No heroes
There were no heroes here
Amongst the men who tramped through
Rutted, quaking moor,
Or crawled, cat-silent, Over skittering scree
To prove the way.
No heroes fought the blazing fires
Which sucked the very blood from Ship and man alike.
Or braved knife cold
Without a thought To save a life.
No heroes they, but ones who loved
Sweet life and children's laugh,
And dreamt of home When war allowed.
They were but men.
~David Morgan
They were but men. Living in this time period it is far fetched to believe in simply your own culture, your own identity, your own nation as being enough to fight for. With the large amount of people living outside of their "home" it isn't enough to want that anymore, peace needs to be sustainable wherever you live. This way of thinking does not diminish your identity but it does allow you to understand your place in the world. The term fighting for freedom is not something to be taken lightly, it is not something to paraphrase nor protest about unless you truly understand the statistics of the very freedom you are talking about.
The participants in the war in Sri Lanka are both fully responsible for the atrocities that have marked the period of bloodshed and violence in the country since 1976, however while one is the country's government the other is an organization that despite their starting ideals has become an international terrorist organization.
I do not say this lightly, it is considered as such by 30 countries, and Canada and the United States are included in that. The label is not affixed lightly and nor is the list of those killed by either side anything to proclaim to the world. The country has been killing itself from the inside for decades, either in retaliation for violence or a precursor for it. Neither side has put civilians first but both sides have had the challenge of dealing with the bodies.
So as the bodies of Tamil, Sinhalese, Malay, Moor, all line the memories of the world, what are people proclaiming? That this will never end...
Specifically that the search for separation will continue by any means necessary, that the fight for freedom will continue in a different form.
If this was a fight for freedom, a fight for rights or for a place to house your people how could it not end in the sight of the thousands murdered for your cause? How can a government asking for peace and inclusion not suit your requests for equality?
Could it be that you are merely incapable of delivering your people out of the emotional spin of war? That terrorism is a likely answer to deal with the aftermath of all that have already been killed for your cause. How can that be? How can tht make any sense to those who stand for hours outside around the world?
Because really after all of these years, all of the dead people, the vanished prisoners, the amass of money, the call for all people to answer for this fight, what are you left with? A large diaspora of your people who are still waiting for your proclamation of an end to the struggle. But without thought as to the future of your culture you continue to seek vengeance for something that everyone says you can have, the equality you seek is not elusive.
The true nature of a culture is in its people, it is its ability to further itself despite diaspora, despite war, despite terrorism. There are thousands if not millions of Sri Lankans living outside of Sri Lanka today and we are capable of exercising our freedom to not proclaim war, to not donate to a cause that is dead, to not allow others to tarnish our reputation as a people. While many non Sri Lankan people may not understand what is going on, I know that many of those same people standing outside protesting do not know the whole history either.
Organizations prey on people and their emotions, their sense of identity and their need to feel included in their own culture, but it is up to you as an individual to differentiate the true nature of an organization, whether there roots are nationalistic or terrorist.
For those who may not know, Sri Lanka is a beautiful island with as many different landscapes as there are people and most people live amongst each other harmoniously, they seek to have a life that does not consist of bombings and war. They simply like every nation wish to have a place where they can see their children grow up, whether they be Tamil, Sinhalese, Malay etc...
That need is not something uncharacteristic of any country in the world...so when next you hear of the continuation of this war for freedom, please take a second look because the war was ended by one side, it only continues at the hands of those who refuse to let peace be the outcome.
Those of us who seek moderation regardless of our nationality are always left holding the most casualties...
8.5.09
A common word...
http://acommonword.com
A common word is a declaration of the common ground between Muslims and Christians that was written by 138 Muslim clerics, scholars and intellectuals based on the two commandments (love of one god, and being good to ones' neighbour) which is espoused by both religions. It came in the aftermath of the Pope's Regensburg Address in 2006 which inflamed many by its different inferences of violence and Islam.
