rhet101 su12 portfolio

1

RHET 101 Portfolio

Section 2

Summer Session 2012

The American University in Cairo

Dina Said

900114651

2

Table of Contents Cover Letter …………………………………………………………………………………………………03

Free Writing -‐01....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….04

Free Writing -‐02....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….05

Free Writing -‐03....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….06

Free Writing -‐04....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….07

Free Writing -‐05....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….08

Free Writing -‐06....….…………….……………………………………………………………………….09

Collage ……………………………………………………………………………………………………10-‐15

Analysis-‐01 -‐(Draft01)…………………………………………………..……………………........16-‐20

-‐(Draft02)………………………………………….……………………………........21-‐24

-‐(FL Draft)………………………………………..……………………………......... 25-‐29

Analysis-‐02 -‐(Draft01)…………………………………………………………….……….…........30-‐31

-‐(Draft02)…………………………………………………………….…………........32-‐33

-‐(FL Draft)…………………...……………………………………..…………...........34-‐36

Analysis-‐03 -‐(Draft01)…………………………………………………………….……….…........37-‐40

-‐(Draft02)…………………………………………………………….…………........41-‐44

-‐(FL Draft)…………………...……………………………………..…………...........45-‐48

3

20 July 2012

The following portfolio contains the contents of my Rhetoric 101 class

from the Summer Session 2012 at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Having enrolled in this RHET101 SU12 course helped me undergo an amazing

growth in writing. My writing was vague, with no purpose or plan and lacked

formality. However, I learned to write liberally and eloquently throughout my

writing process by choosing the correct words to illustrate my views, in

expressing my ideas, noticing grammar mistakes and in making clear my

objectives. Writing became an inspiration to me.

So, I’ve decided to organize it in a chronological way to show my progression and

achievements from the beginning until the end of this summer course. All the

pages are numbered in a consecutive order.

Hope you like my work.

4

Free Writing -‐ 01 Egypt has been an inspiration for me since the day I was born. I loved it loyally with

all my heart, especially the poor places and districts.

Nowadays, everything is falling apart. What’s happening in this country is neither

healthy nor logical. For the first time, this country is now experiencing a new policy,

which is ‘’ democracy’’.

This word is so big and has so many rules to be understood and followed correctly.

The Egyptian population is not used to have a voice.

5

Free writing-02

Politics!!!!! Politics is a very strong word, a big issue that people talk about it every

single second of everyday, whether over dinner, lunch or even at breakfast. When I

hear everyone around me talks non-stop about it I get really stressed and angry,

fearing the unknown. What’s going to happen? Will we move forward or will we keep

achieving failure? Is there a future to our generation? Or this is the end of happiness?

Or should I say ‘’ satisfaction’’?

All these unanswered questions crosses my mind every second, fills my eyes with

tears. I’m surely happy that this is the first time our country offers her population the

chance to say what they want and to create their own future through their own choices

and beliefs. But I’m not willing to see no future for us just for the sake of chances.

I’m being realistic here; believing that the elections are somehow beneficial for the

country yet it could end up in an unhealthy way.

Are we better yet with democracy or as slaves?

6

Free Writing -03

Hey daddy,

I missed you so much, come back soon we need you here, don’t worry everything’s

fine. I’m taking good responsibility of my little sisters and by the way my grades are

getting higher, so here you go be proud of me.

Daddy I know you still see me as your little daughter who still immature and

everything but I need a favor. You’ll probably say no but id like to ask if I can take

your new car just for one day. I’ve been working a lot these days and I’m trying so

hard to be responsible enough to make you proud of me. Just give me this chance to

prove myself to you. Ill just go to the beach and that’s it. Don’t worry ill drive safely

and take good care of it I promise.

7

Free Writing -‐04 Dina darling,

I’m glad you’re all fine. I missed you too. Let me know if you need anything from

here. I’m pretty sure your not my little daughter anymore, you’ve grownup

perfectly .i never got the chance to tell you this before, but sweetheart I’m

worried about all of you every second. It terrifies me. You think I’m strict and

selfish but that’s not true. I know you drive well and you keep your word but still

you don’t have your license therefore I can’t accept this request just for your own

sake. So why not wait 2 months maximum until you get it and then ill let you

drive it whenever you want. Until now, I can let you rent the car you choose and

ill send you the driver, what do you think about that?

Trust me, this is for your safety.

Big kiss,

Daddy

8

Free Writing -05

They say I’m a very unique flower, one of a kind. Why not all the bees and butterflies

stand on any other member of my family or my neighbors? A flower like me is not

rare; there are so many other clones of me in different gardens.

I’ve grown up in a garden that’s full of different beautiful other flowers that smell

better than me, but somehow the butterflies like me so badly that it pisses me off.

