reflection 9

Reflection 9

            Over some days contemplation of the documentary on President Obama’s 2008 election and grass roots focus I was trying to find some recent major grass roots movement in the MENA region and I think I have found it.

            Before I go into too much detail and just start rambling on and on about what I think is some hitherto important event in the region I would like to talk a little bit more about the 2008 election and another presidents campaign efforts. In 1963 another underdog candidate Named John F. Kennedy won an election through use of grass roots organizing. I come from/live right across from a relatively small town in Oregon called the Dalles, or Le Dalles, if you prefer. Mr. Kennedy during the Oregon primary visited this small town and many others throughout the region not for some PR stunt but to discuss the election with the people of these small towns and to try and build a base in the small grass roots communities of the area just as President Obama has done in the last two elections, here is a sample from  Kennedy’s speech in Oregon; “You all know what brings me here to this state: I am a candidate in your primary for President of the United States. And I would like to take this opportunity to talk with you - not about my own candidacy, but about that Presidential primary, how important it is and how important your individual vote will be. For I strongly urge every citizen of this state - Republicans, Democrats or Independents - whomever they may support - to go to the polls this spring and cast that all-important vote”(JFKLobrary.org). In his speech it was very similar to the things Obama said if not damn near identical, “It isn’t about me it’s about voting no matter who you support” What both men are doing is giving a very well designed sales pitch, where  you say “hey this guy isn’t trying to sale me something or dupe me” and it puts you at ease to listen to the message to come; but that is neither here nor there, regardless the two presidential candidates turned president did an excellent job at stirring up the bottom, focusing on the grass roots effort, focusing on the people who will work for you as long as you will put them before you political career something both men have done with excellence. Moreover, grass roots organization is not only an effective force in the United States, in the MENA region a grass roots organization that may help change the dynamic of the region.

            As Palestine vies for non-participating membership in the UN Israel has declared that it may cancel the OSLO peace accords and move the Palestinian’s out of the settlements. Now the ferocity an power social organizers in Palestine have, and have working since the 80’s is a force to be reckon with in the realm of civil society. So what would happen if all the grass roots organizing and attempts by the Palestinian authorities to gather support for a Palestinian state were crushed by the very thing that would help further there cause? In my opinion the only way that will end is in another war, but perhaps the Palestinian people will take the time to further entrench there civil society movements and use peaceful means to gather more international support. Moreover, the violence that has been happening in the region has not at all been of extreme benefit to the people perhaps it is time to for peaceful non-violent civil society grass roots to take over in full, perhaps just perhaps the grass roots organization in full force with the approval of the international arena will be the key to improving Israeli-Palestinian relations without bloodshed. While the increase of grass roots movements in any country is, in my opinion, unfathomably important, only the future will tell how the things play out both in the US and the MENA region

            

Reflection #9

Magda Borgarelli

As this course draws to an end, and the final paper gets near, I realized how much I have learned not only on civil societies in the Middle East but social movements in general.  I found all of the documentaries we watched really interesting and educational, always teaching something new and inspiring.  I especially liked the one about orientalism and the Green Revolution in Iran.  The former, together with the numerous blog posts about this issue, opened my eyes to how much today’s society stereotypes everything Middle Easter, though it does so subconsciously.  The latter documentary informed me about a topic that I knew little about, while defeating that same orientalism which I myself was victim of.  I was surprised to see many women, among the men, protesting in the Iranian streets for something I assumed that most Middle Eastern population would resigned to never have:  voting rights that count.  Overall, then, though the Middle East will not be my focus during the time I will be at American, I can honestly say that I learned something that will offer a sound basis for what I would like to pursue in the future.

