The Orthodox Christian Church is predenominational; it’s approximately 2,000 years old. It contains both Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, whose members are referred to as “Orthodox Christians.” Within these two groups are churches that are all part of the Orthodox family, just separated on the basis of geographic region. I am part of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which originates in Egypt.

The theology that is foundational to the Church remains steadfast and constant as it was passed down from the apostles — the disciples of Christ — and continues into modern day. Although the doctrine is, without argument, the principal component of the Church, there is a cultural presence that must be considered. Unless one is part of the growing American Orthodox Church, one is bound to be confronted with cultural norms that prove to be perplexing.

Despite the fact that I’m Egyptian, being born and raised in the United States has lent itself to some difficulties. Growing up in a church that had an apparent Middle Eastern influence, it took conscious effort to distinguish culture from beliefs. Over time, I came to terms with the fact that every culture has its faults distinct from its faith. Fortunately, I also came to perceive the beauty that culture added to the Church.

For a person unfamiliar with Orthodoxy, it may seem strange at first. The unfamiliar languages and traditional form of worship coupled with a large number of people with the same ethnic background and uncertainty about how to behave is normal and expected. The primary culture differs between various Orthodox Churches, but the belief systems remain the same. It just takes some time to realize that the peculiar is not very peculiar after all.

Whether it is the Coptic, Greek, Russian or any of the other Orthodox Churches, icons depicting Jesus Christ, the saints and other holy imagery line the walls, reminding the congregation of the saints’ continual presence in the church. Also, hymns are sung in English as well as in the traditional language connecting the modern-day church in America to the geographic region where it originated.

In a liturgical service, where the Eucharist is administered, members gather together in participation of the sacramental life in one accord with the early church started by the apostles. This is the pride of the Orthodox Church. It is able to unite with the past, for it remains grounded and consistent in dogma, withstanding the pressures of time and culture, allowing for a coherent remembrance of the past.

Although cultural values and social norms are unnecessary to practice the true faith, this history is what makes the church a living remembrance to the past, which adds to its richness. Even though the incense has lost its poignancy and church attendance may have become plain routine, the profoundness of the Orthodox faith continues to be realized on a daily basis.

The Berkeley community takes pride in being a collective group of individuals that is always seeking and learning. Most students are willing to listen to differing beliefs from their own, whether they be religious or not, but when it comes to certain topics, you may feel like you know enough about a topic to form an educated opinion. Whether or not you are informed enough, this is the time to explore and not hold back. It could be scrutinizing doubts you’ve had about your stance on certain social issues, taking a class in a field of study that has been intriguing you lately, even though it has nothing to do with your major and will not satisfy any requirements, or inquiring about Orthodox believers because of ongoing persecution in countries like Egypt and Syria; the time is now. Be proactive.

Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her Thursday blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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While in high school and even more so during my first year of college, the “What are you planning on majoring in?” question always made me worry unnecessarily about the inevitable decision I’ll have to make — a decision that I was able to make with ease after I had the time to think about it. Now, it’s the “What are your plans after graduation?” question that has me stressed out.

Like many students, I have no concrete plan. Sure, there are certain occupations I’m interested in, but I have yet to decide which one I would like to pursue, so my post-graduation plans are currently nonexistent.

Taking into consideration that, as college students, even our lunch plans for the day are vague, it is beyond my understanding why some people are unable to understand why a student wouldn’t have any future plans in mind. It doesn’t make sense to me why there lies this expectation that students must, from the beginning, have a goal beyond their college years to strive toward because there really isn’t a point to studying “aimlessly.”

This is not to say that those who ask this stress-inducing question expect a detailed plan — if anything, it’s a nice follow-up question to “What is your major?” However, because this inquiry brings on anxiety for many students, there must be social pressures that invoke it, such as the pressure to be successful at a young age and the need to gain a sense of security.

For some of us, it seems like time is running out — that the ticking on the analog clock will eventually stop. Except, surprise, time actually won’t be running out. We live life as if we’re on a time limit: The quicker you reach your goal, the more impressive. This is confirmed when people praise those who accomplish what others have accomplished at a younger age — which, although impressive, should not diminish the achievements of other students no matter the magnitude or the age that success came by. It is important to be a hard worker and to be productive — but not at the expense of rushing through life.