I know I’m a very small, fragile creature but m blessed to be between my family in a

land that some creatures called humans take care of us.

Some say humans enjoy cutting us off the ground, is this true? I have no idea,, I didn’t

experience this yet. Why do humans, these giant creatures enjoy killing us? Did we

harm them? If yes , then why do they take care of us in the first place ?

9

Free writing - 06

Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted. They say life screw us all and

makes us who we are now, is it really the people who surrounds us are the one who

affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face that shape our character and

the way we handle things?

I used to be very optimistic and always looking forward to life with a huge smile on

my face. My mother wondered why was I nice to strangers and friends and opened

my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her .till now I don’t know

why I was like that and how I became that .

It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my life

from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But the truth is I go out with

friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy few minutes of my day

before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind screw me all over again.

Nowadays, I’m beginning to feel numb not because I’m unhappy or because of my

problems but I just got used to it from all the mountains I failed to climb. Feeling

numb became the ‘’normal’’ now. Therefore happiness terrifies me nowadays. I need

to change I need it, I need some inspiration in my life that puts me on track again.

How can I get it ? I have no idea, how can I escape my weird normality now? Still, no

idea. However I keep trying to change and hoping not for the worse.

10

254947590

RHET 101

Dr: Mike Gibson

Assignment n’1: Collage

11

Collage

My name is Dina Said; I’m a freshmen student at the AUC. This collage is a mixture

of all the free writings I wrote in RHET 101 SU’12. I chose to put only the phrases

and words that meant something to me and hopefully to the audience too. My

personality, my culture and the way I’m thinking will be exposed through this collage.

******************

Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

They say life screw us all and makes us who we are now, is it really the people who

surrounds us are the one who affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face

that shapes our character and the way we handle things?

…………………………………………………………………………………………

I used to be very optimistic

opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

It’s amazing what a smile can hide

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

12

trying escape my problems

…………………………………………………………………………………………..


………………………………………………………………………………………......

Numb

………………………………………………………………………………………......

The mountains I failed to climb

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Happiness terrifies me now

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Need some inspiration in my life that puts me on track again.

………………………………………………………………………………………......

***

Responsibility

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>>><><><><><><<><<>

Proud ><><<><<<>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Immature

><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><<><><><><

I’m trying so hard to be responsible enough to make you proud of me. Just give me

this chance to prove myself to you.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

I promise

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

13

I’m pretty sure your not my little daughter anymore, you’ve grownup perfectly .I never got the chance to tell you this before, but sweetheart I’m worried about all of you every second. It terrifies me. You think I’m strict and selfish but that’s not

true. ><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Trust me, this is for your safety.

<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

***

Why do humans, these giant creatures enjoy killing us? Did we harm them? If yes,

then why do they take care of us in the first place?

:::::::::::::::::::

I just don’t wanna live my life fearing I can die in any second.

::::::::::::::::::::

Some say humans enjoy cutting us off the ground, is this true? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Fragile creature

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

They say I’m a very unique flower, one of a kind. :::::::::::::::::::::::::;

clones

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

A flower like me is not rare

***

I’m not willing to see no future for us just for the sake of chances.

I’m being realistic here; believing that the elections are somehow

beneficial for the country yet it could end up in an unhealthy way.

14

Are we better yet with democracy or as slaves?

***

Country offers her population the chance to say what they want and to create their own future through their own choices and beliefs

……………………….

unanswered questions crosses my mind every second, fills my eyes with tears.

………………………….

fearing the unknown.

…………………………. What’s going to happen? Will we move forward or will we keep achieving failure? Is

there a future to our generation? Or this is the end of happiness? Or should I say ‘’ satisfaction’’?

…………………………..

I get really stressed and angry

…………………………….. Politics!!!!! Politics is a very strong word, a big issue that people talk about it every

single second of everyday

…………………………………..

Egypt has been an inspiration for me since the day I was born. I loved it loyally with

all my heart, especially the poor places and districts.

…………………………………

Nowadays, everything is falling apart. What’s happening in this country is neither

healthy nor logical.

………………………………….

For the first time, this country is now experiencing a new policy, which is

‘’ democracy’’.

………………………………….

15

This word is so big and has so many rules to be understood and followed correctly.

…………………………………..

The Egyptian population is not used to have a voice.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…

16

Magazine Article Analysis The New York Times magazine’s ‘’After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to

Challenge Military’’ delivers the latest situation in Cairo after the presidential

elections. In this essay, I will explain this article, which is written by David D

Kirkpatrick, and then I will analyze it in a neutral political perspective.

