Cercatore’s Congeries

Really Rich

Surrounded by precious pearls

Pearls, People

Today, I got this package of Islamic books from Egypt. Guess how much I paid for them. $0.00. Oh My God. How good does it get? Muhahahaha! I feel filthy rich today although I got laid off last Friday.

Anyways, I wanted to share these sites with everyone. If you are a student of Islam, taking Religion in University, curious about Islam, antagonistic about Islam or perhaps you are doing dawah; then these websites are for you. Here you can request hard copies of the textbooks to be shipped over to you for free. Sure, one can find lots of free Islamic ebooks, but the fun part is holding an actual hard copy in your hand, making notes on it, highlighting interesting texts, putting tabs for referrring back, referring to the Quran using this book etc. etc. One can’t do these all while reading an ebook, plus reading literature online for hours may cause stress for some people. So, its a good idea to keep a little collection of hard covers. Do take a look at these websites.

Last note: l request everyone who gets these books to read, to remain open minded and critical. You don’t have to agree to every single thing the author writes or disagree with every single thing. Remember to critically question inshaAllah.

Islamic Message (books are shipped and sold free from Egypt)

Islam Unveiled (I tried them as well. Awesome, totally free service)

ImanWay

NewMuslim

Islam Tommorrow (sends free CDs and Quran)

I would love to add more links here. But I am running out of time.

If you feel you need more resources, google “free islamic books+mail” and go through the results.

Best of luck inshaAllah.

Take care

Peace and Blessings on You

What is the nature of Socrates’ opposition to poetry?  Does he succeed in convincing you that it builds up the wrong parts of the mind?

“In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it’s the exact opposite.” – Paul Dirac (1902-1984)

Thus, Dirac stated that the exact nature of poetry is confusing in a sense that even though it talks about phenomena that are already known, people are still unable to grasp the true meaning of the phenomenon discussed.  This idea conforms with Plato’s discussions in chapter 13 of “Republic”.  Socrates, Plato’s teacher, is of the view that representational poetry is merely a distorted representation of the reality and thus it should be banned in his ideal community.  By giving the analogy of the bed and the bed-maker, Socrates defined three types of creations and craftsman.  The Proginator is the genuine creator and only the objects (for instance the bed) created by Him are genuine.  He can thus create not only the only real object but also the actual form of the object i.e. the underlying meaning that determines an object’s existence is created by Him. The manufacturer or the joiner can make objects only after he has been “fed” this underlying idea of the true form or after he has learned the true form or after understanding the true form.   Here it should be noted that learning is not always equivalent to understanding. The objects thus created by the joiner are representations of the true form. Socrartes referred to the third type of the craftsman as “the representator of other’s creations”.  This craftsman provides a representation of the objects that belong to the visible realm only.  Since his work lacks the understanding of the true form, the truth is manifested in a distorted manner.  In my opinion, not all representators lack the understanding of the true forms.  For instance, a poet might have understood the true meaning of reality and then chose to describe this meaning through poetry.  But, still the meaning of reality, as perceived by the poet, cannot be conveyed to the readers, since poetry stirs imagination by providing multiple ways of interpretation.  Yes, there are some poets who don’t understand the meaning and try to write about it, thus distorting the true form.  And then there might be some poets who have actually understood the true form but were unable to describe it. The point I am trying to make here is that there is something about the way poetry is written that distorts the meaning of the phenomena discussed. 

 
Let’s go back to the anology of the cave.

“AND now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: –Behold! human beings living in a underground cave, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the cave; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.

I see.

And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking, others silent.

You have shown me a strange image, and they are strange prisoners.

Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave?

True, he said; how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?

And of the objects which are being carried in like manner they would only see the shadows?

Yes, he said.

And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them?

Very true.

And suppose further that the prison had an echo which came from the other side, would they not be sure to fancy when one of the passers-by spoke that the voice which they heard came from the passing shadow?

No question, he replied.

To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.

That is certain.

And now look again, and see what will naturally follow if the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled sudcavely to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive some one saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision, -what will be his reply? And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them, -will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him?

Far truer.

And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?

True, he now

And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he ’s forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities.

Not all in a moment, he said.

He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day?

Certainly.

