Reflections about the social networking groups of the Internet

   Many times, I have deeply thought, especially after communication problems while chatting with some people on the Web or getting angry from a bad reaction, an unacceptable post, non-ethical comment or disgusting message, that social networking sites are problematic more than beneficial, viewing that they are condensation of life but in the virtual electronic world. People, that are shielded by distance, non-touch, freedom from shyness, and immunity from physical retaliation, tend to be unreal at many times, in the sense of embellishment by disguising themselves not only in their identities, names and pictures but in their attitudes, style of response, selection of words and language (sordid or clean) and reaction whether quiet or bursting, as well.  

   Social networking  groups especially closed and secret groups are like hungry sharks, roaming to catch edible fishes with an unabated satiety. Alas, some think that social utilities on the Internet are like washing machines, they always need to be fed by fresh detergents. Thus, the electronic friendship tied there is not real and solid, but is bubbly, liable to burst by any simple gust of wind. What is the benefit of collecting 'friends' on your Facebook account? And why you have so much vanity with the high numbers of friends you have got, as long as you do not care to connect, electronically in a fair way and frequently with them? And the more important why is it not important to you to tie a real-life friendship with these friends, using the tool of the social utility? And why you do care to sanctify the tool and slide into the vice of worshiping yourself?

Psychologically speaking, is the accumulation of hundreds, not to say thousands sometimes of friends, on your Facebook account, is healthy? How you can cope with communicating with such a huge number of persons assumed to be 'friends' at any one time? 

   Differentiation from real life authentic friendship and the sham electronic friendship, is important. I think that for a person to be considered as an authentic friend, requires many criteria. You have to meet the person in real life, face to face even once, and have a conversation with him/her either casually or voluntary, but smart and deep. The two parties, have to find some sort of common ground, sympathy, and to be certain of the real identity of the person candidate for friendship, not to mention a quick appraisal of the person's values and attitude to Life in general.These criteria are not feasible through the Internet communication, even in Skype or alike video conferencing. To this end, one must know that the term, 'friend' in the social networking sites, is not accurate, and it is better as one friend suggested 'contact'. One has to be true to himself and know that it is a mirage not a real oasis. So it is completely accepted to detach yourself from a group, contact or friend, once you know that it is nuisance not a good experience.

About ‘The rise and fall of Royal Alexandria: from Muhammad Ali to Farouk’

About ‘The rise and fall of Royal Alexandria: from Muhammad Ali to Farouk’

 

The Muhammad Ali reign

 

For the sake of truth and revision of our Egyptian history to know the true events and the real facts, I am writing this article. I would like to share it with you, with all due respects to antagonizing opinions. The title herein, is the original title of a lecture, I attended in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on March the 21st, given by the eminent British historian, Philip Mansel, who is an authority on the Ottoman empire, the Levant and the French Revolution and has to date, eleven book titles, of which the most acclaimed three are, “Constantinople”, “Levant” and “Sultans in Splendour” and believe what, these are his only three books about the East Mediterranean history. The presenter and animator of the lecture was the renown Dr. Khaled Fahmy, the Egyptian historian, scholar and the head of the History Department of the AUC. To a heavy attendance, Professor Mansel, addressed his audience with a PowerPoint picture slide of old Alexandria, personalities and events.
Dr. Mansel, started to talk about how, Muhammad Ali, found in the beginning of his reign, Alexandria, as a small coastal village full of ruins with a population of only six thousand people mainly indigenous. Then, understanding the value of the city, its strategic position and its potential, he started to stay in it, to study plans to upgrade it, in gradually increasing periods of time. Then he commissioned many huge projects that resurrected the city from ashes, like the naval arsenal, the Mahmudiye canal inaugurated in February 1821, the refurbishing of the naval port of Alexandria and the establishment of Ras el-Tin palace which was started to be built in 1817 and intensified extensively the fortifications of the city from 1812 on. He was the first ruler since hundreds of years to allow Christians to ring the church’s bells officially. Due to the fact that he has been the first also to announce across the country a state of religious tolerance to all religions and their denominations, many flocks of oppressed Jewish and Christian Europeans from one side and from other territories of the Ottoman empire, decided to settle in Egypt. They brought their expertise, new ideas, enthusiasm and work power to build new beginnings to themselves and their families, and henceforth affected positively the general local population. New opportunities arose, so European talents were attracted to serve Muhammad Ali and presented him their abilities to modernize Egypt and his beloved Alexandria. (To be continued)