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First Edition Design Publishing - Edward Shafik

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234 pages

English

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The Arab Spring is a political thriller about the fall of previous Autocrats like Mubarak of Egypt, Qaddafi of Libya, Al Abadeen of Tunis. The world watched in wonder and great expectation of democracy. Unfortunately the well organized and militant Muslim Brotherhood filled the political vacuum and took full control using violence, terror and killings of the opposition.

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Political

Politics

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Publié par	First Edition Design Publishing
Date de parution	12 septembre 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781622873982
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0420€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

The Arab Spring, Fools Paradise, Part Two
Edward Shafik

First Edition Design Publishing
The Arab Spring
Fools Paradise, Part Two
Copyright ©2013 Edward Shafik
ISBN 978-1622-873-98-2 EBOOK

August 2013

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com

ALL R I G H T S R E S E R V E D. No p a r t o f t h i s b oo k pub li ca t i o n m a y b e r e p r o du ce d, s t o r e d i n a r e t r i e v a l s y s t e m , o r t r a n s mit t e d i n a ny f o r m o r by a ny m e a ns ─ e l e c t r o n i c , m e c h a n i c a l , p h o t o - c o p y , r ec o r d i n g, or a ny o t h e r ─ e x ce pt b r i e f qu ot a t i o n i n r e v i e w s , w i t h o ut t h e p r i o r p e r mi ss i on o f t h e a u t h o r or publisher .
The Arab Spring Foreword
The Arab Spring is an interpretation of current events outlining relations among the nations--particularly, political and religious trends between the United States and the Middle East. This summary, told through the lens of the intertwining stories of fictional yet relatable characters, will offer insight regardless of the reader’s affiliations.
The author, Edward Shafik, currently resides in Baltimore, MD, and is originally from Alexandria, Egypt. Although he has called the United States home for over 35 years, he can offer a primary account of the political and religious climate both here and there. In The Arab Spring novel, you could almost feel Mr. Shafik’s heartbeat and fast pulse as in August 2012 his beloved Egypt revolution was stolen by the Muslim Brotherhood and the bloody autocrat Morsi became President.
While I go about my day, The Arab Spring, along with the author’s other published works, including Paradise Regained and The Execution of Bin Laden , have helped me to better understand my own faith and to acknowledge some of the privileges I took for granted. I have been privileged to know the author as a man of faith, that faith he boldly proclaims in novels that would be translated to Arabic.
The accounts of the characters in The Arab Spring offer a face and a name to the vague newsreels that have become a part of our mundane daily routine. I found myself able to identify with the character Nermin Iskander as a juggler attempting to balance the demands of her career, her family, and her love life. I’m certain she will resonate with many readers.
Reading the The Arab Spring will offer both an emotional and personal investment of the current events that still makes the headlines news all over the world. As a seasoned writer and poet, Mr. Shafik transfers the readers inside Tahrir Square in Cairo to live the aspirations and pain of a great civilization fighting radical Islam to stay a democratic society in which twenty million Christians and seventy million Muslims could live in peace and harmony in the eternal mind of time.
The Arab Spring , definitely a page turner, is Part Two of Shafik’s Fool’s Paradise Trilogy with several memorable characters that will make readers cry, laugh, and fall in love with those simple folks by the River Nile. The Arab Spring reminds me of Gone with the Wind, in which Margaret Mitchel painted a masterpiece of American Civil War events. I was intrigued by the political and social climate into which Mr. Shafik beamed me, comprised of people uprising against tyranny.

Alicia Campbell, PA
A woman of Faith,
Baltimore, MD, USA.
Preface
Writing a sequel of a political thriller novel is like building many floors on top of the existing building. Pouring the foundation and seeing the framework fleshed out with exterior and interior work is exhausting but also is thrilling and rewarding as the novel take form and become a living thing. Since all the characters and events were developed in the first part, continuing writing as riots and protests were brewing in Egypt’s squares was a challenge, and it seemed that my homeland was heading to a bleak, bloody future as the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule became the worst nightmare for the people.
The Arab Spring became the darkest and coldest winter not only for Egypt but also for Tunis, Libya, Syria, Iraq and Sudan. The radical fascist Muslim groups empowered by arms and billions of dollars spread like a wildfire that burned and destroyed everything that opposed their agenda to rule, control, and destroy.
Surprises never end as the political events change by the hour, and the masters of the universe at the White House and the European Union change their strategies. While they preach human rights and democracy, they are blind to thirty-three million Egyptians marching in public protest against Morsi regime. When the Army supported the public outcry against the Muslim Brotherhood and disposed of Morsi, CNN was fast to call it a coup and in similar tone, Senators McCain and Graham visited Cairo and threatened to cut the American aid stipulated in the Camp David Accord between Israel and Egypt. They treated seven thousand years proud civilization as a street beggar wanting Uncle Sam’s dollars.
While writing this part, I watched the news on both worlds, east and west, and I had firsthand knowledge of how the media manipulated the events to mislead the American public on the failure of the American policy in the Middle East. The U.S. as the leader of the free world has supported the most repressive Arab regimes of the modern history. It saddens me as a loyal naturalized citizen to see Egypt hate America and drift toward Russia and China, who understand the daily needs of the man in the street like food, shelter, safety, freedom, and a better future for his children. Is this too much to ask? Why should America’s interests conflict with the aspirations of the poor people in the Third World?

