Website on 1001 Arabian Nights relating to book

I came across an informative website about the 1001 Arabian Nights. It offers how these folk stories originated and how they have been passed down for generations. It explains in an easily understandable timeline the background of how the original story began along with a description of what happened for the first eight nights. These stories came from all over the world that offered values, spiritually and earthly. The role of certain characters is also touched on during some part of this website. An individual who has no prior knowledge of 1001 Arabian Nights should strongly think about checking out this website for its quick and easy information.
(http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/eng251/arabstudy.htm)

Arabian Nights and Days

For my second book I decided to stick with the author Mahfouz and chose Arabian Nights and Days. Earlier during the year we read different stories and tales of the 1001 Arabian Nights. I only got to read a few of them and was interested in many more of them. That is the one of the reasons why I chose this book.
This book does not explain in great detail the background story of how the 1001 Arabian Nights originated but it jumps right into a novel. This novel features characters from many of the 1001 Arabian Nights such as: the porter, Ugr the barber, Aladdin, Ma’rouf the cobbler, and Sindbad. In a way the chapters were similar to that of the other story I read of Mahfouz, The Day the Leader Was Killed. What I mean by this is each chapter alternates with the perspectives of each character. Except in Arabian Nights and Days when a new chapter begins you know that the following chapter is going to be about that certain characters story or journey. The first few chapters focus on a man named, Sanaan who accidentally releases a genie who demands that Sanaan kill the governor of his village. The events that lead up to the governor’s murder by Sanaan are very disturbing although it was not as graphic as it led it to be. I plan on writing my final paper on this book although I am not sure what the paper will focus on.

Website on The Day the Leader Was Killed

I came across a website that focused on the book I chose to read which was, The Day the Leader was Killed. The website first gives its own summarization of the book and then it analyzes and investigates what the book is really about. This website explains why the three main characters act the way they do. This article also explains in more detail what the economic policy in Egypt was during the time this book is set. Whoever the author of the article is gives his or her own opinion of the actions that take place within the story itself. I plan on sticking with the author of The Day the Leader was Killed, Naguib Mahfouz because his writing is easy to interpret. The next book I plan on reading of his is, Arabian Days and Nights. The website that this article is found in is as follows: (http://books.google.com/books?id=Hit7oPTOKf0C&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92&dq=the+day+the+leader+was+killed&source=web&ots=gocNfqOVHA&sig=GijUoS6ZBYQosB2T1hlaJKkBDE0#PPA95,M1)

The Day the Leader was Killed

The book I decided to read first was The Day the Leader was Killed. The book is set in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. The year is 1981 and the lives of the city’s citizens are in a tough time as a cause of the current president’s economic policy. A middle-class family that is facing these harsh times narrates this story. Actually, there are only three people who narrate this story. The first narrative character we are introduced to is Muhtashimi Zayed, who is the grandfather of this family. He often is giving advice to anyone who he comes in contact with and is knowledgeable about life in general. Elwan is his grandson who at the moment is facing some difficult decisions in his life and hopes he chooses the right path. The last character that narrates this story is Elwan’s fiancée, Randa. She is a very opinionated women although too like Elwan has a difficulty with making decisions in her life. The chapters are about five pages in length so it felt like I was accomplishing a good deal of the book in less time. I was skeptical at first about this book in general. I was expecting, with a title like this one, an Indiana Jones type storyline. The book focuses on the day-to-day lives of these three characters and their involvement with family, work, and society. Each character speaks in first person with each chapter being titled as to whom is going to be narrating the story next. For example, the first chapter is titled, Muhtashimi Zayed, then the second Elwan, and the third Randa. This pattern is continuous throughout the entire book with the grandfather of course having the last thoughts.

US vs Iraq (Article and YouTube Website)

The article I researched focused on how the marines would prefer to move their forces out of Iraq and into Afghanistan. This would mean that the Army would be transported to fight the Iraq war while the Marines would take over for the Army and handle the situation in Afghanistan. U.S. officials agree that this tactic would be more effective for both forces as it continues to fight against terrorists. As of October 11th 2007 there was no Marine troops in Afghanistan and there were about 26,000 Marines in Iraq. This idea of bringing Marines into Afghanistan would relieve the pressure on the Army. Also, the Marines are more of a lethal force when it comes to combat and air force showing no mercy to the enemy.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/washington/11military.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=world)

The youtube video that I found was a very interesting video. It displayed the U.S. Marines Air Force at work. It shows a great montage of various shots of U.S. aircrafts over Iraq, all this happening to the tune of “Liberate” by the rock band, Disturbed. Also, the video shows us some U.S. forces fighting not only in the air but on the ground as well. This video although short and high in intensity, brings the viewer into the real world of what life is like in Iraq for U.S. forces fighting the battle for all Americans.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uVnN_KBVVQ)

Israel Lobby

I was not able to read this entire article but from what I did get read made me kind of upset and confused. For part of this article it talks about how the United States feeds Israel three billion dollars each year. 25 percent of that money, it is stated that Israel basically does whatever it wants with it. We have even provided them with three billion dollars to develop weapons systems! Now, I understand that Israel was at one point our ally against nations like Russia and China but this is insane. Has America forgotten that these kinds of people put our nation in a state of panic by killing innocent Americans and destroying our Twin Towers in New York? But, we are providing them with money for defense and F-16 jets, how does this make sense? Isn’t America supposed to be number one in defense against any other nation? Why are we providing and coming to the aid of people that have tried to strike fear into the heart of America? Washington D.C. needs to start thinking clearly and realize that we are actually supporting this country’s war of terror. For God sakes Israel along with other nations have spies on the inside learning the secrets behind America’s defense strategies. This article lit a fire within me because as a natural born American I feel as though we are hypothetically shooting ourselves in the foot. We need to break ties with them effective immediately.

Jimmy Carter

To be honest I do not enjoy reading about the Middle East in any way, shape, or form. Yet, I did not mind Jimmy Carter’s Palestine Peace Not Apartheid. In a way it read as though President Jimmy Carter was present and was speaking to me. The timeline was not very interesting because I had no prior knowledge of the specific dates that were listed. Besides that part of the reading the rest of the chapters actually kept my interest. Carter describes how he met with many people from either Israel or Palestine. I know it’s not just me but it would be difficult to open your door and invite a foreigner especially one from the Middle East into your home. Jimmy Carter, who was the President at the time, graciously invited these people into his home (the white house). He ate and discussed certain issues with these people from the Middle East. The book also explains some of President Carter’s and his wife’s journeys throughout the Middle East. Their was one example where the First Lady at the time went to a hospital and they were not allow to use the ambulances because of the strict rules that were being enforced. I am extremely thankful that I live in America. We have all the freedom that the Middle East does not. I know it goes along with the song, but I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. After reading all of the required chapters, I learned that the Israelis basically isolated Palestine. The maps in some of the chapters helped me to visually understand what I was reading about. Overall, not a horrible read but I wouldn’t go as far as to refer to it as a New York Times bestseller.