It is an interesting document however it does shortchange the necessity to have open communication towards all religions most importantly maybe with Judaism, which as an Abrahamic religion is comprised of the same notions. Not to mention the ties in the middle east between these three religions. There are commentaries from Jewish scholars and leaders in response to this which is quite positive in the side notes. Jewish scholars had in the past also had a document similar to this as well which can be downloaded on the site. Overall it shows at least that all scholars/clerics/intellectuals are not as one sided as they seem, having seen this many get together to write this document and then to have so many others comment on it is a very positive notion.
Most interesting to me is the link to a statement by Madeline Albright to the Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C. which talks of America's questioning of how it should engage with the Muslim communities of the world. The new flavour of government in the United States is certainly taking a step back from the politics of its past, at least in terms of what its putting out there for the general public to see.
Check out her speech here:http://acommonword.com/en/images/albrighttestimony090226p.pdf
She uses words like: diplomacy, dialogue, to enhance mutual understanding etc...which is dramatically different from the past words of terrorism, hostility and Jihadist threat. It focuses on the necessity of seeing the religion of Islam separately from the fundamentalism that is the precursor to the terrorism that we are seeing being linked with Muslims. It pinpoints one thing that I always wondered if the United States recognized, and that is that most fundamentalism has roots in a local mindset as opposed to an international one. It is only through our (by this I mean Western or American) threat via bombs/sanctions that we make it an international cause, because as much as we'd like to see ourselves as being the greater society, it is not until we harm someone on the other side of the world that they seek to harm us.
What if suddenly those of us in Canada due to economic depression or local unrest decided that our unemployment was directly related to having all our manufactured goods coming from China and then suddenly we were bombed by China? What would we do? Would there be enough unrest in rural areas to make something happen? Are our values and thoughts different enough to separate the action from the community/religion/state? Take yourself outside of our metropolitan mindset and think for a second if we are any different from the terrorists we abhor.
Keep in mind that as per Maclean's fewer than one in three Canadians can find it in their hearts to see Islam or Sikhism in a favourable light. The statistics are a bit horrifying but I can see how it is true, how many people outside of metropolitan areas (or even in them) can say that they have a good understanding of major religions but they really don't have enough understanding to separate the propaganda they see in the media from what the religion actually entails. Very few do, and its not just me, Maclean's and Angus Reid agree with me. The study points again to the fact that as much as we consider ourselves a "multicultural" country we are still not far past other countries. We have just as much disregard for other peoples' religions, values, and cultures as the average American, French or German citizen. We simply hide it better than others, at least until there is a poll involved.
Read it here...http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/28/what-canadians-think-of-sikhs-jews-christians-muslims/
So as certain things change, such as political engagement towards the Muslim community, its important to note that the propaganda of past governments are not so easily erased. You cannot change the temperature of the public opinion so easily. The power of persuasion doesn't always work both ways because the slate is only clean once.
A common word is a declaration of the common ground between Muslims and Christians that was written by 138 Muslim clerics, scholars and intellectuals based on the two commandments (love of one god, and being good to ones' neighbour) which is espoused by both religions. It came in the aftermath of the Pope's Regensburg Address in 2006 which inflamed many by its different inferences of violence and Islam.
It is an interesting document however it does shortchange the necessity to have open communication towards all religions most importantly maybe with Judaism, which as an Abrahamic religion is comprised of the same notions. Not to mention the ties in the middle east between these three religions. There are commentaries from Jewish scholars and leaders in response to this which is quite positive in the side notes. Jewish scholars had in the past also had a document similar to this as well which can be downloaded on the site. Overall it shows at least that all scholars/clerics/intellectuals are not as one sided as they seem, having seen this many get together to write this document and then to have so many others comment on it is a very positive notion.
Most interesting to me is the link to a statement by Madeline Albright to the Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington D.C. which talks of America's questioning of how it should engage with the Muslim communities of the world. The new flavour of government in the United States is certainly taking a step back from the politics of its past, at least in terms of what its putting out there for the general public to see.