Last of he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is.

Certainly.

He will then proceed to argue that this is he who gives the season and the years, and is the guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a certain way the cause of all things which he and his fellows have been accustomed to behold?

Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun and then reason about him.

And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the cave and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?

Certainly, he would.

And if they were in the habit of conferring honours among themselves on those who were quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together; and who were therefore best able to draw conclusions as to the future, do you think that he would care for such honours and glories, or envy the possessors of them? Would he not say with Homer, -

Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, – and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner?

Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner.

Imagine once more, I said, such an one coming sudcavely out of the sun to be replaced in his old situation; would he not be certain to have his eyes full of darkness?

To be sure, he said.

And if there were a contest, and he had to compete in measuring the shadows with the prisoners who had never moved out of the cave, while his sight was still weak, and before his eyes had become steady (and the time which would be needed to acquire this new habit of sight might be very considerable) would he not be ridiculous? Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light, let them only catch the offender, and they would put him to death.”

I am going to write about my understanding of this analogy.  The prisoners thus represent those individuals who cannot understand the truth.  The people behind the wall are thus the painters or the joiners who haven’t understood the “form” but have only learned it or they may have some understanding of the true form.  The puppets made by the poets are the “representations of the other’s creations” and thus can be regarded analogous to the poetry written by poets. But the puppets made by the joiners who reside in this area of the cave can be considered analogous to faulty objects made by bad manufactures. The shadows casted by the puppets are analogous to the distorted meaning conveyed by the poetry.  The deficiency or the lack of understanding thus prevents these people from reaching the surface.  They will remain there until the passionate part of the mind forces them to try to locate the source of the true form. The people at the surface are those joiners who have actually understood the form.  The objects made by them are most nearer to the “true form”.  And the Proginator is the one who created them all (objects and people- the visible realm) and also created the true forms of every existing object (the intellectual realm).  Thus, according to my interpretations of this particular analogy, the work of the poets or the bad joiners do not provide enough motivation to the people who can’t understand.  Even, if these prisoners were able to see the surface while they were imprisoned, they still would have remained ignorant of the truth.  The only motivation that can actually set the prisoners free can thus come if the Proginator wills it so or if people from the surface come to their aid.  Just simply viewing the truth can’t help one to understand the true form. You have to be actively involved in the process of learning to understand the true form.  There are still some people who still choose to remain ignorant even after understanding; they are truly the most immoral people.

According to Socrates, the painters and poets are representators of others’ creations and are thus two generations away from reality.  Their work thus doesn’t lead to the understanding of the “true form”.  Their work is only a manifestation of the appearance (i.e. the visible realm) and not that of the true form (i.e the intellectual realm).  Thus, Socrates categorized painting and poetry as that part of the visible realm that constitutes of images and can be understood by conjecture.  It should be noted here that he didn’t specifically say the poets or painters should be classified in this part.  Thus one can safely conclude that some poets and painters might have some understanding of the truth but their work can only represent the appearance of the objects and not the idea of the truth.  Socratres is of the view that even the work of the joiners is not fully real. “…wrong to attribute full reality to a joiner’s or any artisan’s products, doesn’t it?” (597 a-pg346).  Also note that Socrates decided to ban only representational poetry and not all poetry. Socrates’ implied view is that only representational poetry distorts the truth. But i think that other types of poetry, those which do not distort the truth, still can’t convey the idea of the truth as effectively as other types of education can. According to Socrates, poetry doesn’t actually benefit any class of the community. He is implying that it is in reality a recreational tool and not an educational one. Even though some forms of poetry are good enough to be read, excluding representational poetry, the only purpose that can be served by them is psychological satisfaction.  But this psychological satisfaction doesn’t turn the mind upward.  Poetry, esp. representational poetry, is only an illusion. It can satisfy only the desirous and thus the most rebellious part of the mind.  It provides no education for the rational part of the mind and gives wrong education to the passionate part of the mind.  Thus, the passionate part may become subservient to the desirous part of the mind.  However, I tend to disagree with Socrates. Proper representational poetry may stir the passionate part as well as the rational part of the mind. Originally, while studying Socrates I felt compelled to agree with him but today after writing poetry myself, I feel differently. I think representational poetry is a strong educational tool if used properly. True, little poems about “love”, “romance” etc. won’t do anyone any good, except for stirring some imagination. But deep poems like “The Kid”, “Knock Knock” etc.are likely to motivate the readers to act in a beneficial manner. Yes, poetry is just another shadow of the cave where the prisoners are held, but it is strong enough to motivate them to struggle towards light. Just sharing my humble opinion.

