A Clear Voice Amid the Chaos of Revolution

Lately we have been bombarded with news of the protests and revolution in Egypt. However, I have a problem with zoning out when confronted with blaring headlines and droning reporters. So in order to really get a sense of what is happening, I decided to hear about the Egypt from the best possible source for me: an Egyptian teenager.

I discovered the posts of Jessica Elsayed, a teen in Alexandria, Egypt, who writes for Youth Journalism International. She chronicled her experiences in the past few weeks and reading her articles has helped me understand not only the experiences of the average person in Egypt but also appreciate powerful, eloquent writing from a strong youth voice.

The news gives us instant updates and coverage of events, but by reading a firsthand account, I learned about what the Egyptian people were really fighting against. In one of Ms. Elsayed’s earlier posts, she details her experience actually participating in a peaceful protest and reasons for doing so. She says, “We want better schools for my younger brother and sisters, better health care for my grandmother…the media sometimes says this is an Islamic revolution, but it’s not. It has no connection with religion”. By explaining their causes in the most basic, honest way, she clearly communicates what impersonal media coverage does not. Her posts are intelligent and have given me so much insight into what is really happening in Egypt.

I would also like to commend her writing style. In her informative posts, she writes very clearly and explains in a way that engages the uninformed reader but also doesn’t bore someone who has been following the news.

She also uses beautiful language to convey her ideas. When especially moved by an event, her posts take on a poetic form. After the protest, she writes, “Today, I’ve inhaled a new air and we feel that victory is near.” Although it may be unintentional, the slant rhyme here emphasizes the fact that victory is not yet achieved and still must be strived towards.Then, after the resignation of Mubarak, Ms. Elsayed writes, “Egypt got its soul back today. Welcome freedom. Welcome liberty. Welcome justice.” I was awestruck by the profundity of her words, which are fueled by her drive to see true peace and freedom in her nation. Her writing proves that teens have important ideas and experiences that are worth sharing with the world. Although she is young, I believe Jessica Elsayed is a political and poetic force to be reckoned with, and I truly admire her courage and voice.

Arabian Nights

In a previous post, I proclaimed my love for a show I saw entitled “Metamorphoses” by Mary Zimmerman. I recently attended the Illinois Theatre Festival at the University of Illinois, and as soon as I learned that a school was putting on another one of her plays, “Arabian Nights”, I decided I had to see it. The play seemed especially necessary for me to see because we dicussed the original work on which her play is based, One Thousand and One Nights, in my English class.

Ms. Zimmerman did not disappoint. She spun centuries worth of traditional Middle Eastern stories into a witty, engaging show. She also left some room for creative license, as some pop culture references were used. The cast was talented and committed, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think that Ms. Zimmerman’s work with the adaptation of classic literature into modern theatre is one example of the universality of great literature. Although many of these works are hundreds of years old, their timeless themes, such as betrayal, disappointment, and (unrequited) love allow any audience to connect. By reconstructing literature in a modern medium, Ms. Zimmerman helps a new generation enjoy classic literature.

Words and Ideas in the State of the Union, Part I

A few nights ago, President Obama addressed the nation with the State of the Union. I watched. If you don’t already know, I am not a very political person, but this year I’ve been trying to ecome more knowledgeable. (For my first experience with a political debate, click here!)

Similarly to that previous experience, I wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little nervous about keeping up. Like SotU teen guest Amy Chyao, “I don’t think I’ve ever watched the whole thing before”. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I understood and got out of the speech. This is the first of a two-part series of the SotU, and will focus on one of Obama’s rhetorical strategies.

I noticed that Obama peppered key phrases throughout his speech. I disagree with media trainer TJ Walker when he asserts that there were not “a lot of memorable phrases or sound bites”. I thought that Obama developed a few cohesive and effective expressions. He entertained the idea of the “American Family” as all citizens of the United States. This was representative of much of his narrative, as he tried to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans as much as possible. He generally did not reference either party individually and instead emphasized the need for them to work together. There would have been very different connotations if he referred to the American people as an army or a team.

I think this phrase channeled the unity he is seeking quite nicely and also promotes wholesomeness and supportiveness within the nation. However, it could be used pejoratively to separate the US from other nations.

Another key phrase Obama used was “winning the future”, which was used a total of 10 times during the address. (For a full transcript, click here!) I thought this set up an interesting metaphor: the future is a dichotomy that has only two possible results, winning or losing. This could be potentially dangerous as it also reiterates an us-versus-them mindset. In school, we discussed that a speech like the State of the Union (which aims to unify our nation, not appeal globally) is difficult to write without proclaiming American exceptionalism.

I wonder, is there really other way to do this? Can we promote ourselves without trying to outdo other nations? That might require a drastic change in metaphor. The US would have to recognize itself as a player on a global team, or maybe a nuclear family within a much larger family tree.

Want to see something cool? Here's a Wordle of the most commonly used words in the State of the Union address.