Check out her speech here:http://acommonword.com/en/images/albrighttestimony090226p.pdf
She uses words like: diplomacy, dialogue, to enhance mutual understanding etc...which is dramatically different from the past words of terrorism, hostility and Jihadist threat. It focuses on the necessity of seeing the religion of Islam separately from the fundamentalism that is the precursor to the terrorism that we are seeing being linked with Muslims. It pinpoints one thing that I always wondered if the United States recognized, and that is that most fundamentalism has roots in a local mindset as opposed to an international one. It is only through our (by this I mean Western or American) threat via bombs/sanctions that we make it an international cause, because as much as we'd like to see ourselves as being the greater society, it is not until we harm someone on the other side of the world that they seek to harm us.
What if suddenly those of us in Canada due to economic depression or local unrest decided that our unemployment was directly related to having all our manufactured goods coming from China and then suddenly we were bombed by China? What would we do? Would there be enough unrest in rural areas to make something happen? Are our values and thoughts different enough to separate the action from the community/religion/state? Take yourself outside of our metropolitan mindset and think for a second if we are any different from the terrorists we abhor.
Keep in mind that as per Maclean's fewer than one in three Canadians can find it in their hearts to see Islam or Sikhism in a favourable light. The statistics are a bit horrifying but I can see how it is true, how many people outside of metropolitan areas (or even in them) can say that they have a good understanding of major religions but they really don't have enough understanding to separate the propaganda they see in the media from what the religion actually entails. Very few do, and its not just me, Maclean's and Angus Reid agree with me. The study points again to the fact that as much as we consider ourselves a "multicultural" country we are still not far past other countries. We have just as much disregard for other peoples' religions, values, and cultures as the average American, French or German citizen. We simply hide it better than others, at least until there is a poll involved.
Read it here...http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/04/28/what-canadians-think-of-sikhs-jews-christians-muslims/
So as certain things change, such as political engagement towards the Muslim community, its important to note that the propaganda of past governments are not so easily erased. You cannot change the temperature of the public opinion so easily. The power of persuasion doesn't always work both ways because the slate is only clean once.
5.5.09
The definition of work...
work
play_w2("W0220700")
(wûrk)
n.
1. Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something.
2.
a. A job; employment: looking for work.
b. A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood.
3.
a. Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task: begin the day's work.
b. An amount of such activity either done or required: a week's work.
4.
a. The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking: met her after work.
b. One's place of employment: Should I call you at home or at work?
5.
a. Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing: This story is the work of an active imagination. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.
b. Full action or effect of an agency: The sleeping pills did their work.
c. An act; a deed: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity" Ecclesiastes 1:14.
6.
a. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition; a work of art.
b. works The output of a writer, artist, or musician considered or collected as a whole: the works of Shakespeare.
7.
a. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.
b. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
8.
a. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.
b. A piece of such textile art.
9. A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture: work to be turned in the lathe.
10. works (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination: a steelworks.
11. works Internal mechanism: the works of a watch.
12. The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
13. Abbr. w Physics The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the transfer of energy to a body by the application of a force that moves the body in the direction of the force. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance through which the body moves and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
14. works Moral or righteous acts or deeds: salvation by faith rather than works.
15. works
a. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.
b. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.
Work is defined so infinitely that the mere idea of not going to work is never true. It amazes me that people would choose not to work. Or maybe to be more precise to be unemployed. I have been unemployed for the total of 20 hours, and I cannot foresee not doing anything for much longer. I hate the idea of being unoccupied by something that gives me a wage, and on top of it, I hate the idea of benefits, such as employment insurance...because they aren't even paying that well. There are so many hoops involved that I am dizzy after simply applying for regular benefits, not to mention that I have to now wait on the mechanics of some department to figure out if I'm eligible. Funny enough maybe by paying those premiums all these years, I might not be, because you know being needy these days is quite a profession.