Today, while cruising through one of my business courses, I saw the first quote, mentioned here, scribbled meticulously at the top of the page. Reading it stirred my imagination so I googled some “discovery” quotes. As I read them, I felt little waves of thoughts emerging within my brain and spreading out just like ripples in a quite lake do. I thought a bit and managed to come up with some original quotes. Here I am sharing my 2 cents along with the quotes of some famous artists. So enjoy, some food for thought.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new land but in seeing with new eyes.

Marcel Proust

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

Andre Gide

Learning is the discovery that something is possible.

Fritz Perlz

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring the best in ourselves.

William Arthur Ward

The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.

Frank Herbert

True discovery is a process of seeing the world with another’s lens and analyzing a variety of options.

Arzoo Zaheer a.k.a. Cercatore

Continuous discovery of the self requires persistently acknowledging the weakness within and staying humble about one’s strengths.

Arzoo Zaheer a.k.a. Cercatore

I do not seek, I find.

Pablo Picasso

Never underestimating others is the essence of discovery; dreaming is its nourishment.

Arzoo Zaheer a.k.a. Cercatore

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his greatest surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t.

Henry Ford

Fear of the self has the potential to terminate the thirst for discovery. So be aware and seek to conquer this fear.

Arzoo Zaheer a.k.a Cercatore

We are nothing more, nothing less than what we were intended for.

Arzoo Zaheer a.k.a. Cercatore

One day my younger brother asked me if its possible to become a genius simply by working hard and studying. My answer was `Yes to some extent`. I haven`t met someone yet who ends up being a genius later in life but wasn`t originally that gifted. `Trying to be a genius while being average`sounds like a fun thing to do, don`t you think so. What does one have to lose anyways. If you are not a genius, you will become smarter by the end of it. Otherwise, you will become a genius. Its a win win situation.

Saying that, I must say, I am still not a genius. Sigh, but Alhamdulillah (Thank God)

I pulled up two readings from the web. Just sharing here with everyone.

Article 1: 24 Qualities That Geniuses Have in Common

Source: http://hightechbiz.com/pub/genius.htm

The worlds greatest geniuses have all had 24 personality characteristics in common and you can develop the same traits yourself, says an expert.

“Most people have the mistaken idea that geniuses are born, not made”, declared clinical psychologist Dr. Alfred Barrious, founder and director of the Self-Programmed Control Center of Los Angeles and author of the book, Towards Greater Freedom and Happiness.

“But if you look at the lives of the worlds greatest geniuses like Edison, Socrates, DaVinci, Shakespeare, Einstein, you will discover they all had 24 personality characteristics in common.

“These are traits that anyone can develop. It makes no difference how old you are, how much education you have, or what you have accomplished to date. Adopting these personality characteristics enables you to operate on a genius level.”

Here are the Characteristics Dr. Barrios lists, which enable geniuses to come up with and develop new and fruitful ideas:

DRIVE. Geniuses have a strong desire to work hard and long. They’re willing to give all they’ve got to a project. Develop your drive by focusing on your future success, and keep going.

COURAGE. It takes courage to do things others consider impossible. Stop worrying about what people will think if you’re different.

DEVOTION TO GOALS. Geniuses know what they want and go after it. Get control of your life and schedule. Have something specific to accomplish each day.

KNOWLEDGE. Geniuses continually accumulate information. Never go to sleep at night without having learned at least one new thing each day. Read. And question people who know.

HONESTY. Geniuses are frank, forthright and honest. Take the responsibility for thins that go wrong. Be willing to admit, ‘I goofed’ and learned from my mistakes.

OPTIMISM. Geniuses never doubt they will succeed. Deliberately focus your mind on something good coming up.

ABILITY TO JUDGE. Try to understand the facts of a situation before you judge. Evaluate things on an opened minded, unprejudiced basis and be willing to change your mind.

