This is not meant to be an academic thesis or an insightful analysis, nor is this meant to serve as a public display of rage. This article does not serve to debase Mona Eltahawy as an individual nor should it be read as an attack against the fundamental human rights she claims to defend. Rather, this article will hopefully encourage you to think, consider, question, and critique the ideas you are introduced to and the strategies by which these ideas propagate. The air needs to be cleared up.

I will admit, I was skeptical of the glorious Tunisian revolution at first. In complete ignorance, I viewed the uprising as another ill-fated attempt to remove a dictator destined to preside over Tunisia for however long he pleases. Then came the news that Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his regime had fallen. In utter disbelief, I watched as the Egyptian people seized the moment, capitalized on the momentum, and brought Hosni Mubarak and his brutal regime down as well. But the only question I could ask during this peaceful revolution was, “Who is this Mona Eltahawy and why is she flooding my Twitter newsfeed?”

As it turns out, Eltahawy is the self-proclaimed voice of the Egyptian people. She’s also the voice for women, laborers, children, Africans, Palestinians, the poor, the needy, the hungry, the sad, and virtually everyone else who happens to experience some sort of negative social pressure. In all honesty, defending the dignity and rights of anyone and everyone really is an admirable and righteous endeavor – but only if done for the right reasons. And while Eltahawy carries a big heart and focuses on relevant social issues that need to be addressed and corrected, I can’t find it within me to look favorably upon the work that she does and the way she goes about doing it. [Read more...]