02.26.09
On Benjamin’s splendid and curious case…
Daisy: Would you still love me if I were old and saggy?
Benjamin Button: Would you still love ME if I were young and had acne? When I’m afraid of what’s under the bed? Or if I end up wetting the bed?
Ever wondered how would it feel like to age backwards? Ever imagined if you can fall in love with someone knowing that someday you’d appear young enough to be his child?
Before I start talking about this brilliant movie, I must say that am not very sentimental when it comes to movies with romantic epic in general, I do not sigh easily or cry easily, or say that a movie is heartfelt easily… I may be touched by certain scenes, certain words… but to say that a whole movie was amazing, this is something that rarely happens to me…
The thing is that, I don’t think I ever cried my heart out the way I did after watching “The curious case of Benjamin Button” movie… An incredibly heartfelt movie about moments in life when you feel joy and ecstasy, sorrow and pain all together through a story that carries so many twists and heart aching scenes, leaving the audience completely engrossed into the movie…
It’s absolutely mistaken to think that the movie is about aging, death… or even love… The movie is rather about LIFE… about everything this word might mean… Life as a whole… Every little detail, every experience we have, our relationships with people around us who affect our lives in some way or another, every fine moment of one’s life, and every loss along the way…
“The curious case of Benjamin Button” is a movie that understands the human mind and digs deeply into it, resembling moments of love, happiness, depression, and confusion that life provides us, through a sincere and genuine story that leaves you utterly speechless while thinking of one important fact that we seem to forget through the hectic life we live… that age is only a number, and that we can choose what we do with our lives, no matter what our age was… that it’s never too late to do what you wanna do… or be what you wanna be… and that no matter how short the happy moments are going to be, we should enjoy them to the utmost, because it is through living them in that sense that such moments will live forever…
I highly recommend it to all…
The movie is full of touching quotes, my favorite of them was:
“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”
All the best,
Rou…
02.18.09
Operation Walküre
“Do you know what will happen to that portrait when the war is over?
The portrait will be unhung, and the man will be hung!”
– Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
Last Monday I saw “Valkyrie” movie starring Tom Cruise and a group of fine actors. Covering what is known through history with the name “Operation Walküre”, the movie is immensely one of the best I have seen lately… If you’re a World War II history buff like me, you’ll probably appreciate the effort done in this movie.
“Valkyrie” covers an important incident in the history of Nazi Germany; the failed assassination attempt of some German officers against Hitler in 1944. Even though the full story of the July 20 plot is complicated and cannot be fully covered within the boundaries of a two hours movie, but the film makers succeeded to a great extent in giving the feeling of what actually happened back then. Even with the fact that we actually know how the story ends, the movie brilliantly managed to keep its gripping suspense!
“Valkyrie” is probably the first movie I have ever seen presenting German People as human beings trapped in a war they didn’t choose, and not merely monsters responsible for all WWII slaughters; for a change the Americans stop featuring the World as merely “The Good Guys” & “The Bad Guys”!
Even though I am hardly ever a Tom Cruise fan, but I must say that – surprisingly – he played one of his best roles ever; very much against his usual type of performance!
Stauffenberg’s last words to one of his colleagues just before they were executed were: “Look them in the eye! They will remember you!”…
I just loved those words…
Anyways, have a good day,
Rou…
Note:
I wonder why Rommel wasn’t portrayed at all in the movie, even though – as far as I know – he knew about the July 20 plot in advance and didn’t inform Hitler about it!
02.15.09
Non-Egyptian Authors: Rabee Jaber’s Confessions
“إذا كتبت يوماً حياتي في كتاب يا ربيع أرجو أن تبدأ قصتي بهذه الجملة: قوصوني على خط التماس الذي يقطع بيروت نصفين سنة 1976، و أبي حملني وأخذني إلى بيته”
Did you ever think of how cruel wars are…?
Not only a typical war against some intruders or enemies, but more like fighting those who were your own neighbors and friends at some point in time… Ever thought of how it would feel like?
Ever imagined you would really really hate them? Kill them?
Ever thought of how wars dramatically change people…?
Ever thought of the amount of loss and pain you encounter through wars…?