This article was published June 18 2012, it emphasis how the situation is

very tense and full of challenge between both parts, it’s even written in the

headline ‘’seek to challenge’’. Since the revolution forced Hosni Mubarak off

the power from a year and a half ago, the elections occurred with some

intensity regardless from the development of the chaos and the stress between

the people. The voters had to choose between Ahmed Shafiq (former regime)

and Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi for the final round. 24 hours later

after the second round of the elections, the votes were still unrevealed,

however Morsi assured at a pre-dawn news discussion to ‘’ be a president for

all Egyptians’’.

Later on Monday right after the victory of Morsi, the Muslim brotherhood

determined against the military monarchs. The Islamists groups had another

goal to achieve using the democratic success of Mohamed Morsi, as the key

player to seize all lawmaking power after they’d had been disbanded from the

parliament by the ruling military council. “They neither have legislative

power or presidential power,” said Jihad el-Haddad, a Brotherhood

spokesman. “We don’t need to hear any excuses from them. If they want to

hand over power, they can give back the Parliament and undo what they

17

have done.” So the brotherhoods swore that they would battle the generals in

political compromises and challenge them in courtyards.

This is not a monopoly, it’s not about who will gain more power. The Islamists

challenge everyone around them especially the military council, putting in

mind what they’ve lost many years ago and how they’ll get back on track and

take over the country so they can be on top for the first time. People observe

well and can see clearly that they change their words depending on the events

and their own good. “They made a move and we made a move,” said the

brotherhoods.

This article doesn’t explain the whole situation of democracy and what will

happen after Morsi’s victory, it focuses on how the Islamists take this as a

challenge with the Egyptian military. Although the final results will not be

published until the end this week, still the brotherhoods act as if they’ve

already won for sure. Trying to avoid backstabbing, both the brotherhoods

and the military council exposed the number of votes as quickly as possible.

‘’In a nearly two-hour news conference that was edited before it was

televised, two members of the military council insisted that they regretted

dissolving Parliament, but that they had been forced by a court ruling from

judges appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak.’’ That statement is not

accurate because no one was forced to dissolve the parliament. It was

dissolved because the brotherhoods made some unlegislated decisions, not

because some members were forced to do so by generals or judges of the

former regime. The Islamtists says so to manipulate the people minds by

keeping them believing that the former regime is still present and that the

military council and the SCAF are on its side. That way, the people will

support Morsi and the Brotherhood believing they’re the good ones.

18

They have now distributed a temporary Constitution keeping governmental

power to them. They also declared that they would employ a new general to

run the new president’s staff as the generals promised to hold a “grand

celebration” when they turned over power as assured at the end of the month.

This article shows how much struggle Egypt’s going through not because of

the chaos that its population been living with for nearly a year now but

because its for the first time to experience democracy. Unfortunately, neither

Shafiq nor Morsi satisfies anyone, but they’ll have no choice except to vote for

the one who’s better than the other. This is a new battle for Egypt and it’s for

the first time an Islamist is at a peak of the state.

The generals seemed to want to “upgrade Mubarak’s authoritarianism by

adding free and fair elections,” said Mona el Ghobashy, an Egyptian political

scientist at Barnard, while maintaining strong powers for themselves

containing national security, economic matters and resistance. “But the

brothers want to be part of the power structure,” she said. Its clear now that

the Islamists will not going to easily accept their democratic organizations

that are well constrained and get all the blame easily for matters.

The Generals approved of how they would have a control of the entire national

budget and on all legislative powers without naming Mohamed Morsi as the

new president. They also declare that this new president will by all power

rename the prime minister he chooses and can also refuse any new laws he

doesn’t agree on. So the military refused to back away from the essential of

this temporary agreement. Giving themselves the power to hold citizens for

judgment in military courts, they also fortified their burden of military law.

19

Every time the military council says something the Islamists must have an

argument on it and declare a whole different answer with a whole other

different perspective just to make sure they still have the power under their

hands not only of the country and the population but also putting their hands

on the military council particularly craving to change it members and put new

ones of their brotherhood groups and vice versa. The article itself shows how t

both parts believes that they’d won, and how there is still uncertainty that fills

all the chaos and the celebrations made in Egypt but still the real challenge is

on between the Islamists and the military council and its getting worse.

20

References:

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/islamist-candidate-is-apparent-victor-in-

egypt-as-military-cements-its-powers.html?ref=middleeast

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/world/middleeast/egyptian-judge-speaks-against-islamist-

victory-before-presidential-runoff.html?src=recg

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/uncertainty-underlies-celebrations-in-

cairo.html?ref=world

-http://edition.cnn.com/2012/06/19/world/meast/egypt-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

21

Dina Said

Rhet 101-02

Instructor Gibson

Assignment 2

24 June 2012

Oppressed for 50 years, now in power

The New York Times magazine’s “After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to

Challenge Military” delivers the latest situation in Cairo after the presidential

elections 2012. This article was published June 18 2012, it emphasis how the situation

is very tense and full of challenge between both parts, it’s even written in the headline

