stand and deliver!

I really don't like history. I had been avoiding it these last three years. But it's about time I enrolled, I need it to graduate. The history class I've been taking here is called "The Making of the Modern Arab World." I still don't like history, but I've learned so much. I didn't know squat about the Arab world, now I almost know it all (since 1800). Well, for this class we had two separate role play projects. One last month on the marriage and divorce laws in Egypt in 1929. And another this past week about Sayyid Qutb and the Muslim Brotherhood in 1966. For the role play this last week my role was as a defense lawyer (there were 4 total) for Sayyid Qutb. It was rough! This guy was radical and executed when he was put on trial back then. He was accused of inciting violence and falsely interpreting Islam for devious purposes. Apparently he was against Nasser and had encouraged his followers to assassinate him. For both role plays, I had to dress up like a man. Not a big deal. I had to make a speech of closing arguments yesterday. I was pretty nervous but thanks to that beginning acting class freshman year, I delivered the speech with power. Unfortunately, not enough to save Sayyid Qutb's life this time around. The defense team wasn't as strong as the prosecution. Maybe I was the only one taking it really seriously, I mean, I wanted to win this thing (not to mention the tiny amount of extra credit we would get for "winning" the case). Our witnesses were bland and a one of the lawyers was really hard to understand, I'm not even sure if he knew what was going on. We just told him what questions to ask the witnesses.

Story time:

Flashback to freshman year in high school. What was that class called? Civics? Civic Government? Civil something law? I have no idea, Civics we'll call it. I was assigned a similar position. One (of two) defense lawyers for Scott Free, accused of breaking into something... I can't remember too well. I'm not sure if it was vandalizing or murder. It was that time in my life where I argued everything and would not stop until I was right. I would twist words and argue until I won. Momma and Papa told me I should be a lawyer. (I still have this tendency, of course). Well, I was a lawyer for that case. No one knew if he was guilty or not. But in that role play the jury declared him not guilty! Turns out, Scott Free got off scott free and was actually guilty on all counts. I was the hero for winning that one!! I smile thinking about it. It was super exciting, but those feelings didn't happen again yesterday, like I had hoped they would. It's whatever (hahaha) because I'm so so so so so glad the role play is over. Ugh!!

After the role play I finished an 8 page research paper for anthropology and started and completed an 8 page literature paper. I am totally beat. Except, today both of my classes got out at least half an hour early. I guess that means it's the end of the year. (as if the papers and finals didn't give it away). Two weeks from now I will be done with all the papers and finals and will keep myself busy with packing and sorting out all of my junk! HAPPY WEEKEND (for me)!! I love you like craaaYYzaaaYY.

I had a mustache drawn on but a friend said I looked manly enough without it. I left some sweet sideburns though. I also had the mustache for the first day of the trial, not the second.

:{ (->mustache)

The jury deliberated while the persecution and defense were giant flies on the walls. Looks like fun doesn't it?