It’s kind of a double loss… you don’t only lose your beloved ones… you lose the simplest and basic senses of security…
“أبي كان يخطف الناس ويقتلهم. أخي يقول إنَّه رأى أبي يتحول في الحرب من شخص يعرفه إلى شخص لا يعرفه. هذا أخي الكبير. أخي الصغير لم أعرفه، أعرف صورته، أعرف وجهه، يشبهني في الصور ــ كان يشبهني ــ أكثر مما يشبه أخي الكبير. أسميه أخي الصغير وكنا كلنا في البيت نسميه ــ في رؤوسنا نسميه، حتى من دون أن نذكره ونحن نحكي، كانت صوره تملأ البيت ــ ماذا كنت أقول؟ أسميه أخي الصغير ولم يكن أخي الصغير ولكنه الصغير لأنه ظل صغيرًا، لأنه لم يكبر، لأنهم قتلوه وهو صغير.”
One amazing novel that brilliantly covers the Lebanese civil war period from 1975 – 1990 is “الاعترافات” or “The Confessions” written by the talented Lebanese author “Rabee Jaber”…
“Rabee Jaber” was born in Beirut in 1972 and studied physics at the American University of Beirut. Wrote his first novel “سيد العتمة” (Master of Darkness) in 1992, and since then has written fourteen novels, all much admired by both readers and critics. Some of which are: “شاى أسود” (Black Tea), “رالف رزق الله في المرآه” (Ralph Rizqallah in the Mirror), “كنت أميراً” (I was a Prince), “رحلة الغرناطى” (The Journey of the Granadian), “بيروت مدينة العالم” (Beirut City of The World: Three Volumes), and others.
A deep imagery of the amount of pain the 15-years civil war pounded in the hearts of every Lebanese can be genuinely sensed through the amazing storytelling of one person who experienced the brutality of war when he was a little kid… Additionally, the author’s attractive narrative way brilliantly takes the reader beyond the mere visible universe of a little child’s eyes to a more chaotic and painful picture, memories, and dreams of such hectic period…
“مرت السنوات وبيت الذاكرة تكاثرت غرفه… ذكريات جديدة ترقد فوق ذكريات قديمة… طبقة تدفن طبقة”
“كنت صغيراً، والواحد وهو صغير لا يفكر في كل هذه الأشياء. يستقبل العاطفة الجياشة، يستقبل اللمسات الحارة، ويعانق الجسم الذي يعانقه، ولا يسأل نفسه أسئلة كثيرة. يكفيه هذا الحب، هذا الفوران الحلو للعاطفة. هذا الدفئ يكفي. لا يطلب أكثر بينما الأمطار تقع في الخارج، والريح تسمع وهي تضرب شجرة الخوخ عند سكوت القصف. لماذا يطلب أكثر؟”
This probably was my second time ever to read an Arabic novel for a non Egyptian author after Al-Barghoothy’s masterpiece “رأيت رام الله”… I didn’t do it on purpose, but I just didn’t come across one, until Nerro recommended it to me and gave me the book to read (since it wasn’t actually available in Egypt back then)… I must say that I am so thankful she did because this book is a typical page turner one; as soon as you start reading the first few lines; you can’t but continue doing it until its last page…
“الاعترافات” is a pretty touching novel that leaves you stunned with the amount of pains, troubles, and tribulations that such a war can leave in the hearts and mind of those who witness it…
I just loved it!
All the best,
Rou…
02.14.09
From “You’ve got mail” movie…
“People always say that change is a good thing, but what it really means is that something that you didn’t want to happen, has happened!”
“When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does!”
“Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one. It got on at 42nd, and off at 59th, where, I assume it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake – as almost all hats are!”
“The odd thing about this form of communication is that you’re more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings!”
Joe Fox: Sometimes I wonder…
Kathleen Kelly: What?
Joe Fox: If I hadn’t been FoxBooks and you hadn’t been the Shop Around the Corner… and you and I had, just you know, met… Yeah. I would have asked for your phone number and I wouldn’t have been able to wait 24 hours before calling and asking, “How about coffee, drinks, dinner, a movie, for as long as we both shall live?”