So for searching sake I found a few sites that are worth mentioning while your looking for work:
-The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, www.philosophersguild.com
-Rabble.ca, http://www.rabble.ca/columnists/2009/05/liberals-undermine-unemployed
-The Star, http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/621507
It's amazing that with so many people out of work, the government would rather see people not only loose their jobs, but their homes, their savings etc. before providing them with a means to earn a living. The average weekly "pay cheque" when your unemployed through EI is, 447.00 but that's the maximum and you may or may not qualify due to hours. So regardless of whether you worked making $25.00 an hour or $11.00 you get the same benefit. Although in reality you are paying more towards the benefit if you are working full time, or at a higher pay scale because within the year you reach your EI deductions limit more quickly.
The system also makes it seem as if we should be doing everything in our power to find work in our "field" however they start the whole process by listing things that I have never heard of as job postings...it makes me wonder if a real person even looks at the applications.
Of course everyone would rather be working than filling out paperwork, and maybe that's why its so annoying, half of us would rather go out and work any job than work for the government via receiving EI. Because it becomes a job, there are the applications, the employment help groups, an advisor, weekly payroll submissions, tracking job prospects, its like being an employed unemployed person.
There is a lot of work involved.
play_w2("W0220700")
(wûrk)
n.
1. Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something.
2.
a. A job; employment: looking for work.
b. A trade, profession, or other means of livelihood.
3.
a. Something that one is doing, making, or performing, especially as an occupation or undertaking; a duty or task: begin the day's work.
b. An amount of such activity either done or required: a week's work.
4.
a. The part of a day devoted to an occupation or undertaking: met her after work.
b. One's place of employment: Should I call you at home or at work?
5.
a. Something that has been produced or accomplished through the effort, activity, or agency of a person or thing: This story is the work of an active imagination. Erosion is the work of wind, water, and time.
b. Full action or effect of an agency: The sleeping pills did their work.
c. An act; a deed: "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity" Ecclesiastes 1:14.
6.
a. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, or literary or musical composition; a work of art.
b. works The output of a writer, artist, or musician considered or collected as a whole: the works of Shakespeare.
7.
a. works Engineering structures, such as bridges or dams.
b. A fortified structure, such as a trench or fortress.
8.
a. Needlework, weaving, lacemaking, or a similar textile art.
b. A piece of such textile art.
9. A material or piece of material being processed in a machine during manufacture: work to be turned in the lathe.
10. works (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A factory, plant, or similar building or complex of buildings where a specific type of business or industry is carried on. Often used in combination: a steelworks.
11. works Internal mechanism: the works of a watch.
12. The manner, style, or quality of working or treatment; workmanship.
13. Abbr. w Physics The transfer of energy from one physical system to another, especially the transfer of energy to a body by the application of a force that moves the body in the direction of the force. It is calculated as the product of the force and the distance through which the body moves and is expressed in joules, ergs, and foot-pounds.
14. works Moral or righteous acts or deeds: salvation by faith rather than works.
15. works
a. Informal The full range of possibilities; everything. Used with the: ordered a pizza with the works.
b. Slang A thorough beating or other severe treatment. Used with the: took him outside and gave him the works.
Work is defined so infinitely that the mere idea of not going to work is never true. It amazes me that people would choose not to work. Or maybe to be more precise to be unemployed. I have been unemployed for the total of 20 hours, and I cannot foresee not doing anything for much longer. I hate the idea of being unoccupied by something that gives me a wage, and on top of it, I hate the idea of benefits, such as employment insurance...because they aren't even paying that well. There are so many hoops involved that I am dizzy after simply applying for regular benefits, not to mention that I have to now wait on the mechanics of some department to figure out if I'm eligible. Funny enough maybe by paying those premiums all these years, I might not be, because you know being needy these days is quite a profession.
So for searching sake I found a few sites that are worth mentioning while your looking for work:
-The Unemployed Philosophers Guild, www.philosophersguild.com
-Rabble.ca, http://www.rabble.ca/columnists/2009/05/liberals-undermine-unemployed
-The Star, http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/621507
It's amazing that with so many people out of work, the government would rather see people not only loose their jobs, but their homes, their savings etc. before providing them with a means to earn a living. The average weekly "pay cheque" when your unemployed through EI is, 447.00 but that's the maximum and you may or may not qualify due to hours. So regardless of whether you worked making $25.00 an hour or $11.00 you get the same benefit. Although in reality you are paying more towards the benefit if you are working full time, or at a higher pay scale because within the year you reach your EI deductions limit more quickly.