Then there are those who figure that once they’ve accomplished what they set to accomplish, then they will stop stressing. If  a student stresses majorly through his or her college years about college and about the future, chances are that even after gaining the level of security desired, he or she will still be worried and want more.

The truth of the matter is that stressing won’t make you successful; it’ll just make you miserable. The time for adult decisions will come. Decisions will eventually be made. In the meantime, it doesn’t hurt to enjoy these four years instead of speeding through them or having them clouded with apprehension for the future. Plan for your post-grad life, but enjoy the present. The undergraduate years only happen once.

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Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her Thursday blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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It starts off innocently enough. My friends and I will tease one another until one friend starts laughing hysterically, like a psycho, which we jokingly call her. Little do we know that one of her family members is dealing with mental health issues. A more common scene is when a friend randomly (as it always seems to be unsubstantiated) announces that she feels fat; we then try to convince her otherwise. She doesn’t recognize that she is the thinnest one among her friends and that there may be someone in the room who’s been struggling with weight issues.

But these occurrences are innocent enough. People typically don’t call their friends psychos to make jabs at them or call themselves fat with the intention of having their friends evaluate their own current weight.

It’s left up to the recipient, then. That person decides whether to react and risk accusation of being too sensitive, because how would anyone know about any sentiments toward a specific word if he or she neglected to share their personal experience with anyone? No harm is done if the person chooses not to react, but if he or she disapproves and decides not to say anything, there is a risk of feeling bitterness toward the friend.

Although a call to change is likely to be started by an individual who has a personal attachment to a specific word, they are not the only ones responsible for raising awareness. There must be a reaction to words that are used inappropriately because, even if it doesn’t affect you personally, it can cause unnecessary grief to another person.

While I wish people were more aware of the power that words have, I realize that we cannot completely eradicate all words that can potentially offend someone. It just isn’t practical — or logical — for that matter. Words are created with an intended meaning, and over time, negative connotations have been tacked on to them. Now is the time to correct words that have gone wrong.

There are many movements that pledge to end the usage of certain words. One of the more popular campaigns is Spread the Word to End the Word, which calls for the end of the word “retard.” Initially, this term only had a medical connotation, but over time, it has been more commonly used as a slur — like many other words and phrases, such as “lame” and “dumb.” Another familiar campaign is ThinkB4YouSpeak, which asks for people to pledge not to use homophobic words and phrases.

Thankfully, because of these movements, words and phrases like the “R” word and homophobic slurs are becoming less popular, and chances are, if someone does happen to use any one of these slurs, a well-meaning friend will speak up. Unfortunately, though, there are words that have the same negative effect, but their potential for harm goes unrecognized.

For example, calling someone “emo,” “crazy,” or “psycho” or jokingly accusing that person of having a psychological disorder such as obsessive-compulsive disorder seems more funny than serious; however, in our jesting, we forget that mental health concerns are a reality for many people.

It is worth the effort to be cognizant of the effect of words on others. For those who are offended by the use of certain words, it is their responsibility to raise awareness and speak out when other people use such words. And, although difficult, we all must be more understanding. People will joke around and use words whose harm is unknown — because, unfortunately, there are many issues that still remain under the radar.

Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her Thursday blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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It is one of the first things that makes students uncomfortable when moving to Berkeley — the widespread poverty. Encountering this social welfare problem tends to be strange because for the majority of students, this level of poverty is only seen on occasion and probably not seen in our hometowns. Yet this feeling of uneasiness doesn’t last long.

At times, I’m conflicted as to how to respond when someone asks me for money. Should I give them money? If I decide to, should I pull out my wallet or put change in my pockets ahead of time for easy access? If I decide not to, how do I say no? In my personal experience, these encounters are typically guilt-inducing as well, because while I have access to a variety of food options with a swipe of my Cal 1 Card at Crossroads, people asking for money along Telegraph Avenue and other Berkeley streets may be hungry or lacking a place to sleep at night. As I became acquainted with Berkeley, I was informed about details concerning the issue of poverty in this city and cameto realize that it was more complicated than I had made it out to be. In turn, I justified my growing passiveness toward the homeless until I became comfortable with it.

