Go to the airport, get the cheapest, soonest departing flight to anywhere when you show up, and stay there for a weekend.
19. Walk around a city and perform short silent plays in front of security cameras.
20. In the middle of the night, drive to the beach, so you arrive just as the sun is rising. Have a breakfast picnic, then fall asleep together. Bring a sun umbrella.
And when words fail bloggers, they share the words of others. Myrtus presents us with a beautiful image and quote from Erich Fromm:
“Immature love says: ‘I love you because I need you.' Mature love says ‘I need you because I love you.'”
– Erich FrommIf love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired, then the question of how to make ourself more deserving for it makes love an art. Fromm's book The Art of Loving is an excellent guidance for young people who are looking forward to a beautiful new life.
And when there's no love on Valentine's Day? Celebrate it anyway! Carpe Diem (fr) shares some words about celebrating the holiday as a singleton:
Pour cette Saint-Valentin, je me joins aux milliers d'hommes et de femmes qui célèbrent leur célibat pendant la fête des amoureux…
Finally, one blogger shares some Valentine's Day Goodies! Chergaoui.com (fr) has a whole list of fun V-day things to do online. Check it out!
Creative Commons-licensed photo by dieselbug2007
Why the Senegalese government likes anti-gay protests
Update: According to African Global News and the Senegalese news website rewmi.com, police ultimately broke up the anti-homosexual demonstration which took place on Friday in Dakar, arresting dozens of people, including an imam. Police made several arrests in the capital's grand mosque.
Earlier this month, five were arrested in connection with an investigation into an alleged gay marriage, according to Le Monde, and several Islamic organization denounced what they called an increase in homosexuality in Senegal. The march was in protest of the decision to release the five detainees release without trial.
Homosexuality is a crime in Senegal, punishable by up to five years' imprisonment.
* * *
Senegalese blogger Naomed, who writes Blog politique au Senegal, explains that there are two kinds of protests in Senegal, “those that don't disturb the public order and are legitimately authorized, the minority, and the majority, which [are thought to] threaten the social equilibrium” [Fr].
In other words, there are protests the government likes and protests it will not tolerate. But where do officials draw the line?
(more…)
In Madagascar, bloggers debate abortion and women's rights
With a Valentine's Day performance of the controversial Vagina Monologues and a human rights committee's decision to call for a review of Madagascar's abortion ban, gender issues are a hot topic in the Malagasy blogosphere.
(more…)
Links for Fri, 2008-02
“Here is the typical misogynist argument we have to fight against everyday. Human rights and feminist NGOs aim at destroying family morality because they want women to report their abusive family members to the police!!” writes a cynical Hatshepsut from Egypt.
“The arrest and brutal treatment of Fouad Mourtada, the young man who create a fake Facebook profile of Morocco’s Prince Moulay Rachid, is a sad testimony to the fact that things have not changed as much as the regime would like you to believe in Morocco,” notes The Arabist, from Egypt.
Worldwide rallies to protest the jailing of Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulieman are being lined up for February 22, announces Free Kareem.
The Poor Arab News Service has resumed its activities.
Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin writes: “My best friend during primary school was killed a month ago by a stray bullet in Baghdad. He was a Turkmen, I only knew of him yesterday. Coupled with my four dead friends, Haji Amir, and a college acquaintance, this is the 7th person that I directly know who was killed since the war.”
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