Kathleen Kelly: Joe!
Joe Fox: And you and I would have never been at war. And the only things we would’ve fought about would be what video to rent on Saturday night.
Kathleen Kelly: Well, who fights about that?
Joe Fox: Well, some people. Not us.
Kathleen Kelly: We would never.
Joe Fox: …if only!
02.12.09
Euthanasia!
A thread of emails on the topic of Euthanasia started a few days ago on PTP. It so much reminded me of something I wrote back in college time, particularly third year in college… it was merely an assignment in my English Language section that required writing an essay about any argumentative subject… I cannot really recall the reason I chose that particular topic, but I do remember the debate that it caused afterwards in the following section…
And today, reading all those responses to Camel’s questions, I just thought of sharing what I wrote back then with you guys…
I know what you’re thinking of now, how come I still have it…
Well… I am one of those who never let go of any piece of paper they learned something from or wrote something in…
I still have notebooks from school time… J
Anyways, in all cases, please bear with it if it sounded a bit naïve… and remember, it was written some 7 years ago…
Camel, thank you for bringing up the subject…
Have a good day,
Rou…
Euthanasia, commonly known as mercy killing, is a very serious matter that has been a subject of argument for a relatively long time. Some people are with, and for sure, some are against. It has some history that may extend to the mid centuries, especially in Europe. For then, most of the serious diseases and injuries had no cure, and people went to churches for healing, and a large number of cases were to be sentenced to death, just to have mercy on them, and at time, the sick asked for that fate themselves to avoid pain. Nowadays, we have some diseases that cause much pain, and the most famous of all is cancer… and the debate continues…
People who are with the mercy killing, who are mostly scientists, believe that it is only for the sake of man. They believe that people who suffer, ought to have rest. They sometimes take the delegation from the patient while he is still in full conscious to relieve him when the pain starts to be unbearable. Other times the patient’s family or relatives are the ones who ask for this. People who support euthanasia sometimes defend their opinion by saying: why do we permit and accept mercy killing of animals to end their pain, although they cannot decide for themselves, and when it comes to man, we oppose this action, although man does have the ability to make up his mind and decide his actions…
On the other hand, people who are against believe that mercy killing is forbidden, and should never be allowed. They believe that it must be left to God to decide when to take a man’s soul. It is always said that this suffering and pain is nothing but a test from God to know who will bear and be thankful, and we will be crossing lines if we permit euthanasia. They say man has to face his destiny without any interference from other man especially in matters concerning life and death. They say we can do all that we can to treat the illness, or maybe decrease the pain, but people shouldn’t try to go any further by taking the decision of killing. Also, they sometimes say that if a man permits to be killed, he becomes more like committing suicide, and this makes him a sinner…
Personally speaking, I am against mercy killing. As for those who say that it is for the sake of man, I would say that God is merciful, and He sure knows all that happens on earth, and only Him can decide to end a man’s life…
I believe that if God brings us to it, He will bring us through it…
Rehab Ragaee
December 2002
02.09.09
بعد كل ما كان
… ولا يزال وجهك هو ما أبحث عنه…
في كل مكان أقصده…
في كل طريق أسلكه…
في كل حرف أكتبه…
أبحث عنك بين ثنيات الأزمنة و الأماكن…
أنتظرك… وإن طال البعاد…
أنتظرك… و أبحث عن ملامحك بين كل الوجوه…
أفتش عن إبتسامتك بين كل الضحكات من حولي…
أشتاق لصمتك وسط حياتي الصاخبة…
وأخاف أن أبوح لنفسي بمكنونها… أني لازلت أحبك… بعد كل ما كان…
كم أشعر بالغضب من قلبي الأحمق… ألم يكتفي من جراحه…؟
عقلي يرفض مجرد التفكير فيك بينما قلبي يدمي من إشتياقه إليك…
تباً لإحساسي بك… يذوب تاركاً إياي فريسة للبؤس والشقاء ينهشاني…
أكره حنيني إليك… أفقدني حتى قدرتي على الإحتفاظ بالبسمة فوق شفتاي لأكثر من دقائق معدودة…
تتكدس المتناقضات بداخلي و أفقد السيطرة على أحاسيسي و أفكاري…
أهرب منك إليك…
في محاولات مستميتة للبحث عن حل خيالي… يعالج مشكلتي مع الحياة… و معك…
رحاب رجائي
في 9 فبراير 2009
02.04.09
Blessed…
How many times have I thought of how lucky I am for having met someone like him in my life, and not only coming across him; it’s more of being a close friend to someone like him…
Do you know those people whom you meet only once in your lifetime…? Those unique people whom knowing them is a privilege in itself, those who never cease to leave footprints on the hearts of anyone they pass by their lives…?