I figured that there were organizations in Berkeley aiding the cause, providing places where those in need could receive shelter and food. I convinced myself that other people have made this issue their focus — that I didn’t need to worry myself about it. I even told myself that some of the homeless chose this life for themselves. I just walk past them quickly and go about my day, because even if I responded to every request for money when asked, my dollar wouldn’t make a difference, I told myself.

As the months passed, I simply became comfortable with the fact that homeless people are part of Berkeley’s community. And, as I became more comfortable with it, I cared less and less.

Recently, I have realized that getting too comfortable is dangerous.

Once we grow comfortable and settle with the state of our community, it will be difficult to recognize the existing need when we have been living around it for so long. As a community, we become numb to problems because they have been normalized. This results in a lack of concern, slowing down advancements toward change. It is difficult to make progress toward serving and minimizing the homeless community, dealing with the crime rate, addressing the faults existing in primary and secondary education system in Berkeley or even mentioning the uncleanliness of city streets when we have grown used to all these issues.

It is my hope that I’m never too comfortable and that I realize that although I don’t necessarily have to advocate for every cause, there is always something little that I can do. When faced with huge social issues, Berkeley has been known throughout history to stand up, have a voice and act. However, it is in how we address the “little” problems that will confirm our strength as acommunity for our greater community.

Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her Thursday blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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Yesterday on Facebook, a friend shared a link to an article titled “The Rape of Men,” which I then passed on to a couple of my housemates. After reading the article and discussing it, we were undeniably sad for the rest of the night.

Although each year has its low points, this past year seems to have been filled with many tragic news stories. From the consecutive shootings all over the nation to the Boston Marathon bombing and, most recently, the revolutions going on in Egypt and Turkey, I’ve come to realize that I have consumed more news this year than ever before.

Sure, there have been a few positive effects of reading the news more, but I’m often plagued with the negative effects. For example, after the Boston bombing, Saudi Arabian Abdulrahman Ali Alharbi and a Moroccan student were wrongly accused by the media, evidenced by the New York Post’s front page the Thursday following the bombing. Not only did the media’s role drastically affect the lives of these two young men, but the media fed the nation’s people a terrible lie by reporting too quickly making themselves unreliable in the most serious of times.

CNN has also caused distress the past couple of weeks. Their representation of the June 30 Egyptian revolution as a “military coup” has put them under severe criticism by Egyptians. It is not the fear that the United States will stop aid to Egypt that causes anger toward this national occurrence being dubbed a “military coup” — it’s the fact that this title refuses to acknowledge the power of the people who have risen up against their government in unity and reclaimed their land. The military was a liaison between the people and the government, working only to satisfy the desire of the people. Egyptians have outwardly condemned CNN by creating a Facebook group called “CNN Supports Terrorism” and have caused #CNN_STOP_Lying_About_Egypt to trend.

When reading a news article, there is an expectation that the article will stay focused on the core of the story. That news stations will spend their time covering the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing instead of wasting time backtracking as they cover themselves for misinforming readers. That one of the world’s largest news organizations with a leading international news channel would make the effort to report correctly on a major international story without being swayed to report differently.

All the time I’ve spent arguing over whether or not the Egyptian revolution was a indeed a military coup even though that isn’t even the point of the revolution has made me think about the ramifications of news stories. Regarding the article concerning the rape of men in Uganda, I wonder what the point is in getting worked up over it if there is nothing I can do to influence the situation anyway.

Is it worth it getting angry over CNN? Is there any value in reading about world atrocities when they seem so other-worldly?

When news is quality investigative journalism, it has the ability to work with the people instead of being an opposing force. It has the power to ignite a spark in an individual, causing that person to pursue a cause that he or she never would have before. It has the potential to grant freedom to people, as Lara Stemple was able to do for men in Uganda through her University of California’s Health and Human Rights Law Project. It has the audacity to call out illegal actions and save lives, just as Stephanie Sinclair was able to do for many child brides when she investigated and raised awareness of child marriages, which are outlawed in many countries and forbidden by international agreements.

There is a point to reading the news. It just needs to be done with caution. It has to be done with the awareness of the fact that not everything is reported with accuracy, that we are not all personally responsible in aiding every cause and that it’s all right to take a break and not read every once in a while — because it can become burdensome.

News sometimes misleads, and it is often overwhelming, considering it informs us about occurrences that we often have no control over. Despite the negative, I believe it’s worth it.