The system also makes it seem as if we should be doing everything in our power to find work in our "field" however they start the whole process by listing things that I have never heard of as job postings...it makes me wonder if a real person even looks at the applications.
Of course everyone would rather be working than filling out paperwork, and maybe that's why its so annoying, half of us would rather go out and work any job than work for the government via receiving EI. Because it becomes a job, there are the applications, the employment help groups, an advisor, weekly payroll submissions, tracking job prospects, its like being an employed unemployed person.
There is a lot of work involved.
30.4.09
Allegory of the real world...
Plato imagines a group of people who have lived chained in a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of the cave entrance, and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows. According to Plato, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to seeing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall are not constitutive of reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners.Today I learnt something fundamental, never ever live in your own reality. Many of us go through life attaining, sustaining, and obtaining things because we believe that we deserve things, people, events in general. However so much of what we are given is due to other peoples perception of us, of our creditworthiness, our references, our job history, it is never as simple as we think.
I am as many people know a person who refuses to budge on this rule in my life, I simply don't like feeling that someone or something can be held over me. This might be because very little has been given to me, I have always been told that I have to maintain a grade point average or excel at something to earn something so I don't take gaining anything easily. I am notorious for being that one person who won't talk up to people, won't embrace cocktail talk or gossip with just anybody.
But today I realized that it is necessary in this life, in this society to maintain at least some level of reverence to other people perception of you to get anywhere in life. By anywhere I mean where society wants you to be, in a spot where you will be comfortable enough even if you don't really want to be there.
I say this because today I got extremely worked up over something that is not my reality and has never been my aspiration of MY reality. I wanted an opportunity that was not fully mine, I was sitting in the cave and suddenly I forgot that I was there and became rather dazed by the very shadows I knew where shadows. I forgot that I am not chained to anything, that I was there for an opportunity not a lifetime of staring at the shadows.
Just a short time ago I freed myself from this very cave and I promised myself that I would abstain from falling into the trap of middle moneyed employment when I am supposed to be trying to find something purposeful to do with my life...where that is I don't know yet but at least I awoke from the reality that I was slowly beginning to think was my own.
Plato's allegory of the cave has always inspired me to think of what it is possible if we can just think for ourselves and take note of it rather than seek others' opinions of our own thoughts...
I was inspired...
Have you ever walked down the street and read peoples' view of you as you passed by them?
Most people have not and will not see the frank expressions of interest, distaste and then distrust that most orthodox people of any religion will see on a daily basis.
Years ago I wore hijab, I expressed myself in a way that was shocking to everyone around me, I was shocked at my own need to wear the hijab. I was struggling with the way I saw myself and with my identity as a Muslim. At a time where most girls would be shedding the hijab for stylish clothes and make up I was putting it on everyday and going to school. It was never for me a decision of orthodoxy but of moral inclination to do right by the teachings I was brought up with but never told to fully embrace. Although I did one day remove my hijab I have always cherished the time that I wore it because it taught me that I would never be put into a box, and that in most orthodox cases it was a box that was self created. I will never forget the day I took it off and went to work at the hospital I was doing my co-op at, people asked why? For me it was a greater answer than what most people probably thought...that it was the pressure, or maybe teenage will to fit in? They probably didn't know that I had in the time of wearing my hijab, got great grades, got my license, a car, worked a part time job, got a coveted placement at a renowned hospital and had just been accepted at UofT. I came to realize that I as a person had not changed but how I was viewed had, and maybe just maybe I was playing into a stereotype.
I am Muslim and have tremendous faith in GOD, but I don't think he sees me shedding my hijab as a downplay of my faith, I think he knows its an expression of my inability to fit into a box.