‘’seek to challenge’’. Since the revolution forced Hosni Mubarak off the power from

a year and a half ago, the elections date occurred with some intensity regardless of the

development of the chaos and the stress between the people. The voters had to choose

between Ahmed Shafiq (former regime) and Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi for

the final round. 24 hours later after the second round of the elections, the votes were

still unrevealed, however Morsi assured at a pre-dawn news discussion to ‘’ be a

president for all Egyptians’’. plus shafiq

Later on Monday, right after the unofficial Self -proclaimed Victory of Morsi,

the Muslim brotherhood determined to stand against the military generals. The

Islamists groups had another goal to achieve using the democratic predicted success

of Mohamed Morsi, as the key player to seize all lawmaking power after they’d had

been disbanded from the parliament by the ruling military council. “They neither have

legislative power or presidential power,” said Jihad el-Haddad, a Brotherhood

22

spokesman. “We don’t need to hear any excuses from them. If they want to hand over

power, they can give back the Parliament and undo what they have done.” So the

brotherhoods swore that they would battle the generals in political compromises and

challenge them in courtyards.

This is not a monopoly, it’s not about who will gain more power. The

Islamists challenge everyone around them especially the military council, putting in

mind what they’ve lost many years ago and how they’ll get back on track and take

over the country so they can be on top for the first time. People observe well and can

see clearly that they change their words depending on the events and their own good.

“They made a move and we made a move,” said the brotherhood. Put facts … women

rights / Christians

The Muslim Brotherhood vowed not to field a candidate, ended up running 2 & now

declares it has won the presidency (95%votes counted


happen after Morsi’s victory, it focuses on how the Islamists take this as a challenge

with the Egyptian military. Although the final results will not be published until the

end this week, still the brotherhood act as if they’ve already won for sure. Trying to

avoid backstabbing, both the brotherhood and the military council exposed the

number of votes as quickly as possible.

This article shows how much struggle Egypt’s going through not because of the chaos

that its population been living with for nearly a year now but because its for the first

time to experience democracy. Unfortunately, neither Shafiq nor Morsi satisfies

anyone, but they’ll have no choice except to vote for the one who’s better than the

other. This is a new battle for Egypt and it’s for the first time an Islamist is at a peak

23

of the state.


adding free and fair elections,” said Mona el Ghobashy, an Egyptian political scientist

at Barnard, while maintaining strong powers for themselves containing national

security, economic matters and resistance. “But the brothers want to be part of the

power structure,” she said. Its clear now that the Islamists will not going to easily

accept their democratic organizations that are well constrained and get all the blame

easily for matters.

The Generals approved of how they would have a control of the entire national budget

and on all legislative powers without naming Mohamed Morsi as the new president.

They also declare that this new president will by all power rename the prime minister

he chooses and can also refuse any new laws he doesn’t agree on. So the military

refused to back away from the essential of this temporary agreement. Giving

themselves the power to hold citizens for judgment in military courts, they also

fortified their burden of military law. Every time the military council says something

the Islamists must have an argument on it and declare a whole different answer with a

whole other different perspective just to make sure they still have the power under

their hands not only of the country and the population but also putting their hands on

the military council particularly craving to change it members and put new ones of

their brotherhood groups and vice versa.

The article itself shows how both parts believes that they’d won, and how

there is still uncertainty that fills all the chaos and the celebrations made in Egypt but

still the real challenge is on between the Islamists and the military council and its

getting worse.

24

Work Cited

Last name, first. “The name of the article.”

Enter + tab+ the name of the magazine in italics +period+ the date

The date of the access.

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/islamist-candidate-is-

apparent-victor-in-egypt-as-military-cements-its-powers.html?ref=middleeast

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/world/middleeast/egyptian-judge-speaks-

against-islamist-victory-before-presidential-runoff.html?src=recg

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/uncertainty-underlies-

celebrations-in-cairo.html?ref=world


25

Dina Said

Rhet101-02

Instructor Gibson

Assignment 2

24 June 2012

Egypt on an edge

The New York Times magazine’s “After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to

Challenge Military” delivers the latest situation in Cairo after the presidential

elections 2012. This article emphasis how the situation is very tense and full of

challenge between both parts, it’s even written in the headline ‘‘seeks to challenge’’.

Since the ex-president Hosni Mubarak resigned after the revolution a year and a half

ago, the elections occurred with some intensity regardless of the development of the

chaos and the stress between the people. The voters had to choose between Ahmed

Shafiq (former regime) and Islamist candidate Mohamed Morsi for the final round. 24

hours later after the second round of the elections, the votes were still unrevealed, yet

Morsi assured at a pre-dawn news discussion to “be a president for all Egyptians”,

then his opponent, Ahmed Shafiq also proclaimed his unofficial victory, however

none of both announcements is accurate yet.