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Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her weekly blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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Barbecues, fairs, picnics, fireworks — this is how many people choose to celebrate the Fourth of July. Hopefully on this day, political differences are set aside as we gather together to take pride in being American.

While some will celebrate the traditional way and have a cookout, others will express their happiness in a nontraditional sense that is more comfortable, such as indulging in Russian cuisine or going to an Asian-American festival, because being American is more than just being American. It is a day when some reflect on the fact that they wouldn’t be American if they first were not African, Asian, European, etc.

On that note, today I am proud to be an Egyptian, too.

June 30 marked the first day of the second revolution in which Egyptians, despite differing religious beliefs, gathered together all over Egypt in unity to protest their now former president, Mohamed Morsi, and the Muslim Brotherhood. Although he is Egypt’s first president who was elected democratically, Morsi became an illegitimate democratic president due to a decree made in November 2012 that protected his decisions from judicial review. He later annulled the decree in December, but his continued illegitimate actions as president and his inability to tend to the ongoing economic crisis led to national outcry. On July 3, Morsi was ousted, and Egyptians reclaimed Egypt as their own. Although the number of protesters is yet to be confirmed, most news outlets agree that this protest is the largest gathering for a political cause in modern day.

For Coptic Christians in Egypt and abroad, this is a monumental event. In Egypt especially, Coptic Christians have experienced an uprising in persecution these past few years.

“We’ve had problems with gas, diesel, electricity and water shortages,” said Coptic Christian Ikram Nosshi.  “What has happened over the past year has been diabolical.”

But Egyptians remain hopeful that they are on the road to recovery toward a better Egypt. For those abroad, we remain hopeful that Egypt will once again become safe to visit in the near future. We remain optimistic.

“The people of Egypt have made mistakes since the revolution,” said Egyptian citizen Reem Shalan. “We won’t repeat them. This time we have an actual plan, and I am optimistic, not scared, for the future.”

This Fourth of July was special because as I take pride in being American, I remember that I am also Egyptian. As many of us celebrate, Egypt will definitely be on the forefront of our minds. Happy Fourth of July, America, and Third of July, Egypt!

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Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her Thursday blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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All of us have those friends who seek advice on whether or not that fourth goldfish cracker should be eaten. And God forbid they end up actually eating that fourth goldfish, worth 2 1/2 calories, leading them to talk about how “fat” they are, leaving you questioning your body as you munch on your 55th goldfish. You end up swearing that you’ll never eat in front of them again.

Okay, maybe the details were dramatized, but there are those people whose definition of health has the potential to be not-so-healthy.

This “love your body” vibe is a welcome change in perspective concerning the topic of body image. It has fostered a communal sense of acceptance of all types of bodies and has strengthened groups of people, such as mothers, through this campaign. Sure, manipulated photographs of “perfect” men and women will probably still make their way onto the covers of many magazines for a while, but nevertheless, this newly adopted outlook is a step in the right direction.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle has become a part of the process of truly loving your body. Organic foods, or at least nonprocessed foods, are the new craze. Active wear is a new fad, considering physical fitness has become a priority for many people. Websites promoting healthy living and gyms now have a community feel and are more popular than they ever were before.

There is a noticeable, positive difference in the way the issue of body image is addressed, and while this movement for living healthy has stayed genuine for so long, it has become infected with bad intentions over time.

While nutritious foods are indeed healthy, structuring a diet around only a few foods can be unhealthy, such as eating only raw vegetables for all three major meals, neglecting the other groups in the food pyramid. This unbalanced may lead to short-term results such as expedited weight loss, and at first, it seems like a good change. But it will eventually harm your body as it seeks the vitamins it lacks. This can lead to compulsive calorie-counting in pursuit of the ideal body that tabloids advertise, which can distract a person from the bigger purpose of this campaign — to make the right choices as you learn to love your body.

A prime example is the booming fitness program called CrossFit. These highly intense workouts can be physically detrimental if you go about doing it yourself or are not trained by an excellent and experienced coach. One can say that this is a given when attempting any fitness program, but Crossfit can especially lead to serious injuries, like herniated discs, if cautionary steps are not taken, like choosing a gym with coaches whom you trust will come up with the smartly constructed workouts. This program has taken working out to a whole new level making it competitive and serious. CrossFit requires unwavering commitment for results and will inevitably become addicting — too severe for my taste.

