Samples of Nafisa Elsed’s writings

(Pen name: Nafissa Assed)

Anthony Bourdain's trip to Monday, May 20, 2013

By Nafissa Assed

"I’ve made a lot of hours of television over the years, but I think I’m proudest of Sunday’s Libya episode. I believe it is the best piece of work I’ve ever been part of." - Anthony Bourdain "When you stood in Gaddafi’s body, any dream can be true"! Akram said to Anthony Bourdain, showing a real positive and great attitude coming from a real free Libyan. Anthony Burdain is an American , author and television personality, who hosts a CNN show called Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. The latest episode of Anthony’s show was about Libya's post revolutionary and life. Anthony's episode brought bittersweet tears over my face. He visited almost every place I love in Tripoli. His visit to “Barakoda” restaurant reminded me of the lovely meeting I had with Michel Cousins and Sami Zaptia (Co-founders of Libya Herald newspaper), and the ambassador of Thailand. His delicious "Sfinz" in Fashloom took me to my nearby neighborhood “Ben Ashour”. His trip to Libya exposed the worst and the craziest sides as well as some the greatest and best sides of Libya and Libyans. He looked at the country through personal stories of simple Libyans. Libya, once home to the Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, and even the famous pirate Barbarossa, is today forming a new public space as a result of the exposure of Libyan youth to media and technology. Although he didn't give much focus on the Libyan cuisine and how Libyans are always proud of their heritage, and traditions, he showed that Libya’s younger generations desire to adopt new behaviors, modern and more westernized way of life to feel their freedom when it comes to food. Libyans want to have a revolutionary , something like “Uncle Kin tacky”, a disconcerted rip-off of Kentucky Fried Chicken! Despite the fact that fast food idea is facing an increasing resistance in the United States, due to the rampant obesity it causes in the American society, Libyans look at fast food as a great fruit of Western style democracy. American fast food chains were not permitted in Libya under Gaddafi’s four decades of dictatorship, but all that’s changed since his ouster in 2011. Before the Arab Spring hit Libya, this county was badly associated with a madman named Gaddafi and his coldblooded crimes nationally and internationally. In the past four decades, Gaddafi’s forging friendship with the world was a doormat on which he wiped off the blood of his inhuman crimes. Today, when you visit Libya, you will see that Gaddafi’s face doesn’t worth more than a doormat on which Libyans and tourists can come and clean their shoes on.

Although Libyans are still far from attaining all that they are aiming for, the challenges to face, and the rowdy militias to tame, Anthony showed that there is still joy everywhere. He showed the heart of Libya: Lanterns flying all over Martyr Square, local band playing Zukra music on Mawlid day (The birthday of Prophet Mohamed), people smiling with hope and excitement regardless of the challenges ahead of Libya and Libyans. Each Libyan has his own vision of a prosperous Libya. However, even the simplest vision, like having fast food stops in Libya, may not come true if our hearts are not united for the love of Libya. When we devote ourselves to work, develop ourselves and fight together the enemies who are trying to drag Libya into the darkness, that’s when we will see the Libya we've always dreamed of and say Gaddafi really died.

Chicago vigil honours Ambassador Chris Stevens By Nafissa Assed Chicago, 16 September The Chicago office of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), along with members of the Chicago Libyan community, Syrian American Council Chicago, MAS (Muslim American Society), Zakat Foundation, and AMP (American Muslims for Palestine), held a candlelight vigil on Friday to honour Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The vigil took place in Michigan Avenue, a major street in Chicago. The vigil was a condemnation of the vicious violence that left the ambassador as well as three Americans dead and others, including Libyan security staff, wounded. The vigil also supported all Muslims, Christians and Jews who peacefully denounced bigotry that taints the Prophet Muhammad. Many Libyans, Syrians, Americans and others of different nationalities gathered in a deep sense of sadness and anger, raising the American flag, lighting candles and carrying slogans expressing grief for the attack on the US mission in Benghazi and emphasizing the message that humanity, Libyans and reject any assault against innocent people.Three Libyan activists — Sarah Burshan, Sanad Elfirjani and Amin Moftah Elfitori — as well as Ammar Sunbilli, a member of the Syrian American Council Chicago, Ahmed Rehab, a member of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, along with a former American marine, Vince Perritano, spoke from the top of a stone bench condemning the attack but stressing that Americans do not blame Libyans for the it and the murder of the American ambassador. On the contrary, they said, Americans need Libyan people to show the world that Islam is a religion of peace but they want the Libyan government to take serious action to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice. “The American people don’t need an apology from the people of Libya because this was an attack by a small savage group that doesn’t represent the people of Libya”, Perritano said. The event was concluded by a beautiful song for peace performance by a 10 year-old Syrian girl named Lana. Source of article: Libya Herald Newspaper: http://www.libyaherald.com/2012/09/16/candlelight-vigil-in-honor-of-ambassador-chris-stevens-in- chicago/ The Libyan Blogger: http://nafissa82.blogspot.com/ Check more of Nafissa Assed writings on Libya Herald website and her blog: The Libyan Blogger.