Don't Strike, Be Happy!

What happens when foreign workers in the happy kingdom go on a strike to demand better work conditions?

They get deported. (in Arabic)

This is the decision taken against 246 Pakistani drivers working in Saudi Arabia. In other words, you don't like our conditions, go home!

As to rights, well, who needs rights when you have ... happiness!

Hamid and Dalinda: "Why Take My Heart"

I like the way women appear in this video clip...




If you are busy, tell me
so I can love another
If you want me, tell me
and delight my heart...

Afterthought: Hamid is Libyan (in keeping with my Libyan theme for today) and Dalinda is Bosnian?

The Evil Lesbian Makes Her Egyptian Film Debut

Summaya Khashab and Ghada Abdel Razeq

According to this news item, a new Egyptian film by the director Khaled Yousef has a Lesbian character in it. There is even rumor of a kiss...

Before anyone gets too excited about the new age of liberalism in Egyptian cinema, the leaks indicate that the lesbian character is an evil one, sexually harassing the heroine who is subjected to different forms of sexual exploitations, including rape. I guess the director thought he could include a lesbian as another source of sexual trauma for his main character and in the process get some points for being liberal. More importantly, what better than a lesbian kiss to help market the film. And he must have learned from The Yacoubian Building that representing homosexuals to bash them does not seem to bother the censors.

And if one is to judge from to Al Arabeya. net headline, he's getting the attention he wants:

"A new film by the student of Yousef Chahine shows deviance among women"!

The headline tarnishes two targets in one sentence: lesbians and Yousef Chahine who somehow becomes a "deviant" by association!

Democracy, Libya Style

Qaddafi, the Libyan leader, is championing the rights of African women and is all set to save European women from the oppression they suffer under. As an example of European women's oppression, he mentioned during his visit to Paris that they are forced to do jobs they don't like, such as construction!

But that is the least of it. According to him, the word "democracy" is etymologically Arabic. "Dem" means "nadeem" or general public and "cracy" is, as we all know, "chairs." Therefore, "democracy" is the people sitting on chairs, i.e. people's rule.

This is no joke. I repeat: this is no joke! Those who can read Arabic, can check it here for themselves! He actually said that!!

After you wipe your tears of laughter, you may want to pick up In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar, a young Libyan novelist. I still have a few pages to go but I highly recommend this book! I find it one of the most moving books I've read in a long time. It's told from the point of view of a nine-year old Libyan boy who is trying to make sense of the adult world around him. And what a world it is! Yes, democracy, that Libyan invention, is central to the book, as are themes of love, loss, and betrayal. All kinds of betrayals. Mostly, however, it's about the way our countries can break us, stripping us of our dignity one by one. If you want to know what makes men pee in their pants in front of the whole nation, you must read this book. Women get broken too. It's a democracy after all! Once you finish reading this book, you may still need to wipe your tears, but you won't be laughing!

Boot Fetish

The world can go to hell in a hand basket but the Iranian police stays focused on what matters: what women should or shouldn't wear!

Here's the latest:

The head of police in Tehran announced that it is un-Islamic for Iranian women to wear long boots and have their pants tucked in them, even when they are wearing jackets on top. He argued that this style is considered immodest. (He didn't say when his boot fetish started and if he's been talking to his therapist about it).

But several religious MPs objected to this police fatwa and expressed the urgent need to come up with a more accurate definition of immodest dress.

And while the police and the MPs are fighting it out, Iranian women continue to think of ways to give both sides the boot!

What Kind of Justice?

Iran executes a man for raping when he was 13 years old.

Dubai Business News

Israeli clothes store is set to open in Dubai.

A Dubai sex trafficking ring has been supposedly busted.

Stay tuned for further investment reports!

Film: USA vs Al Arian

Film screening in Washington DC, only tonight, USA vs. Al Arian.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now.

The film is by a Norwegian director, Line Halvorsen, and has won awards as best documentary.

Wake Up!!

Residents of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv woke up to this notice posted on their doors:

"We wish to inform you that there will be a wave of cessation and severance of electricity. We have no choice but to cut off power and we are forced to do it because in your cities reside the commanders of an army that harms civilians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. For humanitarian reasons, the cessation of electricity will not be permanent and should leave you to consider: should the flow allotted be directed to hospitals, water systems, sewers or private homes. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience this might cause you and emphasize that this is a necessary defense move."

Quote of the Season

"Christ always has been and always will be at the very heart of Christmas. Taking Christ out of Christmas is like serving the Christmas turkey without the stuffing."

Mark Pritchard, British MP

Some Students Still Got It!

Iranian students demonstrate against their government's oppressive measures. (in Arabic)