Later on Monday, right after the unofficial self -proclaimed victory of Morsi,

the Muslim brotherhood decided to stand against the military generals. The Islamists

groups had another goal to achieve using the democratic predicted success of

Mohamed Morsi, as the key player to seize all lawmaking power after they’d had

been disbanded from the parliament by the ruling military council. “We don’t need to

hear any excuses from them. If they want to hand over power, they can give back the

Parliament and undo what they have done.” said Jihad el-Haddad, a Brotherhood

26

spokesman. So the brotherhoods swore that they would battle the generals in political

compromises and challenge them in courtyards. The Islamists who joined the

parliament were cheating; therefore they were banned from it just two days before the

elections. By believing that their candidate has won the presidential elections they

now want to gain more power and are willing to do whatever to gain their parts in the

parliament again.

This is not a monopoly, it’s not about who will gain more power. The

Islamists challenge the military council, putting in mind what they’ve lost many years

ago and how they’ll get back on track and take over the country so they can be on top

for the first time. All they want now is the parliament again and to have a say in the

government policies. People observe well and can see clearly that they change their

words depending on the events and their own good. For example when they vowed

that they wont place a candidate and the people believed them with all their hearts and

minds saying they are religious and claim for honesty, but they ended up fielding two

candidates and now proclaiming the presidency of one of them. Also, when

Mohamed Morsi announced that the Egyptian Christians must pay an amount of

money to stay in the country believing that this is an Islamic country but later on he

stated that both Muslims and Christians are equal. “Our Christian brothers, they are

partners in the nation. They will have full rights that are equal to those enjoyed by

Muslims,” (Morsi). So how do they expect the people to trust them if they’ve already

lost their trust before the elections? Morsi doesn’t change his words he just denies

them and act as if they were rumors, however our population is craving for a change

and are still willing to take the risk just to avoid the old regime.


happen after Morsi’s predicted victory, it focuses on how the Islamists take this as a

27

challenge with the Egyptian military. Although the final results will not be published

until the end this week, still the brotherhood act as if they’ve already won for sure.

Trying to avoid backstabbing, both the brotherhood and the military council exposed

the number of inaccurate votes as quickly as possible. “In a nearly two-hour news

conference that was edited before it was televised, two members of the military

council insisted that they regretted dissolving Parliament, but that they had been

forced by a court ruling from judges appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak”.

That statement does not seem accurate because no one was forced to dissolve the

parliament. It was dissolved because the brotherhood made some unlegislated

decisions, not because some members were forced to do so by generals or judges of

the former regime. The Islamtists says so to manipulate the people minds by keeping

them believing that the former regime is still present and that the military council and

the SCAF are on its side. That way, the people will support Morsi and the

Brotherhood believing they’re the good ones.

This article shows how much struggle Egypt’s going through not because of the chaos

that its population been living with for nearly a year now but because its for the first

time to experience democracy. Unfortunately, neither Shafiq nor Morsi satisfies

anyone, but they’ll have no choice except to vote for the one who’s better than the

other. This is a new battle for Egypt and it’s for the first time an Islamist is at a peak

of the state.


adding free and fair elections,” said Mona el Ghobashy, an Egyptian political scientist

at Barnard, while maintaining strong powers for themselves containing national

security, economic matters and resistance. “But the brothers want to be part of the

power structure,” she said. Its clear now that the Islamists will not going to easily

28

accept their democratic organizations that are well constrained and get all the blame

easily for matters. The Generals approved of how they would have a control of the

entire national budget and on all legislative powers without naming Mohamed Morsi

as the new president. They also declare that this new president will by all power

rename the prime minister he chooses and can also refuse any new laws he doesn’t

agree on. So the military refused to back away from the essential of this temporary

agreement. Giving themselves the power to hold citizens for judgment in military

courts, they also fortified their burden of military law. Every time the military council

says something the Islamists must have an argument against it and declare a whole

different answer with a whole other different perspective just to make sure they still

have the power under their hands not only of the country and the population but also

putting their hands on the military council particularly craving to change it members

and put new ones of their brotherhood groups and vice versa.

The article itself shows how both parts believes that they’d won, and how

there is still uncertainty that fills all the chaos and the celebrations made in Egypt but

still the real challenge is on between the Islamists and the military council and its

getting worse.

29

Work Cited

Kirkpatrick, David. “After Victory, Egypt Islamists Seek to Challenge Military”

The New York Times. 18 June 2012

22 June 2012.

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/islamist-candidate-is-

apparent-victor-in-egypt-as-military-cements-its-powers.html?ref=middleeast

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/world/middleeast/egyptian-judge-speaks-

against-islamist-victory-before-presidential-runoff.html?src=recg

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/world/middleeast/uncertainty-underlies-

celebrations-in-cairo.html?ref=world


30

Dina Said

RHET101

Instructor Gibson

28/06/2012

Free writing/ Draft 1

Analysis

Slowly I’m becoming everything I never wanted. They say life screw us all

and makes us who we are now, is it really the people who surrounds us are the one

who affects us? Or is it the events and the problems we face that shape our character

and the way we handle things?