Reflection-Sean OBrien

I recently saw the New James Bond movie last night and one of the credits was a movie regarding the killing of Osama BIn Laden. I know also that national geographic is also airing something similar, and of course there is the Book about Seal Team Six. I am curious if around the world there is this fascination with the death of Osama Bin Laden. I know that he was basically public enemy number one and that when people think of 9/11 Osama comes to mind. I think that that people, americans in particular like to have a physical image or person behind something. Such as the golf War I have the sight of the oil fields burning as US troops walk across the desert with tanks in the Back ground. World War Two was raising the American Flag over Iwo Jima. In Iraq the Saddam Hussein statue being torn down was supposed to symbolize the freedom of the region. For Libya I dont know what exactly that would be considering Colonel Gaddafi was dragged and bloodied through the streets. I think in Egypt the square was perfect for not only the movement but to show a physical picture of the events unfolding. I am curious what will happen in Syria I really am, just because the implications at stake. Will the Assad Fall, or will he make a break for it.

Reflection 8

I can't help but compare the two documentaries we've watched most recently. Although obviously two very different countries, the citizens of Egypt and Serbia had many of the same concerns and goals. With corrupt leaders, both countries fought to overthrow their tyrant and have free and fair elections. In both situations, the people rallied with a message of peace ringing throughout, and protests attracted large parts of the country. Both movements were pushed by the youth of their respective countries.

Even with so many similarities, the movements were very different. This could very much have to do with what the documentaries decided to show, but then that too would be curious.  In Serbia, Otpor! was a very well organized movement. It had a network of people with specific responsibilities, it had its own symbol, and it had specific strategies used at events (such as making the government something to laugh at). Egypt, on the other hand, seemed much less organized. It was more like a spark that ignited a large portion of the country, uniting them against the unsavory leader. Obviously there was some organization, but most of it seemed to happen through social networks. People were generally gathered at the same spot in Tahrir square, which served as a focal point for protests and the dissemination of information. 

Both movements were relatively successful, although it is difficult to compare results because the Egyptian movement was much more recent. 

I'd be interested to see a further comparison of the two movements, and see why they worked the way they worked, why it differed for each country. 

Reflection #8

The main thing that struck me about the Egypt documentary last week was that all levels of Egyptian society were affected. From the well to do to the poor, everyone wanted and did get involved in some way whether through protesting or supplying the protesters with food and other needs. It just shows the effect that civil society can have on the region. It can unify a nation through revolutionary action. The dictator becomes the unifying object. Civil society unites the fight and aids the protesters. However, the Civil Society's role does not end there. What Civil Society has to do once the unifying factor of the dictator is gone like Mubarak is in Egypt, the role of Civil Society is to keep the unity in order for the country to move forward with progress and not be hampered down by divisiveness that might give rise to a coup and another dictator. I just felt that the unifying factor of unrest can sometimes be a very good thing as opposed to the traditional negative connotation that one typically associates with unrest. Furthermore, sometimes the unifying factor is not enough such as in Syria where the country is still not completely united behind the rebels, even though through the Actions of Assad there are more and more united. The unifying factor of unrest against dictators and government can still not be discounted and is an extremely powerful force.

Reflection #8

Magda Borgarelli

After watching the documentary about Egypt last week, I was surprised at the speed at which everything happened.  I mean, it is not everyday that you see a long-term dictator stepping out of power because of protests in the city, especially one that is not beneath hurting his people in order to keep power.  I was inspired by how much people were willing to risk in order to gain Egypt back, and by the drive that the youth seemed to give to the whole movement.  Older generations that were afraid of taking any action admired what the Egyptian young people accomplished in a relatively small amount of time.  Call me idealistic and naïve, but the documentary gave me hope. Our generation is capable of changing the way things are not just theoretically, but also practically.  We want to make a difference, we want to make the world (or our country) a better place.  Sometimes, however, I hear that today’s young people, especially in the Western world, are only concerned with materialistic things and that are unaware of what goes on in places outside of the towns or cities we live in.  The documentary proved this argument wrong.  Though there are people our age that are only worried about getting the latest Iphone, there are also those who are willing to march and protest in order to see change, and because of them, I am proud of being part of this generation.

