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AishaS 13 days ago
I've refrained from commenting on the Fort Hood shootings. This is in part because the facts are still emerging and it would be unwise to comment on half a story. It is also in part because I, like many others am waiting to understand if religion played a part in what happened. I sincerely pray it did not, but from what we know already, it probably did. Major Nidal Hassan was after all a Muslim by faith. There are reports he said "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) before pulling the trigger. These may have been words that gave him the final strength to do what he had set out to do, or part of some broader radical ideology, at this stage, we don't know. There are insinuations that his faith became a point of contention for him amongst his colleagues, and that he was feeling anxious about his upcoming deployment to Iraq. There are numerous oxymorons in this story. He was a psychiatrist and yet he acted insane. He was in the armed forces, one of the strongest ...AishaS 19 days ago
I recently read that parents are entitled to a full refund for Baby Einstein DVD’s. According to reports a group had threatened Disney, Baby Einstein’s parent company with a class-action lawsuit over what the group called implied claims that the videos are ‘educational’. I am surprised that this debate even took place. I confess I bought numerous Baby Einstein DVD’s. Not because I thought they would make my children smarter than anyone elses. I bought them because they looked like a lot of fun, and they gave me a break from looking for new materials to show my curious kids. I am a fan of the public library and my children have memorized countless books that we have enjoyed over and over. I have used various websites for interesting crafts, videos and stories. I am also guilty of buying flashcards, and have made many of my own as well. All of those activities, including viewing the Baby Einstein DVD’s were activities that we shared together. If parents are expecting to ...AishaS 27 days ago
Last week my children and I headed out to our local branch of the Ottawa Public Library, as we usually do. We were surprised to get a slice of cake and glass of juice, as well as our usual supply of great books. The cake and juice were in celebration of a new teen zone, designed by local Grade 11 students from the Earl of March School. Students from Earl of March are heavy users of the Beaverbrook branch, as their school sits adjacent to it. The group of six girls worked closely with Branch Supervisor Patricia Skarzynski. “We were provided with the funds through the Leacross Foundation,” said Ms. Skarzynski, who beamed with happiness at the conclusion of this project. Since last fall, she has worked closely with the girls, who treated her like a client. “They had to comply with laws pertaining to serving the public, and truly consider the needs of the library as a whole. They worked very well as a team,” she said. I was interested to hear that it was Ms. Skarzynski who ...AishaS 27 days ago
The Hindu scripture Bhagvad Gita begins with the dismay of Arjuna, who stands ready to fight against his enemy. He is dismayed and in doubt because the two enemies are also cousins. These days, every time I tune into the news, I seem to hear about in-fighting within faiths - in particular between Muslims. If it isn’t suicide bombing in Baghdad, then it is the election squabbles in Afghanistan. If not there, then Pakistan is rife with battle at present. It is so disheartening to hear about such in-fighting. Many people I speak to are feeling very upset about it, and feel powerless to help. One could argue that such discord may lead to better understanding, more discussion about the tenets of the faith and how they are practiced in a modern world. This may be true of true debates, dialogues and discussion, but I fear that Muslims are far from that stage at present. The current violence and bloodshed will not help us to understand each other better at all. The saddest part ...AishaS 37 days ago
I’ve begun reading fairy tales to my youngest child. She’s not two yet, but loves the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as well as Jack and the Beanstalk. I suspect she enjoys them because they are repetitive in nature. The pattern of behaviours throughout allows her to predict what will happen next. Looking at the different versions that exist today has gotten me thinking. Take Jack and the Beanstalk for example. When I was growing up, Jack our hero climbs up to the castle in the sky and is helped by the giant’s wife in stealing from her husband three times before he finally makes off with the prizes and slays the giant. In the version I heard, the giant also said, “Fee fi fo fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman, be he alive or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread”. That version doesn’t exist anymore. In modern times, Jack goes off to explore at the top of the beanstalk. Now the Giant only says “Fee fi fo fum”. In modern versions, Jack is very ...