I used to be very optimistic and always looking forward to life with a huge

smile on my face. My mother wondered why was I nice to strangers and friends and

opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her .till now I

don’t know why I was like that and how I became that .

It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my life

from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But the truth is I go out with

friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy few minutes of my day


Nowadays, I’m beginning to feel numb not because I’m unhappy or because of my

problems but I just got used to it from all the mountains I failed to climb. Feeling

numb became the ‘’normal’’ now. Therefore happiness terrifies me nowadays. I need

to change I need it, I need some inspiration in my life that puts me on track again.

31

How can I get it ? I have no idea, how can I escape my weird normality now? Still, no

idea. However I keep trying to change and hoping not for the worse.

32

Dina Said

RHET101

Instructor Gibson

28/06/2012

Cup of Sorrow







opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her. Till now I

don’t know why I was like that and how I became that. I used to believe that the best

thing to do is to walk away from my problems until they fade away, and that really

helped me to move forward in life with hope growing inside of me, believing

tomorrow will be better, believing dreams will come true and actually gave me

motivation and strength to make them come true until they did. But somehow I lost it

all suddenly, don’t quite know how and when did I became so weak and gave up so

easily.

It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my

life and had it all together from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But

the truth is I go out with my friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy

few minutes of my day before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind

screw me all over again. I’m beginning to feel numb not because I’m unhappy or

33

because of my problems but I just got used to it from all the mountains I failed to

climb. Feeling tiredly numb became the ‘’normal’’. When the truth is we’re all

walking around with these shiny eyes pretending we’re fine but just tired and it’s not

true. Yes, we are tired. I’m tired. Tired of going to bed exhausted after doing nothing

all day long and waking up with nothing to look forward to, although most of my days

are full but I just find no enjoyment in them.

Empty but not depressed, mad but not angry, stressed but not nervous and yet

I stick to the moment of joy like its my last, trying to seize the opportunity, to feel

happy again, to feel alive. But somehow happiness terrifies me. I need to change. I

need some inspiration in my life that puts me back on track. How can I get it? I have

no idea, how can I escape my abnormal normality now? Still, no idea. However I

keep trying to change, hoping not for the worse.

34

Dina Said

RHET101

Instructor Gibson

28/06/2012

Cup of Sorrow







opened my arms to everyone like they’ll do me no harm. It terrified her, fearing I get

hurt. Till now I don’t know why I was like that and how I became that, maybe cause I

used to believe that I should make everyone around me happy to feel satisfied? That

my happiness belongs on other people’s satisfaction? I’ve been making such an effort

to shut my thoughts and goals away just to let my family open up to me easily and

don’t feel the pressure I’m under to get their contentment. Their feelings, their goals

were a priority to me. Believing in that helped me to feel content most of the time, but

their ignorance of my effort killed me, until I became silent and anger grew inside of

me and ate me day by day up until I couldn’t take it anymore and turned out to be

cold, careless.

I used to believe that the best thing to do is to walk away from my problems

until they fade away, and that really helped me to move forward in life with hope

growing inside of me, believing tomorrow will be better, believing dreams will come

true and actually gave me motivation and strength to make them come true until they

35

did. But somehow I lost it all suddenly, don’t quite know how and when did I became

so weak and gave up so easily.

It’s amazing what a smile can hide. People doubted I had no problems in my

life and had it all together from the way I laughed hardly and acted around them. But

the truth is I go out with my friends trying to escape my problems and trying to enjoy

few minutes of my day before I go back to my room where I sit alone and my mind

screw me all over again. Maybe its been hard on me cause I never let it all out? Never

got it off my chest and felt revealed a bit? Perhaps cause I believe I don’t have to

annoy the people around me with my struggles. So, I’m beginning to feel numb not

because I’m unhappy or because of my problems but I just got used to it from all the

mountains I failed to climb. Feeling tiredly numb became the “normal”. When the

truth is we’re all walking around with these shiny eyes pretending we’re fine but just

tired, and it’s not true. Yes, we are tired. I’m tired. Tired of going to bed exhausted

after doing nothing all day long and waking up with nothing to look forward to,

although most of my days are full but I just find no enjoyment in them. I’ve become

nothing, I do nothing and I want nothing. Maybe that’s the reason I’m struggling, its

like a war inside of me, seeing myself change but cannot control it. Did I lose faith or

strength? Maybe none of them, perhaps struggling with nothing is the hardest war,

cause you don’t know what you’re challenging.

