See and be seen know and be known It’s the game of society we play Run like a champ avoid the chimps A few tips for sounding intelligent When someone says something, nod ever so slightly, as if you’re agreeing, then stop as if you’re disagreeing. A subtle frown might add to the effect. When someone mentions the “government,” look distressed and say “1984.” Quote Oscar Wilde whenever someone talks about literature.

Last night I, along with bloggers Ayesha Saldanhaand Deonna Kelli Sayed, was invited to participate in a special Elhamevent regarding the role of blogging in cultural development, with particular emphasis on the literary aspect of online writing. I read several of my posts and answered some very interesting questions from the attendees. This was my second Elham participation (I participated in the first Elham gathering in November of last year.) As usual, Deonna Kelli Sayed, Phoebe Boswell,Al Riwaq Galleryand of course Ali Al Saeed(who unfortunately couldn’t make it as he was abroad,) did a wonderful job of organizing it.

And so she is. Some countries are not unlike a bashful debutante. It seems that in the midst of a technological storm that’s bridging people, cultures and countries; some governments are all frets over people discussing, opinionating, debating, and shredding to bits the actions (including follies) of politicians and the like. You could almost hear certain quarters of governments say, “Oh, why would anyone want to speak in a popular and benevolent manner of such matters as rights, freedoms, conspiracies and other such fancies?

_Listen to podcast: _ [audio:lfdpc1.mp3] Transcript: While research suggests that people are connected to one another within six degrees of separation worldwide, one of the charms of a small island country like ours is that everyone on it seems to be connected within a degree or two at the most. Such closeness of relation in large cities or countries provides for happy coincedences, perhaps even serendipitous encounters. Yet in Bahrain finding out that for instance a certain stranger in a restaurant happens to be a friend of a friend does not call for celebration.

…brain. It was revealedthat President Bush read Albert Camus’ The Stranger during summer._ _ According to research, people believe a person can be judged by the book he’s hogging around. In fact, Bush’s handling of Camus’ intellectual classic categorizes him as a reader of “literary fiction”. Which means he’s likely to be well-educated and smart. It’s also slightly disconcerting as MoorishGirl explains: A novel about a Frenchman who kills a nameless Arab for no discernible reason, by an author who once said of the brutal French occupation of Algeria: “Je crois àla justice, mais je défendrai ma mère avant la justice.

From NPR: The Miami-Dade school board seeks to ban a book on Cuba, saying its portrait of life there is overly positive. A federal judge has ordered Vamos a Cuba back on school library shelves while the district fights a lawsuit aimed at keeping the book available.

For some it seems that life is more about conspiring rather than inspiring. It’s more about the see and be seen. To them life is about everything and nothing. It is do all and be none. Such people are quick to dismiss one thing for another. Lemmings in their ways, they follow each other, gesticulating, masticating and fornicating according to the edicts of OK! “The stars have no meaning, no meaning at all to those people,” the sage said.

Many of us have come across individuals that distance themselves from the truth so much so that it seems quite absurd. I wrote the following after encountering such an individual a few years ago. It was a bit long-winded, so I’ve revised it and cut it short. Read it if you will. As always, comments welcome. A most strange occurrence in societies treading the almost always painful path to freedom and self-determination is the constant presence of the reductionist.