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 Re: وها قد كبرت هدير وصارت على أبواب العشرين!!! (Re: Yasir Elsharif)
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تعليقات الشرق الأوسط قبل 14 سنة:
May، «USA»، 22/01/2004
Hello,
Such a sweet and honest article. I am like Hadeer. When I was in my original Arab country people around me tended to make me feel less than ordinary. Now I live in the US and I married a German guy. My husband who is quite white, and handsome thinks he is too pale, his blond hair is too straight and to him as well as to many around me I am so beautiful. I know now who I am and I am enjoying it. What’s more I created a skincare company and women in this country love how I look and what I represent. I agree we are such a uni-lateral stereotypic culture when it comes to beauty and female ideal looks. Thanks for such a sweet and truly uplifting article
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H.A، «Zurich»، 22/01/2004
Dear Mamom Fandi,
First I would like to apologize for writing this in English, but I'm at work and we don't have an Arabic key board.
I thought your article about Hadeer was GREAT. It's a about high time someone tackles this issue. Being "Black" myself and with "afro" hair I know exactly how it feels and how it is to be living in an Arab country where all the TV channels ONLY seem to show "White, blonde, and blue eyed" Arabs!
My mother is a black Egyptian and my father was Sudanese. I grew up in Bahrain and that's what my nationality now is. Growing up as a "black" girl in school was NEVER easy. I was bulled in a very discreet way even by the teachers. In actual fact, I was the ONLY "black" girl in my school.
I remember, the girls who were lighter then me, but who were still not "black" used to use the "Fair and Lovely' whitening cream! I mean hoenstly, have you seen the ads for whieting creams on Arab TV؟ they really make the young generation think, that the ONLY way you will ever get married is if you are as white as snow! It's horrible. I was and still am very offended by such advertisments.
I think the worst though was going out on the weekends. My god, the comments I used to get from the boys mostly. I was often referred to as "the slave" or the "monster". You can just imagine what comments like that did to me. Having said that, I managed not to take it personally. My parents were well off enough for us to be able to travel over summer. We went to London and to France very often. and for me that was HEAVEN. People here in Europe (Well the ones I've met so far) "appreciate black beauty" as I was once told. I walked down the road and people used to stop my mother and ask if they could take a picture. I guess I was cute when I was younger!!
Then I grew up and went to University in London and I was happy to leave Bahrain and the Arab world behind. I spent 6 years in London and not once did I feel "different" or ashamed of being "Black". I became more proud then ever. Going home over the holidays was GREAT. I didn't care about people's opinions or comments anymore and for the first time I was able to comment and "fight" back.
I'm now married to a "Muslim German" and we are living in Zurich, Switzerland. Ok, the Swiss are also a little racist but somehow they are more afraid and more "civil" about expressing there true feelings about "coloured" people.
All I really wanted to say, is thank you for brining this topic to the public. I'm sure "Hadeer" is beautiful and I'm sure she will grow up, just like me, loving who she is and how she looks. Wasn't it our prophet (peace be upon him) who said that there is no difference between an Arab, a foreigner expect by the degree of fearing Allah and by hard work (sorry I don't know the EXACT translation). He never mentioned anything about colour did he؟!
Arabs need to start embracing the fact that we are a truely great nation with different people. And that's what makes us great.
Thanks again.
H.A
صفاء فيصل ، «لندن - إنجلترا »، 22/01/2004
عزيزي الدكتور مأمون فندي:
أعجبني للغاية هذا المقال الرشيق الذي يتحدث عن قضية مهمة للغاية في حياتنا في أسلوب جذاب ومثير. ابنتي مريم في الخامسة من عمرها وهي الوحيدة في صفها ببشرة سمراء وشعر كت كت. سألتني يوميا لماذا هي كذلك؟ سألتها عن السيدة التي تجلها كثيرا مديرة المدرسة "الشخصية المهمة جدا" التي تحاضرها مرة في الأسبوع عن الحياة والعلم والجمال وأشياء كثيرة فقالت لي هي أسمر مني وشعرها أوحش مني بس بتقول كلام جميل !
أعتقد أن المستقبل لمريم وهدير وكل البنات الذكيات أمثالهن في العالم العربي وغدا سيكون لهن. عندي يقين من ذلك.
لك أجمل تحياتي ولهدير الصعيدية الجميلة كل الحب. صفاء
Ala، «USA»، 22/01/2004
(Please translate to Arabic)
God bless you dear Mamoun
I am a Sudanese with two kids. We live in the USA as well.
Sarah is 11 years old and I got the impression that she looks like Hadeer.
Beautiful, graceful and very smart.
She too has been looking for some one who looks like her on the Arabic dish.
But to no avail.
I too feel sometimes, the same way you felt when you Hadeer said “she is black and her hair is stiff”.
My wife and I have always discussed the beauty standard and culture that these channels are trying to portray.
It does not look like us at all, and I am glad to read your story just to know not just us the Sudanese.
Regards
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Yasir Elsharif
فيس بوك
تويتر
انستقرام
يوتيوب
بنتيريست