ENTHUSIASM. Geniuses are so excited about what they are doing, it encourages others to cooperate with them. Really believe that things will out well. Don’t hold back.

WILLINGNESS TO TAKE CHANCES. Overcome your fear of failure. You won’t be afraid to take chances once you realize you can learn from your mistakes.

DYNAMIC ENERGY. Don’t sit on your butt waiting for something good to happen. Be determined to make it happen.

ENTERPRISE. Geniuses are opportunity seekers. Be willing to take on jobs others won’t touch. Never be afraid to try the unknown.

PERSUASION. Geniuses know how to motivate people to help them get ahead. You’ll find it easy to be persuasive if you believe in what you’re doing.

OUTGOINGNESS. I’ve found geniuses able to make friends easily and be easy on their friends. Be a ‘booster’ not somebody who puts others down. That attitude will win you many valuable friends.

ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. Geniuses are generally able to get their ideas across to others. Take every opportunity to explain your ideas to others.

PATIENCE. Be patient with others most of the time, but always be impatient with your self. Expect far more of yourself than others.

PERCEPTION. Geniuses have their mental radar working full time. Think more of others’ needs and wants than you do your own.

PERFECTIONISM. Geniuses cannot tolerate mediocrity, particularly in themselves. Never be easily satisfied with your self. Always strive to do better.

SENSE OF HUMOR. Be willing to laugh at your own expense. Don’t take offense when the joke is on you.

VERSATILITY. The more things you learn to accomplish, the more confidence you will develop. Don’t shy away from new endeavors.

ADAPTABILITY. Being flexible enables you to adapt to changing circumstances readily. Resist doing things the same old way. Be willing to consider new options.

CURIOSITY. An inquisitive, curious mind will help you seek out new information. Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know it all. Always ask questions about things you don’t understand.

INDIVIDUALISM. Do things the way you think they should be done, without fearing somebody’s disapproval.

IDEALISM. Keep your feet on the ground — but have your head in the clouds. Strive to achieve great things, not just for yourself but for the better of mankind.

IMAGINATION. Geniuses know how to think in new combinations, see things from a different perspective, than anyone else. Unclutter your mental environment to develop this type of imagination. Give yourself time each day to daydream, to fantasize, to drift into a dreamy inner life the way you did as a child.

Article 2: Thinking like a Genius

Source: http://www.studygs.net/genius.htm

“Even if you’re not a genius, you can use the same strategies as Aristotle and Einstein to harness the power of your creative mind and better manage your future.”

The following eight strategies encourage you to think productively,
rather than reproductively, in order to arrive at solutions to problems. “These strategies are common to the thinking styles of creative geniuses in science, art, and industry throughout history.”

1. Look at problems in many different ways, and find new perspectives that no one else has taken (or no one else has publicized!)

Leonardo da Vinci believed that, to gain knowledge about the form of a problem, you begin by learning how to restructure it in many different ways. He felt that the first way he looked at a problem was too biased. Often, the problem itself is reconstructed and becomes a new one.

2. Visualize!

When Einstein thought through a problem, he always found it necessary to formulate his subject in as many different ways as possible, including using diagrams. He visualized solutions, and believed that words and numbers as such did not play a significant role in his thinking process.

3. Produce! A distinguishing characteristic of genius is productivity.

Thomas Edison held 1,093 patents. He guaranteed productivity by giving himself and his assistants idea quotas. In a study of 2,036 scientists throughout history, Dean Keith Simonton of the University of California at Davis found that the most respected scientists produced not only great works, but also many “bad” ones. They weren’t afraid to fail, or to produce mediocre in order to arrive at excellence.

4. Make novel combinations. Combine, and recombine, ideas, images, and thoughts into different combinations no matter how incongruent or unusual.

The laws of heredity on which the modern science of genetics is based came from the Austrian monk Grego Mendel, who combined mathematics and biology to create a new science.

5. Form relationships; make connections between dissimilar subjects.

Da Vinci forced a relationship between the sound of a bell and a stone hitting water. This enabled him to make the connection that sound travels in waves. Samuel Morse invented relay stations for telegraphic signals when observing relay stations for horses.

