War in the land of Egypt

I really enjoyed Ashley's professor coming to visit our class. He is an interesting man! Hearing about his stories from his past really put how life was for him in perspective. I can't imagine making 16 dollars a month!!! Hearing about his stories straight from someone who experienced stuff that we have been reading about  makes what is happening in the Middle East all the more real to me. Some of stuff we read in papers of books sounds so unreal but when you are hearing it right from someone it happened to.. it makes it easier to believe. I really enjoyed having him in our class, thanks Ashley!

As for the book War in the Land of Egypt.. I really enjoyed this as well. I LOVED the way it was written. It gave me a better idea not only of who each character was and his stance but knowing the story from all perspectives gave me a better idea of what was happening in the story. As Ashley's teacher pointed out, the title War in the land of Egypt was not talking about an actual war what so ever. It was talking about how corrupt Egypt is and the small wars that are fought there everyday by the people of Egypt against the government, higher officials, or mayors.  This was extremely symbolic! He also pointed out that Masri does not get his own chapter in the  book and he is the main character. This is symbolic as well because it reflects that Masri is not exactly given a voice in the book at all, not only because he doesn't get a chance to tell the story in the book but because he is not given choices about majority of the things that happened to him in his life. When the Umda wanted him to go to war for his son, his father was the one who made the decision and Masri was not allowed to make his own choice. I believed this was symbolized by him not being given a chapter in the book very well. The book really made me think about pride and honor. Should Masri just be honored in his own mind because he died and went to heaven for his country, or will Masri only be honored if it is HIS name on that tombstone and everyone knows that he was the one who died for his country, not the umda's son. Is honor about everyone knowing or just for the pure satisfaction of the person whom did something heroic. I think this all depends on the person. Some people need the satisfaction of people knowing the great, heroic task they completed, others don't like people knowing their heroic acts and would rather keep it a secret. Which person are  you??