Empty but not depressed, mad but not angry, stressed but not nervous and yet

I stick to the moment of joy like its my last, trying to seize the opportunity, to feel

happy again, to feel alive. But somehow happiness terrifies me. Why is that? I don’t

know. It could be cause I believe that if you’re happy, something’s bad is going to

happen, it’s like a snap back to reality. Will I ever overcome my fears? Questions like

this with no answers crosses my mind every second of everyday and I just can’t force

36

myself not to think about them, although I feel that I don’t even have the right to be

sad cause some people have it worse, it’s becoming exhausting.

With everything happening with me these days, I think I’m moving but I go

nowhere, my life became still, my eyes observes other people’s track of life and

blames my broken mind fearing of losing my train ticket. I know I should be grateful

for what I have now and cherish all the things I do but can I just forget about my

needs? Is it possible to focus on what you have and not on what you want? Will there

be any progress, any future? I need to change. I need some inspiration in my life that

puts me back on track. How can I get it? I have no idea, how can I escape my

abnormal normality now? Still, no idea. However I keep trying to change, hoping not

for the worse.

37

Dina Said

Rhet101

Instructor Gibson

08/07/2012

Religion is the obstacle

Egypt is a country divided into basically two general religions. These two are

Islam and Christianity. We live with the concept of equality and unison between

people no matter which religion they follow. But As much as it might seem like we

are all united, and that we consider ourselves one family, problems start occurring

even at our age; where religion influences our interactions in life and can even make

friendships and relationships split apart.

In my essay, I am going to compare and contrast both the Islamic and Christian

religion, and get into further details about the rules of marriages in these two, and how

they affect society and social life of all ages, especially today’s generation. I want to

draw attention to the fact that all the information I am going to share with you is from

the internet and therefore a totally objective point of view, on the other hand, all the

opinions I will state are my own from personal experience. I personally chose this

topic because it is close to my heart. I have been put in the middle of it, when all my

intentions were good ones. It’s funny how you could just want to get the best out of a

moment, without causing any harm to anyone, and just try to enjoy the best years in

your life; when people interpret it in hideous ways, expect the worst out of you. And

why? Because of a title you are given at birth.

Religions have been the guidelines that millions have followed since the day of

dawn, and in a lot of religions, it is mentioned that our fate is already determined by

38

god. Believers, all around the world, describe god as the ultimate power, the one and

only who is in total control of our existences. To God, human beings are creations that

have for main mission to worship him and pursue their respective paths through

everyday life. He has each person's road ahead set; with no possibility of us

interfering and deviating the direction he has chosen for us. It is his judgment that is

going to happen. God gives us options in our daily lives. He makes us choose

different paths and make different choices according to the situations we are put

through; and these situations lead us to end up doing what was initially planed for us.

We think our actions and steps in life are made by our freewill, when in reality, the

decisions were already taken. The only thing that varies, is the process by which, we,

human beings, get to these final actions. Islam is a religion that Muslims

follow, based on the system founded by the prophet Muhammad and

taught by the holy book called Koran. The basic principle of it is absolute

submission to a unique and personal god, Allah. Christianity is also religion that

follows the worship of a unique god, based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ

and his disciples. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and they follow the

teachings of their holy book, the Bible. In my opinion, we aren’t so different, since we

both believe in an ultimate power. So why do we create differences?

I’ve been in love with the same person for over a year and a half. Religion is the

only obstacle in our relationship. Religion is the reason why some people are being

discriminated. It is the reason why people treat each other differently. It creates

barriers in the community. Religion, simply, is the reason why a Muslim girl is not

allowed to marry a Christian boy, even if their love is unbreakable. You come to a

point where you wonder if there is a right or wrong, if religion is the answer. You ask

yourself questions, you wonder if there is any way out of it, and then you regret

39

thinking that way; because this is not what you have been raised. You are put in a

position where you don’t know if the reasonable thing to do is to follow your mind, or

follow your heart.

In the holy Koran, it is mentioned that when it comes to religion, the rules for

marriages between people are very precise. A Muslim man would be allowed to

marry a Christian woman because the prophet Mohamed had done the same. It is also

allowed because the children from this marriage would turn out following their

father's religion. However, the Koran also states that the other way around is

forbidden, as the children would follow their father’s religion and therefore grow up

to be Christians. The whole idea is to expand the Muslim population. In Christianity

too, the mentality remains similar, but what differs is that any Christian who marries a

Muslim, whether it s a Christian woman marrying a man or the opposite, is out of

their circle and is considered to be a traitor. And even though it is somehow more

accepted for Muslim men to marry Christian women nowadays, it is still considered

as going against your community.