6. Think in opposites.

Physicist Niels Bohr believed, that if you held opposites together, then you suspend your thought, and your mind moves to a new level. His ability to imagine light as both a particle and a wave led to his conception of the principle of complementarity. Suspending thought (logic) may allow your mind to create a new form.

7. Think metaphorically.

Aristotle considered metaphor a sign of genius, and believed that the individual who had the capacity to perceive resemblances between two separate areas of existence and link them together was a person of special gifts.

8. Prepare yourself for chance.

Whenever we attempt to do something and fail, we end up doing something else. That is the first principle of creative accident. Failure can be productive only if we do not focus on it as an unproductive result. Instead: analyze the process, its components, and how you can change them, to arrive at other results. Do not ask the question “Why have I failed?”, but rather “What have I done?”

One day, I just experimented with writing a short story for children. I didn`t want to write just anything. I wanted to write something with a strong message behind it. Well, this is what I came up with. This is my first Children`s short story. Don`t laugh at it. I know its pretty simple and the beginning isn`t that strong.

——————————————————————————————-

Once upon a time, there was a little tigress named Alicia. She was very lonely in her little cave so she decided to go out and make friends. As she walked down the green path, she found a bouncy, vibrant, bunny.

“Hi”, said Alicia

“Hi” replied bunny

“What’s your name?” asked Alicia

“I am bunny Moata”

“Moata, that’s an interesting name”, chimed Alicia, a little twinkle appearing in her eye as she smiled inwardly at the odd phonics of this word.

“Yep, I know, that’s why I like it”, said Moata. He always enjoyed the reaction in people who heard his name.

“So, what are you doing today”, asked Alicia. “I am trying to find myself a friend, you?”

“I am trying to gather some food for my younger brother, Jay”, said Moata.”What’s a friend?”

“Hmm! a friend is someone you can rely on, someone you can count on when you are in trouble. A friend is like your little basket of hope and understanding, when all hope is gone and nobody understand or wants you. A friend is someone who cares deep enough to say “I love you” when many others have just walked away from you. Such friends are rare and I am looking for one just like that.”, said Alicia.

“Wow! sounds like friends do a pretty tough job”, says Moata.

“Mind if I walk with you for a while?” asked Alicia. She was hoping to find out if bunny can prove to be that friend she was looking for.

“Sure, don’t mind if you do, mademoiselle”, smiled Moata.

So, Alicia walked along with Moata. They reached a river, a very blue, deep river. Moata smiled as he saw the beauty of the immense river and shared the following with Alicia:

“River, river, you most beautiful river

Oh, you wondrous beauty

Uncaptured fully by most eyes

Hiding behind this thick foliage

Oh, you most steady river

Why are you so swift sometimes?”

“Wow!” says Alicia. You are good at this.

“I can probably go on and on. Hmm! why don’t you give it a try?”

“ah, ok!” says Alicia.

“river, river, you most beautiful river

how do I …….. how do I…………..”

I don’t know what to say, Moata?”

“Excuse me! you are not able to do poetry properly? Well, I am not going to hang around with a loser crowd” And so the poetic Moata, hopped on and away.

“Sigh! so he wasn’t really my friend.” thought Alicia, her head hung down as she sadly walked along the river. The waves started going really high because a tide was coming. Alicia was too sad to notice that. She kept walking along the side and then all of a sudden, a huge wave came. it picked Alicia up and threw her right in the heart of the river. “Help, help, somebody help. Moata, can you hear me? Help me, I don’t know how to swim”, she screamed at the top of her lungs. “I am going to die here”, a dark thought went through her head. “I will die here and I will probably not find a good friend for myself. Oh, what did I do to deserve this end. God Almighty help me out.”, she silently prayed. Then all of a sudden, another wave came and threw her on the shore. She started coughing and wheezing. “Oh, I am saved, thank God”, thought Alicia.

“Are you ok?” she heard Moata concerned voice.

“You came back!” stated a most startled Alicia.

“I started thinking what a jerk I was. And then I heard you screaming so I came running to see what happened”, says Moata.

“Thanks. I am ok now. And I have found my “best” friend”, says Alicia.

“Does that mean we can still be friend or did you just wanted one friend”, asked Moata.