Reflection 8

Paul Ropp

                                    Reflection 9

To be honest I don’t have a lot to say about the documentary on the Egyptian revolution but I do have some things to say that, maybe, perhaps, just might be relevant to the course work. During the documentary there was one seen with the family, an elder women, a middle aged women, and their daughter/granddaughter. What really struck me was that this family was very well to do, the house was pristine the mahogany table wasn’t probably purchased at some rag-tag IKEA, sorry professor, and the way people dressed and acted was in a very upper middle class fashion; for god’s sake the women was going to go protest in heals.  Before I go any further this isn’t going to be some attack on their wealth and them being removed from the actual revolution, because they did participate, but what really struck me was how they all felt about the revolution. The family was having the same arguments and the same worries that people of all classes had in the streets of Cairo; that the Muslim brotherhood would take power and persecute, like they have been persecuted for so long, or that the autocratic military would remain in power and that Egypt would become another dictatorship. What was so interesting and enlightening about this was that the revolution was an actual cohesion of Egyptian civil society in full, the sectarianism was there and had the opportunity to fly from the starting gates, however, it didn’t.  The main goal of all Egyptian people during the revolution, from what you saw on the streets, heard in the news, and saw in the upper middle class home, was to oust the regime of Mubarak, in a united fashion. Granted I do find the participation of the family to be somewhat sheltered as we never see them in the midst of full swing protests, under the barrage of rocks from hired thugs, or being ran over by the esteemed officers of Egyptian law; but what really matters is that they participated in civil society. To me it doesn’t matter how you participate in civil society, whether you are dying on the front lines of a movements or supporting it in some other way what is unequivocally important is that you take part in a unified movement to achieve something that as a society you all want. I guess what I am getting at here is that I think this moderately sheltered upper class family is doing just a noble and respectable part as the people who were leading the protests on the ground and to that they have my respect. Another thing I would like to talk about is the recent vigilantism of Cairo citizens against the harassment of women.

            “The young activists lingered on the streets around Tahrir Square, scrutinizing the crowds of holiday revelers. Suddenly, they charged, pushing people aside and chasing down a young man. As the captive thrashed to get away, the activists pounded his shoulders, flipped him around and spray-painted a message on his back: “I’m a harasser” (NewYorkTimes.com). What really got me interested in the Egyptian revolution at the time was that a society that no one saw revolting, overthrowing a dictator that was so deeply embedded in the government and creating a new society. That at first this seemingly disorganized rabble, quickly unified and created a powerful civil society that had not only the power to bolster each other in such tumultuous times, and to overthrow a regime, but a society who would also defy the norms of sectarian conflict in the MENA region to do what they thought was right, to bring some sort of just unification to all people of Egypt; which they are continuing to do with the shaming of police who do not arrest harassers of women, and punishing those who harass them. Yes, the good of vigilantism is debatable; however, what these citizens of Cairo are doing is something that for so long the government and the police have refused to do.

            To me the acting out of vigilantes against the harassment of women is just a positive step from an autocratic regime to a fair, free democracy. Above all these vigilantes are making a difference they are taking the past norm of non-retaliation against those who would hurt their fellow Egyptians and are frankly saying with their actions that it is not ok. I remember in the documentary there was a man in a coffee shop who wanted to bring back Egyptian pride, to restore the pride of the Egyptian people. At the time I wrote him off as some sort of Egyptian radical nationalist, but in my ignorance I was unaware of what the deeper meaning to that was. That “restoring Egyptian pride” wasn’t some ignoramus call like “the south will rise again” or “M’erica” but it was a cry to restore Egypt as a respectable nation. To demolish the old ways of the autocratic regime and to replace them with a new sense of unity, a new sense of freedom and most of all a unification of civil society on a grand scale, no folks not just the unification that it took to topple a regime, but a unification that can build Egypt into a just, modern, and better nation; not that Egypt is bad, all nations could use a lot of bettering.