So recently I read a book titled The Search for God at Harvard, by Ari Goldman, it was truly phenomenal in its style but most of all in the idease it sets forth. This book about the search for god was such an eye opener in terms of how others view religion and specifically how much you can have in common with someone of another faith. I felt like Ari Goldman while reading this, and I hope that one day my writing will be as good as this journalists'. It showed me that with every religion people face the irrevocable need to fit into society, even those that we might think are inclusive already. It showed me how so many religions are really one, and that to be truly religious you have to be open to GOD in the many forms that he has taken shape through human history.
The view of orthodox religion is so narrow these days that we term it fundamentalism in every notation of it but maybe just maybe if some of us stay a little truer to the fundamentals or our religion we could find a little more peace in our daily lives...
I'm not saying we should all go out and buy hijabs, yarmulkes, etc...but maybe just start with showing some faith and giving true thanks for the things in our lives...Inshallah.
Most people have not and will not see the frank expressions of interest, distaste and then distrust that most orthodox people of any religion will see on a daily basis.
Years ago I wore hijab, I expressed myself in a way that was shocking to everyone around me, I was shocked at my own need to wear the hijab. I was struggling with the way I saw myself and with my identity as a Muslim. At a time where most girls would be shedding the hijab for stylish clothes and make up I was putting it on everyday and going to school. It was never for me a decision of orthodoxy but of moral inclination to do right by the teachings I was brought up with but never told to fully embrace. Although I did one day remove my hijab I have always cherished the time that I wore it because it taught me that I would never be put into a box, and that in most orthodox cases it was a box that was self created. I will never forget the day I took it off and went to work at the hospital I was doing my co-op at, people asked why? For me it was a greater answer than what most people probably thought...that it was the pressure, or maybe teenage will to fit in? They probably didn't know that I had in the time of wearing my hijab, got great grades, got my license, a car, worked a part time job, got a coveted placement at a renowned hospital and had just been accepted at UofT. I came to realize that I as a person had not changed but how I was viewed had, and maybe just maybe I was playing into a stereotype.
I am Muslim and have tremendous faith in GOD, but I don't think he sees me shedding my hijab as a downplay of my faith, I think he knows its an expression of my inability to fit into a box.
So recently I read a book titled The Search for God at Harvard, by Ari Goldman, it was truly phenomenal in its style but most of all in the idease it sets forth. This book about the search for god was such an eye opener in terms of how others view religion and specifically how much you can have in common with someone of another faith. I felt like Ari Goldman while reading this, and I hope that one day my writing will be as good as this journalists'. It showed me that with every religion people face the irrevocable need to fit into society, even those that we might think are inclusive already. It showed me how so many religions are really one, and that to be truly religious you have to be open to GOD in the many forms that he has taken shape through human history.
The view of orthodox religion is so narrow these days that we term it fundamentalism in every notation of it but maybe just maybe if some of us stay a little truer to the fundamentals or our religion we could find a little more peace in our daily lives...
I'm not saying we should all go out and buy hijabs, yarmulkes, etc...but maybe just start with showing some faith and giving true thanks for the things in our lives...Inshallah.
12.4.09
Branches of One Tree
The great religions are like branches
Of one spreading tree:
It is alone in its growth,
Although it has birthed many shoots.
And is it ever possible that branches
Would suddenly, in anger, hit each other?
Religions are the same as branches,
That grew from one big tree.
And these, Shri Mataji’s words, not without reason
All men with thankfulness accept.
It’s time to understand
That we are brothers,
Beyond the races, nationalities, and faiths,
And independent of our skin colors.
Because like branches
Just one root we have!
The Lord is one
Though there are many paths,That lead to Him -
The goal is always one:
The mountain peak that pierces clouds.
The goal of life is union with God.
Let’s not forgetWhose Image and Likeness we carry,
And we will understand to where we aspire.
Vladimir Mikhanovsky
Source: Mikhanovsky, Vladimir. Hope Faith Love: The Road to God. Pune,
India: Nirmal Transformation, 2007
On this Easter Sunday let us not forget that regardless of religion we are all connected somehow someway. We can all trace our roots to one spot, creation. We are all embedded in each others lives and seek not to distance ourselves from others simply because of their actions because to do so is to distance yourself from yourself.