“Moata! we can still be friends”, said a most smiling Alicia.

“Thanks, that’s very gracious of you. I will try to be a good friend Alicia, I promise”, Moata said with the most solemn face.” So, who is this friend you found in the middle of nowhere? I can’t see anyone here, except you and me. You said you found your “best” friend. Please explain to me what just happened?”

“You know when I was drowning in the middle of this most ferocious river, I prayed to God to save me. And the waves picked me up and took me to the shore. At this, I realized that God is my best friend.” said Alicia in a most grateful tone.

“Oh wow!”, said bunny. “He sounds like a good friend. Perhaps I should be His friend too.”, said Moata.

“Let’s go home now. Its getting dark”, said Alicia.

“Yep, let’s go. Care for an apple!”, smiled Moata.

And from that day on, Alicia and Moata were very close friends. They laughed, cried, smiled, played, pranked, etc. together. And yes, they both kept a very special friend, God, close to their heart and mind always.

About:

One day, my younger brother, sister and I, got really bored. We had nothing to do so we decided to write a short horror story. We even named our group `The Trio`. This is the first horror story we wrote together. It still gives me the goosebumps.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Jamie and Teresa Hannibal were very concerned about their foster child, Ivy. Her behavior had been erratic recently. Every night she locked herself in her room and was heard chanting frantically. It got to the point where her foster parents were not able to sleep at all. After a couple of discussions, they decided to consult a renowned psychiatrist Dr. Frank Hubert.

Dr. Frank’s drive to Hannibals’ home turned out to be quite challenging. A dense fog had appeared which was quite odd since the weather channel predicted clear weather in the evening. As Dr, Frank reached Hannibal residence, it was already really dark and a storm had started brewing. At the end of the dinner, Dr. Frank thanked them for their hospitality. He seemed to have made good friends with Ivy already and had given her a big box of marshmallows as a treat. Although, Ivy demonstrated politeness towards Dr. Frank, it was quite clear that she didn’t appreciate his visit. During the dinner, Ivy mysteriously whispered to Dr. Frank, “You came at the right time, Dr.” Just for a second, an eerie smile spread on Ivy’s face. Dr. Frank tried to ignore this comment thinking perhaps mysterious comments like these is a game a bored, young Ivy loves to indulge in. As soon as the dinner was over, an impatient Ivy left the table immediately and closed herself in her room.

Dr. Frank had already installed a camera in Ivy’s room without her being aware of it. The camera gave a clear view of the room. Now he observed her, from the kitchen where he had set up his equipment. Everything seemed normal in the beginning. However when the clock struck 12 pm., Ivy got up from her bed where she had been lying for the last few hours. As the doctor silently watched, she started gathering different odd things from her room and cluttered everything near the fireplace. She started tossing paper into the fireplace and succeeded in starting a huge fire. At the same time she was chanting and mumbling frantically. She walked up and down as if in a trance; the entire scene reminded Dr. Frank of the horror movie he saw last night.

There were two dolls lying by Ivy’s side. She grabbed hold of one which resembled a figure of a female lawyer. She walked to her drawer as she dragged the doll by her hair and took out a handful of big rocks. She started bashing the doll’s legs until its legs were broken to pieces. Then she stuffed the doll’s mouth with marshmallows. Lastly, she placed the doll neatly on a toy wheelchair. “What an ugly way of playing with dolls”, thought Dr. Frank. An awkward and dreadful silence enveloped the room as Dr. Frank hesitantly continued to watch Ivy.

Ivy went into the washroom and brought out a bucket full of water. She placed a toy boat into the bucket and then she placed the male windsurfer doll into it. She made little waves in the bucket with her right hand, just enough to gently get the boat moving. After playing for a while, she took the windsurfer doll out of the boat, wound it and let it surf in the water. Playfully, she started making huge waves. A sinister smile spread across her lovely face. As Dr. Frank gazed outside the window of the kitchen he saw big current developing in the sea, near the house. He diverted his attention back to Ivy. He felt horrified as he watched her smack the doll outside the bucket so it fell on the floor. The doll’s neck landed separately on the ground.

