Mediocrity from the Outside

Dear Editor,

I'm an irregular reader of the Daily Star although I can see myself picking it up on a daily basis. But it's articles like the one titled "Moulid Sayeda Zeinab: a birthday to remember" (http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=15438) that makes me hesistant about the depth of your stories and focus.

Written by Michaela Singer, the article begins by giving me a hazy idea of the Moulid, mixing different stories together (of what use is it that Ali Ibn Abi Talib is--according to the Shia sect--relevant to an article written on Moulid, where distinction of Shi'ism and Sunni Islam doesn't make itself this clear?)

The quotes taken make me think that perhpas the journalist was unable to deal with the frenzy at the Moulid and was subsequently unable to retrieve instering quotes or conversations. I was there at the Moulid on the Leila Kebira, and the flurry of people who were willing to talk to my colleagues (who had a videocamera taping everyone) was encouraging.

Also, the room for personal voice has become, especially in this article, nauseating because it feels like there remains this cynical sarcastic individual who belittles the complexities and intricacies of the Moulid. I myself was annoyed by the imposed descriptions ("one scene doomed to stay in my memory" or the "Mould is a mass birthday party").

This article should be reworked with commitment and poise. And if not for that, wrapping up an article by saying that "these people live under an edifying wave of chronic poverty and Sufi moulids offer some brief respite" remains shallow, simplistic, and repetitive. Has it become the saving grace of a journalist or writer to end with over-arching statements that leave their readers equally flustered and confused?

Please relay this email to the author of the article and feel free to give her my contacts if she so wishes.

All my best,
Baby Kangaroo