The great religions are like branches
Of one spreading tree:
It is alone in its growth,
Although it has birthed many shoots.
And is it ever possible that branches
Would suddenly, in anger, hit each other?
Religions are the same as branches,
That grew from one big tree.
And these, Shri Mataji’s words, not without reason
All men with thankfulness accept.
It’s time to understand
That we are brothers,
Beyond the races, nationalities, and faiths,
And independent of our skin colors.
Because like branches
Just one root we have!
The Lord is one
Though there are many paths,That lead to Him -
The goal is always one:
The mountain peak that pierces clouds.
The goal of life is union with God.
Let’s not forgetWhose Image and Likeness we carry,
And we will understand to where we aspire.
Vladimir Mikhanovsky
Source: Mikhanovsky, Vladimir. Hope Faith Love: The Road to God. Pune,
India: Nirmal Transformation, 2007
On this Easter Sunday let us not forget that regardless of religion we are all connected somehow someway. We can all trace our roots to one spot, creation. We are all embedded in each others lives and seek not to distance ourselves from others simply because of their actions because to do so is to distance yourself from yourself.
Afrocentric Schools...the debate is over, its now a reality.
They voted 11 for,9 against, 2 non-votes in favour of the Afrocentric school which is set to open in September 2009, if they get the funding and the system works in terms of timing.
The TDSB website doesn't say when or where...but its a huge COMING SOON project.
Last year we had some serious debates about this, a room full of minorities with very different takes on this subject. I still think about this when I watch BET or when I see Obama on t.v. because it reminds me of all the things minorities have strived to gain but are willing to give away as long as it seems that we are having a chance to speak for ourselves.
The idea of having an Afrocentric curriculum that helps marginalized students (40% out of a 100% that are drop outs) is one that certainly looks like its lined in gold. It looks like we are getting a chance to teach black kids from a black perspective and that its going to give them a better chance at graduating. That allowing them to be taught their own history is going to somehow get them to show up to class, to understand math and english differently.
I have to say that I am completely against this because I know that no matter what perspective you teach from you cannot reach a child with merely different materials and possibly a different set of people. Being a minority is not a dysfunction, it is not learning disability, it is simply a truth of birth.
Afrocentric schooling is not going to change the fact that when certain students go home they are faced with a different history, things such as poverty, single parent homes, abuse, lack of role models, having children of their own. Are these historical points going to be addressed as part of an Afrocentric curriculum? Are they going to change these situations for these students so they have a better chance at attending classes without dealing with these realities?
Education is a privilege that we do not take seriously enough in this country, it is something that starts at home, it starts from a child wanting to learn. You cannot change that in anyone, it must come from a place within that child. If you don't help that baby, that toddler, that preschooler, that child and then eventually that student you cannot expect that same student to progress as if they are every other child. We address so many other things in this society, but we do not ask ourselves if we are teaching our children the necessities of education.
I learnt how to read on the kitchen floor, I would read from a primary school book when I was three or four while my mother cooked dinner. I did homework from school but that was nothing compared to the work I had to do when I came home because my mother had her own set of books I had to work on. I have to admit that if it wasn't for my "home-schooling" I probably would have been a horrible student because most of the day, I day dreamed because teachers could not capture my interest.
What if my mother didn't do this for me? Who would I be? I had a set of parents who would take me to the library like it was church, other kids went to Chuckie Cheese, I went to used bookstores. I wasn't allowed to watch R rated movies, but I read all the Danielle Steele I wanted at age nine.
Regardless of the outrage I feel at segregating a student population on the basis of their minority status, I truly hope that this system works for these students, or at least I hope that their parents are going to take a role in their education. Its time for the focus of the black community to be on the children because otherwise the cycle will continue, and its not something that needs to with the amount of resources available to the general population.
As well as a side note I hope that as much as this 40% is important, the other students like me who went to an "inner city" school are recognized, because we went to those schools, and we went to class, a lot of us went on to post secondary school and we did learn something. Dropping out was not an option I saw for myself, but it had nothing to do with the colour of my skin or where I came from, it was a decision I made and that hopefully seeing no difference in the others in the classroom these students will come to make for themselves.