In fact, when we go back into history, such marriages were seen as a complete

betrayal to one’s family and life’s customs. Very few people would have the courage

and audacity to make such a decision and marry someone from a different religion. At

the present time, a new way of getting out of it has recently become popular.

Conversion. Christian men have been converting into Islam in order to be legally able

to marry Muslim women. Of course, in Christianity, taking an action like this one is

perceived in even more insolence then Christian women who marry Muslim men.

I wish I could live long enough to see a young Muslim girl stand up in the

crowd and speak out her mind, saying “I love a Christian boy and I don’t want to hide

it”. I also wish I could live long enough to see a young boy say “I will marry a

40

Muslim girl, because she is the right person for me, and I will do it without

conversion, without any complications and without caring what would happen next.

”We make these changes; we choose what occurs in the future, so if you want to see

change, maybe you should start making your decision now.

41

Dina Said

Rhet101

Instructor Gibson

08/07/2012







friendships and relationships split apart. I have been put in the middle of it, when all

my intentions were good ones. It’s funny how you could just want to get the best out

of a moment, without causing any harm to anyone, and just try to enjoy the best years

in your life; when people interpret it in hideous ways, expect the worst out of you.

And why? Because of a title you are given at birth.









42


through; and these situations lead us to end up doing what was initially planned for

us. We think our actions and steps in life are made by our freewill, when in reality,

the decisions were already taken. The only thing that varies, is the process by which,

we, human beings, get to these final actions. Islam is a religion that Muslims

















follow your heart.




43










Are these reasons logical to me? Ethical? Is it worth it? Is love worth all these

struggles? Am I willing to lose my family for love? Or do I prefer to gain their

happiness and lose mine?

Love is something unexplainable, a feeling that can turn your life upside down. Our

brains always do the thinking however it will never comprehend love as our hearts do.

We don’t choose the people we love, we don’t plan how to love them, it’s just two

persons who were firstly attracted to each other and then got used to seeing and

talking to each other a lot, began to let go of their boundaries and began to trust,

support and cherish each other day by day for as long as they’re together. Love takes

us by surprise and that’s the best part about it, when you least expect it, it hits you

and it hits you good. I can go on forever trying to explain love from my own point of

view/experience although it will never be enough.





44




45

Dina Said

Rhet101

Instructor Gibson

08/07/2012







friendships and relationships split apart. I have been put in the middle of it, when all

my intentions were good ones. It’s funny how you could just want to get the best out

of a moment, without causing any harm to anyone, and just try to enjoy the best years

in your life; when people interpret it in hideous ways, expect the worst out of you.

And why? Because of a title you are given at birth.










46

through; and these situations lead us to end up doing what was initially planned for

us. We think our actions and steps in life are made by our freewill, when in reality,

the decisions were already taken. The only thing that varies, is the process by which,

we, human beings, get to these final actions. Islam is a religion that Muslims

















follow your heart.





47









Are these reasons logical to me? Ethical? Is it worth it? Is love worth all these

struggles? Am I willing to lose my family for love? Or do I prefer to gain their

happiness and lose mine?

Love is something unexplainable, a feeling that can turn your life upside down. Our

brains always do the thinking however it will never comprehend love as our hearts do.

We don’t choose the people we love, we don’t plan how to love them, it’s just two

persons who were firstly attracted to each other and then got used to seeing and

talking to each other a lot, began to let go of their boundaries and began to trust,

support and cherish each other day by day for as long as they’re together. Love takes

us by surprise and that’s the best part about it, when you least expect it, it hits you

and it hits you good. I can go on forever trying to explain love from my own point of

view/experience although it will never be enough, but in the end is it worth all the

struggles I have between my family and me? I don’t know, all I know is my family is

a priority to me, I know they’ll never think the same way as I do because of age

difference and its unbearable. The thing is that they care too much, that’s why they

don’t agree with this relationship fearing I get used to him, it will get complicated and

then I’m the one who’ll get hurt at the end. I don’t like to think about the future, I

48

like to enjoy my present not worrying about anything that didn’t happen yet. That’s

why I don’t expect that ill marry him or at least I’m planning to, I like to be realistic,

only this can happen with a miracle. I know I don’t have a future with him even if I

want so, therefore I prefer not to ruin our present by talking and fighting over

something won’t happen. So why bother thinking about it now? Do I really believe

what my religion says? Or do I just follow it fearing to lose my family?








I wish I could live long enough to see a young Muslim girl stand up in the

crowd and speak out her mind, saying, “I love a Christian boy and I don’t want to

hide it”. I also wish I could live long enough to see a young boy say “I will marry a

Muslim girl, because she is the right person for me, and I will do it without

conversion, without any complications and without caring what would happen

next.”We make these changes; we choose what occurs in the future, so if you want to

see change, maybe you should start making your decision now.

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