It truly is wonderful that there is a keen desire to love our bodies, but it is important not to be misled or make uninformed choices about what is believed to be healthy living in pursuit of the perfect body. Also, as we grow as a collective to praise and adopt healthy lifestyles, it will become easier to pass judgment on others who choose not to take any fitness regimes, forgetting that part of this campaign is to be accepting and understanding of the fact that healthy bodies can take on many different body types. Ultimately, whether one chooses to eat 168 or two goldfish, it is his or her choice.

Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her Thursday blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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This nation has suffered too many tragedies this past year. The most recent have been the Boston Marathon bombing and the tornado that tore apart Oklahoma City — both have left the cities in shambles. A day that began as normal ultimately led to lives changed forever as the day ended in the trenches of the deepest despair.

After the bombing at the Boston Marathon, a movement for solidarity began with a group of male Syrians sending their condolences to victims of the bombing. A photograph of this group of Syrians shows them holding up a banner that reads “Boston Bombings represent a sorrowful scene of what happens everyday in Syria. Do accept our condolences.”

Even in the midst of this national tragedy, some good still comes about. The Boston Marathon bombing was used to raise awareness of injustices occurring elsewhere. Those who were once unaware of the civil war in Syria became enlightened through this image that has gone viral. Although the image only served to inform others of the fact that there is a civil war occurring, there is a hope that remains that members of society will take it upon themselves to educate themselves about the details of the war. Through national tragedies the American media focuses on, international hardships are brought into view — just as the Occupy movement brought attention to the Egyptian Revolution that was occurring around the same time. Through social media, it has become possible to spread news quickly, allowing for solidarity and the means to educate.

However, as people mourned and continue to mourn the lives lost in the bombing of the Boston Marathon, some shrug it off as an unfortunate circumstance that is an everyday reality for many in other nations. Again, through the workings of social media, some people have turned this opportunity to educate others about international atrocities into a game of comparisons. A popular tweet that has been circulating is “Three die in Boston, the world cries. Thousands die in Syria, the world is silent. Shame on all of you.” There exists this desire to minimize the magnitude of the bombing because more people die more frequently elsewhere. Another fellow tweeter posted, “Just remember people of Boston & America, this just happened once. It’s everyday life for Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Pakistan and many more.”

Eventually, it all turns into a who-suffers-the-most-is-allowed-to grieve game. Now, that is the real tragedy.

A sense of unity diminishes when people do not give others the opportunity to mourn for loved ones. The purpose of the movement by the Syrians is to call for love and unity; it is not meant to invalidate anyone’s suffering but rather simply to raise awareness. Unfortunately, sympathy tends to isolate people as it is doled out by those who believe the recipients are deserving. While the resulting sensitivity toward tragedy was in direct result of the events in Boston, if there was an unnecessary need felt by individuals to choose between feeling sorrow toward the Bostonians or Syrians, the anguish felt in Boston was pushed aside in a respectful gesture to the Syrians.

 Terrible catastrophes occur every day — whether it be natural disasters or afflictions created by man. A greater evil that occurs elsewhere in the world more frequently should not diminish the magnitude of any calamity going on within this nation.

Social media has garnered the power to create acts of love in which people from all over the world have the opportunity to connect with one another. Undoubtedly so, freedom of speech is a wonderful right that makes individuals feel safe and encouraged to engage in discussion — even in the most sensitive of times. Therefore, people should feel safe to send out tweets such as, ‘Why are you praying for boston and not syria nor palestine? you guys only want to ‘pray’ when its convenient.” These public thoughts allow for discussion concerning injustice occurring abroad and the general media’s obsession concerning the West.

However, there is greater potential to cause unnecessary distress, especially when unthinking perspectives of individuals have an ability to create a negative impact. While it is important to address these concerns, it is necessary to be cautious not to implicate the individual worth of lives as part of the problem. There is always an appropriate and sensitive manner in which problems can be touched on so that tragedies are not thrown in the midst of a comparison game.

Whether one was lost to a natural disaster that occurred in any small town or a bombing of the greatest magnitude, the grief felt by family and friends is insurmountable. There is no reason to add to this grief by diminishing the reality of a given situation. Ultimately, whether the tragedy occurs at home or abroad and in whatever frequency, every life is valuable.

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Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.

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