Watermelon’s Summer Tales
Mark Twain once said, “When one has tasted watermelon he knows what the angels eat.” And most likely that angel was an Egyptian. Egyptians were the first to discover watermelons 5000 years ago and then shared them with the rest of civilization in the 10th century. When it comes to eating watermelons, there are many cultural rituals on how watermelons are consumed. The Japanese will elegantly decorate them and give them as gifts. In other part of Asia, people will pickle watermelons – a culinary violation that is very hard for Egyptians to swallow. Egyptians may pickle their Pharos, but watermelons are higher in their food chain. Egyptians consider watermelon a live food, which should be cut and eaten fresh, no watermelon canned, or jams. I know that for most Americans it has been customary and almost patriotic act to eat watermelon during 4th of July picnic, but before Al Sisi takeover the color of patriotic banners, some speculate that the color of the Egyptian national flag was inspired by the colorful watermelons with its white, red and black (seeds, remember that) look. Most of watermelons in America are sadly seedless.
Month: July 2015
Celebrating Eid at Mall …. of America
Notes from America
Celebrating the Eid at Mall of America
By Ahmed Tharwat
Ramadan, the glorious fasting month for Muslims has finally came to an end, no more Iftar under the big tent at Marina restaurant, no more California Majoul dates to break the long day fast, and no more evening conversation while sipping tea and munching sweets Katife, Konafah. It is like 30 days of Christmas has just vanished before your eyes. Now it is time for Eid el Fitr, (the breaking fast feast) a Muslim celebration of food and what is good in life, a realization that life goes on even after Ramadan.
You have been for 30 days cleansing your body and your soul of all excessiveness of life. Now it is time for Muslims in America to go out and unapologetically celebrate the end of Ramadan Eid in post 9/11 America: this is not as simple as it seems.
The Eid celebration starts by rushing to the convention center in downtown Minneapolis; where thousands of Muslims mostly Somalis walk in groove dressed in traditional clothes: they are heading for early Eid Prayer. The traffic is jammed, lots of drivers are cautiously wondering what convention this maybe! On the same day, there was a wedding trade show at the convention center, where lots of young women with their fashionably wedding gowns peacefully intermingle with Muslim women whom their dresses seem to consult with only one fashion design.
Yes, The Confederate Flag Represents Heritage … a Heritage of Racism!
The Confederate Flag Represents a Heritage of Racism!
Last Wednesday around 9 p.m., Dylan Roof, a 21-year-old white supremacist, entered the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. According to police, during a weekly Bible study meeting, he opened fire killing nine people. Mr. Roof’s racism and hatred toward blacks was demonstrated in his website, which was discovered Saturday. The website appears to offer the first serious look at his deep and twisted mind. A mind of lots of Americans who still think Civil War is not over and still raging on. “I hate the sight of the American flag,” he wrote. “Modern American patriotism is an absolute joke.” He enlightened us in this way as he posted a picture of himself burning, stomping and spitting on the Stars and Stripes while grasping and waving the Confederate battle flag and holding a gun.
This heartbreaking tragedy opened up a serious debate in America over the Confederate flag, raising questions about the true meaning of this subversive symbol, which haunt us until today.
Continue reading Yes, The Confederate Flag Represents Heritage … a Heritage of Racism!
