JA: I recently attended a Writers Festival with several international writers coming from interesting backgrounds and experiences. There was the voice of the immigrant refugee poet from Netherlands and the political commentator from Egypt.
Mr OWO: Anything special you learned?
JA: Certainly. The political commentator named Abeer Soliman was an attractive single lady who expressed her disappointment at being the subject of sexual harassment wherever she went during the time of governance by President Mubarak. It was an oppressive regime and the behavior of the people reflected negative values in the kind of treatment and comments she had received. Following the departure of President Mubarak, there was an air of lightness. There was a greater sense of equality and fair treatment for women.
Mr OWO: That is an interesting observation. The progressiveness of a government has a direct impact on how people behaved. That an oppressive government brings about the effects of negative behavior. So, it is important for the people of a country to take responsibility in voting at any general elections instead of echoing indifference. What about the poet?
JA: The poet viewed life as one which he felt should not be made too complicated. His inspiration for his writings came from his surroundings in particular nature. When he sat and observed the waves in the ocean, he could write about love because of how each wave would merge with the next…
Mr OWO: That again is another very interesting observation – how each person can perceive life differently and be able to produce positive outcomes from the commonest of things.