There are so many great people who excelled despite the hurdles in their way, we fought for the right for equality and it was on the basis of our excellence, in the fact that we are not different, we are not.
If I were to have kids where would I find the curriculum to fit them? Jamaican/Caribbean/SriLankan/Malay/Tamil/Moor/Muslim/Christian...it would be a tough thing to imagine...but if were going to segregate this would be reality.
I have to look to the words of a great leader.... Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? Expediency asks the question - is it political? But conscience asks the question - is it right? There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, popular, or political; but because it is right. (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Time will tell I suppose!
The TDSB website doesn't say when or where...but its a huge COMING SOON project.
Last year we had some serious debates about this, a room full of minorities with very different takes on this subject. I still think about this when I watch BET or when I see Obama on t.v. because it reminds me of all the things minorities have strived to gain but are willing to give away as long as it seems that we are having a chance to speak for ourselves.
The idea of having an Afrocentric curriculum that helps marginalized students (40% out of a 100% that are drop outs) is one that certainly looks like its lined in gold. It looks like we are getting a chance to teach black kids from a black perspective and that its going to give them a better chance at graduating. That allowing them to be taught their own history is going to somehow get them to show up to class, to understand math and english differently.
I have to say that I am completely against this because I know that no matter what perspective you teach from you cannot reach a child with merely different materials and possibly a different set of people. Being a minority is not a dysfunction, it is not learning disability, it is simply a truth of birth.
Afrocentric schooling is not going to change the fact that when certain students go home they are faced with a different history, things such as poverty, single parent homes, abuse, lack of role models, having children of their own. Are these historical points going to be addressed as part of an Afrocentric curriculum? Are they going to change these situations for these students so they have a better chance at attending classes without dealing with these realities?
Education is a privilege that we do not take seriously enough in this country, it is something that starts at home, it starts from a child wanting to learn. You cannot change that in anyone, it must come from a place within that child. If you don't help that baby, that toddler, that preschooler, that child and then eventually that student you cannot expect that same student to progress as if they are every other child. We address so many other things in this society, but we do not ask ourselves if we are teaching our children the necessities of education.
I learnt how to read on the kitchen floor, I would read from a primary school book when I was three or four while my mother cooked dinner. I did homework from school but that was nothing compared to the work I had to do when I came home because my mother had her own set of books I had to work on. I have to admit that if it wasn't for my "home-schooling" I probably would have been a horrible student because most of the day, I day dreamed because teachers could not capture my interest.
What if my mother didn't do this for me? Who would I be? I had a set of parents who would take me to the library like it was church, other kids went to Chuckie Cheese, I went to used bookstores. I wasn't allowed to watch R rated movies, but I read all the Danielle Steele I wanted at age nine.
Regardless of the outrage I feel at segregating a student population on the basis of their minority status, I truly hope that this system works for these students, or at least I hope that their parents are going to take a role in their education. Its time for the focus of the black community to be on the children because otherwise the cycle will continue, and its not something that needs to with the amount of resources available to the general population.
As well as a side note I hope that as much as this 40% is important, the other students like me who went to an "inner city" school are recognized, because we went to those schools, and we went to class, a lot of us went on to post secondary school and we did learn something. Dropping out was not an option I saw for myself, but it had nothing to do with the colour of my skin or where I came from, it was a decision I made and that hopefully seeing no difference in the others in the classroom these students will come to make for themselves.
There are so many great people who excelled despite the hurdles in their way, we fought for the right for equality and it was on the basis of our excellence, in the fact that we are not different, we are not.
If I were to have kids where would I find the curriculum to fit them? Jamaican/Caribbean/SriLankan/Malay/Tamil/Moor/Muslim/Christian...it would be a tough thing to imagine...but if were going to segregate this would be reality.
I have to look to the words of a great leader.... Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? Expediency asks the question - is it political? But conscience asks the question - is it right? There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, popular, or political; but because it is right. (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Time will tell I suppose!
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