Justice minister, DGA chief discuss partnership to boost digital judicial services    Netanyahu does not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders    US farmers are being squeezed – and it's testing their deep loyalty to Trump    Romania condemns 'irresponsible' Moscow after Russian drone breaches its airspace    Kirk's assassination is forcing US politicians to make difficult choices about their safety    India players refused handshakes, says Pakistan coach    Final stage of Spanish Vuelta cycling race abandoned after disruption by pro-Palestine protesters    Mané fires Al Nassr past Al Kholood to keep perfect start as Ronaldo honored    Lacazette brace earns NEOM SC first Saudi Pro League win    Adolescence star Owen Cooper makes Emmys history at 15    Saudi liquidity grows 8.4%, reaching SR3.1 trillion in July 2025    Over 434,000 people acquire first aid skills during nationwide health campaign    Saudi Arabia's legislative advancement highlighted at International Conference on Judicial Training    Sudden swerving among 3 major causes of accidents in Riyadh in 2024    Princess Haifa emphasizes pivotal Saudi role in shaping future of tourism    Sahm Capital names Saudi Olympian Fayik Abdi as brand ambassador    SR9000 fine for copyright infringement using AI    King Charles and Prince Harry finally reunite after 19 months apart    Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times    Thousands pay their last respects to Giorgio Armani, private funeral on Monday    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Incomplete sentences and defective verbs
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 02 - 2013


ABDEL LATIF EL-MENAWY
Al Arabiya
Any success is linked to the completion of an action and any partial success is also partial, and sometimes total, failure. Any incomplete sentence is a defective one, for no matter how eloquent, it remains unable to convey the intended meaning and becomes like good intentions with which the road to hell is paved.
We have been in the habit in Egypt of not completing our sentences both on the personal and the public levels. We start in an impressive manner then become unable to continue with the same force. The outcome, thus, becomes contingent upon external factors, for we initiated an action but did not pursue it and we uttered a sentence but did not complete it.
The idea of incomplete sentences has been haunting me for a while, especially as I followed the developments in the Egyptian street and the opposition in the past few months. That led me to reread something I had written 10 years ago about the same habit that is deeply-rooted in us.
We have been in the habit of not completing our actions since the toppling of the former regime; for the regime was toppled but the habit stayed. That is why we were easy “prey” for the only organized faction at the time, which was one which had one single and clear aim: monopoly of power. This group took advantage of that habit and our inability to finish what we had started and of how easy it is to get us distracted. They did that first with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which was unable to complete the action despite the good intentions of most of its members. This is what led us to where we are today.
Youths are also guilty of the same habit, for they were led in the wrong direction when they unconsciously became a tool in the hands of this group and gave in to the group's attempt to create a rift between them and the army that constituted the last fortress. When youths started waking up to the trap into which they and all of us had fallen, they stopped taking positive actions and retreated once again behind their computer screens.
The same applies to civilian and liberal forces whose incomplete actions and hesitant stances have become obvious in the past few months. They start with full force and absolute enthusiasm then withdraw and become unable to complete the action. The recent protests that were staged in front of the presidential palace in Cairo are what have brought back the idea of incomplete sentences.
The anger that prevailed in these protests and the escalation that followed demonstrated beyond doubt that power is to the people and that the people are the actual decision-makers. Yet, this massive wave was broken on the rock of reluctance and lack of determination as civilian powers suddenly decided to pull back in a confusing and suspicious manner. Those powers are now giving the impression that they are willing to offer concessions, but the dispute is over the degree and type of those concessions. Here, the sentence is incomplete and the verb is defective once more. Yet, this time there is a benefit gained, because the street has now proved that it is capable of outdoing the factions that claim to be its leaders.
— Abdel Latif El-Menawy is an author, columnist and multimedia journalist who has covered conflicts around the world. He can be found on Twitter @ALMenawy


Clic here to read the story from its source.