As Frank recoiled in disgust at her games, Ivy turned slowly towards the hidden camera and smiled an eerie smile. His body jolted in surprise and horror and he stumbled backward. As he tried regaining his balance, his eyes fell on the beach which was visible from the window. Lightning illuminated the area outside and he watched in horror as he made out Jamie’s headless figure, his new surfing board lying next to him. Petrified, Dr. Frank ran to check on Teresa. Their bedroom door was slightly ajar. Calling Teresa’s name loudly, a frightened Dr. Frank walked in. Terror struck him like a dagger slicing his muscles and bones. Teresa was sitting in a wheelchair, her legs missing and her mouth stuffed with marshmallows. Letting out a scream of horror, Dr. Frank lost consciousness.

When he woke up, he couldn’t remember anything and wondered why the police was here and why he was at Hannibal’s house.

The next day Ivy was taken by the social workers and after a year or so of psychiatric treatment she moved in with her new foster family. Her new foster father was a basketball player and her foster mother was a doctor. As Ivy walked up the steps of her new home, she was clutching two new dolls: a male basketball player doll and a female doll that was dressed like a doctor.

Dr. Frank was admitted to the hospital to treat his amnesia but he never regained his memories of that one night. He is still in psychiatric treatment and world’s most prestigious doctors are trying to treat his fear of young girls.

This was my first poem which I wrote in protest of discrimination I felt towards me. I am a brown, Asian, Muslim woman who loves to wear her hijab as a symbol of her faith. I used to be this meek girl who didn’t need to speak out for herself because her parents always guarded and protected her. But life is different in a foreign country. I had a couple of tough experiences because of the way I chose to dress. These experiences helped me realize the significacne of speaking out and expressing myself. So, today I am sharing with you all, a very personal poem.

KNOCK KNOCK

Crushed soul

Crushed Crushed Crushed

Emptiness

A void

Knock knock

Who’s there?

Victim

Of what?

(silence )

Victim of what?

(silence)

Well, please tell me your whole story

They look at my clothes not me

They look at my headscarf not my mind

Oh how shallow the look!

Oh how deep the impact!

Woe what a sorrowful condition

Silence

I am silent

Silent no more

Should I pour my thoughts out?

Should I show you my bleeding wounds?

Would you cure it?

Answer me

Answer me

Would you cure it?

Sethe had a chockcherry tree on her back

And I have one on my mind and heart

Beloved was sixty million and more

And I am the entire humanity

We all suffer at our own hands

We suffer because we chose to be weak

The Sostoris has drawn a blank card

A blank card I say, a blank card

Would you cure it?

Would you?

Would you?

By: Arzoo a.k.a. Cercatore

Explanation:

Toni Morrison wrote a novel called Beloved. She describes Sethe’s life. Sethe is a female slave who was beaten as a slave and now has scars on her back that look like a chockcherry tree. Unlike other trees, chockcherry tree has bitter fruit. Even after so many years, even after slavery is over, the chockcherry tree is still present there and it is a constant reminder to the readers that the scars of slavery are on their minds and soul and are thus really difficult to erase.

Beloved is the ghost of the middle passage. She appears in the novel. The phrase, “Middle passage” refers to the event when the Africans were abducted from their homeland and put on a ship and taken to America for slavery. In the dedication, the author writes “60 million and more”. So Beloved, the ghost, represents those 60 million and more slaves.

So how do you align racism with slavery? Here comes the idea of ‘Racial Other’ and ‘Orientalism’. In Eng140Y5, our teacher defined ‘Others’ as people whom one identifies as carrying characteristics that one does not wish to have. Orientalism is defined as a west/white centered belief that the east/racial others (Africans, Belgians, Asians, Chinese etc) are feminine and in need of dominance, security and guidance. One living example of Orientalism is what’s happening in Iraq. First crush, dominate and then make them feel secure by creating a fake puppet government. Thus history is repeating itself in Iraq like it happened in Vietnam years ago. So it’s this western belief of intellectual superiority that caused slavery of the Africans. Africans were considered the racial others, non-intellectual beings who could be used like animals because they were thought of as less than animals. Racism that we see today is a reminder of what darkness lies within human soul. I think that sometimes people succumb to their lower desires or to the ‘animal’ within because they feel weak

Well what’s the cure for human weakness? In the next line, I wrote

The Sostoris has drawn a blank card

A blank card I say, a blank card

Hmm! What does a ‘blank card’ represent? Sostoris is the name of a psychic who draws cards to predict future in “Wasteland”, a poem by Eliot. The blank card means that the matter remains to be decided between God and man, that there is no other way to solve the matter except by divine intervention. I think that roots of racism is ignorance of the soul. And only Allah can cure one of this ignorance. I read somewhere that Allah has created love inside heart the likes of which cannot be created by man. I think that the ultimate cure for racism is in God’s hands. And humans will understand this cure if they seek guidance persistently.