He’s one of those exceptional people…
Every time we meet or talk, a flow of excessive happiness seems to invade all those who are around… and it makes me wonder, how one person can have the ability to give such energy and spread this sunshine in the hearts of everybody surrounding him… ?!
I am blessed for having him in my life… and am thankful for this gift… May I always be able to keep him as a lifetime friend…
Rou…
02.03.09
!أما أعدائي فأنا كفيل بهم
من كام يوم كان فيلم المصير بيتعرض في التلفزيون… أنا شفته قبل كدة كتير، بس مش عارفة ليه المرة دي كانت أول مرة آخد بالي من جملة قالها نور الشريف في أواخر الفيلم بتقول: “… لما صديق بيتقلب على صديق بيبقى أشرس من ألد عدو… كأنه بياخد بتار الأيام اللي حبك فيها…“
فكرتني الجملة دي قوي بحكاية شفتها بعنيا من كام سنة بين إتنين كانوا أكتر شوية من أعز أصحاب… لحد ما إشتغلوا مع بعض في مكان واحد… و بين يوم و ليلة بقوا بيتنافسوا في الشغل على كل صغيرة و كبيرة… و المنافسة قلبت بنفسنة… و النفسنة بقت أسافين… و في يوم إتحولوا من أعز أصحاب لأعدى أعداء…
معرفش هل هم أصلاً ماكانوش صادقين في صداقتهم، و لا هي الحياة فعلاُ ممكن تحول اللي كان صاحبك إمبارح لعدوك بكرة…؟
لما إفتكرت القصة دي لقيت نفسي بتمتم دعاء كنت بسمعه زمان كتير وأنا صغيرة بيقول: “اللهم إكفني شر أصدقائي… أما أعدائي فأنا كفيل بهم“
بس بعدها لقيت نفسي بدعي ربنا إنه يديم علي نعمة حبي لأصدقائي وحبهم ليا… وإنه يجعلنا دايماً سند لبعضنا وقت الشدة، مش ضعف لبعض…
اللهم آمين!
رحاب رجائي
في 2 فبراير 2009
02.01.09
………..and then they speak!
“Since light travels faster than sound, people appear bright until you hear them speak!” *
How many times have you come across those who look amazing, while you cannot endure spending 5 minutes of talk with them, because the moment they start talking you sense the amount of nonsense they utter!
Well… For years, I have been facing such people on almost a daily basis. However, lately this didn’t seem to be bothering me as much as almost its contrary does…
Do you know those who think of themselves “know-it-all” kinds of persons… those who have had little knowledge from several fields, and are intelligent enough to mix all this together and keep talking and manipulating words all the time…? Those who might get you impressed with their first talk… a little bored with their second, a little offended in their third, only to realize the amount of bullshit they say (excuse my language) in the forth…
But this is not all, see, I am usually not much into those who ALWAYS know exactly what to say in what time… those who never do a mistake… those who think of every word, every gesture, every smile… those who think of every single thing before doing it… I just feel then I am dealing with non alive robots…
And then again, knowing what to say, and saying it in a presentable and good manner doesn’t necessarily mean they do actually believe in what they say or act accordingly… Some people are just good talkers by nature… no more nor less…and as Buddha once said: “Just because a man is a good talker, doesn’t make him a good man, and just because a dog is a good barker, does not make him a good dog!”…
Anyways, have a good day!
Rou…
* I do not know to whom this quote is attributed to, but it is a must to say that I came across it through the msn status of a friend!