Yours in Christ
Edward Shafik
Acknowledgments
To have the fruits, you must plant the roots.
If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes editors, artist, writers, and publishers to produce a book. I would like to acknowledge the invaluable help of the following:

John Leatherman, my editor, whose mastery of prose strengthened the book immensely. Despite his business and family obligations he remained faithful and trustworthy.

Debi Gordon of First Edition Design Publishing, who been by my side every step of writing my three novels. She is a positive force that contributed to the cover design, web site launching and maintenance.

Kelly Abell: A Selectografix artist who designed the book cover and honored my several requests. Kelly also created a lovely poster for my web site. She is also marketing my books through the Selectografix network in the social media.

Sid Lewis: A dear brother from Mountain Christian Church who celebrated his 85 th Birthday this month and helped in proofreading a few chapters at my call.

My Family: My wife Nawal, my daughter Christina, son John, son-in-law Paul, daughter–in-law Alicia. and my pride and joy, the three lovely grandkids, Hannah, Anthony, and Mira. Their love is what empowers my writing journey.
Chapter 1
The last count of Prince Naseem’s fortune exceeded twenty-five billion. Most accounts considered him the richest man in Arabia and the Middle East. He could bid on a billion-dollar deal without flinching, but a hard knot wrenched his stomach as he prepared to meet his dead cousin’s family. He paced his office floor, his gaze darting from the oil paintings on the wall to the sliding patio doors and then again to the grandfather clock pendulum dancing left and right. He rehearsed several words of comfort for his cousin’s widow, Princess Carmen, sixteen-year-old daughter Misha, and eleven-year-old son, Tarak. Prince Assad, Arabia’s Ambassador to London, also was present to offer his sympathy.
At the appointed time, Naseem, Assad, and Tony, the hotel’s general manager, stood by their suite’s door. Young Tarak opened the door and throws his arms around Naseem, who hugged him and wiped his tears. Princess Carmen and Misha sat on the sofa with bloodshot eyes, silent and motionless.
Naseem lowered Tarak to the sofa and sat next to Carmen, reaching for her hand. His rehearsed words vaporized in the heat of the moment. Assad the diplomat mumbled a few words and kissed the widow and Misha on the cheeks. Naseem embraced Carmen, stroked her long, silky hair, and finally recovered his voice. “My dear, dear Carmen, I’m so sorry, what a terrible tragedy.”
“Baba is dead, Uncle Naseem.” Tarak whimpered.
“I know, Tarak. You’re a son to me, I’ll never leave you . . .”
Tarak rubbed his neck. “How about Mama and .Misha?”
Naseem gently ruffled Tarak’s black hair, and then gazed at Carmen. “They are my family too. We are flying to Arabia in three hours. Princess Carmen, I feel for your loss. Fayed were my cousin, a brother, and close friend. I want to cry and mourn him too—not here, but in our homeland among our people. We’ll say he died of a massive heart attack. We’ll have a big funeral. Misha and Tarak will always remember their father died like a soldier, with dignity and honor.”
Prince Assad embraced Misha. “Remember what Uncle Naseem said. Your Baba died of a heart attack. Do you understand, Habibty ? ”
Misha silently nodded. She looked at her mother, who seemed unresponsive.
They moved to the dining room, where Tony’s staff served breakfast. Carmen and Misha barely touched the food. They drank only hot tea. Naseem whispered in Tony’s ear to order a high-energy smoothie. Within five minutes, strawberry drinks came topped with whipped cream, nuts, and cherries.
“Ladies, this is my favorite drink. It’ll hold you for the journey. Please drink it.”
Misha took one sip and like it. “Try it, Mama, it’s very tasty and rich. You almost need a spoon.”
Carmen nodded and tasted the first spoonful. She continued, and Naseem let out a sigh. Tarak behaved like a young man; he finished his meal and then the smoothie.