And now something about the structure. Kindly notice the large amount of space left between the paragraphs. It reprensents the silence of the victim of racism. Notice that the space is decreased after it says silence no more.

One further note. I am not saying that the entire west is Orientalist and all whites consider themselves racially superior to other races. Thank God (Alhamdulillah) there are many westerns and whites who do not hold these views.

Fragile, patterned

Blossoming primly;

Innocent daisy smiles

I just wrote this poem today. I am still working on it. I feel there are some weaknesses in this poem. Perhaps proper imagery is lacking; I am not so sure. I will work on it more inshaallah. But for now, enjoy whatever I got.

Gems and Gem Collectors

The Decision:

Out of curiosity

Sarian took a plunge

In the dark sea

Known to hold many secrets

Demonstrating agility

Of a swimmer with ability

She swam and swam

Venturing to the furthest depths

And then she came upon

Something shining

Among dark, dull stones

A most beautiful gem

Inquisitively

She analyzed

Its beauty and its form

Captivated; she felt

What is it doing among these stones?

She wondered

A beauty of such magnificence

So hidden, so lost

So she decided

To collect them all

And bring them to the surface

Near to those who may admire them

Decisively, she swam

The Struggle:

Sarian swam and swam

Venturing even deeper

Fearing the depths and the dangers

She continued her search

Knowing she just had to

Collect the little gems

Determined, driven

She swam deeper, into the darkness

Trying to avoid the sharks

And all other predators

Knowing she is alone

In this ordeal

And then she found one

Just one little gem

And Chomp

A shark took her little toes

Giving her a cold steel look

Sarian swam furiously away

Knowing she couldn’t fight it

And hence she must avoid it

Bleeding heavily

She tried to breath

Trying to concentrate

She tried giving it all

Because she just had to

Collect them all

Her determination rewarded

Yet another gem sighted

Isolated, hidden, among the carols

Smiling, she picked it up

And Chomp

The jaws closed again

On her pretty little leg

Looking right into those cold eyes

She shivered

At those pointy teeth

Of an unconfined predator

Hurriedly, she swam away

Diving even deeper

Because she just had to

Collect them all

As best as she could

The Blessing:

Seeing Sarian struggling

God smiled

Just Once

And so she came across a big pile

Of most exquisite gems

Hurriedly, she collected them

Keeping them safe

In her little side pocket

Her hands shivering with cold and fear

Found warmth from the glow of the gems

The Gems:

Her limbs ached

As she swam again

Eyes shining

That determined glint

Denying the impossible

Eyeing her from the darkness

A sinister predator

Followed Sarian’s trail

Determined to hunt her down

Seeking an opening

As Sarian slowed down

The predator attacked

But behold!

The gems shone

The brightest light

Illuminating all dark crevices

Blinding the predator

That now scurried away in fear

Smiling

Forgetting her fatigue

Feeling rejuvenated

Sarian swam again

And this time she wasn’t alone

People:

Some People are like gems

Scattered among stones

Hidden within darkness of this world

Failing to perceive their own strength

They sit idly

Doing nothing

Feeling nothing

Being stones

Some people are like gem collectors

Driven by instinct

They realize the strength and beauty

Of those hidden gems

So they struggle purely

Just to collect them all

To unify them

To help them see the sunshine

Some people are like sharks

Just pure cowards

That attack stealthily from within the darkness

Injuring the weak

Enjoying their trauma, the taste of their blood

They lust for power, control, murder

Pure devils

Poor devils

So many patterns

So many ways

Of being

What is yours?

Choose it

Before

Most profound darkness envelopes wholly

This sea, this world